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AppWizard
February 21, 2025
Meta has updated Messenger with new features focusing on privacy, usability, and enjoyment. Privacy and safety updates include the View Once Media option for single-view media messages, screenshot and screen recording blocks, in-app scam alerts via Spam Protection, and streamlined reporting and blocking of suspicious contacts. Usability improvements consist of HD photo sharing, enhanced HD video calls, noise-suppressed audio for clearer calls, and Siri integration for easier navigation. Expressive features allow users to personalize chats with themes, add music to notes, and use new sticker packs, including the Butterbear stickers. Social features encourage community building through Messenger Communities, enabling topic-based chats via QR codes, and engaging with public figures through Broadcast Channels.
AppWizard
February 20, 2025
Microsoft announced its latest generative AI model, Muse, developed in collaboration with Microsoft Research and Ninja Theory. Muse is described as a "world and human action model (WHAM)" trained on Ninja Theory's Bleeding Edge. Microsoft aims to enhance the gaming experience by using AI to enrich player engagement and support game developers' creative processes. The company emphasizes that AI is intended to empower human creativity rather than replace it. A report in Nature provides insights into Muse's technical aspects, highlighting the importance of human agency in the creative process and identifying key capabilities for AI development. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella envisions AI's capabilities extending to interactive environments like video games. However, some experts, like Dr. Michael Cook, caution against overhyping Muse, noting that the research focuses more on human interaction with AI tools than on generating gameplay. Despite reservations, Cook acknowledges AI's potential as a design tool. Microsoft has promised further announcements on how AI will enhance experiences for game creators and players. Muse will debut in Copilot Labs, signaling new immersive AI gaming experiences.
AppWizard
February 20, 2025
The Google app, launched over 15 years ago, enhances mobile search capabilities on Android devices and serves multiple essential functions, including powering the search widget, the Discover feed, Circle to Search, Google Lens, the Saved tab, and ad personalization options. A poll indicates that 34% of users utilize the app daily, 9% use it often, 16% rarely, and 41% never use it. Despite its perceived redundancy, the app is an uninstallable system app, crucial for maintaining various Android features and functionalities.
Winsage
February 19, 2025
Disk Cleanup, introduced in Windows 98, helps users reclaim disk space by removing system restore points, temporary files, and remnants from outdated Windows Updates. Windows Media Player, which debuted with Windows 3.0, remains available in Windows 11 and is used for playing DVDs and organizing music collections. The Control Panel has been part of Windows since 1985 and provides access to legacy tools, although Microsoft encourages users to use the modern Settings app. Character Map, introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992, allows users to access every glyph in installed fonts and is useful for inserting specialized characters. Notepad, a staple since 1983, has received updates including spell check and rich formatting options in Windows 11. The Snipping Tool, first introduced in Windows Vista in 2007, has evolved to include features like screen recording and OCR-powered text extraction. WinZip, a third-party compression tool that debuted in 1991, remains popular for managing ZIP files and continues to function on Windows 11.
Winsage
February 19, 2025
On August 24, 2025, Windows 95 will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Microsoft Engineer Raymond Chen explained that the setup process for Windows 95 was primarily text-based due to the challenges of implementing graphics in MS-DOS, despite its technical capabilities. The graphical setup would have required intricate programming and optimization, as MS-DOS graphics were primitive and relied on slow BIOS calls to plot pixels. Windows 95 had a minimum VGA video card requirement, which simplified installation, but managing planar modes for effective graphics rendering was complex. The setup program needed dialog boxes, a window manager, and keyboard support, with additional challenges posed by accommodating non-alphabetic languages. Including animations would have required a scheduler for event management, and the limited storage capacity of 640KB further complicated the process. Although Windows 3.1 had the components for a graphical setup, the justification for creating a new installation process for Windows 95 remains questionable.
AppWizard
February 19, 2025
A subreddit thread initiated by user verdantsf shared their struggles with financial constraints and inspired a wave of altruism within the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 community. User Flando1 encouraged others to help those without copies of the game, leading to a gifting frenzy where 15 individuals contributed. The collective effort resulted in £750 added to the gifting pool, with more contributions expected. The initiative generated over £2,500 in gifts to strangers, highlighting the goodwill and camaraderie among players.
AppWizard
February 17, 2025
Viktor Antonov, a prominent figure in the gaming industry, passed away at the age of 52. His death was announced via an Instagram story by former Valve writer Mark Laidlaw, with no specific details provided. Born in 1972, Antonov was known for his artistic contributions to several iconic video games, including Half-Life 2, Dishonored, Counter-Strike: Source, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Fallout 4, Doom (2016), and Prey. Colleagues from Arkane Studios, such as Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith, shared their admiration for Antonov, highlighting his influence on the studio's success and his sense of humor. Pete Hines, a former Bethesda employee, also expressed his sorrow and acknowledged Antonov's talent in creating immersive game worlds.
Tech Optimizer
February 17, 2025
Apple devices, particularly Macs, are facing an increase in cyberattacks, with a new wave of sophisticated malware targeting sensitive data. The emergence of Atomic Stealer (AMOS) in mid-2023 marked a shift from less harmful adware to more serious threats, with AMOS being marketed as a user-friendly service. By mid-2024, Poseidon became the leading Mac information stealer, responsible for 70% of infections and capable of draining various cryptocurrency wallets and capturing sensitive credentials. Cybercriminals are also using malvertising to lure users into downloading disguised malware. Android users are experiencing an even more severe situation, with a significant rise in phishing attacks. In 2024, researchers identified 22,800 malicious apps designed for phishing, along with thousands capable of reading one-time passwords (OTPs). These apps often mimic legitimate software and can easily infiltrate app stores, including Google Play. While Google Play Protect offers some malware protection, it is not entirely effective. To protect against malware threats, it is recommended to use strong antivirus software, be cautious with downloads and links, keep software updated, use strong and unique passwords, and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for critical accounts.
AppWizard
February 17, 2025
Sheep in Minecraft are versatile companions that provide resources such as wool, which can be used to create beds, carpets, and banners. They can be found in various biomes, including plains, forests, savannas, mountains, and meadows, typically spawning in groups of 2 to 4 and being most active during daylight. Players can interact with sheep by shearing them for wool, dyeing their wool by using different dyes, and breeding them with wheat to produce offspring that inherit the color of one or both parents.
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