notes Archives

Winsage

June 17, 2025

Microsoft Quietly Disabled Windows Hello Facial Recognition in the Dark

Microsoft has made an adjustment to Windows Hello Facial Recognition that affects its functionality in dimly lit environments due to a security vulnerability. This change, introduced in the April 2025 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 and Windows 10, requires color cameras to detect a visible face for sign-in. The update addresses a Windows Hello Spoofing vulnerability that was being exploited. Previously, the feature could identify users in low-light conditions using near-infrared imaging technology. Users have reported a workaround by disabling the webcam in Device Manager, allowing IR sensors to authenticate in low light.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

Microsoft has disabled a ‘key feature’ to enhance Windows security – The Times of India

Microsoft updated the Windows Hello face unlock functionality in April, which now fails to operate in low-light environments due to a strategic decision aimed at addressing a spoofing vulnerability. Users of Surface Laptops have reported frustrations as they can no longer access their devices using facial recognition in dark rooms. The update requires color cameras to see a visible face when signing in. Researchers from Nanyang Technological University identified a vulnerability in the system that allowed unauthorized access, although Microsoft categorized it as "important" and stated the likelihood of exploitation remains low. A temporary workaround for users is to disable the webcam through Windows 11's Device Manager, but this renders the camera unusable for other applications.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

Microsoft Accidentally Replaces Windows 11 Startup Sound with Vista Chime

Microsoft's latest Windows 11 Insider Preview build inadvertently replaced the startup chime of Windows 11 with the boot sound from Windows Vista. This change was acknowledged by Microsoft, which plans to rectify it in an upcoming update. Users expressed nostalgia and some even preferred the Vista sound, but the original Windows 11 startup sound is expected to return soon.

AppWizard

June 16, 2025

Borderlands 4 is NOT an $80 game, PC requirements revealed

2K Games has opened pre-orders for Borderlands 4, with the standard edition priced at .99. The game will utilize Unreal Engine 5, requiring a minimum of an Intel Core i7-9700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, 16GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, along with 100GB of free disk space. Recommended specifications include an Intel Core i7-12700 or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, 32GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, also requiring 100GB of free disk space. The game will feature Denuvo anti-tamper technology, similar to Borderlands 3, which may be removed in the future.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

Microsoft’s Windows Hello facial recognition no longer works in the dark

Microsoft updated its Windows Hello face unlock feature in April, requiring adequate lighting for functionality to address a security vulnerability. The facial recognition system now relies on color cameras to detect visible faces, making it ineffective in low-light conditions. Users can disable the webcam via Windows 11 Device Manager as a workaround, but this disables the camera for all applications. The security flaw was identified by researchers at Nanyang Technological University and classified by Microsoft as "important," though it has not been publicly disclosed or exploited. Inquiries about reinstating dark-room functionality in future updates are pending.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

Funny Windows 11 bug brings back classic Windows boot sound from 20 years ago

The latest preview builds of Windows 11 feature the Windows Vista boot sound from 2006 instead of the standard Windows 11 startup sound. This glitch was highlighted by a user on X, and Microsoft acknowledged it in the release notes, stating they are working on a fix.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

Microsoft accidentally swapped Windows 11’s startup sound with Vista’s

Users of the Windows 11 Dev Channel have experienced a glitch in build 26200.5651, where the boot sound has been mistakenly replaced with the Windows Vista chime. This error is linked to the imageres.dll file, and Microsoft has acknowledged it in the release notes, stating they are working on a fix. Brandon LeBlanc from the Windows Insider team humorously commented on the situation, while community reactions have included amusement and nostalgia regarding the Vista boot sound.

AppWizard

June 16, 2025

Yes, that was the original voice of Garrett in the trailer for Thief VR

The trailer for Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow features a protagonist named Magpie, who finds a mechanical eye that embeds itself into her face. Stephen Russell, the voice of Garrett from the original Thief trilogy, confirms his involvement in the game. The game is set between the original trilogy and the 2014 reboot, in a fractured city ruled by Baron Northcrest. Richard Bunn, the lead game designer, notes that the Keepers are gone, but their secrets remain. The game represents a continuation of the Thief franchise in a VR format amid a declining market for first-person stealth games.

BetaBeacon

June 15, 2025

5 new mobile games to try this week

Meow Rangers is an idle RPG game where players auto-battle through evil invaders to restore peace to Cat Village, while assembling the titular rangers and building Meow Town.

Winsage

June 15, 2025

I switched to NixOS after using Windows my whole life, and here’s how it went

The author transitioned from Windows to NixOS as their primary operating system after using it intermittently for a year or two. They have extensively used a MacBook for work while maintaining a personal machine with Windows and a dual-boot setup with Linux. Recent statistics indicate that Linux users account for 5.4% of all visitors, with Windows holding a market share of 72.13% and macOS at 15.46%. NixOS allows users to manage the entire system through a single configuration file, offering atomic changes and reliable rollbacks. It isolates each package in its own environment to avoid dependency issues. NixOS supports individual application updates without impacting the entire system, enhancing flexibility. The author notes that while major applications like Photoshop are not supported, open-source alternatives are available. The relevance of Windows is diminishing as Microsoft focuses on Azure and SaaS offerings, making Linux a more appealing option.