multimedia Archives

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Mike Waltz’s Cabinet Messaging App Goes Dark After Massive Hack

TeleMessage, an encrypted messaging application, has temporarily suspended its services following a security breach. The platform was used by dismissed national security adviser Mike Waltz during a Cabinet meeting, and a leaked image of his inbox showed conversations with notable figures such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The breach, reported by 404 Media, did not access messages among Cabinet members but compromised data from Customs and Border Protection, cryptocurrency firm Coinbase, and various financial institutions. The hacker claimed the breach was easy, completing it within 15-20 minutes. Signal, the platform from which TeleMessage archives messages, stated it cannot guarantee the security of unofficial versions. TeleMessage was acquired by U.S. company Smarsh last year for archiving communications. Following controversies, including Waltz's accidental inclusion in a group chat discussing a military operation, he was removed from his position, and President Trump expressed skepticism about using Signal for government communications.

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

5 Star Wars PC Games That Need to Be Remastered Now

Star Wars: Empire at War, released on February 16, 2006, by Petroglyph Games for PC and Mac, is a real-time strategy game set during the Galactic Civil War, allowing players to command armies in battles across various planets and space. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, released in December 1996 by LucasArts for Nintendo 64 and PC, is a multimedia event that features a video game with a PC version that includes fully voiced cutscenes, but has not been remastered. The X-Wing and TIE Fighter series, developed by Totally Games and released on April 30, 1997 for PC, emphasizes simulation gameplay and intense dogfights, yet has not received a remaster. Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, released on September 30, 1997 by LucasArts for PC, is a first-person shooter that introduces Kyle Katarn and features lightsaber combat and multiplayer modes, but remains unremastered. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 3D, released on November 17, 1998 by LucasArts & Factor 5 for Nintendo 64 and PC, is a flight action game where players join Luke Skywalker in missions for the Rebel Alliance, and has not been remastered.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

The App Apocalypse: Why Messaging Will Replace Retail Apps in 2025

Standalone retail apps are predicted to become obsolete by 2025 due to advancements in Rich Communication Services (RCS) technology, which will enhance business-consumer interactions. RCS combines SMS simplicity with app interactivity, allowing consumers to engage with brands through enriched messaging experiences without needing to open separate apps. The development and maintenance costs of retail apps are significant, leading brands to reconsider their value as messaging offers similar or superior engagement at lower costs. By 2026, many brands are expected to adopt messaging-first strategies.

TrendTechie

April 1, 2025

«Пиратская бухта» локализуется в России

A working group has been formed under the Ministry of Digital Development to localize The Pirate Bay on the "GosTech" platform, involving government, industry, and copyright representatives. A vice-premier will lead the group, addressing challenges faced by Russian citizens since 2022 regarding access to foreign entertainment. The "Gosbukhata" initiative aims to provide access to international and domestic films, with local companies and channels willing to upload content. Filmmakers have concerns about user fees, and a draft of a new Presidential Decree outlines the process for acquiring rights from copyright holders in unfriendly countries. Users of torrent software will need to register with Roskomnadzor and pay an annual fee of 500 to 1000 rubles for access, with fee distribution managed by the All-Russian Copyright Holders Union. Additionally, VK plans to launch a domestic peer-to-peer multimedia content exchange platform named "RuMul" by 2025, currently in the sigma-testing phase.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Microsoft’s DirectX update could double ray tracing performance in PC games

DirectX Raytracing 1.2 is a rendering API developed by Microsoft that aims to improve ray tracing efficiency in gaming. It introduces enhancements such as opacity micromaps, which can increase performance by up to 2.3 times in path-based gaming, and shader execution reordering, which could double performance in certain scenarios. Nvidia has committed to providing driver support for this API across its GeForce RTX GPU lineup, and Microsoft is also working with AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm for compatibility. Additionally, techniques like neural block texture compression and neural supersampling are being explored to enhance real-time path tracing. A preview software development kit for DirectX Raytracing 1.2 is set to be released in April.

Winsage

March 21, 2025

How I made Arch Linux look and run better than Windows

Arch Linux operates on a rolling release model, providing continuous updates without major version changes. It is lightweight, enhancing performance for applications like gaming, and features an easy installation process. KDE Plasma is recommended as a desktop environment, offering a familiar interface and extensive customization options. Essential applications for productivity include Obsidian, GIMP, LibreOffice, Krita, and Kdenlive, along with popular web browsers and communication tools. Installing Steam on Arch Linux allows access to a wide range of games, with Proton enabling many Windows games to run smoothly. Transitioning from Windows to Arch Linux is facilitated by a modern user interface, though it may require some command-line interaction.

AppWizard

March 5, 2025

Google is finally dropping this annoying limitation from the Pixel Studio app

Google has begun rolling out the March 2025 Pixel Drop, which includes significant updates for the Pixel 9 series. The Pixel Studio app has been upgraded to allow users to generate images of people using text prompts, a feature that was previously unavailable. Users can create personalized images by describing individuals or scenes and specifying artistic styles like “video game” or “3D cartoon.” This feature supports English, Japanese, and German, though availability may vary by region. Additional enhancements in the update include AI-powered scam protection, multi-cam streaming support, improvements to the screenshot experience, an expanded Satellite SOS feature for more users in the U.S., and new photo and video tools specifically for the Pixel Fold.

AppWizard

March 4, 2025

George Orwell’s 1984 as a ‘90s PC game has to be seen to be believed

The 1998 video game project Big Brother, based on George Orwell's 1984, was announced at E3 1998 and aimed to extend the narrative of Orwell's universe. It featured a new protagonist, Eric Blair, who was on a quest to find his missing fiancée, Emma, and was involved in a resistance movement against the Thought Police. Despite initial excitement and a demo, the game never reached full release and fell into obscurity. Recently, a demo of Big Brother has been recovered and made available on the Internet Archive. The game's last preview appeared in the December 1998 issue of Next Generation magazine, and the demo's narrative shifted focus from the missing fiancée to Eric's role in creating a diversion against the Thought Police.

AppWizard

March 4, 2025

A Demo Of A Lost PC Game Based On George Orwell’s 1984 Has Been Archived Online

A demo of the long-lost PC game based on George Orwell's 1984, titled Big Brother, has resurfaced online, uploaded by a user known as Shed_Troll to archive.org. The game was developed by MediaX as a first-person adventure and was intended as a sequel to the original novel, featuring a new protagonist named Eric Blair. The narrative involves Blair searching for his missing fiancée in a world dominated by Big Brother and the Thought Police. The game was initially showcased at E3 in 1998 and generated significant excitement but ultimately fell silent and was thought to be lost. Footage of the demo has also been captured by Mr^Burns. The demo is available for download.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

How to save your old computer when Windows 10 hits its end of life

Linux has evolved significantly and allows for running various Windows applications and games through open-source projects like Wine, Vulkan, and Proton. It consists of multiple distributions, including Arch, Debian, Fedora, Manjaro, Mint, Opensuse, Red Hat, and Ubuntu, which can overwhelm newcomers. Linux Mint is recommended for users transitioning from Windows due to its similar interface. To install Linux Mint, download the .iso file from the official website, create a bootable USB drive using Balena Etcher, and boot from the USB stick. The installation process involves selecting language, keyboard layout, formatting the disk, and creating a username and password. After installation, users can access the Mint desktop, use the Driver Manager for hardware drivers, manage software through the Software Manager, and update the system with the Update Manager. For gaming, users can install Steam from store.steampowered.com. For those seeking simplicity, Google’s Chrome OS is a Linux-based alternative that operates primarily through the Chrome browser.