advocacy Archives

Winsage

March 24, 2026

Microsoft VP Wants to End Windows 11 Microsoft Account Mandate

Microsoft Vice President Scott Hanselman expressed a desire to eliminate the mandatory Microsoft account requirement for Windows 11 users during setup, acknowledging user frustration. A coalition of employees and senior engineers at Microsoft is advocating for this change to create a more user-friendly experience that does not require an internet connection or a Microsoft account. Despite growing support for the removal of the account requirement, internal resistance exists due to the interests of business units that benefit from mandatory sign-ins. The technical feasibility of removing the requirement is acknowledged, but organizational politics complicate the process. The Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) setup process has faced criticism for being promotional and coercive. Other improvements to Windows 11 are being implemented in response to user feedback, but they do not directly address the account requirement issue.

Winsage

March 21, 2026

Microsoft insiders push to end mandatory Microsoft Accounts on Windows 11

Microsoft announced enhancements for Windows 11 to address user complaints about performance, updates, AI features, and advertisements. However, the requirement for users to create a Microsoft account during setup remains a significant concern that was not addressed in the announcement. Scott Hanselman, a Vice President at Microsoft, indicated on X that there is internal discussion about potentially easing this requirement, although no definitive plan has been established yet. The decision to change this policy involves multiple teams within Microsoft, and while technically feasible, it requires corporate agreement.

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Google adds 24-hour Android sideloading for unverified apps

Google is revising its approach to Android sideloading by allowing users to install applications from unverified developers while implementing a new 24-hour process to enhance security. Users must activate developer mode, confirm their decision, restart their devices, and re-authenticate before installation. A one-time 24-hour waiting period is also introduced to prevent scams. This change addresses concerns from developers and advocacy groups about the impact of stringent verification policies on smaller developers. Google is also offering limited-distribution accounts for students and hobbyists to share apps without full verification. The updated process includes additional security measures to disrupt scams, while users are encouraged to use dedicated security solutions for better protection against mobile threats.

AppWizard

March 18, 2026

SBC DIGEST: Annual meeting app available now; GuideStone to have strong presence at meeting

The official app for the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting has launched and is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It features improved maps, local area navigation, schedules, event locations, and candidate profiles. GuideStone Financial Services will have an exhibit at the meeting where attendees can check retirement plans and receive wellness screenings. They are also encouraged to write cards for Mission:Dignity recipients, with a chance to win golf clubs. GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck highlighted the organization's commitment to supporting pastors and advocating for biblical values in investment practices.

AppWizard

February 27, 2026

Facebook designed an app for teens called Bell but never launched it, court records reveal

In 2018, Facebook proposed an app named Bell aimed at high school students to create a safe space for communication about school events and social interactions. Internal documents indicated that Facebook intended for Bell to engage teens and transition them to the main platform after graduation. The app was designed to include features like group chats, event organization, and an anonymous confessions section. Facebook aimed for Bell to reach 80% of U.S. high schools by the end of 2020, with plans to expand globally. However, the app was never developed, and a spokesperson described it as an early exploratory idea dependent on strong content moderation. Meta has faced legal challenges regarding the impact of its platforms on minors' mental health and has implemented features in its Teen Accounts to empower parental control.

Winsage

February 24, 2026

Microsoft extends security patching for three Windows products at a price

Support for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2016 LTSB will end on October 13, 2026, while Windows Server 2016 will reach its end of support on January 12, 2027. Organizations using these products will receive one final monthly security update on the specified dates, after which they will not receive security patches, updates, or technical support. The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program allows organizations to purchase coverage for up to three years beyond the end of support, with pricing starting at a specified amount per device for the first year and doubling for each subsequent year. Windows Server 2016's ESU pricing has not been announced, and Microsoft recommends upgrading to newer Long-Term Servicing Channel releases. In the European Economic Area, Windows 10 users can access ESU until October 14, 2026, without payment or cloud account requirements due to advocacy from Euroconsumers.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

CONVERGENCE GAMES SHOWCASES OVER 30 OF THE HOTTEST AA AND INDIE TITLES COMING TO CONSOLE AND PC IN 2026

Fourth Floor unveiled video links from the Convergence Games Showcase on February 19, 2026, which introduced over 30 AA and Indie games set for release in 2026. The event was hosted by Dodger and Jesse Cox in collaboration with IGN, featuring first gameplay reveals and exclusive content from companies like Curve Games, Gambit Digital, and Playside. Rich Keith, CEO of Fourth Floor, highlighted the showcase's growth and focus on the indie community. Fourth Floor, founded in 2017, specializes in games marketing services and works with both AAA and indie game publishers.

Winsage

February 13, 2026

Microsoft Edge and Interop 2026

Microsoft Edge is actively participating in the Interop project, now in its sixth year, collaborating with companies like Mozilla, Igalia, Google, and Apple to improve web interoperability. For Interop 2026, focus areas include expanding the CSS attr() function, enhancing color tooling, enabling container style queries, allowing custom highlights, improving the interoperability of dialog elements, enhancing the fetch() API, boosting IndexedDB performance, integrating WebAssembly with JavaScript promises, implementing media pseudo-classes, enhancing the Navigation API, allowing multiple custom element registries, creating scroll-driven animations, improving CSS scroll snapping behavior, adding support for the shape() CSS function, enhancing View Transitions, addressing web compatibility issues, improving WebRTC interoperability, and advancing the WebTransport API. Additionally, investigation efforts will focus on accessibility testing, developing a JPEG XL test suite, enhancing mobile testing infrastructure, and refining the WebVTT specification. A Top Developer Needs dashboard has been launched to monitor ongoing interoperability challenges. The previous Interop 2025 project achieved significant milestones, including reliable CSS anchor positioning, smoother view transitions, simplified Navigation API implementation, alignment on Core Web Vitals, streamlined JSON module scripts, and accessible disclosure widgets. All participating browsers in Interop 2025 scored at least 98%.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Minecraft Club builds strong communities-in-common

At Oakestown Intermediate School, the Minecraft Club, led by sixth-grader Nicholas Voiles as mayor, promotes collaborative creativity and community building among students. The club operates under a social behavior contract signed by all members, emphasizing shared responsibility and democratic principles. Teacher Chelsy Darby facilitates the program, which has gained popularity since its establishment last year through Grandville Community Education. Club members meet weekly to construct a virtual city, engage in battles, and participate in challenge builds, each taking on specific roles like banker or sheriff. The club fosters friendship opportunities and enhances problem-solving, strategizing, and coding skills among participants. Members vote on decisions, reinforcing the democratic aspect of the club. Darby highlights the development of interpersonal skills as students collaborate and communicate during gameplay.

AppWizard

January 21, 2026

The death and reincarnation of game discoverability

Guy Ulmer leads platform partnerships at Plarium, part of the Modern Times Group, which develops and publishes games like Raid: Shadow Legends and Stormfall: Saga of Survival. The gaming industry is experiencing a shift in discoverability, with nearly one-third of developers identifying it as their primary challenge by 2026. Players increasingly discover new titles through platforms like YouTube (64%), TikTok (38%), and Instagram (36%), surpassing traditional storefront promotions. Developers must engage players through social media and creator ecosystems rather than relying solely on major storefront placements. Storefront interactions require strategic optimization, as platforms like Google Play and Apple are expected to prioritize games that align with new features. Developers must treat every game as a service, engaging in continuous updates and sales events. Successful developers will design games with marketing in mind, utilizing strategies like incentivized referrals, stream integration, and generative AI for content creation. The focus has shifted from maximizing visibility at launch to ongoing optimization throughout a game's lifecycle, making discoverability a fundamental design principle.