breaks Archives

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Breaks Ground Overseas With Strong $18M+ Through Thursday

Warner Bros/Legendary’s A Minecraft Movie has earned .4M across 55 international markets as of Thursday, excluding its opening in China, which grossed .6M, marking the largest opening for a Hollywood film this year. The film is projected to exceed M in international earnings, with strong performances anticipated in Europe and the Middle East, where it has already earned .4M. In Latin America, the film has achieved a 90% share of the Top 5 titles, with notable performances in Mexico (.9M), Germany (.7M), France (.5M), and Australia (.1M). In China, it achieved a No. 1 start, capturing 30% of the market and ranking as the second biggest import of the year after one day.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

How an app about a cartoon bird is helping me be a better person

Three weeks ago, the author began using the Finch app, which serves as a habit tracker and routine builder. Users go through an onboarding process to create a personalized starter plan based on their responses to questions about sleep patterns and routines. Finch allows users to set and customize their goals, with reminders for daily habits. A unique feature is the ability to hatch and care for a virtual bird, which grows and embarks on adventures as users complete their goals. Finch also encourages self-care by prompting users to check in on their mood and offering suggestions for uplifting activities. The app has helped the author form positive habits, such as journaling and flossing, and it is available for free download on Android.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

South of Midnight

South of Midnight is a video game developed by Compulsion Games for PC and Xbox Series X/S, set to release in early 2025 at a price of .99. It features a coming-of-age story centered around Hazel Flood, a teenage track star who embarks on a quest to rescue her mother after a hurricane separates them. The game incorporates elements of Southern Gothic folklore, including characters like a talking catfish and the child thief Huggin' Molly. Hazel, an African-American teenager, navigates themes of generational poverty and historical struggles faced by Black individuals in the South. The gameplay includes platforming, puzzles, and combat, reminiscent of action-adventure titles from the PlayStation 2 era, with a total playtime of around 10 hours. The game showcases a rich visual style with detailed environments and a stylized aesthetic, supported by a soundtrack composed by Olivier Deriviere. South of Midnight has received the Editors' Choice accolade and is noted for its narrative depth and cultural significance.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

10 best tips to help you survive your first night in Minecraft | Esports News – The Times of India

1. Gather wood immediately to craft tools and build a shelter. 2. Craft essential tools like pickaxes, swords, and shovels for resource gathering and combat. 3. Build a quick shelter, such as a small cave or a wooden hut, to survive the night. 4. Mine stone to create more durable tools like stone pickaxes and swords. 5. Light up your shelter with torches to prevent hostile mobs from spawning. 6. Gather food from animals to avoid starvation and cook it for energy. 7. Avoid hostile mobs by staying inside your shelter after dark. 8. Set your spawn point by crafting a bed from wool and wooden planks. 9. Keep an eye on your coordinates to locate your shelter if needed. 10. Plan for the next day by gathering resources, enhancing your shelter, and exploring.

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

How to use ChatGPT: A beginner’s guide to the most popular AI chatbot

ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, was launched in late 2022 and has evolved into a versatile tool for tasks such as composing emails, generating essays, brainstorming ideas, translating languages, assisting with coding, and answering questions. OpenAI offers a free version and paid plans for additional features. Users can access ChatGPT via its website or app without creating an account, although registration unlocks features like saving chat history. The user base has grown to over 400 million weekly users within six months. OpenAI's subscription plans include a free tier, a Plus plan at per month, and a Pro plan at 0 per month. ChatGPT can assist with advice, data analysis, browsing, deep research, image generation with DALL·E, and file uploads. Features include Voice Mode for spoken interaction, ChatGPT Canvas for visual organization, and ChatGPT Tasks for scheduling reminders. ChatGPT can also generate images and videos, with the upgraded GPT-4o image generator available to Plus subscribers. The desktop app is available for Windows and MacOS, and users can try ChatGPT without logging in. Accuracy may vary, and users are advised to fact-check responses.

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

Minecraft has finally added a pause button after 16 painful years

Mojang has introduced a pause function in the Bedrock edition of Minecraft, allowing solo players to take breaks without worrying about in-game threats. This feature is not available in multiplayer settings. Previously, players had to find safe spots to avoid dying when interrupted by real-life events. The update also includes new social functionalities, enabling players to showcase their statistics, screenshots, and achievements on a revamped profile page.

Winsage

March 26, 2025

Windows 11 update breaks Veeam recovery, causes connection errors

Microsoft and Veeam are addressing connection errors affecting users of Windows 11 24H2 systems, particularly those restoring data with Veeam Recovery Media on builds 26100.3194 and higher. The errors occur when attempting to restore files from a Veeam Backup & Replication server or SMB network share, with messages indicating network connection failures and issues with the Local Security Authority. Veeam suggests using Recovery Media from older Windows 11 builds (26100.3037 or lower) as a temporary solution. Veeam clarified that they cannot provide pre-generated Recovery Media images due to proprietary components. Over 550,000 customers use Veeam products, including 82% of Fortune 500 companies. In February, Microsoft also addressed issues related to the KB5051987 update that affected Outlook functionalities on Windows 24H2 systems.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Half-Life 2 RTX is the future of PC gaming, for better or worse

Nvidia has released a complimentary two-hour demo of Half-Life 2 RTX for owners of the original Half-Life 2, showcasing advanced features such as full path tracing and neural shaders. The game includes enhancements like improved meshes, materials, lighting, and the Neural Radiance Cache, which optimizes ray-traced indirect light. The demo demonstrates significant upgrades in asset quality and shadow rendering, but the game is resource-intensive, requiring DLSS for playable performance, particularly at 4K resolution. The demo evokes the original game's atmosphere and is seen as a significant step in Nvidia's remastering efforts. There is currently no release date for the full version, but the demo is available for free on Steam.

AppWizard

March 17, 2025

Retro-style survival horror game PHASE ZERO announced for PC

SPINA Studio and SUPERHOT PRESENTS are developing a retro-style survival horror game titled PHASE ZERO, set to launch on PC via Steam, with a demo expected soon. The game features episodic chapters focusing on two protagonists, set in the fictional town of Flint Peak in 1994 during a snowstorm. A mysterious illness transforms the town's inhabitants into grotesque creatures. Players will navigate the environment using fixed camera angles and prerendered backgrounds, reminiscent of 90s horror games. Key features include confronting mutated monsters, exploring a 3D pre-rendered environment, and experiencing a chilling soundtrack.

Winsage

March 14, 2025

Microsoft ‘Install Fails’—New Update Breaks Windows

Windows users are experiencing significant challenges with Microsoft's latest critical software release, "KB5053598," a mandatory update for Windows 11 24H2. Many users report "install fails," and some have encountered a Blue Screen of Death, causing their PCs to crash. The update, part of the March 2025 Patch Tuesday cycle, includes critical security fixes for zero-day vulnerabilities. Users have faced issues such as PCs failing to boot post-update and difficulties with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connections dropping unexpectedly. Testing revealed that the update often stalls at various percentages, with error messages indicating complications. Windows 10 users are being urged to upgrade before the October support deadline, with estimates suggesting around 800 million users have yet to transition, many lacking the necessary hardware. The reasons for the update issues remain unclear, and Microsoft has paused the update for certain problematic PCs. Currently, there are no known workarounds for the March 2025 Update issues, and users are advised to consider uninstalling the update.