December Archives

BetaBeacon

May 13, 2025

YouTube could score big with an exclusive NFL streaming first

YouTube is in talks to potentially stream its first exclusive NFL game, with reports suggesting that it could happen on the Friday of the opening week. This game would be accessible globally for free, marking a significant shift as YouTube is a free platform unlike Amazon and Netflix.

Winsage

May 9, 2025

How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop providing security updates for Windows 10 unless users enroll in the Extended Security Updates program. Upgrading to Windows 11 may be difficult for PCs older than five or six years due to strict compatibility requirements, including a CPU on the approved list and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. Users may encounter error messages if their hardware does not meet these criteria. There are workarounds for some users, particularly those with PCs designed for Windows 10, but older devices, especially with AMD processors, may face significant challenges. To upgrade, users must ensure their PC is configured to start with UEFI, supports Secure Boot, and has an enabled TPM. A registry edit can allow bypassing CPU checks and accepting older TPM versions. Alternatively, a clean installation of Windows 11 can be performed using installation media, which bypasses CPU compatibility checks but still requires TPM and Secure Boot support. Microsoft has introduced new restrictions with the Windows 11 version 24H2 update, requiring CPUs to support specific instructions (SSE4.2 and PopCnt). For those opting to use the Rufus utility to create installation media, it is essential to use version 4.6 or later to bypass compatibility checks. Users must download the Windows 11 ISO, prepare a USB drive, and follow specific steps to initiate the upgrade process.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Peak Sekiro-like Nine Sols gets a 40% price cut ahead of its 1-year anniversary, and if you’ve ever liked parrying in a videogame, you need to play this thing

Nine Sols is an indie game developed by Red Candle Games, released in May 2024. It combines metroidvania elements with parry-timing combat inspired by Sekiro. The game is currently available at a 40% discount until May 12. Players are encouraged to experience the gameplay before exploring supplementary materials like the prelude manga.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Mojang’s big Minecraft VR mistake

Mojang has officially discontinued VR support for the Bedrock version of Minecraft on PCs, ending a VR initiative that began in April 2016. The Gear VR version was initially available on devices like the Oculus Go and original Oculus Quest, but support for older games on the Oculus Quest 2 rendered these experiences obsolete. Modders, particularly through the Vivecraft mod, have filled the gap left by Mojang, with QuestCraft being a notable port for Meta Quest headsets. Despite Mojang's claims of lacking resources for VR, the company has over 55 million daily active players and a workforce of more than 600 employees, indicating financial stability. The demographics of the Meta Quest user base suggest a strong potential interest in Minecraft if officially supported. Recent collaborations between Meta and Microsoft hint at potential opportunities for an official Minecraft VR port, yet progress remains stagnant. The QuestCraft Discord server has 80,000 members, indicating significant interest in a VR version of Minecraft, which could attract hundreds of thousands of active users.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Play ransomware exploited Windows logging flaw in zero-day attacks

The Play ransomware gang exploited a critical vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System, identified as CVE-2025-29824, to execute zero-day attacks, gaining SYSTEM privileges and deploying malware. Microsoft recognized this flaw and issued a patch during last month's Patch Tuesday. The gang targeted sectors including IT and real estate in the U.S., the financial sector in Venezuela, a Spanish software company, and retail in Saudi Arabia. They used the PipeMagic backdoor malware to deploy the CVE-2025-29824 exploit and install ransomware payloads. Symantec's Threat Hunter Team linked these activities to the Play ransomware-as-a-service operation, noting the use of the Grixba infostealer tool. The Play ransomware group, active since at least June 2022, employs double-extortion tactics and has compromised approximately 300 organizations globally as of October 2023. Notable victims include Rackspace, Arnold Clark, the City of Oakland, Dallas County, Antwerp, and Microchip Technology.

BetaBeacon

May 3, 2025

‘Single’s Inferno: Choices’ Launches on Netflix Games on Android and iOS

Netflix Games has introduced a new game called Single's Inferno: Choices, based on the South Korean dating series. The game allows players to create their character and experience romance on a remote tropical island. It is developed by XO Games, a subsidiary of Series Entertainment Inc. This marks the first time Single's Inferno has been translated onto Netflix Games.

AppWizard

May 3, 2025

Meta launches AI app to compete with ChatGPT

Meta has launched a standalone AI application during its LlamaCon event, providing users with direct access to Meta AI similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The app, available in the U.S. and Canada, utilizes user data from platforms like Facebook and Instagram to deliver personalized interactions. Users can enhance the AI's memory by sharing additional information. The app employs the Llama 4 model, offering advanced features such as image generation and editing, a voice mode for interaction, and a “discover” feed. Since its integration across platforms in 2023, Meta's AI assistant has attracted nearly 600 million monthly users as of December 2024.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

Pushing passkeys forward: Microsoft’s latest updates for simpler, safer sign-ins

The tech community is celebrating the first "World Passkey Day," moving away from "World Password Day," with Microsoft and other organizations committing to the Passkey Pledge to promote passkey adoption. Microsoft has developed passkeys as a secure authentication method, replacing traditional passwords and allowing access via facial recognition, fingerprints, or PINs. Over 99% of users now prefer Windows Hello for sign-ins, and hundreds of websites support passkeys, which are resistant to phishing. Last year, there were 7,000 password attacks every second, highlighting the urgency of this transition. Microsoft has introduced passkey support for consumer applications, achieving nearly a million registrations daily, with passkey sign-ins being three times more successful and eight times faster than traditional methods. New Microsoft accounts will be created without passwords by default, and the sign-in process will prioritize passwordless methods. Currently, over 15 billion user accounts can use passkeys, with a goal to transition billions more.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

Elden Ring hits 30m copies shipped

Elden Ring has surpassed 30 million copies shipped, as announced on the game's official Twitter account. The figure refers to copies shipped, not sold. As of December 2024, the game had shipped 28.6 million copies. Elden Ring is on track to rival the success of Dark Souls, which has shipped over 39 million copies since 2011.

Winsage

April 29, 2025

Microsoft’s AI Secretly Copying All Your Private Messages

Microsoft is relaunching its AI-driven feature, Recall, which continuously captures background screenshots on Copilot+ PCs optimized for AI functionalities. Initially introduced in May, Recall was retracted due to privacy concerns over unencrypted storage of screenshots containing sensitive user data. After testing through Microsoft's Insider program, Recall has been updated to encrypt the screenshot database and requires users to opt in to save screenshots. However, it still poses risks by potentially capturing sensitive information from communications without the knowledge of other parties involved. Security researcher Kevin Beaumont has noted that the sensitive information filter is unreliable, and the encrypted database is only secured by a basic four-digit PIN. Beaumont's testing revealed that Recall indexed everything it stored, including ephemeral messages and images. He cautioned users to check if Recall is enabled when discussing sensitive topics with others on Windows PCs.