emerging technology Archives

AppWizard

March 21, 2026

Oblivion turns 20 today, and I need Bethesda to return to its roots for Elder Scrolls 6

The author purchased The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion the day after its release, exchanging all their pocket money at Gamestation. The game came with a disc and a glossy map of Cyrodiil. Oblivion allowed players to take on various roles, showcasing the flexibility characteristic of RPGs. The author experienced the game on PC, while it also became a flagship title for the Xbox 360, broadening the appeal of RPGs to console gamers. Oblivion has influenced many contemporary games, including Elden Ring and Kingdom Come Deliverance. It is associated with the controversial horse armor DLC, which sparked discussions about microtransactions in gaming. The author reflects on the game's graphical limitations and the unnecessary nature of the Oblivion Remastered version. As Oblivion celebrates its 20th anniversary, the author considers the future of RPGs and the potential impact of The Elder Scrolls 6.

AppWizard

December 1, 2025

AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D is probably about to lose its crown as the fastest gaming CPU in the world

AMD has unofficially introduced the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, which is expected to surpass the Ryzen 7 9800X3D as the fastest gaming CPU. A placeholder page on AMD's website suggests an impending launch. The rumored specifications for the 9850X3D include: - Cores: 8 - Threads: 16 - Base clock: 4.7GHz - Boost clock: 5.6GHz - L3 cache: 96MB (64MB 3D V-cache + 32MB on-die cache) - TDP: 120W - Core architecture: AMD Zen 5 - Package: AMD Socket AM5 The 9850X3D is expected to maintain the same architecture as the 9800X3D but with an increased peak clock speed from 5.2GHz to 5.6GHz, potentially resulting in up to an 8% increase in frame rates in certain scenarios.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

Google is getting Translate ready to be the killer app for smart glasses

The Google Translate app is set to receive enhancements to its Live Translate feature, which allows real-time conversations with on-screen translations and audio playback. Upcoming features include the ability to control audio playback for each language, a persistent notification for seamless use while switching apps, and integration with XR glasses. The interface will also see a drop-down audio control menu with options for mute, speaker, and headphones. Additionally, the persistent notification will enable Live Translate to function in the background, allowing users to pause or resume translations directly from the notification.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

What Is XChat? Musk’s Private Messaging App With Blockchain-Style Encryption

XChat is an encrypted messaging and calling feature integrated into X (formerly Twitter), designed to enhance user privacy and functionality. It offers end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, versatile file sharing, and cross-platform audio and video calls without requiring a phone number for registration. Currently in beta testing for select paid subscribers, XChat aims to transform X into an “everything app” similar to WeChat, combining social networking, messaging, payments, and more while prioritizing user privacy. Developed using Rust, it employs public-key cryptography and may incorporate blockchain-inspired techniques for enhanced security. The platform seeks to merge social interaction with private communication and commerce, allowing for anonymous engagement. Challenges include ensuring reliable encryption, addressing metadata leaks, and gaining user trust to transition from established messaging apps.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Compulsion boss says Xbox isn’t mandating generative AI

Guillaume Provost, head of Compulsion Games, stated that Microsoft does not mandate the use of generative AI in its first-party studios, allowing developers creative autonomy. He emphasized Compulsion Games' commitment to craftsmanship and artistry, indicating that while generative AI could be beneficial in the pre-production phase for tasks like creating storyboards, it is not intended for use in production. Provost noted that Compulsion Games may not be at the forefront of AI adoption due to the nature of their projects, and this aligns with Microsoft's broader vision of innovation without compromising traditional game development practices.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Rabbit AI’s new tool can control your Android phones, but I’m not sure how I feel about letting it control my smartphone

HP's acquisition of Humane AI has led to the upcoming launch of Rabbit's Android app, designed as a personal assistant that automates tasks and streamlines daily activities. Unlike traditional AI chatbots, Rabbit's agent can coordinate tasks across various applications, such as sending dinner party invitations via WhatsApp, selecting meals from recipe apps, compiling grocery lists, curating YouTube playlists, and creating revenue plans in Google Docs. The app is not yet widely available but will be downloadable from the Play Store, allowing users to prompt the AI to perform tasks in the background. Rabbit faces competition from other AI tools like OpenAI's Operator and Anthropic's Claude AI, but distinguishes itself by focusing on Android devices and everyday applications. This shift to a software-based model is seen as essential for Rabbit's independence, following the limited success of its standalone R1 device.

AppWizard

August 20, 2024

AI-powered NVIDIA ACE Digital Human added to this multiplayer PC game

At Computex 2024, NVIDIA demonstrated its latest digital human technology through the Covert Protocol tech and game demo, in collaboration with Inworld AI. This technology creates lifelike in-game characters with unique personalities, allowing players to interact using text or voice commands. The demo showcased a detective-style adventure powered by a GeForce RTX 40 Series GPU, emphasizing player engagement through puzzle-like interactions. NVIDIA plans to unveil an in-game version of this technology at Gamescom 2024 in the multiplayer mech game, Mecha BREAK, developed by Amazing Seasun Games. This game utilizes NVIDIA's Nemotron-4 4B NIM language model and features a Digital Human character named Martel, who provides insights and customization advice. Martel responds to voice commands, enhancing the gameplay experience. The technology integrates Audio2Face-3D NIM for facial animations, Whisper for speech recognition, and Elevenlabs for voice synthesis. Real-time performance requires robust hardware, but the impact on frame rate is minimal, around 5%, when using Digital Humans in Mecha BREAK. This performance is demonstrated on a GeForce RTX 4090-powered rig. Additional details about Mecha BREAK are available on the game's Steam page.

AppWizard

April 2, 2024

Hamas Military Wing Shares Link To Its Media App For Android

The Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released a new application for Android users to disseminate their media content as part of their strategic communication efforts in the conflict with Israel.