conversations Archives

AppWizard

July 28, 2025

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game review

Players immerse themselves in a life simulation game called Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, set in the town of Bywater, where they experience the daily lives of hobbits through activities like cooking, fishing, and farming. The game is developed by Wētā Workshop and published by Private Division, priced at .99 in the U.S. and £29.99 in the UK. Players take on the role of a newcomer helping local hobbits, engaging in detailed environments to forage for ingredients and prepare meals. The cooking system allows players to create various dishes, enhancing the gameplay experience, while foraging and fishing offer limited engagement. Farming is restricted to small planter boxes, and quests often involve repetitive tasks. The game features complex hobbit characters, adding depth to the narrative, but overall, it may lack gameplay variety and depth.

AppWizard

July 28, 2025

Alert for Android users: Experts say these apps could be spying on you

A comprehensive investigation by Which? and Hexiosec analyzed 20 popular Android applications, revealing that all request permissions that could compromise user privacy. The Xiaomi Home app had the highest number of permission requests at 91, followed by Samsung SmartThings with 82, Facebook with 69, and WhatsApp with 66. While some permissions are necessary for functionality, the excessive requests raise concerns about digital surveillance. TikTok faced scrutiny for its audio recording and device file access requests, while Temu was criticized for excessive promotional emails linked to its location access. Amazon defended its camera access requests as enhancing user experience, and Meta stated that its apps do not use the microphone without user involvement. The investigation highlights the trade-off between free services and the collection of personal data.

Winsage

July 27, 2025

Microsoft Weekly: a new Surface, big Windows 11 feature update, and more

In July 2025, Microsoft released non-security updates for Windows 10 (KB5062649) and Windows 11 (KB5062663 for versions 22H2 and 23H2; KB5062660 for version 24H2), introducing AI functionalities, improvements in Settings, and a redesigned BSOD. Companies like Brave and AdGuard are blocking Windows Recall due to privacy concerns. Microsoft is developing a tool for transitioning from older to newer computers and published a guide for Windows 10's end of support on October 14, 2025. The Windows Insider Program released Build 27909, focusing on minor fixes, and introduced an audio-sharing feature. Microsoft disclosed a security breach in SharePoint affecting the US nuclear weapons department and provided fixes. The Surface Laptop 7 was launched with Intel's Core Ultra 200 Series processors and optional 5G connectivity. The Files app received a preview update with a new Omnibar. Meta is transitioning WhatsApp on Windows to a progressive web app, and Firefox released version 141.0 with AI-powered tab groups. Microsoft is testing a cross-device play history feature for Xbox and reversed its decision on Xbox game pricing. EA announced a new Battlefield installment, and Nvidia added new titles to GeForce NOW. Various discounts and a free game, Legion TD 2, were featured in the Weekend PC Game Deals.

AppWizard

July 25, 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs are the new popular kids on the RPG block, visiting both Hideo Kojima and Final Fantasy creators Square Enix for ‘a creatively rich exchange of visions and ideas’

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a video game developed by Sandfall Interactive, created by a team of over 30 individuals. The game's director, Guillaume Broche, along with lead programmer Tom Guillermin and co-founder Francois Meurisse, visited Square Enix to exchange ideas with notable figures such as Naoki Hamaguchi and Yoshinori Kitase. This collaboration reflects a constructive dialogue in the gaming industry, emphasizing admiration for established franchises. Additionally, Hideo Kojima has also engaged with the Sandfall team, showcasing a collaborative spirit in the industry.

Winsage

July 24, 2025

SMEs need channel help moving off Windows 10

71% of IT decision-makers view the transition to Windows 11 as an opportunity to enhance PC infrastructure. 64% of UK decision-makers consider the ability to run AI applications as critical for their organizations. Currently, 20% of customers have not started transitioning from Windows 10, 25% have completed the migration, and 44% are working towards the October end-of-life support deadline. Small firms are particularly lagging in this transition. Analysts predict a global PC market growth of 5.8% in 2025, with total shipments expected to reach 272 million units, following a 9% growth in Q1 and a 7.4% year-on-year improvement in Q2.

Winsage

July 23, 2025

Copilot Vision on Windows 11 sends data to Microsoft servers

Microsoft is integrating artificial intelligence into Windows 11 with new features, including Copilot Vision, which serves as a remote assistant processing information in the background. Windows 11 is positioned as the home for AI, offering features like Recall, Click to Do, and enhanced search capabilities. Copilot Vision captures continuous screenshots for analysis using optical character recognition and a large language model, with data processed on Microsoft servers. User data is not stored long-term, except for conversation transcripts with the Copilot assistant. The update introduces an "agentic" AI capable of adjusting system settings based on natural language commands, currently available on Copilot+ systems with Qualcomm Snapdragon hardware, with Intel and AMD support expected. Microsoft has also enhanced the "Click to Do" feature and introduced AI capabilities in applications like Photos, Paint, and the Snipping Tool. The traditional Blue Screen of Death has been replaced with a Black Screen of Death, which promises a more readable error message format. Additionally, Microsoft has unveiled the Surface Laptop 5G, featuring a 13.8" display, Intel Core Ultra processors with a neural co-processor, and optional 5G connectivity, expected to be available in 2025.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

Abiotic Factor review

Abiotic Factor is a survival crafting game developed by Deep Field Games and published by Playstack, scheduled for release on July 22, 2025, priced at £25. The game features a narrative about scientists trapped in a secret underground facility, combining humor and survival elements. Players use office supplies and academic skills to fend off interdimensional threats while exploring the GATE facility and establishing a home base that evolves over time. The game includes interactive mechanics for sleeping and eating, character creation with trait selection, and diverse combat options. Players can craft unique weapons and engage in cooperative gameplay, exploring new sectors and alternate dimensions for resources and lore.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

I wore an AI voice recorder on my wrist for a week, here’s how it went

Artificial intelligence has become integral to daily life, especially with the introduction of ChatGPT. Plaud has launched the Note and NotePin devices aimed at recording conversations, meetings, and notes, which can be transcribed via the Plaud app. The NotePin is a compact device that offers various wearing options, though only the pin and clip are included; additional accessories cost extra. It has a standby time of up to 40 days and 20 hours of continuous recording, with a two-hour recharge time. The NotePin retails at 9, with a subscription model for additional AI features costing 0 per year for the AI Pro plan and 0 annually for the AI Unlimited tier. The recording and transcription features are functional but not exceptional, with delays due to cloud processing. The Plaud app provides detailed transcriptions, speaker identification, and a mind map of dialogues. However, devices like the Google Recorder app on Pixel phones offer more efficient on-device processing, making them a more appealing choice for recording and transcription.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

WhatsApp Said to Be Developing Quick Recap Feature for Unread Messages

WhatsApp is developing a feature called Quick Recap for its Android app, currently in testing within beta version 2.25.21.12. This feature will allow users to generate concise summaries of unread messages from up to five selected conversations, located in the three-dot menu. Quick Recap utilizes Private Processing for data security, ensuring user data remains secure during processing. It will be optional and disabled by default, with users able to activate it in app settings. Conversations with Advanced Chat Privacy enabled will not be compatible with this feature. The launch timeline for Quick Recap has not been disclosed.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Crypto Messaging App Ephemera Bags $20M Series B at $300M Valuation

Ephemera, a blockchain-based messaging platform, secured million in a Series B funding round, co-led by Union Square Ventures, A16z Crypto, and Lightspeed Faction, achieving a valuation of 0 million. The round included participation from Coinbase, Sound Ventures, and actor Ashton Kutcher. The funding was structured as equity with token warrants, and Fred Wilson from Union Square Ventures joined Ephemera’s board. The platform is developed by the creators of XMTP, a decentralized messaging network utilizing IETF-standard Messaging Layer Security, which is trusted by companies like Mozilla, Google, Wire, and Cisco. XMTP aims to allow users to transfer conversations between different messaging apps, addressing concerns about centralization and user ownership of messages.