The DEF CON 32 conference took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center and featured presentations on cybersecurity and technology, which are now available on the organization’s YouTube channel.
Icarus, a co-op survival game developed by RocketWerkz, has received 153 updates since its launch in December 2021. The latest update introduces a flamethrower and expands the game with new operations, missions, weapons, items, and a fishing system. Downloadable content has doubled the game map size. Players navigate a narrative involving corporate ambition and survival challenges on a planet with toxic air and unpredictable weather. The game allows for building homesteads and farming. To celebrate the update, Icarus is offering a 50% discount on the flamethrower and other editions for a week.
The Indian market is large and continuously growing, leading to fierce competition among Indian developers. Dot9 is set to debut their game FAU-G at a major event.
Android enthusiasts can find a variety of game and app deals, including discounts on titles like Devils & Demons, Hexologic, Laser Tanks, and Sir Questionnaire. Best Buy is offering early Black Friday doorbusters, including savings on Google’s Nest Doorbells and indoor Nest smart cameras. Dell is also hosting an Early Holiday Savings event with various tech deals. Additionally, users can access free icon packs to customize their devices.
Meta's investment in WhatsApp has begun yielding substantial returns, with a 48% year-over-year increase in non-advertising revenue reported in Q3, largely due to WhatsApp's business messaging capabilities. This product enables companies to engage in paid conversations with customers, contributing to revenue growth since Q3 2022. Non-advertising revenue in Q3 was million, compared to .9 billion in ad revenue, but is growing at over twice the pace of advertising. Messaging products, including WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram Direct, are still in the early stages of monetization, with estimates suggesting messaging could account for around 10% of Meta's total revenue. A significant increase in content shared through direct messages has been noted, with a 100% year-over-year rise. Meta is also exploring revenue opportunities through sponsored messages and "click-to-message" ads. Generative AI is expected to enhance the messaging business's efficiency and potential revenue generation. User behavior is shifting towards sharing in direct messages rather than traditional feeds, prompting Meta to enhance its Messenger app with new features. Each messaging product serves different user bases and presents unique monetization opportunities.
Good Pizza, Great Pizza is celebrating its ten-year anniversary with a new in-game event and a real-life exhibition in Los Angeles featuring art from the game. The game has over a million players and has achieved success without any VC funding.
BitLocker drive encryption is a feature in Windows 11 that protects files from unauthorized access by encrypting the drive. It is enabled by default in Windows 11 Pro and higher editions, while a limited version is available in Windows 11 Home. Windows 11 automatically encrypts all fixed drives upon connection, and users should verify that all permanently attached drives are encrypted. Users can set drives to automatically unlock on the current PC or protect them with a password. BitLocker is a Windows-specific feature, making encrypted external drives inaccessible on other operating systems like macOS or Linux. Recovery keys for BitLocker-encrypted drives are automatically backed up for users with a Microsoft account, and it is recommended to create a Microsoft account for easier access to recovery keys. Users should also keep a second backup of the recovery key in case of internet outages, which can be printed or saved as a digital file.
Kakao Games is working on a new cross-platform mobile and PC MMORPG called "Project Q" inspired by Norse mythology. It will have crossplay from the start and will be revealed at the G-Star event in Korea.
One benefit of digital CCGs is the ability to easily obtain specific cards from promotional events without having to search through eBay listings or negotiate prices at local stores.
