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Windows Media Player’s ‘find album information’ functionality has been removed — you’ll have to find other software for playing and ripping CDs with relevant track information
Winsage
January 11, 2026

Windows Media Player’s ‘find album information’ functionality has been removed — you’ll have to find other software for playing and ripping CDs with relevant track information

Microsoft has removed the 'find album information' and 'update album info online' functionalities from the Media Player applications in Windows 11. Neither the Windows Media Player Legacy nor the latest Media Player app can connect to retrieve data such as album artwork, track names, and details when an audio CD is inserted. The built-in 'Find Album Information' service, which relies on musicmatch-ssl.xboxlive.com, is unreachable. Users attempting to update album information in the latest Media Player app receive an error message indicating a connection issue, despite having a stable internet connection. The removal of these features is disappointing for users who still appreciate physical media, especially as optical drives are becoming rare in new computers.
Gabe Newell wanted this cult-classic FPS to be one of the first games to launch on Steam, but its creator said "ehhh" nah
AppWizard
December 27, 2025

Gabe Newell wanted this cult-classic FPS to be one of the first games to launch on Steam, but its creator said “ehhh” nah

Steam was launched in 2003 as a platform for updates to Valve's games and became a full-fledged storefront in 2005. Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve, reached out to Adrian Chmielarz in the early days to feature the game Painkiller on Steam, but Chmielarz was hesitant as they did not hold the rights to the game. Painkiller's Black Edition was eventually released on Steam in 2007. The emergence of digital storefronts like Steam has transformed game development, allowing smaller developers greater access to audiences without the need for traditional publishers. Steam has revolutionized video game distribution, despite challenges like game discoverability, and has become essential to the PC gaming ecosystem.
Optical drive demand surges amid Windows 10 retirement — Japanese users switching to Windows 11 are buying up Blu-ray drives | Tom's Hardware
Winsage
October 18, 2025

Optical drive demand surges amid Windows 10 retirement — Japanese users switching to Windows 11 are buying up Blu-ray drives | Tom’s Hardware

Microsoft has officially concluded support for Windows 10, leading to a surge in demand for Windows 11, particularly in Japan's Akihabara district. This increase in interest in Windows 11 has coincided with a revival in the popularity of optical drives, as consumers seek to retain access to their physical media collections. There is a notable scarcity of internal Blu-ray drives (BD-R) in the market due to this demand. A representative from Dospara Akihabara Main Shop noted that many consumers prefer internal drives for their writing speed, despite modern PC designs often not accommodating them.
Distributor Curveball moves into games publishing
AppWizard
September 2, 2025

Distributor Curveball moves into games publishing

Welsh distributor Curveball Leisure is launching a games publishing arm called Curveball Games, led by Ed Gregory as senior publishing manager. Located in Cardiff, Wales, Curveball Games will provide comprehensive publishing support, including funding for indie and mid-tier game developers. Gregory emphasizes the need for a fresh approach in the gaming industry, aiming to champion developers and nurture creativity. Andrew Nauton, COO of Curveball, notes the company's evolution over two decades and views the launch of Curveball Games as a natural progression to broaden their reach and enhance their brand.
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