early 2000s Archives

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ sucks, I love it

“A Minecraft Movie” is a 100-minute film that debuted on April 4, featuring a disjointed plot, lackluster script, and minimal character development. The film takes viewers into the “overworld” of Minecraft, where characters attempt to return to reality but face a rushed narrative that prioritizes action and comedy over coherent storytelling. Jack Black stars as Steve, with Jason Momoa as Garrett Garrison, showcasing strong chemistry. Supporting characters, including siblings Henry and Natalie, lack depth, and Jennifer Coolidge’s subplot feels inconsequential. Despite critical reception, the film has grossed over half a billion dollars, driven by the popularity of Minecraft and viral snippets of dialogue. Audience members engaged with the film during screenings, indicating a level of enjoyment despite its flaws.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

JDM: Japanese Drift Master review

Japanese Drift Master (JDM) is an open-world racing game set to be released on May 21, 2025, priced at in the U.S. and £29 in the U.K. Developed and published by Gaming Factory, it combines drifting mechanics with life simulation elements and explores Japanese drift culture through a narrative involving an outsider, a failing sushi delivery business, and an unsolved murder, presented in anime comic panels. The game features a variety of licensed vehicles, visual and performance upgrades, and event types such as drag races and delivery missions. While the drift physics are strong, the handling model may feel awkward for conventional driving. Players may face translation issues, optimization challenges, and performance hiccups, but the game offers inventive mission types and a rewarding progression system, encouraging exploration and vehicle customization.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

I wish Ubisoft had ever made the game it promised with Assassin’s Creed 1, but instead the series just spiralled into a weird identity crisis

Ubisoft aimed to create a historical assassination simulator that emphasized careful planning and execution, allowing players to embody a master assassin targeting high-ranking individuals. The original Assassin's Creed, while memorable, fell short of this vision, devolving into repetitive missions. As the series evolved, it strayed from its core elements, introducing new systems that overshadowed the original concept. The closest realization of the initial vision was in Assassin's Creed: Unity, which allowed for intricate schemes but suffered from technical issues at launch. Currently, it seems unlikely that Ubisoft will return to the original concept, though the idea of a cunning, strategy-focused assassin game remains appealing.

Winsage

May 13, 2025

‘End of 10’ offers hope and help to Windows 10 users who can’t upgrade

- Support for Windows 10 will cease on October 14, 2025. - Microsoft is encouraging users to purchase new computers. - Linux is presented as a faster, more secure alternative to Windows. - The End of 10 campaign provides resources and support for users transitioning to Linux. - The campaign includes links to PC shops and user groups worldwide. - It offers a guide for installing Linux and lists benefits such as lower costs, no ads or data tracking, environmental friendliness, community support, and enhanced user control. - The campaign organizes events for Linux installation assistance in various countries. - The initiative is a collaboration among several individuals from different organizations. - End of 10 maintains public channels on Matrix and a mailing list, and is present on the Fediverse for outreach.

Winsage

May 3, 2025

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation Was Once The Cause Of Laptop Crashes

Janet Jackson's song "Rhythm Nation" caused laptops to crash due to its bass-heavy sound generating a resonant frequency that affected mechanical hard drives. Microsoft investigated the issue and found that the song could induce slight movements in the hard drives, leading to data corruption and system freezes. They implemented a "notch" filter to eliminate the problematic frequency from the launch of Windows XP in 2001 until Windows 7 in 2009. This issue was specific to laptop hard drives and did not affect external models. With the introduction of solid-state drives (SSDs), the problems associated with mechanical drives and resonance have been largely resolved.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

How To Dual Boot Linux and Windows on any PC

The process of installing Linux has evolved from text-based installers in the late 1990s to user-friendly graphical installers in distributions like Ubuntu and OpenSUSE. Users can start with a single-board computer like the Raspberry Pi or set up a dual-boot configuration with Windows and Linux using a custom boot menu called GRUB. It is advisable to back up the drive before installation to prevent data loss. To create a Linux Install USB, users need to download an ISO image of the Linux distribution and use Rufus to write it onto a USB drive of at least 8GB. The steps include selecting the USB drive, choosing the Linux OS, selecting the GPT partition scheme, and writing the OS in ISO image mode. For dual-boot installation, users should insert the USB drive, boot from it, and select “Try or Install Ubuntu” from the GRUB menu. After testing hardware functionality, the installation process involves selecting language, configuring accessibility, choosing keyboard layout, connecting to the Internet, and selecting installation options. Users must choose “Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager” and allocate space for each operating system. After installation, users need to adjust BIOS settings to ensure the system boots from the Linux installation. This includes selecting the Boot menu, setting the Linux install as Boot Option 1, and saving the changes. Upon rebooting, users can select their Linux OS from the GRUB menu and verify the functionality of both operating systems.

Winsage

April 26, 2025

5 great features Windows 8 introduced that it doesn’t get enough credit for

Windows 8 introduced several significant features: 1. The Startup tab in Task Manager simplified managing startup tasks, allowing users to easily view and disable unnecessary applications, improving system performance. 2. The Ribbon UI in File Explorer made a wide range of options accessible, enhancing efficiency in file management tasks like copying, moving, and deleting files. 3. Internet Explorer 10 and 11 improved support for modern web standards and performance, making them competitive options, especially for touch devices. 4. OneDrive integration allowed users to view cloud files directly in File Explorer without downloading them, enhancing convenience and efficiency. 5. Windows 8 provided an intuitive touch experience with a tile-based Start menu and smooth animations, offering a fluid and responsive environment for tablet users.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

A pair of Armored Core games are being freed from their 2000s Japanese mobile phone prison with an upcoming PC port

Armored Core, a series from FromSoftware, has gained popularity since its debut on the PlayStation 1. PC players recently accessed the franchise with Armored Core 6, and two more titles are on the way, though they will not have English language options. Developer G-Mode is set to release Armored Core Mobile Mission and its sequel, Mobile Mission 2, on Steam, with the first installment launching on April 30th. The original Mobile Mission offers a top-down shooter experience with mech customization, while the sequel aims for a more immersive gameplay experience. G-Mode is also porting Shin Megami Tensei titles, Tokyo Requiem and 20XX, to modern platforms, although release dates for these are not confirmed.

AppWizard

April 13, 2025

Horror adventure game DO NOT PLAY announced for PC

SCRAP and Fahrenheit 213 are developing a horror adventure game titled DO NOT PLAY, set to launch on PC via Steam in 2026. The game features a premise where players encounter a system error with numerous windows and warns, "This is a game that you should never play." It is inspired by the banned browser game “GeM” from the early 2000s, although the developers were not involved in its original creation. DO NOT PLAY is a first-person escape game that includes puzzles and mini-games, aiming to uncover mysteries and find a way back to reality. The game recreates the nostalgic atmosphere of 2000s flash games and intertwines nostalgia with reality. An announcement trailer and screenshots are available for viewing.

Tech Optimizer

March 27, 2025

Do Macs need antivirus? Debunking the security myth

Many users believe that Macs are immune to cybersecurity threats, leading them to neglect protective measures. This perception originated from Apple's marketing and the historical lower targeting of Macs due to their smaller market share. However, as the popularity of Macs has increased, so has the development of malware aimed at macOS. Reports indicate that malware targeting Macs has now outpaced that targeting Windows on a per-device basis. While macOS includes strong security features like XProtect, Gatekeeper, and System Integrity Protection, these are not foolproof. XProtect only defends against known malware, leaving users vulnerable to new threats. Macs are susceptible to various types of malware, including adware, Trojans, and phishing attacks. Antivirus software is important for Macs as it protects against evolving malware, shields users from phishing and online scams, enhances privacy protection, and prevents cross-platform threats.