key Archives

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Warner Bros admits games business is “substantially underperforming”

Warner Bros Discovery's video games division is facing significant challenges, described as "substantially underperforming," with losses exceeding 0 million due to underperforming titles. The free-to-play game MultiVersus has been particularly problematic. CEO David Zaslav acknowledged the need for more consistent performance from the games business and identified four strong and profitable franchises: Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and the DC Universe, particularly Batman. The company plans to recalibrate its strategy by focusing on these core franchises and leveraging the strengths of proven studios.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Qualcomm triples Windows on Arm OEM design wins since May

Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano R. Amon announced a significant increase in design wins for the Snapdragon X Plus eight-core platform, rising from 20 to 58 in six months. This reflects growing interest among OEMs in Arm-based Windows laptops. However, Qualcomm faces challenges in converting these design wins into consumer sales due to compatibility issues and performance concerns. Intel and AMD continue to dominate the market with hundreds of design wins annually. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus platform offers AI capabilities, 5G connectivity, and improved battery life, but software compatibility remains a challenge. In Q4 2024, Qualcomm reported revenue of .2 billion, a 19% year-on-year increase, and a net income of .92 billion, a 96% rise. Over the fiscal year, revenue increased 9% to .9 billion, and net profit surged 40% to .14 billion.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

The Windows 11 24H2 bug list grows again: 10 reasons to avoid this update for now

Microsoft released the Windows 11 24H2 update on October 1, 2023, which includes enhancements like an upgraded Copilot AI and a refreshed File Explorer. However, the update has several bugs, leading Microsoft to temporarily halt its rollout for certain problematic PCs. Key issues include: 1. The System File Checker (SFC) is caught in a loop of false positives, misidentifying WebView2-related files as corrupted. 2. An 8.63GB update cache cannot be deleted through standard methods, but can be removed using "Windows Update Cleanup." 3. The update conflicts with Easy Anti-Cheat software, causing blue screens for users with Intel's Alder Lake+ processors. 4. Blue screens can also occur due to driver incompatibilities with Intel Smart Sound Technology, certain Western Digital SSDs, and MSI Z890 motherboards. 5. The mouse pointer may disappear in Chromium-based applications when interacting with text input fields. 6. Users have reported erratic internet connectivity, with some unable to receive a valid IP address. 7. Fingerprint sensors may become unresponsive on some devices. 8. The clipboard history feature may malfunction, showing as empty despite copied items. 9. Devices may fail to appear in the network list, affecting file and printer sharing. 10. Users of Copilot+ PCs face difficulties with printer setup and usage, particularly with HP, Canon, and Brother printers. Due to these issues, users are advised to delay installation of the update until fixes are implemented.

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

Minecraft – How To Tame And Breed Animals

In Minecraft, various animals can be tamed and bred to enhance gameplay. To tame a cat, approach it in villages with raw cod or raw salmon, feed it the fish, and to breed, feed another tamed cat raw fish. To tame a fox, locate two adult foxes in the Taiga biome, feed them sweet berries or glow berries to create a baby fox. To tame a horse, repeatedly attempt to mount a wild horse until you succeed, then breed two tamed horses with a Golden Apple or Golden Carrot. Axolotls cannot be tamed but can be bred by leading two adults together with tropical fish. Villagers can be bred by ensuring two adults are near three beds and providing them with food. To breed frogs, attract two frogs with slimeballs and they will lay spawn in water. For turtles, feed two turtles seagrass to induce love mode, and one will lay eggs on sand. Parrots can be tamed by feeding them seeds found in jungle biomes, with a 10% chance of success per attempt. Pandas can be bred by feeding two adults bamboo and ensuring a bamboo block is nearby. Bees can be bred by attracting them with flowers and feeding each a flower to initiate love mode. To breed sheep, feed two adult sheep wheat, and they will produce a baby sheep. Pigs can be bred by feeding two adult pigs a carrot, potato, or beetroot.

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

First Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered PC Patch brings performance and stability improvements

Nixxes has released Patch 1.1 for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, which includes bug fixes and performance enhancements. Key fixes include resolving a crash related to mouse and keyboard controls, addressing disappearing or flickering shadows in Meridian for ultrawide resolutions, and correcting a floating bow issue during cinematics. The update also aligns the audio volume of pre-rendered cut scenes with gameplay. Improvements have been made to Steam Input, HUD markers for objectives, and various user interface elements, alongside general performance and stability enhancements. A PSN account is required to access the remaster, and there are no plans to remove this requirement. The update will be automatically downloaded via Steam.

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered PC Patch 1.1 Introduces Various Performance and Stability Improvements

A new patch (1.1) for the PC version of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has been released, enhancing the gaming experience with several key fixes and improvements. The patch resolves audio issues in pre-rendered cutscenes, addresses a bug with disappearing or flickering shadows in Meridian on ultrawide resolutions, ensures HUD markers for objectives render correctly with custom field of view, and implements improvements to Steam Input. The development team is working on future patches for further refinements. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is available on PC and PlayStation 5 globally.

Tech Optimizer

November 7, 2024

TotalAV vs PCProtect: Which Is the Best Antivirus?

TotalAV offers superior protection and user experience compared to PCProtect, with affordability enhancing its appeal. TotalAV blocked all prepared malware samples and nine out of ten wild samples in tests, while PCProtect missed two prepared and three wild samples, achieving a 75% effectiveness score. TotalAV features an intuitive interface, effective password manager, and superior VPN, while PCProtect's interface could benefit from redesign. TotalAV provides three pricing options, with the basic version covering four devices, making it more cost-effective than PCProtect, which is available for three devices. Both antivirus programs support Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. TotalAV has received high ratings from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, while PCProtect has not been evaluated by leading cybersecurity firms.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

Winos4.0 Malware Found in Game Apps, Targets Windows Users

A newly identified malware framework called "Winos4.0" targets Windows users through game-related applications. It is a sophisticated variant of Gh0strat, capable of executing remote actions and granting attackers control over compromised systems. Winos4.0 is distributed via seemingly harmless applications, which download a BMP file that extracts and activates the Winos4.0 DLL file. The malware establishes persistence by creating registry keys or scheduled tasks. Its capabilities include clipboard monitoring, system information gathering, and detection of antivirus software and security applications. Winos4.0 targets educational institutions, particularly in "Campus Administration." It maintains communication with command-and-control (C2) servers to download encrypted modules and receive commands for actions like document management and screen capture. Fortinet compares Winos4.0 to frameworks like Cobalt Strike and Sliver, noting its encrypted data exchanges and C2 communication. Users are advised to download applications only from reputable sources.

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

Android 15’s first monthly software update is finally rolling out now

Google has begun distributing the first monthly software update for Android 15, which includes various fixes and enhancements along with the latest security patch. The rollout is phased, starting for devices running Android 15, and users will receive a notification when the update is available. Key fixes in this update include: - Bluetooth: Fix for range issues on the Pixel 9 series. - Camera: Resolution of camera tilt issues when zooming on the Pixel 9 series. - Display and Graphics: Correction of flashing white dots on the Pixel 9 series and screen brightness flickering on the Pixel 8a. - Sensors: Fix for occasional failure of Adaptive brightness on the Pixel 9 series. - Touch: Resolution of keyboard dismiss button issues on the Pixel 9 series. - User Interface: General performance and stability improvements for multiple Pixel models (Pixel 6 to Pixel 9 series). The software version is AP3A.241105.007 for Pixel models from Pixel 6 to Pixel 8a and AP3A.241105.008 for the Pixel 9 series.

Winsage

November 7, 2024

New Winos4.0 Malware Targeting Windows via Fake Gaming Apps

Cybersecurity researchers at Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs have identified a malware campaign named Winos4.0 that disguises itself as benign gaming applications targeting Microsoft Windows users. This malware framework is similar to threats like Cobalt Strike and Sliver. Users who download these applications inadvertently install Trojan horses that deploy the Winos4.0 framework, which has been found in various gaming-related tools. The malware appears to focus on the education sector, as indicated by its file description “校园政务” (Campus Administration). Winos4.0 is a re-engineered version of the Gh0stRat remote access trojan and consists of modular components for specific tasks. The attack begins with the retrieval of a BMP file from a remote server, leading to the extraction of a DLL file named “you.dll.” This file downloads additional files, including the main malicious file “libcef.dll,” which injects shellcode to establish a connection with a command and control (C2) server. The malware executes various tasks, such as monitoring system information and maintaining a connection to the C2 server. To protect against such threats, users are advised to download applications only from reputable sources, avoid third-party app stores, and scan new files before execution. Regular device scans are recommended, especially after downloading new content.