compensation Archives

Winsage

February 25, 2026

Microsoft gives Windows laggards the ‘gift of time’ wrapped in licensing fees

Microsoft is offering up to three years of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for older Windows installations, with the expectation of compensation. Most major versions of Windows 10 will reach end of support by 2025, while Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB and Windows IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 will end support on October 13, 2026, and Windows Server 2016 will conclude support on January 12, 2027. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2025 for Windows Server 2016 users. The pricing for ESU for Windows 10 2016 LTSB starts at a specified amount per device for the first year, with expected increases in subsequent years. Customers using Intune or Windows Autopatch may receive a reduced rate. There is no official pricing for Windows Server 2016 ESU, creating uncertainty for administrators. Historically, Microsoft has charged a premium for extended support, with previous ESU costs for Windows Server 2012 being 100 percent of the full license price for the first year. The final cost of ESU will depend on each organization’s licensing agreement.

AppWizard

February 19, 2026

Fill out our quick questionnaire about your gaming habits and you could nab a $300 Amazon voucher

The ongoing survey aims to gather insights into gaming habits for the year 2026 and will remain open until March 8, 2026. Participants could win an Amazon voucher valued at £250. Key stipulations for the prize draw include: participants must be 18 years or older, only residents of the US or UK are eligible (with certain exceptions), each household is allowed one entry, and automated entries are not permitted. The prize draw will start at 12:00 (BST) on February 16, 2026, and end at 12:00 (BST) on March 8, 2026. Late or incomplete submissions will be disqualified.

AppWizard

February 15, 2026

Steam wants you to share your PC specs on your reviews

Valve is testing a feature that allows Steam reviewers to include their hardware specifications in their reviews, currently available only to participants in Steam's Client Beta. This feature aims to help players diagnose performance issues and share experiences based on similar hardware setups. The latest beta patch also addresses an issue where streaming could throttle downloads after a session ends and introduces an option to provide anonymized framerate data for improving game compatibility. Additionally, the Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a £656 million market rigging lawsuit against Valve can proceed, potentially allowing 14 million Steam users in the UK to seek compensation. The lawsuit, initiated by digital rights campaigner Vicki Shotbolt, accuses Valve of manipulating the PC games market and imposing price parity clauses that limit competition.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

Addicted Gamer Sues Fortnite and Minecraft Over Video Game Addiction

A US gamer, Cayden Breeden, has filed a lawsuit against Epic Games, Microsoft Corporation, and Mojang Studios in New York, claiming that Fortnite and Minecraft are designed to exacerbate video game addiction. The lawsuit alleges that the companies failed to inform players about the dangers of excessive gaming and did not implement safeguards against compulsive gaming, which Breeden characterizes as negligent and fraudulent. He describes his gaming habits as compulsive, leading to withdrawal-like symptoms when not playing, and seeks compensation for pain, suffering, emotional distress, and related costs. The case argues that the design mechanics of both games promote extended play and addictive behaviors, despite lacking traditional gambling elements. This lawsuit is part of a growing trend of legal actions against gaming companies in the US. Community reactions on Reddit have varied, with some users expressing skepticism about the lawsuit's viability and others discussing the balance between personal responsibility and corporate accountability in game design. The outcome of the case could impact future game design and regulatory compliance in the industry. No formal statements have been made by the defendants regarding the lawsuit.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Man sues Minecraft and Fortnite saying they fueled his video game addiction

A video game player, Cayden Breeden, has filed a lawsuit against the creators of Fortnite and Minecraft, as well as Microsoft, in the New York Southern District Court, claiming he developed an addiction to these games. The 56-page complaint alleges that the companies failed to implement necessary safeguards against gaming addiction, which Breeden argues poses significant risks to players. He accuses the companies of negligence and fraud, stating that their business practices are deceptive and exacerbate gaming addiction for profit. Breeden describes his gaming habits as compulsive and disordered, leading to withdrawal-like symptoms such as anger and antisocial behavior. He is seeking compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical expenses, and attorney's fees. This lawsuit reflects a growing trend of legal actions against game developers for practices that encourage addictive behaviors, with similar cases being filed in recent years.

AppWizard

January 27, 2026

Gamer Sues Makers of Minecraft and Fortnite for Video Game Addiction

A player, Cayden Breeden, has filed a lawsuit against Epic Games, Microsoft Corporation, and Mojang Studios, claiming that his addiction to Fortnite and Minecraft is due to the companies' game designs. The 56-page complaint alleges negligence and fraud, stating that the companies failed to implement necessary safeguards to mitigate excessive gaming risks and did not warn players about these dangers. Breeden describes his gaming habits as compulsive and disordered, leading to significant personal consequences, including withdrawal symptoms such as anger and antisocial behavior. He is seeking damages for pain, emotional distress, medical expenses related to his addiction, and legal costs.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

xAI Hires Android Engineers to Build Mobile Apps for Grok AI Chatbot

Elon Musk's xAI is hiring Android engineers in London, New York, Palo Alto, and San Francisco to enhance mobile experiences for its Grok AI chatbot and the X platform. Candidates should have expertise in Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, and reactive programming. Applications can be submitted by messaging Attila on X or visiting xAI's jobs portal, with a focus on practical experience. The hiring process includes a 15-minute phone interview, two technical rounds involving live coding and hands-on exercises, and a final meeting with the xAI team. The positions offer competitive salaries, equity compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package. Musk aims for xAI to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI) within two years, with Grok 5 expected in early 2026 having a 10 percent chance of reaching AGI. The roles aim to integrate AI capabilities into mobile devices for widespread use.

BetaBeacon

December 24, 2025

5 Tips to Extend Your Android Phone’s Battery Life for Gaming

Smartphone users often struggle with draining battery life, especially when playing online casino games on Android phones. To extend battery life, users can utilize power saver mode, lower screen brightness, close non-essential apps, use Wi-Fi instead of cellular service, and adjust game settings for lower graphics quality. Maintaining a high battery percentage is crucial for uninterrupted casino gaming sessions.

TrendTechie

December 8, 2025

Торренты и пиратство в разных странах

Amnezia's team has received user feedback about VPN limitations for downloading torrents, attributed to legal frameworks in server-hosting countries rather than technical issues. VPN services face abuse reports from hosting providers when torrents are downloaded, leading to traffic restrictions. Specialized B2B servers, like Amnezia's Swiss P2P server, are more expensive but located in countries with lenient torrent laws. In 2024, visits to pirate sites reached 216 billion globally, with the U.S. leading at 26.7 billion visits. All major jurisdictions prohibit the distribution of copyrighted content, but penalties for piracy vary by country. - **Switzerland**: Allows personal downloading from illegal sources for personal use; uploading is prohibited. - **Netherlands**: Personal copying from illegal sources banned since 2014. - **Germany**: Intentional copyright infringement can lead to fines or imprisonment; enforcement often results in civil actions. - **France**: Increased efforts to block pirate sites; penalties include fines and potential criminal charges. - **Canada**: Notice-and-Notice model with rare fines for piracy. - **India**: Both sharing and downloading torrents are illegal; courts can issue injunctions against unknown infringers. - **United Kingdom**: Strict anti-piracy measures with civil lawsuits and potential prison sentences. - **United States**: Stringent laws with civil lawsuits for piracy; criminal cases are rare. - **Singapore**: Criminal liability for serious copyright infringement. - **Japan**: Illegal downloading can lead to prison or fines; severe penalties for sharing. - **Thailand**: Distributing pirated content is illegal; penalties vary by violation type. - **Vietnam**: Laws against piracy exist, but enforcement is rare. - **Turkey**: Prohibits downloading and sharing pirated content; enforcement focuses on commercial piracy. - **Portugal**: Prohibits downloading from copyright-violating sources; piracy levels remain high. - **Russia**: Civil lawsuits for damages are pursued, but individual users are rarely targeted. Overall, while anti-piracy laws are strict, enforcement is often lax, leading to a low likelihood of legal repercussions for torrent downloading in many regions, except in Germany and Japan.

Tech Optimizer

December 7, 2025

FTC sends $15.3 million in refunds to Avast antivirus customers

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing million to 103,152 consumers affected by misleading marketing practices related to Avast's antivirus software. This distribution began on December 2, 2025, as part of a settlement finalized in June 2024, which addressed allegations that Avast collected, stored, and sold users' browsing information without proper notice or consent. Consumers can receive payments via checks, PayPal, or Zelle, with specific timeframes for cashing or redeeming funds. Rust Consulting, Inc. is the refund administrator, and individuals are advised not to pay any fees or provide account information to file claims. The settlement also imposes restrictions on Avast, including a permanent ban on selling web browsing data for advertising and a requirement to obtain clear consent from users for any future data sales.