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AppWizard

May 31, 2025

NYC students use Minecraft to reimagine inclusive, sustainable spaces in citywide challenge

The all-girl team from P.S. 86 participated in the Minecraft Education Challenge for the second year, focusing on designing a sustainable and inclusive space at Orchard Beach. The challenge, part of the Battle of the Boroughs, had 3,259 applicants, with 175 students in the semi-finals. The team, consisting of sixth graders Yoselin, Zeynabou, Pearl, Emily, and Sadika, was guided by their teacher Kim Judin. They proposed features like solar panels, wheelchair accessibility, and bilingual signage. Although they did not advance to the finals, the experience was valuable for team bonding. The Mayor’s Cup Finals are scheduled for May 31.

Tech Optimizer

May 31, 2025

Study offers a national report on antivirus software trends

Nearly half of Mac users have encountered viruses despite having protective software installed, challenging the belief that Apple products are immune to malware. The report highlights that 71% of Android users have antivirus software, but only 49% seek third-party tools. More than half of Americans do not use additional security measures beyond antivirus. Among iOS users, 38% are unaware of third-party antivirus options. While 84% have antivirus on computers, only 68% have it on smartphones and 60% on tablets. Despite widespread adoption, only 16% of antivirus users feel their software is ineffective. The virus encounter rates are 44% for Mac users, 36% for Windows users, and 30% for other platforms.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

What’s New On Max In June 2025? ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ ‘The Gilded Age’ And More Streaming

Warner Bros.' streaming service, Max, will feature the arrival of A Minecraft Movie, which follows a group of heroes transported into the Minecraft universe. The film does not have a specific release date. The third season of The Gilded Age premieres on June 22, focusing on the rivalry between wealthy families in 1800s New York. The reboot of Sex and the City, And Just Like That…, will continue with new episodes throughout June. Max will also offer a variety of films, including Bullet Train, Parasite, and the entire Hunger Games series. New content on Max in June includes: - June 1: A Hologram for the King, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Casino, Fight Club, Parasite, and The Hunger Games series. - June 2: BBQ Brawl, Season 6. - June 3: Bullet Train. - June 4: 1000-lb Roomies, Fatal Destination. - June 5: Bea’s Block, Chespirito: Not Really on Purpose. - June 6: House Hunters International, Parthenope. - June 10: Virgins. - June 11: Guy’s Grocery Games. - June 12: Bitchin’ Rides, Mini Beat Power Rockers. - June 13: Cleaner, House Hunters, Maine Cabin Masters, Super Sara, Toad & Friends. - June 16: Hero Ball. - June 17: Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: Animal Pharm, Super Mega Cakes. - June 19: Expedition Unknown, Mystery At Blind Frog Ranch. - June 20: House Hunters, Lu & The Bally Bunch, Now or Never: FC Montfermeil, Teen Titans Go!. - June 21: The Kitchen, The Never Ever Mets. - June 22: The Gilded Age, Season 3. - June 23: Match Me Abroad. - June 24: Enigma, Mean Girl Murders, The Invitation. - June 25: Rehab Addict. - June 27: House Hunters, My Mom Jayne, Pati, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. - June 29: #Somebody’s Son, Family or Fiancé. - June 30: 90 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk, Truck U.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Vietnam to block messaging app Telegram over ‘anti-state’ contents

The Vietnamese government has instructed telecommunications companies to block the Telegram messaging app, citing security concerns and the dissemination of "anti-state" content. This directive was issued by the Telecommunications Department and requires service providers to report compliance by June 2. A document from the Ministry of Public Security indicated that 68% of approximately 9,600 Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam were classified as “bad and toxic,” involved in activities such as anti-state messaging, fraud, and drug trafficking. The government referenced Article 9 of the Telecommunications Law and Decree 147 to justify the ban, claiming Telegram had not complied with regulations. Despite the ban, Telegram remained accessible in Vietnam as of the report date. Telegram expressed surprise at the government's actions and confirmed it is responding to legal requests from Vietnam.

Tech Optimizer

May 29, 2025

How to turn off antivirus

Antivirus software is crucial for digital security, providing protection against malware threats. Users may need to disable antivirus temporarily for reasons such as system resource consumption, particularly during resource-intensive tasks like gaming, or to bypass false positives when installing applications. Disabling antivirus software poses risks, especially when browsing the internet, as even legitimate sites can be compromised. Precautions to take when disabling antivirus include disconnecting from the internet, avoiding USB drives, using trusted networks, closing non-essential applications, verifying the legitimacy of downloaded files, and limiting browsing to secure websites. Users should promptly re-enable their antivirus after completing necessary tasks.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

How to Get Tears Music Disc in Minecraft

In the upcoming Minecraft Summer Drop 2025, six new music tracks will be added, including the Tears music disc, which players can obtain by completing the Return to Sender challenge. This challenge requires players to locate and defeat a ghast in the Nether dimension using its own fireballs. Players must gather Obsidian blocks and Flint and Steel to ignite a Ruined Portal and prepare with a sword, shield, and iron armor. Ghasts can be found in the Soul Sand Valley, Basalt Delta, and Nether Waste biomes. To defeat a ghast, players should block its fireballs with a shield and deflect them back using a sword. After defeating the ghast, the Tears music disc will drop, along with a ghast tear or gunpowder. Players can then use the disc with a Minecraft Jukebox to listen to the music track.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Vietnam orders ban on Telegram messaging app over security concerns

Vietnam's telecommunications providers have been instructed to block access to Telegram due to national security concerns and alleged non-compliance with local laws. The Ministry of Information and Communications claims that 70% of Telegram channels in Vietnam are linked to illicit activities, including fraud and drug trafficking. Officials allege that Telegram has failed to remove illegal content and provide user data for investigations. A spokesperson for Telegram stated that the company had responded to legal requests from Vietnam. Vietnam has a history of enforcing strict online content controls, previously threatening to block Facebook and discussing a ban on TikTok. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested in France earlier this year over allegations related to cybercrime and expressed his commitment to improving the platform's security in light of its rapid user growth to 950 million.

Tech Optimizer

May 28, 2025

Avast Premium antivirus review

Avast Premium is priced at .99 per year and offers a robust suite of security features without unnecessary bloatware. It allows users to back up sensitive files, search for personal data, and block unauthorized webcam access. The software includes quick scans, targeted folder scans, and boot-time scans. It features Email Guardian for scanning incoming messages, a sandbox mode for secure application use, and a banking mode for safe online transactions. A quick scan takes about three minutes, while a full boot sector scan takes approximately 12 minutes. Avast Premium identified around 900,000 files during testing, fewer than some competitors. It lacks comprehensive privacy protection and performance enhancement tools, which may require additional subscriptions. The interface is functional but lacks the sleekness of competitors. Support is available 24/7 via chat, with phone support primarily for billing inquiries and email support tickets for further assistance.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Tops DEG Digital Transactions Chart for Week of May 18

The Minecraft Movie is being produced by a collaboration of renowned studios, focusing on storytelling that resonates with audiences of all ages. The film aims to reflect the core themes of exploration and creativity from the Minecraft experience, utilizing innovative animation techniques to represent the game's iconic pixelated style. The casting process includes a mix of established stars and emerging talent, supported by a creative team of experienced directors and writers passionate about gaming culture. The production team has initiated outreach programs to engage the Minecraft community, allowing fans to contribute ideas and feedback.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Minecraft 1.21.6 Pre-Release 1 Modifies Dried Ghast Sounds, Vibrations and More

Mojang has released Minecraft 1.21.6 Pre-Release 1, focusing on bug fixes and gameplay enhancements. Key changes include: - Dried ghast blocks now emit a vibration frequency of 11 when their state changes, and their ambient sounds have been reclassified under the Blocks sound setting. - Equipping saddles, horse armor, or carpets on mobs triggers a vibration frequency of 6, while unequipping them results in a frequency of 4. - A fix has been implemented to prevent players riding happy ghasts from passing through other occupied happy ghasts. - Technical updates include changes to the Data Pack version (now 79) and Resource Pack version (now 63), improved dialog functionality, and support for standardized dialog inputs.