February Archives

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Mojang’s big Minecraft VR mistake

Mojang has officially discontinued VR support for the Bedrock version of Minecraft on PCs, ending a VR initiative that began in April 2016. The Gear VR version was initially available on devices like the Oculus Go and original Oculus Quest, but support for older games on the Oculus Quest 2 rendered these experiences obsolete. Modders, particularly through the Vivecraft mod, have filled the gap left by Mojang, with QuestCraft being a notable port for Meta Quest headsets. Despite Mojang's claims of lacking resources for VR, the company has over 55 million daily active players and a workforce of more than 600 employees, indicating financial stability. The demographics of the Meta Quest user base suggest a strong potential interest in Minecraft if officially supported. Recent collaborations between Meta and Microsoft hint at potential opportunities for an official Minecraft VR port, yet progress remains stagnant. The QuestCraft Discord server has 80,000 members, indicating significant interest in a VR version of Minecraft, which could attract hundreds of thousands of active users.

Tech Optimizer

May 6, 2025

Money for Avast antivirus software users

If you purchased antivirus software from Avast between August 2014 and January 2020, you may be eligible for compensation from a settlement related to a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit. Eligible individuals will receive an email from “Avast Settlement” with instructions to submit a claim by June 5, 2025. Claims can be submitted through the FTC’s Avast Settlement page, and refunds are expected to be distributed in 2026. For assistance, contact the refund administrator at 1-866-290-0165 or info@AvastSettlement.com.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Microsoft has fixed a bug in Windows 10 that broke part of the Start menu – and the reason why this happened might annoy you

A bug that disrupted the functionality of jump links in the Start menu of Windows 10 was identified during the April update and traced back to earlier updates from February. This issue arose from the integration of a Microsoft account-related panel into the Start menu, affecting the jump list feature for some users. Microsoft confirmed that the problem has been resolved as of April 25, 2025, through a service change. Users are advised to ensure their devices are connected to the internet to receive the automatic fix after a reboot. The bug was acknowledged by Microsoft as being present since the optional preview update in February and was significant enough to impact user workflows.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Microsoft silently fixes Start menu bug affecting Windows 10 PCs

Microsoft has resolved a problem that disrupted the functionality of Start Menu jump lists on Windows 10, version 22H2. The issue originated from a Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) initiated in March 2025, which aimed to enhance account control but led to complications. Microsoft paused the rollout in late April 2025 after receiving user feedback about the inability to view jump lists for apps. The problematic rollout was halted on April 25, 2025, preventing new devices from encountering the glitch. The issue mainly affected users of Windows 10 Home and Pro editions. Affected users are advised to ensure their devices are connected to the internet and to restart their systems to apply the fix.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Microsoft resolves a Windows 10 issue that broke Start menu jump lists

Following the February updates for Windows 10, users reported issues with jump lists and the Start menu, particularly after installing the KB5052077 update. Microsoft identified the problem as stemming from a feature rollout in the Windows 10 22H2 version aimed at enhancing account control. The company acknowledged the bug, stating that users were unable to view jump lists for apps after the updates released on February 25, 2025, and later. The problematic rollout has been paused since April 25, 2025, and a service change implemented at the end of last month is expected to resolve the issues. Microsoft advised affected users to ensure their devices are connected to the internet for an automatic resolution after rebooting.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Microsoft quietly fixed broken Windows 10 jump lists

Microsoft acknowledged a problem affecting Windows 10 users related to jump lists on the Start menu, which began with the release of update KB5052077 on February 25, 2025. This issue affected users' ability to access jump lists for applications pinned to their taskbars, particularly for Excel and Word. The disruption was caused by a feature rollout aimed at enhancing account control experiences in Windows 10 version 22H2, which started in March 2025. Microsoft halted this rollout on April 25, 2025, and implemented a service change that automatically resolves the issue for affected systems. The problem primarily impacted Windows 10 version 22H2 Home and Pro editions, while Windows 11 users were unaffected. Users need to ensure their devices are connected to the internet to receive the automatic resolution after rebooting.

Winsage

May 4, 2025

Microsoft says it accidentally broke Windows 10 Start menu, taskbar recent files feature

On April 22, Windows Latest reported that the jump list feature for live tiles in the Start menu was missing, a situation confirmed by Microsoft. This issue arose after updates released post-February 25, disrupting users' access to recently opened files or photos. The problem was linked to Microsoft's integration of a new Microsoft account control experience into the Start menu, which began with the Windows 10 KB5052077 optional update. Microsoft stated that this was not an intentional change and was under investigation. Following the April 2025 Update, the issue became more widespread. However, Microsoft has since rolled back the changes to the Start menu UI, restoring the recent section for affected users, and tests indicated that the jump list functionality has been reinstated across most devices.

AppWizard

May 3, 2025

Photo appears to shows Mike Waltz using Signal-like app that can archive messages

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly confirmed that the encrypted messaging application Signal is officially sanctioned for government use and installed on government-issued devices. The National Security Council has not commented on the related app, TeleMessage, which is derived from Signal and designed to help government entities comply with records retention laws. TeleMessage was founded in 1999, acquired by Smarsh in 2024, and has been involved in government contracts, including a .1 million contract with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA that began in February 2023 and will conclude in August 2025. Tom Padgett, Smarsh’s president for enterprise business, stated that like Signal, messages sent through TeleMessage are encrypted, but the app does not address security issues raised by a recent incident involving Signal. The specifics of how government officials utilize TeleMessage remain unclear, and five cybersecurity experts admitted they were unfamiliar with the app prior to recent developments. TeleMessage licenses parts of its technology, including its encryption protocol, to other companies, but Signal clarified there is no formal agreement with TeleMessage and expressed concerns about the privacy and security of unofficial versions of their app.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Google Voice adds three-way calling support alongside its interface rework

Google has introduced a new update for its Voice app that enables three-way calling for Workspace subscription holders, allowing users to create conference calls by adding another participant. The update includes a refreshed user interface with more accessible key tools for managing calls, such as prominently displayed "Add" and "Merge" options. This feature is available to Google Workspace customers on Voice Starter, Voice Standard, and Voice Premier plans, as well as SIP Link Standard and SIP Link Premier customers. The rollout began on May 1 and is expected to reach all Google Voice users within approximately 15 days. Earlier in February, Google Voice added a "call delegation" feature, allowing users to transfer calls to another person with options for immediate transfer or confirmation before proceeding, including the ability to transfer calls from personal accounts to paid enterprise accounts.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Google Play shrinks by 47 percent following policy overhaul

The Google Play Store has seen a 47 percent decline in app offerings, dropping from 3.4 million to 1.8 million apps since early 2024. This reduction is a result of Google's efforts to enhance app quality and security, including a policy overhaul that introduced stricter minimum requirements and targeted low-quality applications. In 2024, Google blocked 2.36 million policy-violating apps and banned over 158,000 developer accounts. Despite the decline in app numbers, developer activity remains strong, with over 10,400 new apps released in early 2025, a 7.1 percent increase from the previous year. The European Union's "trader status" rule did not significantly impact the decline in app numbers, as Apple's app count remained stable under similar regulations.