dispute Archives

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

SAG-AFTRA union files complaint against Epic over Darth Vader Fortnite AI voice work

SAG-AFTRA has filed a formal complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Epic Games for using artificial intelligence to voice Darth Vader in Fortnite without prior notice or negotiation. The union emphasizes the need to protect performers' rights and accused Epic Games of failing to engage in good faith negotiations regarding changes to employment terms, specifically the replacement of human actors with AI-generated voices.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

N.J. sues Discord, alleging the messaging app leaves kids vulnerable to predators

State officials in New Jersey have filed a lawsuit against Discord, alleging that the messaging platform fails to protect children from online predators and misrepresents its safety features, particularly regarding direct messaging. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin claims that Discord's misleading safety settings have made it a target for predators, exposing young users to risks. Discord has announced its intention to contest the lawsuit, asserting its commitment to safety. The complaint points out that Discord's default settings allow users to receive friend requests from anyone and that its claims about scanning and removing explicit content are misleading. The lawsuit demands that Discord relinquish profits earned in New Jersey and seeks civil penalties, following incidents where inadequate safeguards led to child exploitation. Additionally, a man has been accused of communicating with a 14-year-old victim on Discord after previously assaulting her.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

N.J. sues messaging app Discord for alleged youth endangerment

New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Discord, alleging that the platform's safety measures for young users are inadequate and misleading. The lawsuit claims that Discord's safety protocols have exposed children to violent content, harassment, and sexual abuse, despite the company's assertions that it provides a "safe space for teens." Key concerns include the platform's ineffective age-verification process, which allows children under 13 to access the app, and the failure of its "Safe Direct Messaging" feature to effectively scan for explicit content. Discord has expressed surprise at the legal action and maintains its commitment to improving safety on the platform.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

What is messaging app Signal and how secure is it?

Signal was used for a secret group chat among senior U.S. officials, which included discussions about a military strike against the Houthi group in Yemen. This incident was revealed when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, was inadvertently included in the chat. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the leak as "one of the most stunning" in military intelligence history and called for an investigation. Signal has an estimated 40 to 70 million monthly users and is known for its end-to-end encryption, which ensures message privacy. However, experts warn that using Signal for sensitive national security discussions is unusual, as such conversations typically occur on secure government systems. There are concerns about potential legal issues with disappearing messages on Signal, particularly regarding official record-keeping. The ongoing debate over end-to-end encryption has seen companies like Signal resist governmental attempts to create backdoors for monitoring communications.

AppWizard

March 12, 2025

Playdead founder dispute goes legal

Dino Patti and Arnt Jensen, founders of Playdead, are in a public dispute over intellectual property issues stemming from a LinkedIn post by Patti in 2024, where he shared an image originally owned by Jensen. Jensen is demanding DKK 500,000 (approximately ,600) as compensation. Jensen's legal team claims Patti's use of Playdead's assets and disclosure of confidential information breaches confidentiality agreements. Patti has accused Jensen of bullying him, prompting him to make the situation public. Playdead has stated they have formally addressed concerns regarding Patti's alleged infringement and unauthorized use of their trademarks and copyrighted materials. Patti left Playdead in 2016 following internal discord.

AppWizard

March 2, 2025

Trailer Round-Up: The Surfer, Havoc, The Assessment, A Minecraft Movie, Eden, Andor: Season 2 and More

- The Surfer: Directed by Lorcan Finnegan, starring Nicolas Cage, in theaters May 2. Cage plays a father trying to reconnect with his son through surfing, facing a local surfer gang. Critics praise Cage's performance. - Havoc: Directed by Gareth Evans, starring Tom Hardy, on Netflix April 25. Hardy plays a detective trying to rescue a politician’s son from a drug deal. - The Assessment: Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel, in theaters March 21 and on VOD April 8. Set in a dystopian future where procreation is a privilege, it features a cold assessor played by Alicia Vikander. - A Minecraft Movie: Directed by Jared Hess, in theaters April 4. Features Jack Black and Jason Momoa, following characters in the Minecraft universe. - Eden: Directed by Ron Howard, follows German settlers in the 1930s attempting to create a self-sufficient community in the Galápagos Islands. U.S. release date pending, premieres in Germany this April. - Holland: Starring Nicole Kidman, on Prime Video March 27. A psychological thriller exploring hidden secrets in suburban life. - A Working Man: Jason Statham stars in a revenge thriller, in theaters March 28. - Sacramento: A buddy comedy featuring Michael Cera and Kristen Stewart, in theaters April 11. - Another Simple Favor: Blake Lively stars in a sequel, streaming May 1 on Prime Video. - The Rule of Jenny Pen: A horror thriller starring John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush, in theaters March 7. - Death of a Unicorn: A whimsical adventure with Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, in theaters March 28. - The Parenting: A horror comedy featuring Brian Cox and Lisa Kudrow, streaming on MAX March 13. - Darkest Miriam: An indie drama starring Britt Lower, in select theaters March 28.

BetaBeacon

February 28, 2025

Dredge mobile review – “A magnificent port in a foggy, Lovecraftian storm”

The fishing mini-game on mobile requires tapping the screen at the right moment. The inventory system allows for easy tapping, dragging, and placing of items. The game involves fishing in a peaceful setting during the day, but at night, a fog rolls in with dangerous creatures. Upgrading your boat with resources allows for better equipment, but overconfidence can lead to disaster. The game features excellent music, sound effects, animations, and world design. The characters encountered have compelling stories, and the mutated fish descriptions are vivid. Some islands in the game are less compelling than others, with minor irritations like vines obstructing paths.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Amazon Is Killing Its Appstore for Android Devices

Amazon will close its Amazon Appstore for Android on August 20, shifting focus to enhancing the Appstore experience on Fire TVs and Fire Tablets. Users on Android devices will need to switch to Google Play for apps, while developers can still update existing apps but cannot submit new ones. In-app purchases through the Amazon Appstore will no longer be available. The Amazon Coins program will remain active until the shutdown date, with unused coins eligible for a refund afterward. The Appstore, launched in March 2011, faced challenges competing with Google Play and Apple, and has already shut down in China and plans to withdraw from Windows by March 5.

Winsage

February 17, 2025

About darn time: Microsoft says it has fixed the annoying lag in Windows Explorer when working with cloud-based files

The recent beta update from Microsoft, identified as KB5052094, aims to improve the sluggish performance of Windows Explorer when managing OneDrive files. This update is currently available only to users in the Review Release Channel of Windows 11. Users on the standard public release have not yet tested these performance claims. The update is anticipated to address the lag experienced during context menu operations, such as right-clicking on cloud files. The delays in these operations have been a source of frustration for users, impacting workflow. There are speculations regarding the delay in addressing this issue, which may involve necessary adjustments to Azure's infrastructure.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

The year’s Steam Replay reveals 85% of Steam users in 2024 spent time playing games released in 2023 or earlier

Only 15 percent of Steam users dedicated time to new releases in 2024, according to Steam Replay 2024. On average, players achieved around 13 accomplishments and engaged with four games throughout the year, with a median longest play streak of six days. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Steam, initially by Wolfire Studios and Dark Catt Studios, now including any developers or individuals who accepted Steam's 30 percent cut on purchases since January 28, 2017, with a motion for class certification recently approved.