innovation Archives

AppWizard

May 10, 2025

The next ‘Minecraft’ could come from a Niagara College student

Conor MacNeill, a game development professor at Niagara College, highlights the excitement of students presenting their capstone projects at the Welland campus library. The game development program has grown from about a dozen graduates to a large community, now including collaborations with Brock University. Students are now creating VR games, a significant development compared to the program's early years. First-year student Mark Lampman and fourth-year student Dante Bell showcase their projects, with Bell's team, Slugworks, presenting a game called "Green Thing from the Planet Jupiter." This game features a competitive chase between a green alien and a cat, requiring significant time commitment from the team. The GDLaunch event has evolved, with students actively promoting their games through various marketing strategies. Approximately 25 alumni attended, many looking to hire graduates. The gaming industry is expected to grow through 2027, providing promising opportunities for students. After GDLaunch, 64 graduates attended the Level Up Showcase in Toronto, where their game won second place for Achievement in Audio. The event attracted around 5,000 attendees, showcasing the innovation and dedication of the students.

AppWizard

May 9, 2025

Quake finally makes it into the World Videogame Hall of Fame

Quake has been officially recognized as one of the four inductees into the World Videogame Hall of Fame for 2025. It is a pioneering first-person shooter that introduced mouse controls and real-time 3D graphics, and its extensive mod support contributed to its longevity. Quake's server-client architecture laid the foundation for online gaming and esports. The game's legacy code has influenced many franchises, including Heretic, Hexen, Doom, and Call of Duty. John Romero, co-creator of Quake, expressed his delight at the induction. The 2025 inductees also include Defender, GoldenEye 007, and Tamagotchi.

Winsage

May 9, 2025

Huawei unveils its own PC operating system

Huawei has introduced HarmonyOS PC, also known as Hongmeng Computer in China, at the HarmonyOS Computer Technology and Ecosystem Communication Event. The product is built on three pillars: HarmonyOS Base, which includes the HarmonyOS kernel, Ark Engine, and StarShield architecture; HarmonyOS Ecosystem, featuring over 150 exclusive applications and integration for more than 2,000 universal apps; and HarmonyOS Experience, supporting over 1,000 external devices and 800 standard peripherals. The PC incorporates deep AI integration and will officially launch on May 19.

Winsage

May 9, 2025

Huawei to unveil PC with HarmonyOS now that Windows is out of reach

Huawei Technologies will unveil its first personal computer on May 19, powered by its in-house operating system, HarmonyOS, due to the inability to renew its contract with Microsoft for Windows because of U.S. sanctions. The project has been in development for five years with the efforts of over 10,000 engineers, expanding the HarmonyOS ecosystem beyond smartphones and tablets into personal computing.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

An AI-driven ‘Fix it’ button is just what Windows needs

Microsoft is introducing a branding transformation with new Windows AI features in the latest Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, focusing on user experience enhancement through an advanced NPU in Copilot+ PCs. A key feature is the "agentic AI" in the Windows 11 Settings menu, which can autonomously research, troubleshoot, and resolve PC issues. For example, it can adjust screen brightness or text size based on user needs. The system includes a "Fix it" button that offers solutions for common problems, such as activating dark mode to reduce eye strain. This AI-driven approach aims to improve user satisfaction by providing straightforward solutions to specific issues.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

What’s The Best Alternative To Shazam For Android Users?

Shazam was launched in the UK in 2002 as a service where users could call a number to identify songs for a fee. Acquired by Apple in 2018, it remains available for Android users and integrates with various music platforms while being free to use. Shazam struggles with identifying earworms. SoundHound, Shazam's main competitor, has around 100 million users and can identify songs quickly, providing detailed information and lyrics. It allows users to hum or sing songs for identification, though this feature is not always accurate. SoundHound's free version includes ads, while SoundHound Infinity offers an ad-free experience for .99. Musixmatch is another alternative that identifies songs and focuses on lyrics, allowing users to create "lyrics cards" and offering a translation feature. It requires the actual song for identification. The Google app also provides quick song identification, including for hummed or sung versions, but gives candid feedback on user performance.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Introducing all-new Surface Copilot+ PCs: The Surface Pro, 12-inch and Surface Laptop, 13-inch

Copilot+ PCs are a new category of personal computing devices designed to enhance AI experiences and productivity. Microsoft has introduced the Surface Laptop (13-inch) and Surface Pro (12-inch) as part of this lineup, both featuring Snapdragon X Plus processors with Neural Processing Units (NPU). The Surface Laptop, available from May 20, 2025, starts at 9, is the thinnest and lightest model yet, and offers up to 23 hours of video playback. It has a full HD touchscreen, AI-enhanced camera, and a keyboard with a fingerprint reader. The Surface Pro, also powered by the Snapdragon X Plus, weighs 1.5 pounds and features a detachable keyboard and adjustable kickstand. Both devices incorporate sustainable materials, with the Surface Laptop using 100% recycled cobalt in its battery and the Surface Pro made from 82.9% recycled content. They provide access to AI tools for productivity, including features like Recall and Click to Do. Pre-orders for both devices are available, with the Surface Pro starting at 9 and the Surface Laptop at ,199.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft Reveals New Windows 11 Start Menu and Upcoming Copilot+ Features

Microsoft has announced upcoming features for Windows 11, including a redesigned Start Menu, enhancements to Click to Do, and improvements in Windows Search. Key features for Windows Insiders using Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs include an AI Agent in Settings, new Click to Do actions for scheduling and messaging, dynamic lighting controls in Photos, a Paint sticker generator, object selection in Paint, an improved Snipping tool, and rich image descriptions in Narrator. Additional features for all Windows Insiders include a new Start Menu with a phone companion sidebar, AI actions in File Explorer, updates to Notepad, Copilot improvements, and a Microsoft Store AI Hub. Notably, Copilot+ PC experiences will not be available in all markets until later, with some features expected to arrive in the European Economic Area in 2025.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

NCSoft invests in Texan FPS studio Emptyvessel

NCSoft has invested in the first-person studio Emptyvessel, marking the start of a long-term partnership through its North American subsidiary, NC West. Emptyvessel is developing a first-person cyberpunk squad-based shooter called Defect, with a team experienced in titles like Doom and The Last of Us. Emanuel Palalic, the game director, emphasized the importance of creative risks and the alignment of visions between the two companies. NCSoft co-CEO Byung-moo Park praised Emptyvessel's expertise and reiterated the company's commitment to investing in new global intellectual properties and specific genres.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Compulsion boss says Xbox isn’t mandating generative AI

Guillaume Provost, head of Compulsion Games, stated that Microsoft does not mandate the use of generative AI in its first-party studios, allowing developers creative autonomy. He emphasized Compulsion Games' commitment to craftsmanship and artistry, indicating that while generative AI could be beneficial in the pre-production phase for tasks like creating storyboards, it is not intended for use in production. Provost noted that Compulsion Games may not be at the forefront of AI adoption due to the nature of their projects, and this aligns with Microsoft's broader vision of innovation without compromising traditional game development practices.