New York Times Archives

Winsage

February 6, 2025

Bill Gates says, “I thought I was one mistake away from death.” — Microsoft’s success and his billionaire status didn’t really arrive until the late ’90s

Microsoft's 50th anniversary is approaching, prompting reflections on its history. CEO Satya Nadella admitted that discontinuing Windows Phone was a strategic misstep. Co-founder Bill Gates revealed in a 1995 retrospective that he did not feel confident in Microsoft's success until around 1998, eleven years after its public debut. Microsoft established itself alongside tech giants like Apple during its early years. By 2025, Microsoft became one of the most successful companies globally, significantly boosted by investments in artificial intelligence and a partnership with OpenAI, achieving a market capitalization of over a trillion dollars. Gates identified his greatest mistake as missing the opportunity to dominate the mobile market, resulting in a potential loss of 400 billion dollars due to mismanagement and antitrust challenges. Gates remains connected to Microsoft, providing insights despite stepping back from daily operations for philanthropy.

AppWizard

February 4, 2025

Perplexity launches an assistant for Android

AI-powered search engine Perplexity has launched a new feature called Perplexity Assistant, available for Android devices, which integrates reasoning, search capabilities, and app functionalities. The assistant can perform multi-app actions, such as hailing rides and searching for songs, and can set reminders by creating calendar entries. It utilizes the phone's camera for contextual inquiries and maintains context across various tasks, like researching restaurants and making reservations. The assistant is initially free for users in 15 languages. CEO Aravind Srinivas acknowledged that some features may not perform as expected and improvements are planned. Perplexity has also introduced Sonar, an API service for enterprises, and acquired Read.cv. Founded in 2022, Perplexity has raised over 0 million in funding and processes over 100 million queries weekly. The company faces legal challenges from publishers, including lawsuits from News Corp and a cease and desist order from The New York Times, but emphasizes its commitment to respecting publisher content through a revenue-sharing program.

AppWizard

December 7, 2024

Minecraft TTRPG, written by Marvel Multiverse author, coming in July 2025

Minecraft is set to launch a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired Table Top Role-Playing Game (TTRPG) titled "Minecraft: Roll for Adventure: The Temple of the Charged Creeper," crafted by Matt Forbeck, in July 2025. Players will embark on a solo adventure to battle illagers and rescue a village. The game will include four dice, an adventure book with a bestiary and locations, a removable character sheet, and a quick reference guide. Pre-orders are available now. Minecraft has over 170 million monthly active users and has expanded into various merchandise, including a movie set to debut in 2025.

AppWizard

November 28, 2024

Minecraft: Roll for Adventure could be your kid’s next favorite TTRPG

Matt Forbeck, a New York Times bestselling author and lead designer of the Marvel Multiverse RPG, has partnered with his son Marty to create a new tabletop adventure titled Minecraft: Roll for Adventure: The Temple of the Charged Creeper, which is now available for pre-order. The game features two six-sided dice, four accompanying dice, a removable character sheet, and a rules reference. The adventure is set in a village besieged by illagers, where players must uncover and neutralize the threat from the Temple of the Charged Creeper. This project builds on Forbeck's previous work, including his 2020 novel Minecraft Dungeons: The Rise of the Arch-Illager. The hardcover edition is set to be released in July 2025 and is currently available for pre-order on the Penguin Random House website.

AppWizard

October 22, 2024

Birch Tree Publishing Pumps Minecraft Novels

Birch Tree Publishing is a prominent publisher of unofficial Minecraft-themed books, catering to both young readers and adults. Since 2015, the company has focused on the growing popularity of Minecraft, leading to the release of various titles, including Zombie Kid and The Giants of Stonehold by Mark Cheverton. The first illustrated Minecraft novel, The Great War, was released in October 2023, receiving positive feedback. Birch Tree has plans for six more Zombie Kid novels and additional titles scheduled for late 2024. Their Minecraft books are distributed through major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Target, and Walmart. Birch Tree has evolved from a one-man operation in the late '90s to a full-service publisher, utilizing a hybrid model of publishing contracts.

AppWizard

October 19, 2024

Kate McKinnon on Being an Electric Toothbrush Fairy for Philips Sonicare, Her New Children’s Book and Working on ‘A Minecraft Movie’

Kate McKinnon stars in a new campaign for Philips Sonicare as Susan Toothbrush, a mascot promoting oral health. The campaign features 15- and 30-second advertisements where McKinnon encourages people to switch from manual toothbrushes to electric ones. McKinnon has also released a children's book titled "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science," which follows three adopted sisters at a new academy run by a mad scientist. The book was published on October 1 and is aimed at readers aged eight and up. Additionally, McKinnon will appear in the upcoming "A Minecraft Movie."

Winsage

September 24, 2024

20 insanely useful Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts I use every day

Chris Hoffman is a tech journalist known for his contributions to Windows PCs and is the author of the email newsletter Windows Intelligence, which provides news, tips, and tricks to subscribers weekly. He was previously the editor-in-chief of How-To Geek and has written for publications like The New York Times, PCMag, and Reader's Digest. Hoffman's writing simplifies complex technology topics for everyday users, making him a trusted source for both novice and experienced tech enthusiasts. His newsletter fosters a community of readers interested in enhancing their understanding of Windows PCs.

AppWizard

September 1, 2024

Why Doom 3 is still an important and misunderstood game

Doom 3 was released to mixed reviews, earning a 94% rating from PC Gamer but receiving a seven out of ten from Edge Magazine and the New York Times, which criticized its story and gameplay. At launch, it was praised for its groundbreaking graphics and immersive atmosphere. The Dark Mod, originally a modification for Doom 3, has become a standalone platform, celebrating 15 years of community creativity with a level design contest. The dhewm3 source port optimizes the game for modern hardware but lacks extensive mod support. Doom 3: Phobos, a community-driven campaign developed by Team Future, offers a faster-paced experience with enhanced storytelling and has released its third episode recently. The modding scene for Doom 3 has seen slight activity but remains less vibrant compared to earlier titles like Quake.

AppWizard

July 10, 2024

FTC Bans Popular Anonymous Messaging App NGL From Serving Minors In First-Of-Its-Kind Move

The lawsuit from the FTC and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office revealed that NGL Labs marketed the NGL app to children and teens, misled users into purchasing premium accounts, and made false claims about their AI moderation tool. The app sent fake messages to users to encourage them to pay for premium services, but no names were revealed after purchase. The FTC banned NGL from serving minors, the first of its kind, potentially leading to further regulations. The app claims to have at least 200 million global downloads. FTC chair Lina Khan aims to regulate companies using AI without mass exploitation of users. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón emphasized the severe consequences of cyberbullying among teens facilitated by the app.

Winsage

July 1, 2024

Has Microsoft’s AI Chief Just Made Windows Free?

Microsoft's licensing terms for Windows 11 prohibit users from publishing, copying, renting, leasing, or lending the software. The terms also state that just because a work is available online does not mean it is in the public domain or free to use. Microsoft is protective of its intellectual property and does not allow users to freely use its content.