AppWizard
October 22, 2026
Domino’s Pizza Inc. is launching a promotion in conjunction with the release of Minecraft Dungeons II starting October 26. Customers who purchase the new single-serving pizza called the Domino will unlock various rewards, including collectible boxes featuring characters from the game and a chance to win one of 20,000 digital copies of Minecraft Dungeons II. Each Domino purchase grants customers one of six collectible boxes. Domino’s Rewards members can unlock exclusive in-game items with their purchases, such as a unique skin, a cape, and a pet. From October 26 to November 4, Domino’s will give away 2,000 game tokens daily for customers to download the game for free, valid for PC and Xbox. An interactive Minecraft Dungeons II-themed Domino’s Tracker will also be introduced.
Winsage
October 22, 2026
Microsoft is streamlining some Copilot features in Windows 11 by removing certain options from the right-click context menu. Users can still access Copilot features through the 'Ask Copilot' icon. Diego Baca, Microsoft's Vice President of Design for Windows, mentioned that AI has accelerated the design team's workflow, allowing designers to contribute to code fixes, which has received mixed reactions online. Critics have expressed skepticism about Microsoft's coding practices and raised concerns about software reliability, linking these issues to the introduction of AI. The dissatisfaction appears to stem from ongoing problems with Windows 11's bug testing and update reliability rather than the use of AI itself.
AppWizard
October 21, 2026
A mobile research prototype has been developed that integrates image processing, deep learning, and internet-connected hardware to provide personalized eyeglass style recommendations based on facial type. The system operates through an Android application that captures or selects a user’s photograph, enhances it, and sends it to a connected device for analysis using deep-learning algorithms. The analysis determines the user's face type and generates a list of suitable eyeglass styles. The process involves four key components: image acquisition, image enhancement, remote analysis, and recommendation presentation. The smartphone acts as the user interface while computational tasks are handled by the connected device. The study does not provide quantifiable results on the accuracy of face classification or the quality of recommendations, nor does it specify details about the neural network architecture, training datasets, or criteria for facial categories. There is also no information on the dataset's size or composition, methods for determining face types, or evidence of improvements in appearance or fit.
Winsage
October 21, 2026
Microsoft has acknowledged ongoing connection issues with its Always On VPN feature, which were initially reported as resolved in the October 2026 cumulative updates for Windows 11. However, these issues persist, particularly affecting users with automatic protocol selection using IKEv2 and SSTP. A service alert revealed that the bug was mistakenly marked as resolved and has since been changed to "Mitigated." Microsoft is working on a proper fix and has provided a temporary workaround for affected users by advising IT administrators to select a single tunneling protocol instead of automatic protocol selection. The September cumulative updates have also caused various other problems for users, prompting Microsoft to release emergency out-of-band updates to address critical issues.
Tech Optimizer
October 21, 2026
Bitdefender Total Security is currently available on Newegg for .99, down from its original price of .99, using the promo code EPF56892. This subscription covers up to ten devices across multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS) and includes features like ransomware protection, a limited VPN, and parental controls. The deal represents a savings of approximately 72%. The subscription is for one year and does not require a long-term commitment.
AppWizard
October 21, 2026
Google has extended free access to its Satellite SOS feature for Pixel 9 owners for an additional year, following the conclusion of the initial two-year complimentary period. Satellite SOS, launched in 2024, allows users to contact emergency services and share their location without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. The feature is available on compatible Pixel devices, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but not on the Pixel 9a. The service's availability depends on the user's geographical location. Google has not yet announced any potential subscription pricing or whether the service will transition to a paid model after the extension period.
AppWizard
October 21, 2026
Google has released Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2, which includes a security enhancement for Pixel devices that requires PIN or fingerprint authentication to modify Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Mobile Data on a locked phone. Non-security tiles like Flashlight and Battery Saver remain accessible without authentication. The beta version also fixes issues such as random reboots, system crashes, Bluetooth pairing failures, and excessive idle battery drain. Users can activate the new connectivity restriction feature in Settings under Security & privacy or Display & touch.
AppWizard
October 21, 2026
Nvidia has released GPU driver version 621.01, which includes Microsoft’s Advanced Shader Delivery technology to improve gaming by speeding up game launches and eliminating mid-game shader compilation issues. This technology uses cloud resources to precompile shaders for various hardware configurations, allowing developers to capture shaders into a State Object Database (SODB) using DirectX 12, Windows 11, and the Microsoft Agility SDK. Games like Gears of War: E-Day and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 support this feature when downloaded through the Xbox PC app, and it is compatible with games purchased on other platforms like Steam. The system achieves a near-100 percent cache hit rate, reducing CPU spikes and frame stutters. The driver update is available for download, and Advanced Shader Delivery also works with AMD GPUs (Adrenalin version 26.6.1 or higher) and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 series (driver version 2026.08.3 or higher).
BetaBeacon
October 21, 2026
An unofficial Android port of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remake has been released by developer Nycolazs. The port includes touch controls and runs smoothly on a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE with Snapdragon 865, but may have performance issues on other devices. Users need a device running Android 11 or newer, a legitimate copy of the game for Nintendo Switch, and the necessary keys to run the port.
AppWizard
October 21, 2026
Google has introduced the Personal Intelligence feature on Gemini for Android Auto, enhancing the driving experience by integrating with Google apps to provide personalized responses. This feature began rolling out today and will be available in the coming months for Google built-in cars. Users who have previously activated Personal Intelligence in the Gemini app will have their settings automatically applied in their cars, while new users can enable it through the Gemini settings. Personal Intelligence utilizes data from various Google applications, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Maps, to deliver precise answers to user inquiries. The feature is currently available for personal Google accounts for users aged 18 and older, but not for Workspace business, enterprise, or education accounts. Users in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the UK, and Nigeria do not have access to this feature at this time.
BetaBeacon
October 21, 2026
An unofficial mobile adaptation of Need for Speed Carbon has been released for Android, based on a re-compilation of the Xbox 360 version of the game. The game runs at approximately 60 FPS at 1080p resolution on a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, with some brief stutters during races that need to be addressed. Touch controls with customizable layouts and support for Bluetooth gamepads are included, along with the ability to adjust resolution and frame rate limits in the settings. Users will need a device running Android 8.0 or newer, a 64-bit processor, and a copy of the European version of Need for Speed Carbon for Xbox 360 to play.
BetaBeacon
October 21, 2026
- Enthusiasts in the gaming community have released an unofficial Android port of Hades II based on the macOS version. - The Android port supports touch controls and external gamepads, showing decent performance even on less powerful devices. - Users have reported positive feedback on performance, with some achieving 30-50 frames per second on budget devices. - Some players have encountered issues such as black screens and control problems, but developers are actively working to address these. - The latest update, version 1.1-beta, has resolved some issues and optimized the game for a variety of hardware configurations. - Players need to have their own files from the macOS version of the game to play the Android port.
Winsage
October 21, 2026
Microsoft has introduced a Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature for IT administrators managing Windows Server 2025, enabling quick recovery from boot failures after the October 2026 security update without physical access to systems. When activated, QMR boots the system into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to troubleshoot issues, collecting crash data for remote assistance from Microsoft. Cloud remediation is disabled by default but can be enabled through Group Policy. Administrators can disable QMR by turning off 'Enable Cloud Remediation' and 'Enable Auto Remediation.' QMR was initially introduced in November 2024 as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative and began testing in March 2025, with improvements made by November 2025.
Winsage
October 21, 2026
Windows Server 2025 introduced Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) in the October 2026 cumulative update to improve IT recovery processes during boot failures. QMR automates the detection of boot failures using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and can autonomously download and apply fixes via Windows Update. Organizations must manually enable QMR through Group Policy, as it is disabled by default. The feature enhances Windows Startup Repair with cloud-based remediation capabilities and requires a reliable network connection, supporting wired networks and WPA/WPA2 password-based Wi-Fi configurations.
Search