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UTD Pre-Med Students Are Treating Virtual Patients in a Minecraft World
AppWizard
May 4, 2026

UTD Pre-Med Students Are Treating Virtual Patients in a Minecraft World

The University of Texas at Dallas has introduced a class for pre-med students called “Experiential Medical Reasoning,” which uses the video game Minecraft to create a virtual hospital environment for patient care. Students engage with a playbook within the game to make decisions about tests, patient examinations, and diagnoses. The virtual hospital is a digital replica of Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, developed by IvyBee, a startup founded by Dr. Walter Voit. The initiative is part of a trend of using Minecraft for educational purposes, with positive feedback from students who appreciate the gamified learning approach.
Class uses Minecraft as building blocks for MCAT
AppWizard
May 4, 2026

Class uses Minecraft as building blocks for MCAT

A new course at the University of Texas at Dallas, titled Experiential Medical Reasoning, immerses premed students in a virtual hospital environment using Minecraft. The course, developed by IvyBee, Inc., allows students to engage with fictional patients and make medical decisions based on symptoms and charts. The digital replica of Parkland Memorial Hospital enables students to experience various medical roles while preparing for the MCAT. Students have reported improvements in their MCAT practice scores and gained insights into hospital operations. The course is part of a broader initiative led by Dr. Walter Voit, who aims to enhance student engagement through innovative educational tools.
Windows 11 KB5083631: Faster File Explorer And New Format Support
Winsage
May 1, 2026

Windows 11 KB5083631: Faster File Explorer And New Format Support

Microsoft has released the optional KB5083631 update for Windows 11 (Builds 26200.8328 and 26100.8328, version 24H2). Key features include a new Xbox Mode and an improved File Explorer experience, enhancing speed and stability. The update expands native file handling capabilities, allowing users to open and extract formats like .nupkg, .xar, .uu, and .cpio without third-party software. It integrates elements from Project K2 for optimization and improves the reliability of the explorer.exe process. Interface refinements include retaining the “Extra Large Icons” setting in the Downloads folder, fixing a “white flash” glitch in Dark Mode, and maintaining folder viewing preferences. The update package is about 5.1 GB for x64 systems and 4.6 GB for ARM architectures, with no major known issues reported. It can be accessed via Windows Update or offline installers, and these enhancements will be included in the mandatory May 2026 Patch Tuesday release.
Windows is sabotaging your expensive hardware, and these are the biggest ways how
Winsage
April 9, 2026

Windows is sabotaging your expensive hardware, and these are the biggest ways how

Modern PCs, even with mid-range hardware, can experience performance issues not solely due to hardware limitations but because of how Windows operates. The operating system runs numerous background services that consume resources, including Connected User Experiences and Telemetry, Diagnostic Policy Service, and Windows Error Reporting. These services log activity and send data to Microsoft, leading to unexpected CPU spikes and disk usage. Startup applications, such as Microsoft Teams and OneDrive, also contribute to longer boot times and increased resource usage. Users should monitor and limit these applications to improve startup performance. Legacy features like SysMain, Windows Search indexing, and automatic folder type discovery can hinder performance on modern systems, as they were designed for older hardware and can cause unnecessary disk activity. Microsoft services like Copilot and OneDrive continuously run in the background, consuming memory and CPU resources, which affects overall system performance. Windows' power management settings prioritize energy efficiency over performance, leading to inconsistent responsiveness and delays during tasks. This conservative approach impacts various components, making the system feel sluggish.
Showing the Windows 10 desktop was the yeast they could do
Winsage
April 8, 2026

Showing the Windows 10 desktop was the yeast they could do

A bakery in Ontario, Canada, displayed three Windows 10 desktops in a humorous signage mishap. The bakery advertises itself as "Artisan, Fresh, and Healthy," and has a security camera aimed at preventing baguette theft. The presence of Windows 10, despite its criticisms, is seen as more favorable than its successor, Windows 11. The bakery lacks typical enticing imagery, featuring instead the default Windows 10 wallpaper.
I watched the first TV show ever based on a game and it made me realize: we've really got it good these days
AppWizard
April 7, 2026

I watched the first TV show ever based on a game and it made me realize: we’ve really got it good these days

The animated series Pac-Man, produced by Hanna-Barbera from 1982 to 1983, features characters such as Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man (Pepper), and Pac-Baby living in Pac-Village, which is governed by the Pac-President and protected by Super-Pac. The series includes antagonists like Mezmaron and a group of ghost monsters: Inky, Blinky, Pinky, Clyde, and Sue. Mezmaron seeks to capture Pac-Man for his knowledge of Power Pellets, which grow on Power Pellet Trees in the Power Pellet Forest. The show consists of 44 episodes over two seasons and often concludes with Pac-Man consuming the ghosts, who then return to Mezmaron in new ghost suits. The humor is aimed at children but lacks cleverness, and notable voice actors include Peter Cullen and Alan Lurie. The second season introduced a younger version of Pac-Man named PJ and increasingly bizarre plots.
Windows asks a networking question on a Stratford billboard
Winsage
April 6, 2026

Windows asks a networking question on a Stratford billboard

A network notification reading "Do you want to allow your PC to be discoverable…?" appeared on a billboard outside London's Stratford station, drawing attention from passersby and tech enthusiasts. This incident was noted by a reader of The Register and highlights the unpredictable nature of technology. Stratford station, established in the early 19th century, features modern amenities and is near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a legacy of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The display serves as a reminder of the user interface changes introduced with Windows 8, which was released in 2012.
'There's always the chance s**t hits the fan and we suffer another major setback,' Skyblivion lead says about the possibility of another delay, but 'from what I see internally I am pretty optimistic'
AppWizard
April 3, 2026

‘There’s always the chance s**t hits the fan and we suffer another major setback,’ Skyblivion lead says about the possibility of another delay, but ‘from what I see internally I am pretty optimistic’

The Skyblivion development team is working on a mega mod to recreate The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion using technology from The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition. The release, originally set for 2025, has been postponed to 2026. Project lead Rebelzize acknowledged the team is "stretched thin" but remains committed to delivering a polished game. He urged the community to temper expectations and recognize the team's dedication.
The Emperor Protects: A Warhammer 40,000 Musical is a deeply committed April Fool's joke from Games Workshop, and I don't care if it's a day late because it's just that good
AppWizard
April 3, 2026

The Emperor Protects: A Warhammer 40,000 Musical is a deeply committed April Fool’s joke from Games Workshop, and I don’t care if it’s a day late because it’s just that good

April 2 marks the end of the April Fool's festivities until 2027. "The Emperor Protects: A Warhammer 40,000 Musical" is being promoted on YouTube, featuring performances by Space Marines and Battle Sisters of songs like "Suffer Not the Alien To Live," "My Collection," and "There Is Only the Emperor." A behind-the-scenes video showcases rehearsal footage and insights from producers Adam and Eddie, though access may require a VPN for viewers in Canada. The musical is set to premiere on April 1, 2027. The Warhammer community is enthusiastic about the project, with fans expressing eagerness for its realization. The production features three songs, elaborate costumes, and a dedicated cast.
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