building blocks Archives

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

You can put Minecraft’s gorgeous new biome and building blocks to the test right now

Mojang has introduced the Dappled Forest biome in Minecraft, featuring Poplar Trees with off-gray wood and autumn-colored leaves. The biome includes Shelf Mushrooms that grow on these trees, providing culinary uses and reducing fall damage. Players can collect Red Shrubs that retain their color and propagate with Bone Meal. The update also adds Wool Stairs and Wool Slabs in sixteen colors, and introduces abandoned camps with unique designs and loot. The Dappled Forest hosts various wildlife, including sheep, chickens, cows, pigs, rabbits, and foxes. The update is available for testing in Minecraft Bedrock preview 26.40.27 and Minecraft Java snapshot 26.3.

Winsage

June 16, 2026

The RTX 20 series has officially become Nvidia’s Windows 7

Windows 7 now has a user base of only 0.07%, while 8.54% of Nvidia RTX owners still use the RTX 20 series graphics cards. The RTX 20 series, launched in 2018, introduced technologies like ray tracing and DLSS, which have since evolved and become standard in modern gaming. Despite their decline, both Windows 7 and the RTX 20 series are still utilized by loyal users, with the RTX 20 series being the oldest generation still in use. The RTX 20 series is recognized for laying the groundwork for advancements in PC gaming, and its long-term impact is expected to be significant.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

How mathematicians use Minecraft to calculate pi

Mathematicians Molly Lynch and Michael Weselcouch developed a method to approximate the value of pi (π) within the game Minecraft using a probabilistic darts technique. They constructed a circular structure with a radius of 11 blocks surrounded by a square and introduced random events using slimes, which move randomly. By counting the number of slimes killed within the circle compared to the total number killed, they calculated an approximation of π. During their test, they killed 619 slimes, with 508 inside the circular area, yielding an approximation of π ≈ 3.283. They noted that increasing the size of the square and the number of slimes could improve accuracy.

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.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

Minecraft Chaos Cubed update: Release date, features and more

Mojang Studios is releasing the Chaos Cubed update, version 26.2 of Minecraft, in mid to late June 2026. This update introduces the Sulfur Caves biome and the Sulfur Cube mob, enhancing the underground experience of the Overworld. The Sulfur Caves feature toxic gases, hot pools, and new building blocks, including vibrant yellow Sulfur and deep red Cinnabar. The Sulfur Cube is a passive mob that changes its properties based on absorbed blocks, enabling new gameplay mechanics. This update follows the Tiny Takeover update and is part of Mojang's quarterly release schedule.

Winsage

March 31, 2026

Speechify Launches with On-Device Voice AI for 1B+ Windows Users Worldwide

Speechify has launched a Windows application featuring real-time text-to-speech and speech-to-text functionality, allowing for both cloud-based and on-device processing. On-device processing ensures user voice data remains secure on the machine. The application utilizes the Windows ML stack and platform APIs to operate across x64 and Arm64 architectures, leveraging Qualcomm’s Snapdragon technology for enhanced performance. The ONNX Runtime's QNN execution provider facilitates real-time transcription on Snapdragon laptops, enabling a split encoder-decoder architecture that optimizes processing. The application includes features like system-wide shortcuts, auto-pasting of transcribed text, OCR functionality, and secure data handling through Windows DPAPI. The Speechify Windows application is available for x64 and Arm64 devices via the Microsoft Store.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

Google Unveils AppFunctions to Connect AI Agents and Android Apps

Google has introduced early beta features for Android aimed at enhancing task-centric capabilities through an "agent-first" operating system. The key component is AppFunctions, a Jetpack API that allows developers to expose self-describing capabilities within their applications for seamless interaction with AI agents while prioritizing user privacy and performance by executing tasks on-device. AppFunctions operates similarly to backend capabilities declared via MCP cloud servers but runs locally on the device. Additionally, a UI automation platform has been introduced to assist users in performing complex tasks without requiring developer input. This platform allows users to complete tasks like placing pizza orders or coordinating rideshares through the Gemini Assistant. Privacy and user control are emphasized, with all interactions designed for on-device execution and mandatory confirmations for sensitive tasks. Currently, these features are in early beta and available exclusively on the Galaxy S26 series, with plans for broader deployment in Android 17.

AppWizard

February 27, 2026

Android 17 Beta 2 gives apps a way to access contacts, display color securely

Google has released Android 17 Beta 2, which includes features aimed at enhancing user privacy. The update introduces a limited-access contacts picker that allows apps to access specific contacts based on user-selected data fields, employing a temporary, session-based read access model. This reduces the need for broad READ_CONTACTS permissions and allows users to choose which contacts to share. Additionally, the EyeDropper API is introduced, enabling apps to collect display color data without requiring screen capture permissions, thus enhancing security. Both features are designed to give users greater control over their personal information.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

SU students dominate the world of Minecraft

SU E-Sports organized a Minecraft Build Battle competition on February 20, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Charlie’s Lounge, allowing walk-in participants without prior registration. A bake sale was held on February 12 in Lower Deg to fund the event, featuring Minecraft-themed treats. Participants had one minute to select building blocks and three minutes to construct designated structures over eleven rounds. Notable builds included a cow, cat, headphones, desk, apple, soda, pizza, Freddy Fazbear, treehouse, car, and flower. Jason Petersen won at least three rounds, including the cow, headphones, and desk builds. Other winners included Tommy Wright for the cat build and Malichite Merenda for the apple build. The event fostered creativity and community spirit within SU E-Sports.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

Building Blocks: Abyssal Monument

The Abyssal Monument is a sunken temple located beneath the ocean in Minecraft Dungeons, part of the Hidden Depths DLC. It becomes available after completing the Squid Coast and Coral Rise missions. Players must manage oxygen while exploring, utilizing bubble columns, conduits, and water breathing potions. Challenges include strong water currents, poisonous pufferfish, and obstructed pathways that create a complex environment. Players need to balance exploration with survival to uncover the monument's secrets.