media consumption Archives

AppWizard

February 23, 2025

‘These kids do not care about romance’: Game devs want to know what today’s teens want, and surveys say sex and romance isn’t it

Surveys indicate that today's youth prefer narratives focused on platonic friendships and social connections over romance and sexual themes. At the D.I.C.E. Summit, industry leaders shared that 73% of individuals aged 16 to 24 report feelings of loneliness, attributed to various factors including global events and social media. Research from UCLA shows young people value safety, kindness, acceptance, friendship, and spiritual connection, with a growing disinterest in romance. The 2024 Teens and Screens report reveals that "romance and/or sex" ranked 15th out of 21 media preferences among adolescents, while "friendships and social groups" ranked 5th. The desire for content focused on platonic relationships rose from 51.5% in 2023 to 63.5% in 2024, and the belief that sexual content is not essential to advance a plot increased from 47.5% to 62.4%. Additionally, adolescents are engaging in sexual activity less frequently than previous generations. Mainstream video games have historically featured minimal sexual and romantic content, with recent titles like Baldur's Gate 3 exploring these themes more deeply.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Windows Central’s highest-rated laptops are already on sale ahead of Black Friday — save up to $640 with my shopping advice

As the holiday shopping season approaches, discounts on Windows laptops are becoming available, including high-end Copilot+ PCs and budget-friendly options. A curated list of the best deals for 2024 is being compiled, which will be updated as Black Friday nears. Windows laptops are categorized into three primary types: 1. Notebook: A classic clamshell design, often used for gaming. 2. Convertible: Heavier, pricier laptops with 360-degree hinges and touch displays, suitable for media and creative tasks. 3. 2-in-1: Devices with a detachable keyboard, allowing tablet-like use. AI PCs, equipped with processors that include a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), are gaining attention in 2024. Examples include Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen AI 300. Microsoft's Copilot+ PC program enhances the AI experience for laptops with NPUs. However, for most users, having an NPU may not be essential, and focusing on overall performance is recommended. The evaluation process for Windows laptops includes testing hinge strength, chassis durability, port speed, camera quality, speaker performance, fan noise, display quality, and battery life. All laptops in the Black Friday collection have ratings of four stars or higher. Black Friday 2024 is scheduled for November 29, 2024, with many retailers already offering deals. Cyber Monday will follow on December 2, 2024, focusing on online shopping, with some tech deals continuing from Black Friday.

Winsage

November 3, 2024

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 review: A new generation of Windows computers

The Surface Pro 8 has design shortcomings, particularly in its 'lapability' due to its kickstand. The Surface Pro 11 features upgrades such as new Snapdragon hardware, improved battery life, and enhanced processing power. It represents a shift towards ARM technology, offering advantages like superior battery life, rapid boot times, enhanced security, and low power consumption. The Surface Pro 11 has display options of LCD or OLED, both with a resolution of 2,880x1,920 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It includes excellent stereo speakers, a 1440p ultrawide webcam, and effective microphone setup for video conferencing. The device handles daily tasks well but is heavier than competitors. It has limited ports and a familiar design aesthetic. The Snapdragon X Plus model with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage is priced at ₹1,34,999, while the total cost with the keyboard and Slim Pen is ₹1,64,899. Battery life averages around 12-13 hours, which is less than some competitors. The base model offers a good price-to-performance ratio, with the Snapdragon X Elite model priced at ₹1,85,999.

AppWizard

November 1, 2024

AI-generated Minecraft unveiled, showcasing AI’s unlimited ability to copy things but worse

Decart has unveiled Oasis, which it claims to be "the world's first real-time AI world model." The company envisions a future where foundation models integrate with entertainment platforms to generate content in real time based on user preferences. Current demonstrations of Oasis resemble a prototype version of Minecraft, lacking the polish of the original game. The technology was developed using Nvidia H100 graphics cards but struggles to perform at 360p and 20 frames per second. Future iterations may utilize Etched ASICs for improved performance up to 4K resolution. Additionally, AI-powered Frame Generation could enhance gaming performance on standard hardware. The author attempted to access the Oasis platform but was unable to load the site.

AppWizard

October 22, 2024

Google’s Play Store celebrates its Sweet Sixteen

The Google Play Store celebrates its 16th anniversary today, having evolved from the Android Market, which was launched on October 22, 2008. Initially focused on app distribution for Android devices, it expanded with a web-based interface in early 2011 and was rebranded as the Google Play Store in 2012, incorporating various media types and subscription services. Google has prioritized safety and quality, working to eliminate malware and low-quality apps. The Play Store has faced legal challenges, including a case from Epic Games, but has managed to maintain operations while considering future adjustments.

AppWizard

October 3, 2024

Skyblock in Minecraft | Infrastructure Week

Giant Bomb requires users to confirm their age by entering their date of birth before accessing certain video content. This practice emphasizes responsible media consumption and aligns with legal standards. Users must agree to Giant Bomb's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy by clicking the 'enter' button, which also signifies a commitment to a safe viewing environment.

Winsage

October 1, 2024

Don’t wait for Prime Day, you can score a great AMD-powered Windows laptop for just $330 right now

The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is currently available at Best Buy for 9.99, with a 0 discount from its original retail price. It features a 15.6-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD resolution, an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor, AMD Radeon 610M graphics, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD. The laptop has a maximum battery life of up to 9 hours and weighs 1.58kg (3.48lbs). It includes connectivity options such as Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, a USB Type-C port, HDMI output, two USB Type-A ports, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The keyboard features a tenkey number pad and the laptop comes pre-installed with Windows 11. Additionally, it includes a one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code.

AppWizard

September 27, 2024

VidMate – Download Vidmate APP Latest Version For Android 2024

Vidmate is a multimedia application for Android that allows users to download videos, music, and other content from various online platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Dailymotion. It features a user-friendly interface, supports fast downloads, and offers options to pause, resume, or cancel downloads. Users can download videos in multiple formats (MP4, FLV, AVI) and resolutions, including HD up to 4K. The app includes a built-in media player, file manager, and an integrated web browser for easy content access. Vidmate also supports batch downloading, music downloads in MP3 or M4A formats, and provides access to over 200 live TV channels. It is designed to be lightweight, secure, and offers a premium ad-free version. Users can download the app by searching for the Vidmate APK online, as it is not available on the Google Play Store.

Winsage

September 23, 2024

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Hybrid review: part Windows, part Android | Digital Trends

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid is a dual-function device that combines a Windows laptop and an Android tablet, priced at ,815. It features an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for the Windows laptop, while the Android tablet is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS storage. The device has a 14.0-inch 2.8K OLED display, weighs 3.87 pounds, and includes a detachable tablet that runs on Android 13. The laptop offers solid performance and a good keyboard, but has a finicky connection mechanism and requires firmware updates. Battery life is approximately 9.75 hours for the laptop and around 10 hours for the tablet. Connectivity includes two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. The device has a 1080p front webcam and a 13MP rear camera. The overall design is sleek, but the hinge and attachment mechanism could be improved for better usability.

Winsage

September 18, 2024

Windows Media Player loses the ability to play DRM media on older PCs

Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of legacy digital rights management (DRM) services within Windows Media Player, Silverlight, Windows 7, and Windows 8. Users will no longer be able to play or stream DRM-protected content through these applications. To access DRM-protected media, users on Windows 7 or Windows 8 must upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11. Users of Windows Media Player will need to transition to alternative media player applications that support DRM, such as VLC media player.