inclusivity Archives

Winsage

December 3, 2025

2025 – A year in recap

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Windows Accessibility team emphasizes their commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, guided by the principle of “nothing about us without us.” They collaborate with advisory boards from the disability community to enhance product features. Fluid Dictation on Windows allows users to dictate text seamlessly, correcting grammar and punctuation in real time, and operates offline on Copilot+ PCs. Voice Access has been improved to accommodate diverse communication styles, with features like adjustable wait time, a custom word dictionary, flexible command recognition, enhanced speech pattern recognition, and support for Chinese and Japanese. Narrator and Magnifier now feature human-like voices developed with Azure AI, enhancing the user experience with natural conversation nuances. Recent updates to Narrator in Microsoft Word improve navigation and text drafting, with clearer announcements and concise feedback on spelling and grammar. Additional enhancements include a Screen Curtain for privacy, richer image descriptions, and tools for speech recap and live transcription. Users are encouraged to provide feedback to guide further development, and technical assistance is available through the Disability Answer Desk.

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

New Android features keep you focused on what matters most

Android's Expressive Captions feature generates real-time captions that transcribe spoken words and capture the emotional nuances of the speaker's tone. It includes emotion tags such as [joyful] or [sad] to enhance understanding, especially when audio is muted. The feature also recognizes ambient sounds like [cheers and applause], providing a richer viewing experience and fostering inclusivity.

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

WhatsApp Launches EU Interoperability for Encrypted Cross-App Messaging

Meta Platforms Inc.’s WhatsApp is rolling out interoperability features across Europe, allowing users to send messages to individuals on third-party applications starting in November 2024. This initiative is in response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires dominant tech companies to enhance competition by opening their platforms. Users will be able to communicate while maintaining end-to-end encryption, a process that has taken over three years to develop. Users must opt-in to receive messages from third-party applications, and the initial rollout is limited to specific partners. The interoperability allows for sharing text, images, voice messages, videos, and files. Meta's engineering team adapted WhatsApp's infrastructure to accommodate external services while upholding encryption standards. Concerns have been raised about potential security vulnerabilities and the implications of proposed regulations like "Chat Control" that could conflict with encryption efforts. This development could influence competitive dynamics in the messaging sector, providing smaller applications like BirdyChat and Haiket visibility by integrating with WhatsApp’s large user base. Compliance with the DMA helps Meta avoid fines while risking dilution of WhatsApp's market dominance. Privacy implications are a significant concern, with discussions around how interoperability could facilitate surveillance or compromise user security. Meta's journey involved regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with DMA objectives, and the success of this initiative could set a precedent for global standards in digital communication.

Winsage

November 30, 2025

Windows 11 25H2 heralds the dawn of Intelligent Computing

Windows 11 Version 25H2 was released on November 30, 2025, marking a shift from traditional operating system upgrades to a model where Windows is treated as a living service that evolves through feature updates. This version integrates artificial intelligence, notably through the Copilot tool, enhancing user interaction by providing intelligent assistance. The update also improves performance, reliability, and security, addressing increasing cyber threats with fortified default settings and better encryption. Design refinements enhance user experience and accessibility, while energy efficiency optimizations contribute to sustainability. The retirement of Windows 10 in October 2025 emphasizes the importance of Windows 11 as the future platform, with no immediate plans for a Windows 12 release.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

Legendary game designer, programmer, Space Invaders champion, and LGBTQ trailblazer Rebecca Heineman has died

Rebecca Heineman, a pioneering figure in the gaming industry, passed away at the age of 62 following a recent cancer diagnosis. She was the first officially recognized U.S. champion of a video game, winning a national Space Invaders tournament in 1980. Over her career, she contributed to 67 games and was known for her programming skills, including porting titles like Wolfenstein 3D and Baldur's Gate. Heineman publicly embraced her identity as a transgender woman and was an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and diversity in technology. She faced an aggressive cancer diagnosis in early 2024, prompting her to seek support through GoFundMe for treatment costs. After her passing, tributes from the gaming community highlighted her contributions to foundational games and her kindness towards others.

AppWizard

November 12, 2025

Remix makes sending photos to friends even more fun on Google Messages.

A new feature called Remix is being introduced in Google Messages, allowing users to creatively edit and reimagine photos using the Nano Banana from the Gemini image model. Users can access Remix by long-pressing a photo in a chat or selecting an image from their gallery. The feature is inclusive, enabling friends to view remixed images regardless of their phone type, and works in group chats. Currently, Remix is available exclusively on Android devices. The feature rollout begins in November 2025, availability may vary by region, and users must be 18 years or older.

AppWizard

November 4, 2025

Arc Raiders and Battlefield 6 prove that great performance and low system requirements are king for multiplayer PC games in 2025

Arc Raiders had over 350,000 simultaneous players during its launch weekend. It is designed to run on older hardware, requiring a minimum CPU of Intel Core i5 6600K and a GPU like the GTX 1050 Ti or RX 580. The RTX 3060 is the most commonly used desktop GPU among gamers, while the RTX 4060 is gaining popularity. The high cost of PC upgrades and inflation make it difficult for many players to keep up with the latest hardware. Battlefield 6 is playable on older hardware like the 4 GB AMD Radeon RX 570, while Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford described Borderlands 4 as "a premium game for premium gamers," which may limit its audience. Performance optimization is crucial for attracting a broad player base in multiplayer games.

AppWizard

November 4, 2025

After the EA buyout, The Sims “must remain a faithful canvas” for player expression,” former creative director says

EA's acquisition is expected to significantly impact its portfolio, particularly The Sims franchise, which is facing community concerns about potential changes in values related to diversity and representation. Several prominent creators have left EA's Creator Network for The Sims 4 due to worries about the involvement of controversial stakeholders. Charles London, former creative director for The Sims 2, highlighted the importance of maintaining the series' commitment to representation and self-expression, particularly regarding sexuality. He emphasized that The Sims serves as a medium for players to express their identities and that its inclusive ethos should encompass various aspects of life. Maxis has reassured the community that its missions and values will remain unchanged, affirming that The Sims will continue to be a space for authentic self-expression.

AppWizard

October 30, 2025

GDQ’s upcoming event, Games Done Queer, has already become a fierce rallying cry of support for LGBT rights in the US: ‘We had 450 hours of content submitted for the 36-hour show’

The queer community in the U.S. is facing significant challenges, particularly due to recent executive orders from the Trump administration affecting LGBTQ+ health and gender-affirming care. Games Done Quick is launching a new initiative called Games Done Queer (GDQ) from October 31 to November 2, aimed at providing a space for celebration and relaxation amid these challenges. Organizer Rae Brusky highlighted the importance of this event in fostering a supportive environment for marginalized speedrunners and noted the evolution of the community's inclusivity over the years. The event will be streamed on Twitch, featuring unique content such as a 'Gay%' run of a Super Mario mod with Sonic.

Winsage

October 28, 2025

Windows 11 is getting a new trick to make your PC more reliable – and Microsoft has fixed a security flaw in File Explorer

A new preview build of Windows 11 in the Dev channel introduces Proactive Memory Diagnostics, which prompts users to conduct quick memory scans after restarts to prevent system crashes, now supporting both AMD and Intel CPUs. Additionally, a security vulnerability in File Explorer has been addressed by disabling the preview pane for files downloaded from the internet in Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, a change that has received mixed reactions from users.