discussion

AppWizard
May 17, 2025
Civilization 7 has received a divided response from players, with its Steam rating showing a near-even split. As of three months post-launch, only 48% of Steam reviewers rated the game positively, reflecting a modest increase of 4% since its release. The game ranks as the 8th best-selling game of 2025 in the United States, but its player count is significantly lower than previous entries, with approximately 9,537 concurrent players compared to 43,307 for Civilization 6 and 15,981 for Civilization 5. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, acknowledged the game's launch challenges and noted that varied opinions are common in the franchise's history. Robert Zak, a reviewer, highlighted the game's streamlined and accessible nature but mentioned that some players may miss the depth of earlier titles.
Winsage
May 16, 2025
Microsoft is winding down support for Windows 10 this October and has released update KB5058379, which has caused unexpected BitLocker recovery prompts for some users after a restart. This issue has been confirmed by Microsoft representatives on forums, although it is not mentioned in the update's release notes. The problem predominantly affects devices from manufacturers like Dell, HP, and Lenovo, and the specific cause is unclear. Microsoft has provided workarounds, including disabling Secure Boot and virtualization technologies, checking Microsoft Defender System Guard Firmware Protection status, and disabling firmware protection via Group Policy or Registry Editor.
Tech Optimizer
May 14, 2025
Databricks has acquired Neon, a cloud-based database startup specializing in serverless PostgreSQL, in a billion-dollar deal. This acquisition aims to enhance Databricks' role in the AI tooling landscape and reflects a shift in the database market to meet the needs of AI-native applications. Neon, founded in 2021 and based in Menlo Park, California, had raised nearly million before this acquisition. Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi noted that 80% of databases on their platform are created by code rather than humans, indicating a shift in database management driven by autonomous AI agents. Databricks has been actively acquiring companies to strengthen its AI development capabilities, having previously acquired firms like MosaicML and Arcion. Ghodsi emphasized that as a private entity, Databricks can make long-term strategic decisions without public market pressures. The acquisition reflects a broader trend of increased deal-making in the AI sector and highlights the growing importance of robust data infrastructure in the context of sovereign AI initiatives.
Winsage
May 14, 2025
Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. After this date, Microsoft 365 Apps will continue to function on Windows 10 devices, but Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 11 to avoid potential performance issues. Microsoft will provide security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 for three years after the end of support, ending on October 10, 2028. However, Microsoft will not test new releases on Windows 10 after the end-of-support date. Support for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 will have limitations, including advising upgrades to Windows 11 for issues that do not occur on Windows 11, limited troubleshooting assistance for customers unable to upgrade, and no option to log bugs or request additional updates. These support options do not apply to consumers using the Personal and Family editions of Microsoft 365.
AppWizard
May 13, 2025
Google is piloting a new "Discussion" feature in its Search app, focused on sports-related queries, which allows users to engage in real-time commentary. The feature, resembling a Reddit-style forum, enables users to share thoughts, respond to others, and use upvotes and downvotes. Currently in beta, it is accessible when searching for matchups like "Team vs Team" in the United States, aiming to create a community feel among sports enthusiasts.
Tech Optimizer
May 13, 2025
ClamAV is a free, open-source antivirus tool that allows public scrutiny of its code, ensuring security and integrity. It is compatible with multiple platforms, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, and is suitable for self-hosted servers and virtual machines. ClamAV includes features like SigTool for managing the virus signature database and ClamBC for advanced dynamic detection capabilities. It operates through a command-based interface, which may be intimidating for some users, and requires initial configuration. Despite its thorough scanning process, it may not perform as quickly as other antivirus solutions. ClamAV is recognized for its ability to identify a wide array of potential threats without financial investment.
AppWizard
May 12, 2025
WB Games experienced a 48% decline in gaming revenue for the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to the lack of new game releases compared to the previous year. The disappointing performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which resulted in a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: WB Games finds itself navigating turbulent waters, as a recent financial report reveals a staggering 48% decline in gaming revenue for the first quarter of 2025. Although the report does not dedicate a section solely to gaming, it highlights the significant impact of recent game releases on the company's bottom line. Revenue Decline and Impairment The report attributes this sharp revenue drop primarily to the absence of new game releases in the current quarter, especially when compared to the previous year’s launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. This title, which has been a topic of discussion since its release, has not only failed to meet expectations but also contributed to a staggering loss of 0 million for Warner Bros back in June 2024. The game’s final update was rolled out in January of this year, suggesting that the financial repercussions may have continued to ripple through the company. Despite the challenges, the previous year saw over 22 million copies of Hogwarts Legacy and Mortal Kombat 1 sold, which injected substantial revenue into Warner Bros. However, even with such successes, the current decline in revenue is stark. The report notes that the company’s expenses related to gaming content have plummeted by 66%, a reduction attributed to the impairment linked to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and lower revenue in the current quarter. Corporate Decisions and Studio Closures This drop in expenses raises eyebrows, particularly as it coincides with the closure of several studios, including Monolith, Player First Games, and WB San Diego, along with the cancellation of a much-anticipated Wonder Woman game. While the report presents this information in a clinical manner, the implications are clear: the company is tightening its belt in response to a poorly performing title. The language used to describe these events is notably sanitized, yet it hints at a dismal sentiment surrounding the failure of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. It’s reminiscent of a dramatic court scene where a noble drops their goblet in shock at the audacity of a courtier's remarks. The fallout from this situation has not only affected the financial landscape but has also led to layoffs and the resignation of the head of WB Games, underscoring the tumultuous environment within the gaming industry. As the dust settles, the focus shifts to the leadership decisions that led to the creation of this ill-fated game, rather than placing blame on the developers who were tasked with bringing it to life. The current state of affairs serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges facing companies in the gaming sector." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million loss for Warner Bros in June 2024, contributed significantly to this decline. The company's gaming content expenses dropped by 66%, linked to the impairment from the failed title and lower revenue. Several studios, including Monolith, Player First Games, and WB San Diego, were closed, and a Wonder Woman game was canceled. The situation has led to layoffs and the resignation of the head of WB Games.
Winsage
May 12, 2025
The official end of Windows 10 is set for October 14, 2025, after which users will no longer receive technical support, new features, or security patches. Windows 10's global desktop market share has decreased from nearly 70% to approximately 53% over the past year, indicating a shift towards Windows 11. Microsoft 365 apps, including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and OneDrive, will continue to receive security updates on Windows 10 until October 2028. The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program offers optional, paid security patches for Windows 10 after its end of support. Users may face significant hardware costs when upgrading to Windows 11, and alternatives like macOS or Linux are also options to consider.
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