environments Archives

AppWizard

September 19, 2025

$1B DEI slush fund: Minecraft extremism study & “intersectional” virtual reality

The Canadian government has invested over billion in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives since 2016, with funding exceeding 4 million across 29 departments and agencies. Notable expenditures include a ,522 grant from Public Safety Canada for a study on radicalization linked to gaming communities, a .2 million award to the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce for developing virtual reality software for women entrepreneurs, a ,000 grant for research on gender and race in Canada’s space program, and a ,595 grant to the University of British Columbia for establishing a research network on parks and protected areas. Concerns have been raised by lawmakers about the effectiveness and transparency of these expenditures, with calls for clear metrics to evaluate outcomes. Harvard cognitive scientist Steven Pinker cautioned that DEI mandates might inhibit free inquiry and stifle dissenting voices.

AppWizard

September 19, 2025

Discord, Steam, Twitch and Reddit bosses called to testify before US Congress

Leaders of major digital platforms, including Humam Sakhnini from Discord, Gabe Newell from Valve, Dan Clancy from Twitch, and Steve Huffman from Reddit, are scheduled to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on October 8th. This hearing follows the murder of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, raising concerns about online radicalization. Committee chair James Comer described the incident as a "politically motivated assassination" and emphasized the need for Congress to oversee online platforms that may facilitate political violence. The inquiry will focus on the responsibility of tech leaders to ensure the safety and integrity of their platforms and the measures being taken to combat radicalization.

AppWizard

September 19, 2025

Dying Light The Beast map and all points of interest

The Dying Light: The Beast map features various points of interest (POIs) that provide players with rewards. The POIs include: Safe Zones: - Abandoned House - Break Knuckles (rare blueprint) - Highway Bus Refuge - The Rust (rare blueprint) - Old Hideout - Workout (rare blueprint) - Power Plant - Lightning (common shaft mod) - Library Tower - Extinguisher (rare blueprint) - Groundskeeper's House - Slashers (rare blueprint) - Inn - Spark (common mod craftplan) - Monastery - Hunting Bow (rare blueprint) Safe Spots: - Farms Tower - Fire Bolts (rare blueprint) - Village Tower - Merc Shooting Arm Guard (epic bracers) - Gas Station Voltage Pole - Shock Arrows (rare blueprint) - Cargo Station Tower - Bleeding Knife (common blueprint) - Village Voltage Pole - Shock Knife (common blueprint) - Chimneys Tower - Parkour Trophy (epic charm), Merc Combat Pants (epic joggers) - River Tower - Exploding Knife (common blueprint) - Camping Tower - Fire Arrows (rare blueprint) - Recreation Island Tower - Merc Fingerless Gloves (epic gloves) - Mountain Shelter Tower - Merc Shooting Headset (epic headwear) - Asylum Island Tower - Shock Bolts (rare blueprint) - Highway Tower - Merc Boots (epic sneakers) - Fisherman Island Tower - Merc Long Sleeve Shirt (epic chestpiece) Substations: - Residential Relay - Flame (common tip mod) - Mountain Relay - Bleeding Mine (common blueprint) - Railway Station Relay - Mine (common blueprint) - Factory Relay - Slaughter (common shaft mod), Inhibitor (epic charm) - Museum Relay - Acid (common tip mod) - Touristic Relay - Fling (common tip mod) Safe Spots and Safe Zones provide refuge and opportunities for rest and loot, while Substations are essential for electrifying the town and offer valuable rewards.

BetaBeacon

September 18, 2025

Rabbit Road Game Officially Released in India Across Android Platforms

- The Rabbit Road Game is a hyper-casual arcade game where players navigate a character through high-traffic environments using tap controls. - The game has a linear gameplay structure with no branching paths or storyline progression. - Distribution variants include Rabbit Road Game APK for direct Android installs and downloads via content aggregators and file-hosting networks. - No sign-up, OTP verification, or email login is required to access the base version of the game. - The game is designed to be compatible with low- to mid-range Android smartphones in India, with a lightweight installation package under 30 MB.

AppWizard

September 18, 2025

Study Ranks Least Toxic Gaming Fandoms: Minecraft Lands #2

Minecraft's Reddit community (r/Minecraft) is one of the least toxic gaming environments, with only 1.37% of comments containing toxic keywords, according to a study by Chicks Gold. It ranks second overall among major gaming subreddits and has 8,503,899 subscribers. The analysis involved sampling 50 recent posts from each subreddit and scanning comment threads for negative terms. The top five least toxic communities also included r/Oblivion (1.36%), The Legend of Zelda (1.51%), Genshin Impact (1.51%), and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (1.56%). Higher toxicity levels were noted in some franchises like FIFA, despite its "E for Everyone" rating.

Tech Optimizer

September 18, 2025

High-tech EDR solutions becoming new standard in cybersecurity

Traditional antivirus software is becoming inadequate due to evolving cyber threats, leading to a demand for more sophisticated cybersecurity solutions like Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems. EDR technologies monitor and analyze unusual behavior on endpoint devices in real time, allowing for threat detection and response. Türkiye is experiencing a global surge in demand for EDR strategies, with the country being one of the most targeted for cyberattacks, ranking among the top globally. Ransomware attacks in Türkiye have decreased by 16%, but there are still 28,000 to 30,000 incidents, indicating a shift towards more targeted attacks. Ozar emphasizes that EDR solutions are essential for all organizations, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as vulnerabilities can arise from necessary external connections. The importance of cybersecurity training across all employee levels is also highlighted, as awareness varies by sector.

Winsage

September 17, 2025

Stop struggling with Windows Search — try these 6 game‑changing alternatives

Windows 11's built-in search feature is often slow and inefficient, particularly with non-indexed locations and numerous files. It has a cluttered search home filled with advertisements. Several third-party tools are recommended as alternatives to enhance search functionality: - Command Palette: Part of PowerToys, it allows instant results for queries and supports command execution, quick navigation, and customization. - Fluent Search: Offers a comprehensive search experience with a native file indexer, rapid results, and OCR technology for searching visible content on screens. - Everything: Focuses on speed by indexing files and folders instantly, providing real-time results based on names, though it lacks additional features. - Listary: Integrates with Windows and File Explorer, allowing direct searches within these environments and offering customization for commands and automation. - Flow Launcher: A free, open-source app launcher that enhances search by integrating with the Everything indexer and includes built-in plugins for added functionality. - RayCast: An app launcher in beta for Windows, originally for macOS, featuring productivity tools and AI capabilities, allowing efficient task performance without a mouse. These tools cater to various user needs, improving the search experience on Windows 11.

AppWizard

September 17, 2025

Playing Battlefield 6’s biggest map has convinced me that ditching Levolution was the right call

The author explored two maps, Mirak Valley and Operation Firestorm, in the upcoming Battlefield 6, along with the new Escalation game mode. Mirak Valley features rocky terrain and central built-up areas, providing a tactical environment for combat. The gameplay in Conquest mode rewards initiative and teamwork, with a focus on capturing control points. Operation Firestorm has been revitalized, maintaining its classic essence while introducing new mechanics in Escalation, where holding more points fills a meter for team points and leads to increased vehicle presence. The gameplay experience promises to enhance the franchise's reputation, aiming to improve upon previous iterations. The release of Battlefield 6 is set for October 10.

AppWizard

September 17, 2025

38 Million Downloads Across 224 Malicious Android Apps on Google Play Deliver Harmful Payloads

Researchers from HUMAN’s Satori Threat Intelligence and Research Team discovered a digital advertising fraud operation called “SlopAds,” which involves 224 Android applications that have over 38 million downloads across 228 countries. SlopAds employs a multi-layered obfuscation strategy to deploy fraud modules that siphon ad revenue. The applications connect to Firebase Remote Config to retrieve an encrypted configuration that conceals URLs for PNG images containing fragments of an APK, which are reassembled to create the core fraud component known as FatModule. SlopAds generates approximately 2.3 billion bid requests daily, primarily targeting users in the United States (30%), India (10%), and Brazil (7%). Google Play Protect alerts users and blocks known SlopAds applications, and Google has removed these applications from the Play Store. Users who installed these apps from off-market sources remain vulnerable until they uninstall them.

AppWizard

September 17, 2025

Is Borderlands 4 the series at ‘its most potent’, or ‘uninspired’ and ‘painfully dull’? The PC Gamer team is divided

The Borderlands series has garnered significant attention from gamers, particularly the PC Gamer team, who have spent extensive hours on the latest installment. Initial impressions indicate a blend of excitement and critique regarding the game's mechanics. Harvey Randall, a staff writer, has enjoyed around twenty hours of gameplay, appreciating the familiar shooting and looting dynamics, although he found the introduction sluggish. He noted that the new Vault Hunters, especially Amon and Harlowe, add a refreshing twist, with Amon’s flaming fist being a highlight. The expanded skill trees offer unique options that enhance gameplay, despite concerns about the endgame content. Mollie Taylor, a features producer, has invested over 15 hours and views the game as a great escape, enjoying the movement mechanics and gunplay. She expressed a desire for better integration of the grappling hook and criticized the inventory system and lack of ambient music during quieter moments. Andy Edser, a hardware writer, reported that Borderlands 4 is demanding on hardware, requiring him to use DLSS Balanced and 3x Multi Frame Generation for smooth gameplay on a high-end setup. He enjoyed the vibrant landscapes and combat but found the humor toned down and the environments somewhat repetitive after 13 hours. He raised concerns about performance challenges for players with older hardware and expressed hope for optimization patches.