holiday season Archives

Winsage

April 22, 2025

5 things the Surface Pro 12 needs to finally beat the Apple iPad Pro in 2025

The Surface Pro 11 has been praised as an excellent 2-in-1 device, but there are areas for improvement. Microsoft is set to release the Surface Pro 12 later this year, expected to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 SoC, which promises enhanced performance similar to Apple's M4 chip. Key improvements anticipated include more uniform bezels, a reduction in thickness, and a lighter design to enhance usability as a 2-in-1 device. There is also a desire for 5G models to be available at launch, as previous releases have seen delays. Consumers are calling for both Snapdragon and Intel options to have the same features, addressing the current disparity. Additionally, there is a request for the return of vibrant colors, particularly red, to the Surface Pro lineup.

AppWizard

April 6, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ is on-track for a $135M opening weekend

The big screen adaptation of Minecraft has made a significant debut, earning millions on its opening Friday and is projected to reach 5 million by the end of the weekend, potentially setting a new benchmark for 2023. If these projections hold, it would surpass “Captain America: Brave New World,” which earned .8 million in February, and provide a boost to the domestic box office, which is down 7% year-over-year. The film, directed by Jared Hess and featuring stars like Jason Momoa and Jack Black, creatively introduces human characters into the Minecraft world, despite the game's lack of a defined storyline. The film's performance mirrors that of “The Super Mario Brothers Movie,” which also faced mixed reviews but achieved box office success. This opening weekend is encouraging for Warner Bros., which has faced recent setbacks, and a sequel seems likely.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Bound For Platinum Box Office Weekend After $7M+ Thursday Previews

Presales for Warner Bros/Legendary's A Minecraft Movie surged this week, with early previews projected to exceed initial estimates. The film, directed by Jared Hess and starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge, has already outperformed previous Sonic the Hedgehog films in preview numbers. A Minecraft Movie has a dedicated fanbase, with 300 million copies sold and nearly 140 million monthly active players. It currently holds a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while Five Nights at Freddy’s, which had a lower critical score, achieved a high audience score. Warner Bros has not commented on the film's opening weekend forecasts.

TrendTechie

February 20, 2025

Хакеры заражали гаджеты российских пользователей криптомайнером под видом игр-симуляторов

Experts from Kaspersky GReAT have identified a scheme where cybercriminals distribute malware disguised as free versions of popular computer games via torrent trackers. This malware downloads a modified version of the XMRig cryptocurrency miner onto users' devices. The distribution began on December 31, 2024, and continued until the end of January 2025, with the first infected files appearing on torrent sites in the previous autumn. Affected countries include Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and Germany. The XMRig miner exploits the computational power of infected devices to mine Monero and was embedded in files associated with games like BeamNG.drive, Dyson Sphere Program, Universe Sandbox, Plutocracy, and Garry’s Mod. Kaspersky reported that 70.5% of users encountered infected versions of BeamNG.drive. The malware causes overheating, decreased performance, and increased electricity consumption without immediate signs of infection. Tatyana Shishkova from Kaspersky noted that the timing of the campaign coincided with the holiday season and that gaming applications were targeted due to their high performance. She advised users to avoid downloading software from unreliable sources.

TrendTechie

February 19, 2025

Вместо подарков – майнер: новогодняя ловушка на торрентах унесла ресурсы компьютеров по всему миру

A campaign known as StaryDobry, identified by Kaspersky Lab, began on the last day of 2024, targeting users of popular torrent trackers during the holiday season. The attack affected users globally, particularly in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Germany, and Brazil. Cybercriminals distributed trojanized versions of popular games like BeamNG.drive and Garry’s Mod, which contained hidden cryptocurrency mining software. The malware used in this campaign included XMRig, designed for mining Monero (XMR) without user consent. The installation process involved multiple layers of evasion, including checking for debugging tools and system parameters. The malware extracted files using RAR libraries, sent system fingerprints to a command server, and launched a loader that disguised itself as system files. XMRig operated in the background, utilizing the victim's CPU for mining while avoiding detection by terminating itself if analysis tools were present. The attack poses risks not only to individual users but also to corporate systems through compromised devices. No information is available about the attackers behind this campaign.

Winsage

February 11, 2025

Windows 10 KB5051974 update force installs new Microsoft Outlook app

Microsoft has released the KB5051974 cumulative update for Windows 10 versions 22H2 and 21H2, which includes the new Outlook for Windows app and addresses a memory leak issue. This mandatory update provides essential security updates for January 2025 and can be installed via Windows Update. After installation, version 22H2 will be updated to build 19045.5487, and version 21H2 to build 19044.5487. Users can also manually download the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update includes several fixes, such as the introduction of the new Outlook app, resolution of issues with the Capture Service and Snipping Tool, disabling automatic suggestions from Bing in the Chinese Pinyin IME, fixes for USB audio device driver issues, and a solution for virtual memory depletion. Three known issues from previous updates include potential failures in OpenSSH connections, installation failures due to the Citrix Session Recording Agent, and an Event 7023 error related to SgrmBroker.exe, which does not affect device functionality. Microsoft plans to address these issues in future updates.

AppWizard

February 7, 2025

Take-Two net bookings up 3% for Q3

Take-Two Interactive reported a three percent rise in net bookings for the quarter ending December 2024, totaling .37 billion, with 79 percent from recurrent consumer spending, which increased by nine percent year-on-year. Net revenue slightly decreased by 0.7 percent to .36 billion. CEO Strauss Zelnick projected full financial year net bookings between .55 billion and .65 billion, anticipating significant releases such as Grand Theft Auto 6, Mafia: The Old Country, and Borderlands 4 in fiscal year 2025/26. The company's performance was bolstered by strong sales of NBA 2K, which helped offset declines in mobile franchises, and a strategic shift in expense timing. The guidance for Fiscal 2025 net bookings remains between .55 billion and .65 billion.

Winsage

February 4, 2025

Windows 11 may have just kickstarted 2025’s biggest comeback story

Windows 11 has reached a market share of 36.65% among Windows desktop users, the highest since its launch on October 5, 2021. In contrast, Windows 10 holds a 60.33% share. The increase in Windows 11 adoption is attributed to new purchases during the holiday season, with historical data showing growth from 16.97% to 18.12% between December 2022 and January 2023, and from 26.54% to 27.83% between December 2023 and January 2024. Despite fluctuations in user numbers throughout 2024, it is expected that Windows 11's market share will continue to rise, especially with the end-of-support for Windows 10 approaching on October 14. Windows 10 users will lose access to critical security updates and technical support after October 2025 unless they pay for Microsoft's Extended Security Updates. Additionally, potential increases in hardware prices may prompt users to upgrade to meet Windows 11's requirements.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Windows 11 turns the tide against Windows 10

Windows 11's market share increased to 36.6 percent in January from 34.12 percent in December, while Windows 10's market share declined to 60.37 percent from 62.7 percent. Microsoft is approaching the end of support for Windows 10, scheduled for October 14, 2025, which has led to renewed interest in Windows 11. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood reported a 4 percent year-on-year revenue increase in the Windows OEM and Devices unit, attributed to preparations for the end of Windows 10 support. TrendForce projects a 4.9 percent increase in shipments in 2025 as businesses transition. CEO Satya Nadella noted that 15 percent of premium-priced laptops sold during the holiday season were Copilot+ PCs, and analysts predict that by 2026, acquiring a PC without AI silicon will be increasingly difficult. Initially, Windows 11's adoption was hindered by strict hardware requirements, but many users now have upgraded hardware that supports it. Microsoft is optimistic about solidifying Windows 11's market position as the transition from Windows 10 progresses.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

The upgraded Steam Link app for Android has transformed the way I game in 2025

Steam Link has undergone significant updates, introducing features like HDR and AV1 streaming, and is compatible with over 500 Android devices. It excels in local Wi-Fi gameplay, particularly with controller-centric titles, while performance on genres like RTS and strategy games is less optimal. The app provides impressive visuals and minimal input lag, especially on devices like the AYANEO Pocket Evo. However, it has shortcomings, including cumbersome menu navigation, occasional mouse control issues, and a user interface that can be cluttered. Streaming quality is affected by distance from the router, and it faces competition from other streaming solutions like Moonlight and NVIDIA’s GeForce Now. Despite its limitations, Steam Link offers convenience for PC owners looking to access their game library.