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Winsage
September 16, 2026
David Plummer, a former Microsoft engineer, was the primary author of Windows XP's Product Activation system, which included the infamous product key FCKGW. This key became widely used on pirated copies of the operating system. Plummer created the activation system by compressing and encrypting disc data, ensuring its security. The FCKGW key was specifically tied to certain data configurations, making it ineffective on standard XP CDs. A piracy group, Devils0wn, leaked a complete Windows XP Pro Corporate ISO and the valid FCKGW key just five weeks before the official launch, allowing unauthorized installations. Microsoft responded by blacklisting product IDs associated with the compromised keys in Service Pack 1 and blocking updates for installations using the FCKGW key in Service Pack 2. Valid, un-leaked Volume License Keys (VLKs) remained functional for years after the incident. Plummer noted that the media and the key were leaked before the product reached stores, preventing the intended hardware-binding from functioning.
AppWizard
September 15, 2026
The biography "Nobuo Uematsu: On the Record," authored by James Mielke, is set to be released on September 15, 2026. It features interviews with Uematsu, his wife, and industry peers, including Hironobu Sakaguchi, Daniel Rosenfeld, Yoko Shimomura, and Hitoshi Sakimoto. Uematsu is recognized as a significant figure in video game music, known for his innovative compositions that have been performed by orchestras worldwide. The biography explores his life from childhood to his role at Square Enix and his concert tours.
AppWizard
September 15, 2026
On August 27, 2026, a class action lawsuit was filed in San Mateo County Superior Court by three California gamers—Alexander Shimota, Ricardo Camargo, and John Elliott—against Valve Corporation and ten video game publishers, accusing them of colluding to maintain uniform pricing for PC games across digital storefronts. The lawsuit alleges that Valve requires publishers on its Steam platform to agree to a most-favored-nation clause, preventing them from offering lower prices on competing platforms, which stifles competition and limits consumer choice. The ten implicated publishers include Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The lawsuit is filed under California's Cartwright Act and claims that the coordinated pricing strategy harms consumers by reducing product diversity and inflating prices. Valve's commission structure, which has largely remained unchanged, is central to the plaintiffs' argument. Valve's co-founder, Gabe Newell, has previously denied dictating prices to third-party developers. The lawsuit is distinct from a prior case, Wolfire Games v. Valve, which focuses on monopoly abuse against developers rather than consumer pricing. Additionally, Valve faces a parallel £2 billion class action in the UK regarding similar pricing allegations. The outcome of these cases could significantly impact the pricing landscape for PC games and the practices of digital storefronts.
AppWizard
September 14, 2026
Mecum Auctions will hold its inaugural sale at the Nashville Superspeedway from September 23 to 26, featuring the Roush Automotive Collection. Notable vehicles include a Boss 429, a Paul Newman endurance winner, and a Trans-Am car. The auction aims to celebrate American muscle cars, particularly those with ties to Ford's history, and is expected to attract automotive enthusiasts and collectors.
Winsage
September 14, 2026
Microsoft's September security update for Windows 11, KB5124008, is causing audio issues with USB audio devices, including unresponsive sound controls and lack of audio output. The problems are linked to USB Audio Class 1.0 devices and do not affect built-in motherboard audio codecs or wireless headsets. Users may see an error message “This device cannot start (Code 10)” in Device Manager logs. Microsoft is working on a fix, and users can temporarily switch to stereo settings for relief. Additionally, the update is causing gameplay disruptions, crashes, and other bugs, prompting users to report issues to Microsoft and consider pausing updates.
AppWizard
September 14, 2026
Native App AI simplifies the process of converting websites or AI-generated web apps into Android applications ready for the Play Store without needing to rebuild from scratch. It allows users to input a website URL, customize the app's features, and generate APK and AAB files for testing and publishing. The platform supports various features such as push notifications, AdMob monetization, deep linking, and custom branding. It also assists in preparing necessary information for Google Play, ensuring compliance with policies and technical requirements. This service is beneficial for SaaS companies, startups, e-commerce ventures, and creators who have existing web products.
Winsage
September 14, 2026
Windows 11 update KB5124008, released on September 8, has caused significant audio issues for users, including failure of audio devices to initialize or produce sound, and problems with microphones and multichannel audio. The update is linked to Explorer.exe crashes, disruptions in File History backups, Remote Desktop difficulties, and GPU issues on certain AMD systems. Microsoft has acknowledged these problems and indicated that the audio issues primarily affect USB Audio Class 1.0 devices. Users may see error logs in Device Manager indicating "This device cannot start (Code 10)." A temporary workaround is to switch to a 2-channel mode, and wireless audio devices appear to be unaffected. Microsoft is working on a permanent solution.
AppWizard
September 14, 2026
The latest updates to Android Auto have resolved a bug that caused Waze to omit the journey information panel during navigation, which displayed essential trip details like estimated time of arrival (ETA). Users found that the panel would briefly reappear during alerts but would disappear again afterward. The most recent version available on the Google Play Store is Android Auto 17.7. Users experiencing issues are advised to ensure their devices are fully updated or manually install the APK. Despite the fix for Waze, users are still facing problems with other features in Android Auto, such as missing real-time traffic indicators in Google Maps and the absence of the speedometer feature, which is still being rolled out. Waze maintains a consistent speedometer feature, showing real-time speed limits and alerts for speeding. A potential solution for the Waze navigation error involves clearing the app's cache and data, although this may erase previous trip history.
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