landmarks

AppWizard
April 19, 2025
A group of Minecraft enthusiasts, part of the online community Build the Earth, is recreating the United Kingdom in the game, focusing on detailed replicas of landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. Over five years, they have dedicated up to 15,000 hours to the project, which began in 2020. The initiative aims for authenticity, with members researching planning applications and contacting organizations. Minecraft, launched in 2009, is the best-selling computer game of all time, allowing players to build anything using blocks.
AppWizard
April 8, 2025
Various unfinished iterations of Half-Life 2 have emerged over the years, showcasing the evolution of Valve's vision for the game. A recent video by YouTuber CMDR RileySV explores the 2003 beta, focusing on the "City 17 river," which was originally intended to play a significant role in the gameplay. In the beta, players would navigate through canals leading to the Citadel, promising a striking visual reveal. Although remnants of these elements exist in the final version, the canal section was repurposed, leading to mixed player reactions. A comment from user @FlintExp highlights that the city layout of City 17 draws inspiration from New York City, with specific coordinates matching real locations. The river was once a crucial aspect of the journey through City 17, guiding players toward the Citadel. The 2003 beta closely resembles the retail version, with notable differences reflecting Valve's editing process before release.
AppWizard
March 10, 2025
Minecraft features a variety of custom worlds that cater to different playstyles: 1. Project Storytelling: A creative mode world with a picturesque town square, elemental temples, a volcano, and an ice castle, allowing for customization and artistic expression. 2. Komodo Island: A survival mode world set in a post-apocalyptic landscape with decaying structures, undead creatures, and various urban and suburban areas for exploration and looting. 3. Ireland 2066: A creative mode world that blends historical landmarks with futuristic architecture, showcasing energy parks, vertical farming, and innovative urban designs. 4. Skyblock Infinite: A survival mode world with twenty-seven unique islands, offering quest-like gameplay and challenges for long-term survival. 5. Mesopotamia: A creative mode world inspired by the ancient Fertile Crescent, featuring irrigation systems, terraced farming, and historical monuments, allowing for exploration and building.
AppWizard
March 8, 2025
Google is developing temperature controls for Android Auto, with internal code indicating potential settings for high, low, and off. This feature is part of the Android Auto 13.9 beta update, which also included bug fixes and minor language adjustments. The integration of temperature controls may work alongside Android Auto's upcoming Gemini features, which include voice-activated music playback and basic trip planning.
AppWizard
February 28, 2025
Developer Don't Nod is primarily known for its Life is Strange series, while its debut game, Remember Me, received a lukewarm reception and disappointing sales, leading to financial difficulties for the studio. The game features protagonist Nilin, who possesses judo skills and engages in limited martial arts combat, but much of the gameplay involves traversing the city rather than combat. Neo-Paris is visually striking, showcasing artistic design, but lacks coherent world-building and a logical foundation for its narrative. The story revolves around memory manipulation, with Nilin able to alter the memories of key characters, a mechanic that illustrates how pivotal moments shape identities. Despite its shortcomings, some concepts from Remember Me were later refined and successfully integrated into Life is Strange.
AppWizard
February 27, 2025
Google's SafetyCore app was launched in October 2023 as part of system updates for Android devices, designed to classify content like spam and explicit material through on-device image analysis. It operates locally using machine learning, avoiding cloud uploads, and is promoted as a privacy-enhancing feature. However, it requires 2GB of storage and operates in the background without prior user disclosure, leading to criticism regarding its transparency and potential privacy implications. Users discovered its existence through online discussions, with some labeling it as "spyware." Although Google claims that SafetyCore only activates upon app requests and does not report findings back to the company, the closed-source nature of the app raises concerns about independent audits and user trust. Advocates for privacy emphasize the need for transparency in technology, especially regarding features that access personal data. Users can disable SafetyCore through the Settings menu, but many remain unaware of this option. The situation highlights a broader issue of balancing innovation with user consent in the tech industry.
AppWizard
February 6, 2025
The Minecraft Middle Earth project began in October 2010 and has become one of the longest-running building communities within the game. It features a vast virtual map measuring 29,000 by 30,000 blocks, comparable to the size of Dallas, Texas. The community has recreated various iconic locations from J.R.R. Tolkien's universe, including cities like Minas Tirith and Dol Amroth, as well as landscapes such as Isengard, Rohan, and Moria. Players can explore these sites, including the dangerous lands of Mordor, in a safe environment. The community continues to evolve with advancements in building techniques, and there is still much of Tolkien's world left to construct.
BetaBeacon
February 3, 2025
- Monster Hunter Now is a location-based game from Niantic, the creator of Pokemon Go - The game features maps of where items and monsters spawn, with a more action-packed fighting style than Pokemon Go
AppWizard
December 15, 2024
The upcoming launch of Android XR, featuring headsets developed by Samsung under the codename Project Moohan, is set for next year. These headsets will enable users to transition between immersive virtual environments and the real world, enhanced by an AI assistant named Gemini. Gemini will assist users in interacting with their surroundings and managing tasks. Google is also adapting popular applications for this headset experience, allowing users to watch YouTube and Google TV on a virtual big screen, view Google Photos in 3D, explore Google Maps in an Immersive View, manage multiple virtual screens with Chrome, and use Circle to Search for information. Android XR will support existing mobile and tablet applications from Google Play, with more tailored content expected to be released next year.
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