behind the scenes

AppWizard
April 7, 2025
Streamer Valkyrae, also known as Rachell Marie Hofstetter, confirmed that her cameo in A Minecraft Movie was cut from the final release. She stated during a Twitch livestream that she would "much rather not have that 30 seconds than be sued," indicating complexities behind her omission. Valkyrae previously shared a negative experience with Jason Momoa, one of the film's stars, describing a disappointing atmosphere during filming. Although her cameo was cut, some fans believe they saw her in the background of a scene. Valkyrae confirmed her intended appearance would have lasted approximately 30 seconds and reassured her audience that the decision had nothing to do with Minecraft or its creators. She expressed gratitude for spending ten days in New Zealand and maintained a positive view of the film, stating, “No, the movie did not suck.” IGN rated A Minecraft Movie a 6/10, highlighting its comedic elements and kid-friendly adventure.
AppWizard
April 4, 2025
Jason Momoa plays Garrett "The Garbageman" Garrison in the upcoming live-action film "A Minecraft Movie," which also stars Jack Black and Jennifer Coolidge. Director Jared Hess highlighted Momoa's comedic side, noting his playful portrayal in a pink leather jacket and a "Gamer of the Year, 1989" badge. The film features Momoa's character navigating the Minecraft "Overworld" with Black's character, Steve. Hess mentioned the chemistry between Momoa and Black, who had mutual admiration for each other. Jennifer Coolidge's character accidentally hits a Minecraft villager with her car, leading to a romantic twist. Hess praised Coolidge's comedic talent, while producer Torfi Frans Ólafsson shared that the cast struggled to maintain professionalism due to laughter, especially during Coolidge's improvisations. The film is currently playing in theaters.
Winsage
April 4, 2025
Microsoft is redesigning the Start menu in Windows 11, which will feature a wider panel for easier pinning of applications and the ability to disable recommendations for files and apps based on usage history. The new design consolidates Start menu elements into a single, scrollable panel and introduces grid and category views for app organization. These changes are currently in development and not yet officially confirmed.
AppWizard
April 3, 2025
The social media channels for the reboot of Marathon have recently hinted at potential updates after a period of silence since its announcement in 2023. The game's director, Joe Ziegler, confirmed that development is ongoing, but details are still limited. The project faced challenges, including the departure of original director Christopher Barrett due to allegations of inappropriate behavior and his subsequent lawsuit against Sony and Bungie for wrongful dismissal. Concerns have been raised about the market saturation of extraction shooters and the performance of Bungie's other titles, particularly Destiny 2 and Concord.
AppWizard
April 1, 2025
The "A Minecraft Movie" features a cast including Jack Black as Steve and Jason Momoa. The film was shot in New Zealand, with the cast enjoying the scenery and exploring locations like Hobbiton. Black and Momoa share a creative chemistry, discussing their appreciation for nature sounds and creating a unique instrument called the "Awuba." The film includes humorous concepts like "chicken lava," and it is set to be released this Thursday. Fans can participate in a giveaway for Fandango codes by emailing their name and phone number.
Winsage
March 31, 2025
Satya Nadella made a significant investment in OpenAI at the end of 2022, positioning Microsoft as a leader in the AI sector and boosting its valuation by over a trillion dollars. As of early 2025, Microsoft faces challenges including reduced data center investments, disappointing stock performance, tensions with OpenAI, and declining market enthusiasm for AI technologies. The company's shares have dropped approximately 16% since peaking in July 2024, and it has experienced a 7% decline this year, making it the only member of the Magnificent 7 tech stocks without a gain over the past twelve months. Microsoft has retreated from ambitious AI infrastructure plans, scrapping data center projects that would have increased its computing power by about 14%. The company is also developing its own AI models while struggling with the market traction of Copilot, which has not advanced beyond initial testing for many organizations. Broader trends indicate a slowdown in AI adoption growth rates among U.S. workers and growing apprehension among CIOs regarding AI expenditures.
AppWizard
March 27, 2025
Samsung initially aimed to deliver the One UI 7 update to eligible Galaxy S phones by Q1 2025, but this timeline will not be met, with a new expected arrival date in April. The recent launch of the Galaxy S25, which includes the update, has added to user frustration. Users have formed distinct groups in response to the situation: some vow to stop purchasing Samsung devices, others rationalize the delays by blaming Google, and some remain indifferent as long as their devices function properly. The situation highlights issues in communication and transparency from Samsung regarding software updates.
AppWizard
March 26, 2025
Jack Black is dedicated to his role as Steve in the upcoming A Minecraft Movie, reportedly spending over 100 hours playing the game during filming. Torfi Frans Ólafsson, Mojang's senior director of original content, noted that Black's portrayal is a unique interpretation of the character. To enhance the cast's connection to the game, Xbox consoles were installed in their trailers, allowing collaborative gameplay. Black developed a fascination with lapis lazuli, a crafting material in the game. A hero pack tie-in featuring pixelated Jack Black’s Steve has been introduced in Minecraft, and an action figure based on the film has been released. The film is set to be released on April 4, and it promises to combine Black's comedic style with the Minecraft universe.
AppWizard
March 13, 2025
Google is addressing user concerns regarding media transmission issues in RCS chats within the Messages app by implementing updates to enhance media reception performance. The updates aim to improve the "receiving performance" of media texts. Additionally, Google has introduced enhanced scam detection measures for Pixel devices, utilizing AI technology to identify and flag potential scams in the Messages and Phone apps, providing real-time alerts for suspicious messages. There is also anticipation for Google's promised 911 RCS texting capabilities, which would allow users to text emergency services and send images and videos, although the timeline for this feature remains uncertain.
Winsage
March 3, 2025
Windows services are essential for the functionality of the operating system, and while many can be deactivated, caution is advised. Daemon Master is a tool that allows users to configure executables, shortcuts, or batch files as services that start automatically with Windows. To create a service with Daemon Master, users must launch the application, click “New,” assign a service name and display name, and optionally add a description. The default start type is “Automatic,” and users can specify the path to the desired EXE file. After saving, the service will appear as “stopped” and can be started by right-clicking and selecting “Start service.” Services run in the background, but users can access the program window temporarily by selecting “Start service on desktop.” Services can be managed by starting, pausing, resuming, or stopping them, and unnecessary third-party services can be disabled through the system configuration. Troubleshooting can involve restarting specific services, like the Print Spooler for printing issues. To delete a service, users must identify its name, stop it using the command prompt, and then delete it with the sc.exe tool. Tools like Autoruns can also be used for managing services. While deactivating services may not improve performance, it can reduce security vulnerabilities, and programs like Ashampoo Winoptimizer can help users assess the necessity of installed services.
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