parts

Winsage
December 3, 2025
By November 2025, Windows 11 held 53.7 percent of the Windows desktop market, while Windows 10 had 42.7 percent. Statcounter's data is based on a sample of around 1.5 million websites. Many consumers have devices incompatible with upgrades or prefer not to change functioning systems. In the EU, consumers benefit from free Microsoft Extended Security Updates (ESU). Businesses face slow change management processes due to poor planning and resource challenges. Organizations use ESUs to maintain security during transitions, but costs can be burdensome for unprepared businesses. Consumers often retain older Windows 10 machines for secondary tasks, affecting usage statistics. Organizations strategically leverage ESUs for mission-critical systems and budget constraints. The cost of ESUs is often less than the potential disruptions from migration. Windows 11 lacks compelling features to prompt enterprises to upgrade, and adoption is slower than previous operating systems, lagging by 10-12 points according to Dell's COO.
AppWizard
November 29, 2025
Hytale, a Minecraft-inspired MMO, began development in 2015 with Riot Games as an early investor and later acquired Hypixel Studios. The game was canceled in June 2025, leading to the disbandment of Hypixel Studios. Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original creator, has repurchased the rights from Riot and plans to revive development, with an early access release date set for January 13, 2026. The team has rehired over 40 members, bringing the total workforce to 50. Collins-Laflamme has advised potential players to manage their expectations regarding the game's unfinished state during early access. The team is returning to the original game version, merging over 300 GitHub branches into a single working branch to prepare for the launch. Hytale and Hypixel Studios are now independent again, with a commitment to realizing the original vision from the 2018 trailer.
AppWizard
November 28, 2025
The Game Awards are approaching, with Grand Theft Auto 6 expected to win the Most Anticipated Game award, while The Witcher 4 is anticipated to secure second place. CD Projekt Red confirmed that The Witcher 4 is in full-scale production since November 2024 and will not be delayed until 2026. The studio plans to expedite the development of The Witcher 5 and 6 after the release of The Witcher 4, aiming to complete a new trilogy within six years. Michal Nowakowski from CD Projekt expressed confidence in this timeline, despite skepticism due to the studio's history of lengthy development cycles.
BetaBeacon
November 26, 2025
iiSU is an ambitious emulation frontend that draws heavily from the Nintendo 3DS and PSP user interfaces. It features custom art and music for games, integrates with RetroAchievements, allows browsing and playing of local media files, and plans to include a social network and a shop for custom themes and icons. The platform is currently in development, with a public build expected in Spring 2026 for Android users.
Winsage
November 25, 2025
Recent observations have identified ClickFix attack variants where cybercriminals use deceptive Windows Update animations on full-screen browser pages to hide malicious code within images. Victims are misled into executing harmful commands through specific key sequences that copy and execute commands via JavaScript. Security researchers have documented these attacks since October, noting the use of LummaC2 and Rhadamanthys information stealers. Attackers utilize steganography to embed malware payloads within PNG images, reconstructing and decrypting them in memory using PowerShell and a .NET assembly called the Stego Loader. A dynamic evasion tactic known as ctrampoline complicates detection by initiating calls to numerous empty functions. The shellcode extracted from the encrypted image can execute various file types directly in memory. Following a law enforcement operation on November 13, the Rhadamanthys variant's payload delivery through fake Windows Update domains ceased, although the domains remain active. Researchers recommend disabling the Windows Run box and monitoring suspicious process chains to mitigate risks.
Winsage
November 25, 2025
Microsoft released a Windows Insider beta update on November 21 that includes a full-screen Xbox experience for laptops and desktops and enhancements to File Explorer. The update aims to improve File Explorer launch performance by exploring preloading it in the background, with an option to disable this feature. Microsoft is also streamlining the File Explorer context menu by removing unnecessary options. Alternatives to File Explorer include the open-source solution Files, which offers features like tags for files, custom themes, a dual-pane view, and custom keyboard shortcuts, and OneCommander, which has unique functionalities such as creating text files from copied text. File Pilot is another alternative known for its lightweight performance. Users dissatisfied with File Explorer are increasingly seeking free and open-source software alternatives, with some considering a transition to Linux.
AppWizard
November 23, 2025
Valve's Steam Machine will not follow the traditional console strategy of selling hardware at a loss. It will be priced similarly to a PC with equivalent performance, focusing on power and build quality. Specific pricing figures are not disclosed, but analysts predict a range from mid-0 to 0, depending on specifications. Valve acknowledges that fluctuating component costs complicate final pricing decisions. The absence of hardware subsidies suggests limited budget-friendly options, and the base variant will feature a 512GB SSD. An early 2026 release window has been suggested, but the exact timing is uncertain.
AppWizard
November 23, 2025
Microsoft has announced that the classic text adventure game Zork and its sequels are now available as open source software under the MIT License. This initiative follows Microsoft's acquisition of the Zork license through its purchase of Activision, which had previously acquired Infocom. The collaboration involves Microsoft, the Xbox Team, Activision, and digital archivist Jason Scott from the Internet Archive. Zork, Zork 2, and Zork 3 have been available on GitHub for several years, and Microsoft has officially submitted upstream pull requests to historical source repositories. The decision to make Zork open source highlights the game's celebrated writing and narrative depth.
Search