labor Archives

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

ZeniMax union votes to strike

Members of the ZeniMax Workers United union have voted 94 percent in favor of authorizing strike action in ongoing negotiations with Microsoft. The union, established in January 2023, is advocating for fair wages and improved working conditions amid concerns about underpayment and rising living costs. Union members express a commitment to using their collective power to secure a first contract with Microsoft.

Winsage

April 3, 2025

How Bill Gates, the Altair 8800 and BASIC propelled me into the PC revolution

The Altair 8800, introduced by Ed Roberts in 1974, was a groundbreaking personal computer that allowed everyday individuals to own and interact with computers, marking the beginning of the personal computer era. Bill Gates and Paul Allen recognized its potential and created a BASIC interpreter to enable users to engage with their machines. An engineer, initially interested in nuclear reactors, built his own Altair 8800 by scavenging parts and hand-soldering, highlighting the significance of programming languages like BASIC in making computing accessible. Gates and Allen's work on BASIC simplified programming and contributed to the proliferation of personal computers. Gates later advised the engineer on the importance of cash flow for startups, guiding him in his transition to software development. BASIC served as a gateway for many into computing, influencing countless careers in the tech industry.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

Disney, Jagex, Codemasters vets found new publisher The CoLab

Three professionals from the UK gaming industry, Darren Newnham, Mark Faulkner, and John Lewis, have launched an indie publishing house called The CoLab. They have experience from companies such as United Label, Fnatic, Disney Interactive, Jagex, PlayFusion, Bossa, Codemasters, and Criterion. The CoLab has three projects in development: a cozy game called Campfire, a cyberpunk shooter named DeadWire, and a strategy game titled Counter Clash. The company has partnered with the charity Safe in Our World to support mental wellbeing in the gaming industry. The CoLab aims to support indie developers during challenging times in the sector, advocating for cooperation and collaboration while addressing issues like mass redundancies and the prioritization of shareholder value over gamers' needs. Their vision includes uniting game creators, sharing resources, and fostering a supportive environment for developers.

Winsage

April 1, 2025

Microsoft’s Windows 98 can run Meta’s Llama AI model on just 128MB of RAM: “We could have been talking to our computers for 30 years now.”

Generative AI is being integrated into modern technology, with Microsoft incorporating its Copilot AI into Windows 11. Marc Andreessen revealed that a small Llama AI model from Meta operated on a Windows 98 PC with 128MB of RAM. Although the specific Meta AI model was not disclosed, it suggests older technology could have supported generative AI capabilities. Andreessen noted that running Llama AI on a 26-year-old Dell PC could have enabled human-like interactions with computers decades ago. An experiment by Exo Labs successfully ran a modified version of Meta's Llama 2 on a Pentium II-based Windows 98 PC, overcoming challenges related to sourcing compatible peripherals and transferring files. The team used Borland C++ 5.02 for compiling modern code but eventually switched to an older version of the C programming language due to compatibility issues. The project required developing a streamlined version of the AI model to function within the hardware limitations of the legacy PC. This illustrates that even older PCs had the potential to support generative AI.

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

Activision user research workers form union

Activision's user research division staff voted to form a union, named the Activision User Research Union-CWA, with a supermajority in favor of unionization. Microsoft has recognized the union as part of its labor neutrality agreement with the Communication Workers of America (CWA). The motivation for unionization was influenced by anticipated layoffs in 2023 and 2024. CWA Local 9400 president Maurice Washington emphasized the need for a protected voice for workers and expressed pride in welcoming the new members into the CWA. This development follows the establishment of the United Videogame Workers-CWA, reflecting a trend of unionization in the gaming industry.

Winsage

March 24, 2025

How to Uninstall Problematic Windows Updates Easily

AI-powered invoice data extraction is transforming the accounts payable (AP) process by automating the manual entry of invoice data, which reduces time and resources required for data entry. This technology uses machine learning algorithms and optical character recognition (OCR) to accurately capture and interpret data from invoices. Benefits of this automation include enhanced accuracy, cost savings, faster processing times, and improved cash flow management. The adoption of AI-driven tools is becoming essential for organizations to remain competitive in the evolving financial management landscape.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

United Videogame Workers union launches with CWA backing

United Videogame Workers has been launched as a new initiative for professionals in the gaming industry, backed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). The union aims to empower marginalized workers, including laid-off employees, contractors, and freelancers. Its mission is to reclaim the contributions of the workforce from higher-ups. Tom Smith, CWA’s senior director of organizing, emphasized that the union's creation is a collective effort by video game workers. CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. noted the significance of the union in helping video game workers build power amid troubling trends of consolidation in the industry, which have led to layoffs and the sidelining of creative workers.

AppWizard

March 16, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Expected To Have A Promising Opening Weekend –

The upcoming adaptation of the video game Minecraft features a star-studded cast, including Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, Emma Myers, and Danielle Brooks. The film has been in development for several years, facing challenges such as the pandemic and labor strikes, but is expected to perform well at the box office. It aims to attract a diverse audience, including fans of the game and families seeking entertainment. Marketing efforts are underway to generate excitement, supported by major studios like Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment. The film's box office performance will be closely monitored for its potential impact on future video game adaptations.

AppWizard

March 15, 2025

The Day Before studio reportedly sues Russian website for calling infamous disaster-game a ‘scam’

Fntastic, the studio behind The Day Before, has filed a lawsuit against Yakutia.info, a news outlet in Siberia, for allegedly damaging its reputation by labeling its actions as a "scam." The claims are based on an article that described Fntastic's conduct in this manner and another that paraphrased comments from YouTube influencers. Yakutia.info has since clarified that it did not intend to imply fraudulent behavior and amended the articles to replace "scam" with "embarrassment." The lawsuit may require Yakutia.info to prove that Fntastic's actions were criminal rather than merely misguided. Fntastic's reputation has suffered due to criticism of The Day Before, which has been described as buggy and incomplete, leading to its temporary removal from Steam. The studio has faced challenges with communication, development promises, and the use of "volunteer" labor. Last September, Fntastic struggled to secure funding for a new project on Kickstarter, raising only ,351 of a ,000 target, and has announced a new initiative inviting designers to contribute to its game.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Box Office: ‘Minecraft Movie’ Tracking for Decent $58M Opening

The Minecraft Movie is projected to earn around $ million during its opening weekend in North America from April 4-6, according to sources from the National Research Group. Warner Bros. co-movie chiefs Mike DeLuca and Pam Abby are optimistic about the film, which is their first project from inception to completion. The film faced delays due to the pandemic and labor strikes. Warner Bros. has partnered with Legendary Entertainment to invest significantly in this PG-rated fantasy action-adventure, aiming to leverage the popularity of the Minecraft franchise.