individuals Archives

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

Who ‘won’ a super-busy Steam week for debuts?

This week, over 20 games launched on Steam, accumulating more than 50,000 wishlists, with nine titles exceeding 100,000 wishlists. The Switch eShop has introduced new publishing guidelines in Asia regarding game bundles and content restrictions. Roblox is enhancing its safety platform with new features for players aged 13 and above. Star Wars Battlefront II's recent Steam revenue is estimated at millions, contributing to its overall success. Subnautica 2 has a wishlist total of 2.48 million amid a lawsuit against Krafton. The American Time Use survey shows individuals spend an average of 34 minutes on games and computers for leisure. Valve has improved wishlist data updates on Steam, but some users reported bugs in their charts. Payment providers like PayPal have restricted payments for certain extreme adult-themed games on Steam, prompting Valve to clarify its content policies.

Winsage

July 17, 2025

Microsoft Is Testing Letting Copilot AI Interact With Your Whole Desktop

Microsoft is enhancing its Copilot AI chatbot by expanding its screen-sharing capabilities, allowing it to process and interact with the entire desktop instead of just specific applications or windows. This feature is currently in public testing as part of the Windows Insider program. Users can share their complete workspace by selecting the "glasses" icon, and the feature can be easily closed. The enhancement enables Copilot to engage in real-time discussions about users' work, assisting with tasks such as content analysis, insights, and answering questions.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

Samsung fixes the Secure Folder flaw that let anyone see what apps you’re hiding

Samsung has addressed a vulnerability in its Secure Folder feature that previously allowed individuals with physical access to a device to view hidden apps and photos. This flaw arose from the Secure Folder being classified as a "work profile," which certain system components did not recognize as secure. With the release of One UI 8, Samsung has reclassified Secure Folder as a "private" profile, ensuring it is treated as a secure space by Google’s components. This change prevents unauthorized access to its contents, but the Secure Folder must be fully hidden for enhanced protection. However, it currently does not integrate with third-party launchers, as Samsung has not yet implemented the necessary APIs for compatibility.

Winsage

July 16, 2025

Microsoft Confirms New Upgrade Deadlines—‘Move To Windows 11’

Approximately 700 million PC users are currently using Windows 10, which is set to end support in October. Microsoft has extended support for Windows 10 by 12 months but warns that using an unsupported operating system may lead to performance issues. Microsoft 365 users can continue to use applications like Word after the end of support, but they are encouraged to transition to Windows 11. Security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 will be provided for three years after support ends, until October 2028. Feature updates for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 will cease by specific deadlines: August 2026 for Current Channel, October 13, 2026 for Monthly Enterprise Channel, and January 12, 2027 for Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel. Between 240 and 400 million PCs are not eligible for the upgrade to Windows 11, necessitating solutions for maintaining security for these users.

Winsage

July 16, 2025

Microsoft begins testing sharing your desktop with Copilot on Windows 11 — allows AI to view and chat about what’s on your screen

Microsoft is testing a new feature for Copilot on Windows 11 that allows users to share their entire desktop with the AI assistant, enhancing interaction by enabling Copilot to observe multiple applications simultaneously. This feature builds on the earlier capability of sharing individual applications and aims to provide insights, guidance, and support for various tasks. Copilot can highlight areas of the screen needing attention and offer step-by-step assistance, although it cannot manipulate the desktop directly. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced Copilot Memory for personalized user profiles and teased a customizable persona feature. The desktop sharing capability is currently being tested across all Windows 11 Insider Preview channels and is limited to users in the United States.

Winsage

July 15, 2025

Want to keep using Microsoft 365 in Windows 10 after October? You can

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, meaning no more security patches, bug fixes, or technical support will be available unless users opt for extended security updates. Microsoft encourages all Microsoft 365 users on Windows 10 to upgrade to Windows 11 by this deadline. However, Microsoft will provide security updates for Microsoft 365 applications on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028. Feature updates for individuals and families subscribed to Microsoft 365 will continue until August 2026, while organizations will receive updates until October 13, 2026, or January 12, 2027, depending on their subscription type. After October 14, 2025, support for Windows 10 users will be limited, with representatives encouraging upgrades to Windows 11 for issues specific to that operating system.

AppWizard

July 15, 2025

How does your phone know so many private details? How thousands of apps are exploiting mysterious indoor location tracking

In 2023, a family at an amusement park experienced technology's impact on privacy when the park's app used geolocation to notify a waiting parent about fast-track entry. Spanish researchers investigated how apps exploit Bluetooth and Wi-Fi permissions to track users indoors, even without GPS. Their findings, to be presented at the Pets privacy conference, reveal that 86% of 9,976 analyzed Android apps collect sensitive data, including location coordinates. The study highlights ethical concerns regarding data sharing and potential misuse, as information can track individuals' movements and identify sensitive activities. Many apps use software development kits (SDKs) that include hidden location tracking features, with 52 SDKs identified in nearly 10,000 apps installed on around 55 billion devices. The Android Advertising ID allows companies to track users and create detailed profiles based on location data, raising ethical dilemmas about privacy and the commodification of personal information.

Winsage

July 15, 2025

Microsoft is testing a smarter way to save your laptop’s battery on Windows 11

Microsoft is introducing an update for Windows 11 called Adaptive Energy Saver, which optimizes energy consumption based on device activities to enhance battery longevity for portable devices like laptops and tablets. Unlike the existing energy saver mode that activates at low battery levels, the Adaptive Energy Saver assesses system workload to determine when to conserve power without changing screen brightness. This feature is not available for desktop PCs but is being rolled out to users in the Windows Insider program, with a broader release expected later this year.

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

Google stocks ‘featured notebooks’ on NotebookLM shelves for curated topics

Google is introducing "featured notebooks" in NotebookLM for desktop users, in partnership with publications like the Atlantic and the Economist. These notebooks provide in-depth advice and analysis, including contributions from Eric Topol and Yellowstone National Park. They are publicly accessible, allowing users to read or generate Audio Overviews. The update, announced on July 14, enhances the app's ability to curate high-quality sources for complex topics. Notable collaborations include public notebooks such as "How to Build a Life" and "The World Ahead 2025." Users can engage with AI for clarification and access AI-generated summaries. The rollout also includes various publicly available notebooks, such as longevity advice from Eric Topol and a science enthusiast’s guide to Yellowstone National Park. The feature builds on the "Public Notebooks" introduced in June, allowing users to compile and share notebooks for collaborative interaction. Discover Sources helps users find credible references by autonomously gathering pertinent information based on user-described topics.

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

Take a trip down memory lane with Android Rewind

A new website, AndroidRewind.com, is being developed to chronicle the evolution of Android, starting from Google's acquisition of Android Inc. in July 2005. The site will feature key landing pages including a timeline of Android releases, information on devices that defined Android, details about OEMs, and profiles of notable figures in the Android ecosystem. The initial design was revised for better aesthetics, and images were sourced from Android Central. The website is built using Google Gemini, allowing for flexibility in content editing. Challenges encountered during development included issues with deployment and code editing post-deployment. Future plans for the site include enhancing details for Android releases and devices, and incorporating additional device categories like tablets and wearables.