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AppWizard
July 19, 2026
Taival is a newly launched co-op adventure RPG developed by Bonobo Software and published by Level Up Gaming, currently available in early access on PC via Steam. The game supports up to four players and features a unique shapeshifting companion called the Henki, whose quest involves recovering fragments of its lost heritage and restoring the Heartstone. Players can transform into various creatures through the Henki, unlocking unique abilities for exploration and combat. The game world is hand-crafted, featuring distinct realms and engaging NPC quests. Taival is priced at .99, with a 20% discount until July 28, and a free demo is available.
AppWizard
July 19, 2026
The desktop version of Facebook experienced a global outage on Sunday morning, causing users to receive messages indicating their accounts were “currently unavailable due to a site issue.” The platform returned to normal operations just before noon after approximately three hours of downtime. During this period, the DownDetector website noted a spike in searches for “Facebook down,” peaking around 9 am. While the desktop version faced issues, the mobile app continued to function largely without disruption, although some users had difficulties uploading content or sending messages. Instagram users also reported problems, receiving error messages related to viewing and sharing posts. Meta had not issued an official statement regarding the outage. Approximately 1.5% to 2% of Facebook's estimated 3 billion monthly active users access the platform exclusively via desktop, while over 81% use mobile devices.
Winsage
July 19, 2026
Microsoft has introduced point-in-time restore for Windows 11 users, enhancing the traditional System Restore. This new recovery tool allows users to recover their PCs from software issues, problematic drivers, or faulty updates, even when Windows won’t boot. It uses the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to automatically generate restore points every 24 hours, which include both system and user files, unlike System Restore. Point-in-time restore manages storage by deleting restore points after 72 hours and integrates seamlessly into Windows Settings, being activated by default for volumes over 200GB. Users with smaller volumes must activate it manually. It also incorporates Reserved Storage to ensure restore points do not consume regular disk space. The feature is available on Windows 11 Home and Pro editions with the installation of the optional Preview Update KB5095093. Users can access point-in-time restore through Windows Settings under System > Recovery, and initiate recovery via the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE).
Winsage
July 18, 2026
Windows 11 includes a suite of audio and video recording applications: Sound Recorder, Camera, and Windows Studio Effects. The Sound Recorder app allows audio capture using PC microphones, featuring a navigation pane, recording area, and playback controls. Users can customize audio input in the Settings app under System > Sound, selecting microphones and adjusting quality formats like “CD quality” or “Studio quality.” Within the Sound Recorder app, users can change the recording format (default is AAC) to MP3, WMA, FLAC, or WAV and set audio quality to Best, High, or Medium. To record audio, users click the red “Start recording” button, with options to stop, pause, or mark significant moments using keyboard shortcuts. Recordings can be played back, managed, shared, renamed, or deleted through the app's interface. Users can also import compatible audio files into Sound Recorder. The Camera app allows users to take photos, record videos, and scan items using the PC's webcam, with an interface similar to smartphone camera apps. Users can customize camera settings in the Settings app under Bluetooth > Cameras, adjusting brightness, contrast, and resolution. Photos are taken in Photo mode, while videos are recorded in Video mode, with options for pausing without creating new files. Windows Studio Effects offers AI-driven enhancements for audio and video calls, requiring a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for some features. Enhancements include automatic framing, background effects, creative filters, eye contact simulation, portrait lighting adjustments, and voice focus. Compatibility can be checked in Quick settings or the Settings app under Bluetooth & devices > Cameras. Each effect can be configured individually through the Settings app or supported applications.
Winsage
July 18, 2026
Microsoft has released a significant update for Windows 11 in July 2026, which includes user control over automatic updates, allowing users to pause updates for 1 to 35 days. The update addresses 570 bug fixes and introduces an automatic snapshot feature for system recovery, retaining system states for up to 72 hours, requiring 50GB of storage on devices with at least 200GB of disk space. Bluetooth functionality has improved, particularly in audio performance and synchronization. A new screen tint feature allows for custom colors and intensities for night viewing. The update is available for download, but some features may be rolled out gradually, and Dell PC owners may experience delays due to a USB connectivity bug. Additionally, Microsoft is streamlining Windows Search by removing sponsored content.
Winsage
July 18, 2026
A new clipboard manager for Windows 11 called Edge Drop is in early testing, developed by AdiArtist. It enhances the clipboard experience by sitting on the left side of the screen and can be accessed by hovering the mouse or using the Alt+C shortcut. Edge Drop handles text, images, and various file types, automatically integrating copied items. Users can download it from its official website or GitHub, currently at version 0.1.0. The app allows users to drag items into it and features stacking capabilities for grouping related content, although it does not support combining different content types in a single stack. Unlike Windows 11's built-in clipboard history, which supports item pinning and cross-device syncing, Edge Drop focuses on mouse interaction. The name "Edge Drop" may face challenges due to a similar feature in Microsoft's Edge browser, which is being phased out. Users should be aware of potential rebranding and instability as the app is still in development. Installation involves downloading from the official website or GitHub, and it is not available in the Microsoft Store. Edge Drop is designed for creative workflows but may not suit users who prefer keyboard navigation or require clipboard syncing across devices. Ongoing development may introduce new features and improvements.
Tech Optimizer
July 18, 2026
North Korea's Contagious Interview hackers have been using a deceptive strategy to target developers by posing as recruiters and embedding malware in SVG files. Elastic Security Labs discovered that the attackers hid malicious payloads within HTML comment blocks of these files, allowing the malware to evade antivirus detection. At the time of the findings, no antivirus engines flagged the compromised repositories, which included trojanized GitHub repositories disguised as coding challenges. The malware executed automatically at server startup and deployed four modules: a browser credential and cryptocurrency wallet stealer, a file stealer, a remote access Trojan, and a clipboard monitor. The campaign, tracked as REF9403, is part of the ongoing Contagious Interview operation attributed to North Korea's Lazarus Group, which aims to generate revenue through cryptocurrency theft. Developers are advised to audit any projects run from unsolicited sources and to monitor specific domains associated with the attack.
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