Programming Archives

AppWizard

September 5, 2026

NYC Council to grill Mamdani admin over use of influencers, encrypted messaging app

The City Council will examine Mayor Mamdani's administration's use of a secretive encrypted messaging channel for media relations, which connects nearly 200 social media influencers. This discussion is scheduled for a hearing on September 22. Queens Councilman Phil Wong plans to introduce legislation requiring influencers to label posts for city agency campaigns with a disclaimer stating “Paid for by NYC.” A report revealed that city officials communicated with influencers through a Signal app group titled “NYC Creators Announcements,” sharing updates and multimedia content. Some influencers received payment for their involvement, while others supported the mayor's agenda for personal growth. Concerns have been raised about the Signal chat potentially violating record-keeping regulations due to auto-deletion of messages. The identities of the influencers and details of their contracts remain undisclosed. Wong's proposed bill aims to reveal any undisclosed payments to influencers and raise questions about the integrity of the administration's use of external promoters. Critics argue that the administration's secrecy calls for greater transparency in public relations expenditures.

AppWizard

September 5, 2026

September’s schedule of new games, events, and updates refuses to let 2026 go down in history as a slow year for new releases

In September 2026, notable game releases include The Blood of Dawnwalker, Silent Hill: Townfall, and Control Resonant. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered is available for free to existing owners. Key gaming events include PAX West from September 4, Blizzcon on September 12, and the Tokyo Game Show starting September 17. Significant updates include Final Fantasy 14's 7.56 update on September 8, Valheim's 1.0 launch on September 9, RuneScape: Dragonwilds reaching 1.0 on September 15, Endless Legend 2 launching on September 17, and Dune: Awakening adding a single-player mode on September 22. The games calendar highlights new releases and events throughout the month.

Winsage

September 4, 2026

Announcing Project Zenith: The ready-to-code Windows experience on developer-class devices

Windows announced Project Zenith, a developer-optimized Windows 11 experience designed for devices with over 64 GB of unified memory and memory bandwidth exceeding 250 GB/s. The project will initially launch with AMD’s Ryzen AI Halo and will include preconfigured Windows setups and a curated selection of development tools. Devices under Project Zenith will allow developers to run models with over 30 billion parameters locally, reducing reliance on cloud resources. Enhancements to Windows 11 include improved performance and a cleaner workspace tailored for coding, with features like pinned Windows Terminal and Visual Studio Code. Project Zenith also integrates the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and provides a secure environment for developing agentic applications, leveraging OS-enforced identity and Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC). The initiative aims to offer a consistent ready-to-code experience across various devices while responding to developer needs and evolving with advancements in AI and software development.

Winsage

September 4, 2026

Microsoft Announces Project Zenith, A Clutter-Free Windows Experience Meant To Entice Developers

Microsoft has launched Project Zenith to improve the Windows 11 experience for developers, requiring a system with 64GB of RAM. The project will initially be available on AMD's Ryzen AI Halo mini-desktop, with plans for future expansion. It aims to create a distraction-free environment for developers to run models with over 30 billion parameters locally, while simplifying the user experience by pre-installing tools for various programming languages and enabling settings like full file extensions by default. The initiative allows for customization based on individual developer preferences. However, the high hardware requirement may limit accessibility for independent developers, especially amid rising memory prices.

BetaBeacon

September 3, 2026

Building Tetris on Android With One Prompt and No Laptop

An AI coding agent called Gotcha can generate games and tools on Android phones by writing real code and running a local server. It can create games like Tetris and a 3D Angry Birds clone with features such as touch controls, score displays, and sound effects. Gotcha can also fix bugs in the game logic based on vague feedback. The autonomy and local capabilities of Gotcha make it a unique tool for developers, allowing for quick iteration and precise bug reporting.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 is shaping up to be Google’s best beta yet

Android 17 QPR2 has reached Platform Stability with the release of Beta 4, locking the application programming interfaces (APIs) and allowing developers to refine their apps. The update focuses on system polish and bug fixes rather than new features. Google has addressed issues affecting Pixel users, including overheating, unexpected reboots, gesture navigation glitches, battery charging limitations, Recents screen problems, Bluetooth audio inconsistencies, and screen-recording complications. Hardware support enhancements include fixes for USB-C XR mirroring, compatibility with 3D smart-glasses displays, and improvements to low-light Face Unlock functionality. The beta journey began on July 20, with Beta 1, followed by Beta 2 on August 3 and Beta 3 shortly after. Beta 4 includes critical bug fixes such as resolving thermal management issues, battery charging behavior, gesture navigation refinements, and fixes for the transparent status bar during full-screen video playback. Other improvements address app drawer search issues, Bluetooth audio routing, Recents screen freezing, and screen-recording audio bugs. Beta 4 reinstates screen mirroring for USB-C XR glasses and resolves issues with 3D mode for smart glasses. Feedback from early testers has been positive, with reports of reduced lag and improved performance. However, some users have noted oversized text and lower display resolution issues, which can be resolved by rebooting. A persistent Bluetooth routing issue for incoming calls has been reported across all QPR2 betas. The update is being rolled out to various Pixel phones and tablets, with a download size of approximately 671MB on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Existing Pixel owners in the beta program will receive the update over the air, but exiting the program after installation may result in data loss.

AppWizard

August 29, 2026

Minecraft’s creator went from ‘reject AI’ to vibe coding

Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft, initially opposed the use of artificial intelligence in programming, calling it an "incredibly bad idea" and stating that proponents of AI in coding were either "incompetent or evil." However, after learning that tech companies like Google and Microsoft generate 20-30% of their code with AI, he began to reconsider his stance. Persson faced challenges in hiring skilled programmers and expressed that he would feel less remorse in letting go of a chatbot than a human employee. He started exploring practical applications for AI tools and acknowledged that his initial resistance was more about suppression than a well-reasoned stance.

AppWizard

August 29, 2026

6 awesome things you can do with a terminal emulator on Android

Terminal emulators allow users to interact with operating systems through text commands. Termux is an open-source terminal emulator for Android available on the F-Droid store. Users can test internet speed directly from Termux by installing Python and using the speedtest command. Weather information can be accessed using the curl command for a three-day forecast, and users can create shortcuts for convenience. Termux can display system information using colorful ASCII art with tools like fastfetch or macchina. It allows remote access to the phone via SSH after installing openssh. Users can run AI chatbots locally using the command-line tool Ollama. Termux can also facilitate the installation of Linux-based operating systems on Android devices using the proot-distro tool.

AppWizard

August 28, 2026

Minecraft’s reclusive billionaire creator has gone from ‘reject AI’ to vibe coding: ‘Time to eat some crow’

Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft, initially opposed AI in coding, labeling its advocates as "incompetent or evil" and emphasizing that coding should be based on logic. His skepticism was evident during a hacking incident involving a colleague who defended AI coding. However, by July, he began to reconsider his stance, expressing a willingness to explore AI coding due to challenges in hiring skilled programmers. He later acknowledged practical applications for AI tools and reflected on his previous rejection of the technology. By August, he publicly admitted his evolving views, stating, "Maybe it's time to eat some crow," while assuring followers of his commitment to foundational principles despite exploring AI. Persson remains cautious about fully embracing AI, preferring to stay engaged in development rather than moving into a managerial role.

Tech Optimizer

August 24, 2026

Fake Microsoft security scans trick victims into uninstalling their antivirus

A surge of fraudulent websites claiming to verify antivirus software functionality has emerged, using the name SysScan and misleadingly asserting that Windows no longer supports third-party antivirus solutions. These sites conduct fake security scans, gather personal information, and set up a refund scam. Eleven such websites were found hosted on a single server, executing similar deceptive tactics. They can access basic browser data but cannot conduct genuine security scans. Microsoft continues to support third-party antivirus software, and legitimate refund processes do not require uninstalling security tools. The scams instruct users to remove their antivirus software to facilitate further manipulation and to collect information about the antivirus in use. The customer information forms collect extensive personal data and are designed to send this information to a Telegram bot API. Victims are promised a refund call after submitting their information, which is part of the scam's manipulation. Signs of such scams include claims of deep problems with the computer, consistently negative diagnostic results, requests to uninstall antivirus software, and demands for banking information. If affected, victims should disconnect from the internet, remove remote-access tools, and contact their bank. The hosting IP address for these sites is 157.230.180.90, with multiple associated domains listed.