contract Archives

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Minecraft Club builds strong communities-in-common

At Oakestown Intermediate School, the Minecraft Club, led by sixth-grader Nicholas Voiles as mayor, promotes collaborative creativity and community building among students. The club operates under a social behavior contract signed by all members, emphasizing shared responsibility and democratic principles. Teacher Chelsy Darby facilitates the program, which has gained popularity since its establishment last year through Grandville Community Education. Club members meet weekly to construct a virtual city, engage in battles, and participate in challenge builds, each taking on specific roles like banker or sheriff. The club fosters friendship opportunities and enhances problem-solving, strategizing, and coding skills among participants. Members vote on decisions, reinforcing the democratic aspect of the club. Darby highlights the development of interpersonal skills as students collaborate and communicate during gameplay.

Winsage

January 27, 2026

Microsoft Keeps Adding Windows Features, But Trust Keeps Eroding

Windows 11 has received mixed reviews, with users expressing dissatisfaction primarily due to unexpected changes, mandatory decisions, and problematic updates rather than performance issues. Microsoft frequently introduces new features, but these are often met with resistance due to a lack of user consent and clear communication. Recent Patch Tuesday updates have led to complications, diminishing user trust. Users desire clarity about changes, optional features, and centralized privacy controls. They seek a clearer relationship with Microsoft, which includes no advertisements in core interfaces, no mandatory features without opt-in, transparent communication, and meaningful feedback mechanisms. The bond between Microsoft and its users is strained, requiring clarity and consistency to rebuild trust.

Winsage

January 26, 2026

Microsoft’s biggest Windows bug is user confidence

Windows 11 is recognized for its speed, stability, and security improvements over Windows 10, but users express frustration with certain changes, particularly regarding the TaskBar. There is a growing discontent among users due to decisions made by Microsoft that make them feel marginalized, such as changes to the taskbar and Start menu, the introduction of ads in core areas, and confusing telemetry settings. Users desire clarity, consistency, and control, seeking transparency about changes, the removal of ads, straightforward privacy settings, and opt-in AI features. They want the Insider Program to become a collaborative partnership rather than just a bug-reporting channel. A proposed solution is a "Windows Social Contract," which would include commitments to no ads in the core system UI, no forced feature rollouts, clear privacy controls, transparent communication about changes, a meaningful feedback loop, and user choice in AI integrations. The relationship between Microsoft and its users is currently strained, and rebuilding trust is essential for user satisfaction.

Tech Optimizer

January 8, 2026

These 5 expert-tested antivirus programs are less than $30 right now

Numerous antivirus providers are currently offering exceptional deals on reliable software, with prices comparable to a year’s subscription to Netflix's premium plan. Antivirus coverage is crucial as the financial repercussions of a malware attack can exceed the cost of subscriptions. Available antivirus solutions protect against malware, viruses, spyware, and phishing attempts, and may include features like a VPN, password manager, and identity protection. Comprehensive packages can support protection for up to 10 devices, with notable options including Norton 360 Premium, McAfee Total Protection, and Bitdefender Total Security. These programs provide robust real-time protection across various operating systems and include enhancements such as webcam protection, hardened browsers, and ransomware rollback.

BetaBeacon

January 7, 2026

8BitDo FlipPad controller for enjoying portrait games on Android and iOS

8BitDo has introduced the FlipPad, a portrait mode clip-on controller for mobile gamers who prefer minimal accessories. The controller has 12 face buttons and a D-Pad, making it suitable for portrait games that do not require shoulder trigger buttons. It is designed to overlay over on-screen keyboards for ergonomic comfort and is compatible with third-party applications and emulators. The controller plugs directly into smartphones via USB-C and does not have Bluetooth connectivity.

AppWizard

January 4, 2026

30 hidden gems from 2025 to grab before the Steam Winter Sale ends

The PC gaming landscape in 2025 features a diverse array of new titles, many receiving critical acclaim. A selection of 15 standout games has been curated based on specific criteria: they were released or re-released in 2025, received little to no prior coverage, have around 95% positive user ratings, offer offbeat yet accessible gameplay, are discounted by a minimum of 30%, and include one game per genre. 1. Project Silverfish - Price: £17.50 (30% off); Developer: Siris Pendrake; A non-linear shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world with lizard-people and multi-faction battles. 2. Contract Rush DX - Price: £11.72 (30% off); Developer: Figburn & Melon; A platformer blending elements of Mega Man and Contra with vector animation and humor, allowing players to tackle levels in any order. 3. Godpoke - Price: £10.05 (40% off); Developer: LimboLane; An adventure where players mend quarrelsome gods using a dialogue-stealing mechanic to solve puzzles. 4. Missile Command Delta - Price: £11.72 (30% off); Developer: 13AM Games, Mighty Yell; A tactical hex-based strategy game with a teen drama narrative and point-and-click puzzles. 5. Shooty Shooty Robot Invasion - Price: £5.10 (40% off); Developer: Bubby Darkstar; A humorous FPS where players navigate a beach while dealing with quirky robot foes. 6. Maliki: Poison Of The Past - Price: £15 (40% off); Developer: Blue Banshee; A JRPG-inspired title featuring time travel and turn-based combat based on a webcomic. 7. Desecrators - Price: £7 (30% off); Developer: Woodhound; A roguelike shooter with procedurally generated levels and online co-op support. 8. Wyrmhall - Price: £2.55 (70% off); Developer: Leafy Games; A game where players manage an artifact-cleaning stall in an interdimensional nexus. 9. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo - Price: £11.72 (30% off); Developer: Pocket Trap; An adventure game featuring dungeon-crawling and puzzle-solving mechanics inspired by classic Zelda games. 10. Lingo 2 - Price: £5.95 (30% off); Developer: Brenton Wildes; A word puzzle adventure set in a minimalist block labyrinth. 11. Skogdal - Price: £8.37 (50% off); Developer: Erlend Kirkeboe, Kay Arne Kirkeboe; A deck-building game set in a quirky, 90s Norway with humor and strategic gameplay. 12. Schism - Price: £6.50 (35% off); Developer: Fami; A low-fi action roguelike with a punk aesthetic and intense combat. 13. My Little Puppy - Price: £14.69 (30% off); Developer: Dreamotion Inc.; An emotional adventure following a corgi's journey through the afterlife. 14. Decade - Price: £5.95 (30% off); Developer: Last Piscean; A narrative-driven game exploring time travel consequences in a post-apocalyptic world. 15. Kiloton - Price: £2.14 (50% off); Developer: Jack Morehart; A minimalist strategy game simulating geopolitical tensions with quick decision-making.

AppWizard

December 29, 2025

Daemon Bride: Additional Gain for PC launches December 30

Developer Team ARCANA will release the PC version of the 2D fighting game Daemon Bride: Additional Gain on Steam on December 30, priced at 2,980 yen, with a 10 percent promotional discount until January 14, 2026. The game will be available in English and Japanese. Daemon Bride: Additional Gain is an enhanced version of the original Daemon Bride, which was first released in Japanese arcades on November 24, 2011. Set in 2025, the game features 17 angels and demons in combat, with online play supported by rollback-compatible net code. Notable enhancements include the first home port from the arcade version, the introduction of the boss character Dies Irae Deus as a playable character, support for both 16:9 and 4:3 screen ratios, high-resolution custom upscaling, a comprehensive training mode, and an in-game guidebook titled “Primer of Duel.”

Winsage

December 19, 2025

Explained: Why you can’t move Windows 11 taskbar like Windows 10, according to Microsoft

Since the rollout of Windows 11, users have noted the absence of a movable taskbar, which was possible in Windows 10. Microsoft has not indicated plans to reintroduce this feature, as they believe it may not serve the majority of users. The taskbar in Windows 11 was developed from scratch without the code necessary for repositioning it. Microsoft’s data-driven approach prioritizes features that benefit the largest user base, leading to a focus on essential functionalities rather than customization options. Technical challenges arise from moving the taskbar, as it would require significant adjustments to app layouts and designs. Microsoft has instead restored drag-and-drop support on the taskbar and optimized it for smaller screens and touch devices. Recent updates have introduced AI-driven features, raising concerns about the feasibility of a movable taskbar as the focus shifts toward integrating AI rather than user customization.

TrendTechie

December 15, 2025

Торренте — Бетис: прогнозы 3 декабря 2025

“Бетис” won the derby against “Sevilla” with a score of 2-0. Head coach Manuel Pellegrini may rest key players in the upcoming Copa del Rey match against “Torrente,” where he might field reserves and young talents. “Torrente” is struggling in the fourth tier of Spanish football, with only two wins in 13 matches and defensive issues at home. Pellegrini has extended his contract with “Betis” until summer 2027, and the team is currently in the top five of La Liga. “Betis” recently won a Copa del Rey match against “Palma del Rio” 7-1 and previously won the tournament in the 2021/22 season. Starting lineups for the match include several unavailable players due to injuries. Predictions suggest a likely victory for “Betis” with a handicap of -2.5, and a possibility of both teams scoring. An exact score prediction is 1:5 in favor of “Betis.”

Tech Optimizer

December 12, 2025

Agentic Postgres: Postgres for Agentic Apps with Fast Forking and AI-Ready Features

Tiger Data has launched Agentic Postgres, a database solution built on Postgres for AI agents and developers. It features rapid forking capabilities, a multi-channel processing (MCP) server, and native support for BM25 and vector searches via a command-line interface (CLI). The MCP server allows users to interact with agents through high-level prompts for tasks like schema design. Agentic Postgres includes two advanced plugins to enhance search functionalities: an upgraded pgvectorscale for improved indexing and pg_textsearch for BM25 keyword ranking. The core of the platform is Fluid Storage, a distributed storage system that enables rapid, zero-copy forks of production data. Tiger Data highlights the importance of fluidity in database management for agentic software, which requires quick scaling and modifications. The growing needs of developers for integrated solutions reflect a shift due to AI advancements. Competitors in the market include Firebolt, Weaviate, and Qdrant. A free tier for Agentic Postgres is available, offering access to various features with limitations.