reference images Archives

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

Fighting AI, one block at a time: Trenton resident recreating Pictou County in Minecraft

Logan Smith, an 18-year-old from Trenton, has been recreating iconic sites from Pictou County in Minecraft since July 18. He has already recreated several locations, including the Express Yourself Cafe, Domino’s, and Tim Horton’s. Smith shares his work on Facebook, receiving positive feedback and requests from the community. He plans to continue his project until he exhausts his passion or completes all known spots in the county, with upcoming projects including Trenton Town Hall and Sparkles Arcade/Appleseed Modern Diner. Smith uses Google Maps for reference, and his most challenging creation has been the Trenton Tim Horton’s, which required a visit for reference images. He aims to highlight familiar locations that evoke a sense of belonging rather than create an accurate map of Pictou County. Smith hopes his project will inspire others to embrace creativity in an age dominated by artificial intelligence.

Winsage

May 18, 2026

Old Windows Flaw Returns to Spotlight With MiniPlasma Exploit

Security researcher Chaotic Eclipse has introduced a Windows exploit called MiniPlasma, which may allow privilege escalation from standard user accounts to SYSTEM level access, even on patched versions of Windows. This exploit is linked to CVE-2020-17103, a flaw in the Windows Cloud Filter driver that was addressed by Microsoft in December 2020. Tests have reportedly demonstrated the exploit functioning on a patched Windows 11 Pro system, achieving SYSTEM access from a standard user account. The exploit involves an undocumented registry-key path within the .DEFAULT user hive, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the 2020 fix. There is a discrepancy between public and Canary builds of Windows 11, with the exploit working on the public build but not on the Canary build. Microsoft’s April 2026 Patch Tuesday updates included another entry related to the Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver elevation-of-privilege issue. Defenders are advised to monitor the CVE-2020-17103 record for further clarification regarding the status of the original fix and the implications of the MiniPlasma exploit.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

I grew up thinking Pyramid Head was one of the scariest video game villains ever, but thanks to cosplay, I no longer have to hide in fear

Pyramid Head, originally a figure of terror from Silent Hill 2, has been reinterpreted in cosplay, particularly through the trend of Pink Pyramid Head. Cosplayer u/Hannah-Vorhees incorporated cherry blossom flowers into the traditional design, creating a whimsical version that raises questions about its endearing qualities. This trend extends to other traditionally menacing characters, such as the Nazguls from The Lord of the Rings, which have also been reimagined in pastel hues. Another cosplayer, u/thatpikminguy, created a humorous version featuring pizza boxes instead of a metal helmet and a pizza sauce-stained apron. Additionally, u/TheYzzyPop presented a holiday-themed Pyramid Head with festive colors and a Santa hat. These reinterpretations showcase the creativity within the cosplay community, allowing characters like Pyramid Head to be seen in a new, more approachable light.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Google is making it easier for Gemini app users to generate videos from photos

Google has introduced the Ingredients to Video feature from Veo 3 to its Gemini app, effective today. This feature allows users to control various aspects of their video content using reference images and is available exclusively to subscribers of the Google AI Plus, Pro, or Ultra plans. The feature complements the recently rolled out Veo 3.1 video-generation model, which offers enhanced realism, improved audio quality, and greater narrative control. The Ingredients to Video feature was initially launched in the Flow platform and is now integrated into the Gemini app, marking an expansion of its accessibility. The rollout of Veo 3.1 is expected to reach all paid users by next week. Gemini and Veo 3 maintain stricter controls over video generation compared to OpenAI's Sora.