catalog Archives

AppWizard

April 5, 2025

Nintendo should have cribbed from Valve on how to make a good handheld tech demo

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct introduced a feature called Welcome Tour, which is priced at 990 yen (approximately £5), though there are speculations it may cost more. The feature has been described as a "glorified tech demo" or a "digital manual." In contrast, Valve's Aperture Desk Job is a free tech demo for the Steam Deck that effectively showcases its functionalities while incorporating humor and narrative elements from the Portal universe. It takes about half an hour to complete and has received positive reviews for its engaging gameplay and clever references. Many players find it both entertaining and educational. In comparison, the Welcome Tour has been criticized for its generic presentation and lack of creativity, highlighting a disparity between Nintendo's past successes and its current offerings.

TrendTechie

April 1, 2025

«Пиратская бухта» локализуется в России

A working group has been formed under the Ministry of Digital Development to localize The Pirate Bay on the "GosTech" platform, involving government, industry, and copyright representatives. A vice-premier will lead the group, addressing challenges faced by Russian citizens since 2022 regarding access to foreign entertainment. The "Gosbukhata" initiative aims to provide access to international and domestic films, with local companies and channels willing to upload content. Filmmakers have concerns about user fees, and a draft of a new Presidential Decree outlines the process for acquiring rights from copyright holders in unfriendly countries. Users of torrent software will need to register with Roskomnadzor and pay an annual fee of 500 to 1000 rubles for access, with fee distribution managed by the All-Russian Copyright Holders Union. Additionally, VK plans to launch a domestic peer-to-peer multimedia content exchange platform named "RuMul" by 2025, currently in the sigma-testing phase.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

Arc System Works rhythm puzzle game Magical Beat now available for PC

Arc System Works and APLUS Games have released the PC version of the rhythm puzzle game Magical Beat on Steam, priced at .99 or 990 yen. The game originally launched in Japanese arcades on May 31, 2012, and was later released on PS Vita on December 12, 2023, and PlayStation 3 on August 5, 2014, with the PS Vita version reaching Western audiences on June 17, 2014. Magical Beat combines match-3 gameplay with rhythm elements, where players drop colored blocks called beatons in sync with the music. The game features an original Vocaloid soundtrack by Kikuo and includes tracks from various Arc System Works titles, such as Guilty Gear and BlazBlue. Players can eliminate beatons by connecting three or more of the same color, and the game includes over 100 soundtracks from different series.

AppWizard

March 30, 2025

Get up to 85% off some of the PCs weirdest adventure games, all to benefit ‘humanitarian relief in Ukraine’

Amanita Design is hosting a sale from March 26 to April 2, offering discounts of up to 85% on its entire game catalog, with all proceeds going to humanitarian aid in Ukraine through the organization People in Need. The original Samorost is free, Samorost 2 is priced at £1.28, Samorost 3 at £2.54, and Machinarium at £5. Botanicula, released in 2012, and Creaks, released in 2020, are both available for £5. Amanita's upcoming project, Phonopolis, features a narrative inspired by Karel Čapek and George Orwell. A complete bundle of all games and soundtracks is available for just over £25.

Winsage

March 27, 2025

Optional Windows 11 update fixes USB printers spitting out nonsense

Microsoft released the KB5053657 update on Tuesday to address an issue in Windows 11 where certain USB printers were printing random text. This update is applicable only to Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2 versions, while users of Windows 11 24H2 do not have an equivalent update yet. The USB printer issue originated from a problematic update released in January 2025, which affected multiple patches. Microsoft clarified that the update fixes issues with USB connected dual-mode printers that might output incorrect text. Additionally, complications from the January update for Windows 11 24H2 have caused Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) disconnections. Microsoft is implementing a Known Issue Rollback to revert the problematic changes, with a permanent solution expected in a future update for Windows 11 24H2.

Winsage

March 27, 2025

Windows 11 KB5053656 update released with 38 changes and fixes

Microsoft has released the KB5053656 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2, featuring 38 enhancements, including real-time translation capabilities for Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel processors. This update addresses authentication issues and blue-screen errors, and is classified as an "optional non-security preview update." It introduces live captions and real-time translation support for over 44 languages, enhances Windows Search with improved capabilities, and fixes issues related to the MsiCloseHandle API and boot menu entries. The update also phases out the Location History feature and acknowledges known issues affecting Citrix components and Roblox on Windows Arm devices. Users can install the update via Windows Update or manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update upgrades systems to build 26100.3624. Windows 11 24H2 is broadly deployed and accessible to all users.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Tencent backs new Ubisoft subsidiary

Ubisoft has established a new subsidiary dedicated to its major franchises, including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. This entity will manage both upcoming titles and the existing catalog, allowing for increased investment and development. Tencent has invested €1.16 billion for a 25 percent stake in this subsidiary, which is valued at approximately €4 billion. Ubisoft's current market capitalization is around €1.91 billion. The move is part of Ubisoft's strategy to transform its operating model and build strong game ecosystems. There have also been discussions about potentially selling some of Ubisoft's intellectual properties to companies like Microsoft and EA.

Winsage

March 26, 2025

Hate Windows 11’s search? Microsoft is fixing it with AI, and that almost makes me want to buy a Copilot+ PC

Windows 11 is introducing a natural language search feature for Copilot+ PCs, currently in testing. The latest Beta channel preview (build 26120.3585) includes 'local semantic search' capabilities for laptops with AMD or Intel processors, and Snapdragon (Arm-powered) PCs can access it in the Release Preview. This feature allows users to query settings directly and utilizes the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for local processing, ensuring no data is sent to the cloud. It can also retrieve photos from OneDrive alongside local files. Microsoft plans to extend support to third-party cloud storage services. The feature will gradually roll out in the Beta channel, and users may need to reboot their devices to activate it. Semantic indexing is enabled by default on Copilot+ PCs, with options to disable it or exclude specific files. The AI-driven search capability has progressed from the Dev channel to the Beta and Release Preview stages, indicating a strong likelihood of a finalized version for Windows 11.

Winsage

March 26, 2025

Hackers Exploit Windows MMC Zero-Day Vulnerability to Execute Malicious Code

Russian threat actors are exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), identified as CVE-2025-26633, allowing them to bypass security features and execute harmful code. The hacking group Water Gamayun, also known as EncryptHub and Larva-208, is behind this campaign, using a weaponized version of the vulnerability called “MSC EvilTwin” to deploy various malicious payloads, including information stealers and backdoors. The vulnerability affects multiple Windows versions, particularly older systems like Windows Server 2016. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added CVE-2025-26633 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, requiring federal agencies to patch affected systems by April 1, 2025. Microsoft included this vulnerability in its March 2025 Patch Tuesday update. Recommended mitigations include applying security patches, restricting network access to MMC ports, and monitoring for unusual MMC activity.

AppWizard

March 22, 2025

All Xbox and PC Game pass subscription models | Esports News – The Times of India

Xbox Game Pass offers various subscription plans for gamers: - Xbox Game Pass Core: .99/month for Xbox consoles, provides access to a rotating selection of over 25 games, including titles like Doom Eternal and Fallout 4, focusing on multiplayer experiences. - Xbox Game Pass Standard: .99/month for Xbox consoles, offers full access to the entire game library, including RPGs and the latest releases, along with exclusive offers and discounts. - PC Game Pass: .99/month for PC platforms, includes the full catalog of PC games and access to EA Play, featuring franchises like FIFA and The Sims. - Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: .99/month for both Xbox consoles and PC platforms, combines features of all other plans, offers day-one access to new releases, and includes online multiplayer and EA Play. The recently introduced Xbox Game Pass Standard plan for console users is priced at .99/month and offers benefits similar to the Ultimate plan but does not include access to the PC Game Pass library.