reactions Archives

AppWizard

November 24, 2025

You’ve seen Doom on a fridge, now here’s Minecraft running at 0.5fps on a device you’d never expect

A YouTuber named 'smill' has played Minecraft on a receipt printer, printing a screenshot every two seconds, resulting in blurry images and a framerate of 0.5 frames per second. He has 50,000 subscribers and has previously completed gaming challenges under unusual constraints. Critics have raised concerns about the environmental impact of using paper for gaming, but smill responds humorously to these criticisms. His unique gameplay has gained traction on social media, with snippets going viral.

Winsage

November 24, 2025

You won’t believe how much the Windows Start Menu has changed in 40 years — including THAT ill-fated departure with Windows 8

On November 20, 1985, Windows 1.0 was launched. Windows XP debuted in 2001 with a redesigned Start menu featuring a two-column layout. Windows Vista, released in 2007, integrated search functionality into the Start menu. Windows 7, launched in 2009, introduced "Jump Lists" and streamlined power options. Windows 8 replaced the Start menu with a full-screen Start screen in 2012, which was optimized for touch input. Windows 8.1 reintroduced the Start button but not the Start menu. Windows 10, released in 2015, brought back the Start menu with a customizable two-pane design and merged classic elements with Live Tiles. Windows 11, introduced in 2021, featured a centered Taskbar and a simplified Start menu layout. In November 2025, a Security Update introduced a new Start menu version that adapts to screen resolution, offering a larger layout divided into three sections: "Pinned," "Recommended," and "All," with options for user customization.

Winsage

November 23, 2025

Windows Users Furious at Microsoft’s Plan to Turn It Into an “Agentic OS”

Microsoft is encouraging users to transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, emphasizing its integration of artificial intelligence (AI) throughout the platform. The company aims to transform Windows into a “canvas for AI” with AI agents accessible from the taskbar to assist with tasks like background research and file management. However, user reception has been negative, with many expressing concerns about the new features on platforms like Reddit, suggesting alternatives like Linux. Despite the backlash, Microsoft continues to promote significant design changes, including the central placement of the Copilot AI assistant on the taskbar and enhancements to Windows File Explorer. The push for voice interaction aims to allow more natural communication with PCs, but raises privacy concerns regarding third-party access to personal files. Early reviews of the AI features have been mixed, with some users reporting ineffective experiences.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

One of the most expansive WW2 strategy games ever is free to play right now, and cheap to keep if you love it

Hearts of Iron 4 is offering a free weekend for players to access the base game, coinciding with the release of the new DLC expansion, Hearts of Iron 4: No Compromise, No Surrender. Players can access the game for free until Monday, allowing them to explore its features without financial commitment. The expansion focuses on the Pacific theater and introduces new historical pathways for Japan, China, and the Philippines, although it is not accessible during the free period. Community reactions to the expansion have been mixed, with only 43% of user reviews being positive, citing concerns over pricing and content. A significant discount of 70% off the base game is available until December 4, along with nearly a decade's worth of content at up to 50% off. An updated 'Complete Beginners Guide' has been released on the game's YouTube channel to help new players.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

Conversations (Jabber / XMPP) For Android

Conversations (Jabber / XMPP), developed by Daniel Gultsch, is a free and open-source Jabber/XMPP client for Android with a rating of 4.1 stars from over 100,000 users. It offers end-to-end encryption by default using protocols like OMEMO and OpenPGP, and supports encrypted audio and video calls, multimedia sharing, advanced machine-in-the-middle detection, location sharing, voice messaging, emoji reactions, read receipts, high-resolution contact photos, synchronization with desktop clients, support for private group chats and public conferences, integration with the user's address book, and multiple account support through a unified inbox. The app has a minimal impact on battery life and does not require a Google account or Firebase Cloud Messaging. Conversations is priced at USD 7.99.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

YouTube tests an in-app private messaging feature again

YouTube is reintroducing its private messaging feature, which was discontinued in 2019, to a select group of users aged 18 and older in Ireland and Poland. Users can share videos, including long-form videos, Shorts, and livestreams, within the mobile app through a full-screen chat interface accessed via the Share button. The feature supports one-on-one conversations and group chats, allowing users to respond with text, videos, or emojis. To ensure user safety, participants must send invites to chat, can unsend messages, block users, and report violations. YouTube will monitor messages for compliance with Community Guidelines.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Inzoi’s getting multiplayer after South Korea’s president told the director to hop to it: ‘It almost felt like I was getting talked to by the company’s CEO’

Krafton's life simulation game, Inzoi, was released in early access in March and has struggled to attract a wider audience. Director Hyungjun 'Kjun' Kim announced that the development team is working on integrating multiplayer functionality, inspired by a visit from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who provided insights that influenced the decision. While details on the multiplayer feature are not yet available, reactions from the fanbase are mixed, with many players expressing concerns about existing issues in the game that they believe should be prioritized over new features. The potential for multiplayer support could differentiate Inzoi from competitors, as its main rival does not offer co-op gameplay without mods.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

After just a week, Black Ops 7 has given up campaign-gating its new extraction mode Endgame

Treyarch has introduced Black Ops 7 as the most expansive installment in the Call of Duty franchise, featuring a new PvE extraction mode called Endgame, which is linked to the co-op campaign. Initially designed to encourage narrative engagement, Endgame will be made accessible to all players just a week after launch, indicating that player engagement with the campaign may not have met expectations. The campaign has received mixed reactions, and Treyarch has implemented incentives like XP rewards and four-player co-op gameplay to attract players. Starting November 21, players can access Endgame without completing all campaign missions, although initial gameplay reveals a repetitive start. Players who unlock Endgame before its wider release will receive additional rewards, including double XP tokens and GobbleGums for Zombies. The decision to make Endgame available to all suggests a shift in Treyarch's expectations regarding player engagement.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

‘No one leaves’—one Arc Raiders player has devoted themselves to turning Stella Montis into an inescapable maze, revelling in the cries of stuck players: ‘I am the engineer of chaos!’

The Stella Montis map in the Arc Raiders universe is known for its treacherous layout, where players often engage in skirmishes while trying to reach an extraction point. A player named luvast0 barricaded every door in a new lobby for 20 minutes, using 65 door barricades and 13 deployable barricades, creating a nearly impenetrable maze. The barricades have 500 health, making them difficult to dismantle, and they generate noise during the process. Luvast0 also used three jolt charges and a deadline mine to enhance the trap's effectiveness. He aimed to demonstrate the psychological impact of the barricade system, leading to frustrated reactions from trapped players. Ultimately, he faced an Arc Orbiter and chose to end the game dramatically by using a smoke grenade and setting off a deadline mine, declaring, "No one leaves the maze."

Winsage

November 18, 2025

Copilot fails badly in a new Windows ad, and users are understandably fuming

Microsoft's Windows chief Pavan Davuluri referred to the evolution of Windows as an "Agentic OS," which sparked backlash and led him to disable replies to his post on X (formerly Twitter). Criticism intensified following a Copilot advertisement featuring YouTuber @uravgconsumer, where Copilot failed to effectively assist a user in adjusting text size. The ad showed Copilot directing the user to "Display settings" but not completing the necessary steps, and users pointed out that it overlooked a built-in accessibility feature for text size adjustments. Social media reactions highlighted frustrations with the ad and Microsoft's approach to Windows 11, with users expressing concerns over bloat, mandatory accounts, and disruptive updates, calling for a focus on usability improvements rather than AI features.