policies Archives

AppWizard

February 11, 2026

If you love hundreds of games for $10 and hate ICE, then boy does Itch.io have just the bundle for you

Indie developers on Itch.io have created the "No ICE in Minnesota" bundle to raise funds for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), which provides legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees. The bundle includes over 1,400 items, such as video games, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), books, and soundtracks, with more than 1,000 TTRPGs included. The fundraising goal is 0,000, and it has already reached 80% of that target with a month remaining for contributions. Additional donations are welcomed to support the initiative.

Winsage

January 30, 2026

Microsoft Adds Centralized RDP Shortpath Control via GPO and Intune

Microsoft has enhanced the management of Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Shortpath, now available through Group Policy Objects (GPO) and Microsoft Intune, allowing IT teams to implement centralized control over RDP Shortpath behavior across Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) session hosts and Windows 365 Cloud PCs. RDP Shortpath improves performance and reliability by establishing a direct, UDP-based network connection, reducing latency and enhancing responsiveness for audio and video applications. Prior to this update, managing RDP Shortpath was fragmented, requiring manual adjustments on individual session hosts, which complicated consistent networking behavior. The new centralized configuration allows administrators to enforce Shortpath settings uniformly, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring consistent performance and security controls. Administrators can manage RDP Shortpath settings centrally, control all Shortpath modes, and ensure compatibility with AVD host pool settings. Effective operation of RDP Shortpath requires appropriate network conditions, and policy changes necessitate a restart of session hosts or Cloud PCs.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

Google’s New Android Lockdown—Do Not Install These Apps

Google is tightening its policies on sideloading practices, allowing app installations only from verified developers to enhance user security and reduce risks associated with malicious software. The company has removed numerous harmful applications and accounts to combat the exploitation of its ecosystem. Cybercriminals are replicating popular applications like Google, YouTube, and WhatsApp to deceive users into downloading malicious software, which often masquerades as “mod” or “pro” versions. These counterfeit apps can install the Arsink Remote Access Trojan (RAT), which allows hackers to control devices, record audio, harvest personal information, and perform unauthorized actions. The Arsink operation has affected tens of thousands of victims across approximately 143 countries. Users are advised to avoid installing apps from messengers, online forums, or direct links and to use official app stores instead. Google confirms that the RAT is not infecting Play Store apps and encourages users to keep Play Protect enabled.

Winsage

January 29, 2026

Microsoft’s Quiet Exodus: Why Enterprise Developers Are Abandoning Windows for Linux Workstations

Microsoft developers and enterprise technology leaders are increasingly choosing Linux over Windows for development tasks, driven by performance concerns, workflow inefficiencies, and the rise of cloud-native development. The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) has facilitated this shift by allowing developers to work in a Linux environment while still using Windows. Tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform, which are primarily designed for Linux, have led to a reevaluation of desktop strategies across various industries. Linux provides direct access to the same kernel and toolchain used in production, reducing discrepancies that can lead to bugs. It typically requires less memory at idle compared to Windows, making it more efficient for developers managing multiple containers or virtual machines. Microsoft has responded by investing in platform-agnostic tools like Visual Studio Code and embracing Linux on its Azure cloud platform, where over 50% of virtual machines run Linux. The introduction of WSL2 has improved compatibility and performance, but it has also highlighted Windows' limitations, leading to frustrations among developers. Security considerations favor Linux due to its open-source nature, allowing for greater customization and auditing. Financially, Linux can be more economical for enterprises due to lower licensing costs and reduced hardware requirements. Organizations that have switched to Linux report significant improvements in build times and overall developer experience. Hybrid strategies are emerging to accommodate developer preferences while ensuring security, with cloud-based development environments gaining traction. The trend toward Linux workstations reflects broader industry movements toward open source and platform independence, as companies adapt to attract and retain technical talent.

AppWizard

January 29, 2026

‘Secret’ car button can save lost drivers without opening Google Maps…

News Group Newspapers Limited has reminded users of its strict policies against automated access to its content, prohibiting data mining and activities related to artificial intelligence, machine learning, or large language models. For commercial use inquiries, users can contact crawlpermission@news.co.uk. Legitimate users mistakenly flagged by the system are encouraged to reach out to customer support at help@thesun.co.uk for clarification.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Valve faces lawsuit over developer commissions on Steam

Valve is facing a legal battle over allegations of imposing excessive commissions on publishers using its Steam platform, with potential damages reaching £656 million. The lawsuit, initiated in June 2024, represents the interests of up to 14 million UK consumers who purchased games via Steam since 2018. Vicki Shotbolt leads the case, claiming Valve restricts publishers from offering lower prices on competing platforms and locks customers into its ecosystem. Valve's commission is reportedly as high as 30 percent. The London Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed the case to proceed, despite Valve's objections. This is not the first scrutiny Valve has faced; a previous antitrust lawsuit from Wolfire Games was dismissed in late 2021 but was refiled and merged with another claim in 2022, gaining class action status by November 2024.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Valve Loses Attempt To Throw Out $900m Class Action Lawsuit

A judge has ruled against Valve's attempt to dismiss a class action lawsuit regarding allegations of overcharging and anti-competitive practices, allowing the case, initiated by lawyer Vicki Shotbolt on behalf of 14 million UK Steam users, to proceed. The lawsuit claims Valve's policies violate UK laws on anti-competitive pricing and unfair trading conditions, particularly regarding its restrictions on pricing and additional content sales on competing platforms. Valve's objections to the lawsuit were dismissed by the Competition Appeal Tribunal, which found that the proposed class definition had been adequately revised. The lawsuit seeks £656 million in restitution for UK users.

BetaBeacon

January 27, 2026

How to Play PC Games on Your Android Phone: Smooth and Zero lag

- Remote gaming allows players to play PC games from their couch by connecting their phone to their gaming PC with DeskIn. - Remote gaming also allows players to continue their gaming streak while traveling or on a business trip by remotely accessing their home PC. - DeskIn's screen mirroring function allows players to project their mobile games onto a big screen without the need for emulators. - Remote gaming with DeskIn offers low latency, customizable controls, and support for Bluetooth controllers. - DeskIn is compared to Parsec and offers features such as high frame rates, low latency, virtual keyboard, controller support, and multi-language support.

BetaBeacon

January 26, 2026

Epic Games $800 Million Deal with Google

- Epic Games and Google have entered into a six-year, 0 million partnership involving joint product development, marketing, and technical collaboration. - The partnership includes closer integration of Unreal Engine, which powers Fortnite and many third-party games. - The judge raised concerns about how the partnership might affect Epic's legal demands in the antitrust lawsuit against Google. - Google has proposed changes to Android monetization, including new fee structures for in-app billing and web payments. - The outcome of the case could shape how monetization works across mobile platforms for years to come.

Winsage

January 21, 2026

Copilot AI: What You’re Missing on Windows 10 PCs — Virtualization Review

Microsoft's Copilot AI experience differs significantly between Windows 11 and Windows 10. On Windows 11, Copilot is integrated at the system level, allowing it to perform tasks such as opening specific Settings pages, toggling system settings, launching built-in applications, and providing contextual guidance with UI navigation. In contrast, Windows 10 users can only access Copilot through browser-based interfaces, limiting its functionality to providing written instructions without the ability to execute actions or interact with local system features. Copilot on Windows 10 lacks awareness of the operating system and cannot manage system configurations or settings directly, while Windows 11 allows for direct interaction with cloud-managed settings.