Instagram Archives

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Kinzoo Messenger offers users a Dog Man experience

Kinzoo Messenger is a free social media application for children and families, launched in 2020, with over a million downloads in countries including the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. The platform focuses on providing a safe environment for kids to connect through talk, text, and games. Its monetization strategy includes in-app currency for purchasing stickers, brand partnerships, and a paid subscription tier for exclusive content. Kinzoo has engaged children through collaborations with popular intellectual properties, achieving significant engagement metrics, such as 423,000 opt-ins for Rovio's Angry Birds and 321,000 for the Dog Man campaign within 20 days. The platform allows children to choose which brands to engage with, providing a secure alternative amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of traditional media.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Ex-President of SIE Pushed Sony To Port First-Party Games To PC

Sony is considering expanding its PlayStation-exclusive titles to the PC platform, influenced by Shuhei Yoshida, the former President of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Yoshida argues that releasing games on PC can maximize revenue by reaching new audiences, particularly in regions like China where console gaming is less popular. He highlights that porting games to PC is less expensive than developing new titles, providing a significant financial incentive. However, he acknowledges that PC versions typically release a few years after their console counterparts, which may concern existing PlayStation owners.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

First Minecraft Club at VTSU

The Castleton Minecraft Club has nearly 20 sign-ups and is focused on creating an inclusive gaming experience by accommodating both Bedrock and Java editions of Minecraft. The club faces financial and technical challenges, particularly regarding server costs, and is currently distributing a survey to gauge student preferences. Plans are underway to operate primarily online, with the potential use of an eSports platform for meetings. The club aims to host various in-game activities and aspires to connect students across all Vermont State University campuses. Promotional efforts include flyers and the creation of an Instagram page to attract new members.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

OnePlus 13 is the latest Android phone with Instagram’s ‘Night Mode’ camera

OnePlus 13 users can now use Night Mode in Instagram, enhancing low-light photography and videography within the app. This feature, previously available only on select Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, utilizes Android’s Camera Extensions API. Night Mode activates automatically in low-light conditions, indicated by a moon icon. Users can capture images by launching the Instagram camera, waiting for Night Mode to engage, and holding the shutter button steady for a few seconds. This integration allows for a seamless experience without needing to switch between apps, building on OnePlus's existing Night Mode capabilities.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

‘Loophole’ in law on messaging apps leaves children vulnerable to sexual abuse, says NSPCC

Nearly 39,000 child sex abuse image crimes were documented in the past year, with approximately 38,685 crimes recorded in England and Wales during the 2023/24 period, averaging over 100 incidents per day. Snapchat was identified as the most frequently mentioned app in these cases, accounting for 50% of incidents, followed by Instagram (11%), Facebook (7%), and WhatsApp (6%). The NSPCC and other organizations are advocating for stronger enforcement of the Online Safety Act, citing concerns about a loophole that allows direct messaging services to remove harmful content only if deemed "technically feasible." The NSPCC expressed the need for proactive measures from platforms to prevent becoming "safe havens" for abusers, particularly highlighting risks associated with end-to-end encryption. A 13-year-old victim shared her distressing experience on Snapchat, where she was threatened after sending nude pictures to a stranger. NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood called for immediate government action, criticizing separate regulations for private messaging services that allow tech companies to evade responsibility. The Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, mandates social media companies to mitigate illegal and harmful content, but protective measures are still being implemented. Ofcom stated that most services should be capable of removing harmful content, while a government spokesperson reiterated the commitment to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse and to implement the Online Safety Act effectively.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Elon Musk’s X blocking links to Signal messaging app

Social media platform X has implemented restrictions on links to the Signal messaging application, resulting in error messages when users attempt to share signal.me links through public posts, direct messages, or profile pages. This blockage also affects existing signal.me links. Signal, known for its end-to-end encryption, is commonly used by journalists and whistleblowers. X has previously restricted links to Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and Substack, despite Signal not being a direct competitor. Users can still share Signal handles on X, and a workaround exists by copy-pasting the link into Signal to bypass the restrictions.

AppWizard

February 17, 2025

Half-Life 2 and Dishonored artist Viktor Antonov has died

Viktor Antonov, a prominent figure in the gaming industry, passed away at the age of 52. His death was announced via an Instagram story by former Valve writer Mark Laidlaw, with no specific details provided. Born in 1972, Antonov was known for his artistic contributions to several iconic video games, including Half-Life 2, Dishonored, Counter-Strike: Source, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Fallout 4, Doom (2016), and Prey. Colleagues from Arkane Studios, such as Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith, shared their admiration for Antonov, highlighting his influence on the studio's success and his sense of humor. Pete Hines, a former Bethesda employee, also expressed his sorrow and acknowledged Antonov's talent in creating immersive game worlds.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

TikTok is back in US app stores for Apple and Android

TikTok has returned to the app stores of both Apple and Android in the United States after being removed due to a divest-or-ban law enacted by former President Joe Biden, which raised national security concerns about its parent company, ByteDance. The app was inaccessible since late January, despite its service remaining operational. A Supreme Court ruling on January 17 upheld the ban, leading to TikTok's reinstatement by Apple and Android shortly thereafter. During TikTok's removal, there was a surge in secondhand sales of used iPhones pre-installed with the app, and competitors like Meta-owned Instagram announced new applications to rival TikTok. Users also explored alternative platforms like Clapper and RedNote during TikTok's absence.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

‘Avowed’ Review (PC): An Excellent ‘Elder Scrolls’ Intermission

Avowed is a role-playing game set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, allowing players to engage without prior lore knowledge. Players assume the role of a "Godlike" character on a quest in the "Living Lands" to confront the Dreamscourge, a blight affecting the landscape and its creatures. The game features a small party of companions with unique abilities, including a fish man, a rabbit girl, and a human healer. Avowed consists of interconnected zones with distinct environments, encouraging exploration and discovery. The main story and side quests take approximately 30 hours to complete, offering a fulfilling experience without the lengthy commitment typical of other RPGs. Combat is engaging, with various build options available, and meaningful choices impact the narrative, enhancing player agency. The game simplifies some RPG mechanics, which can be both a strength and a weakness. The writing quality compensates for less complex character interactions. The game received a score of 9/10.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Google Maps tests new weather-related incident reports on app & Android Auto

Google Maps has enhanced its incident reporting feature by expanding the types of incidents users can report, now visible to select users on mobile and Android Auto. The new reporting options include flooded roads, low visibility, and unplowed roads, appearing after the "Stalled vehicle" option. The "Police" report has been moved out of the main view. This update follows a previous enhancement in November that simplified the reporting of speed traps.