set Archives

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

You can now spot AI-generated Google ads, if you know where to look

Google is introducing AI labels for ads across its platforms, including Search, YouTube, and Discover, to indicate when advertisements have been generated or edited using artificial intelligence. The label “Created or edited with AI” will be displayed in My Ad Center under “How this ad was made.” This feature will roll out globally, with automatic labeling for ads created using Google's AI tools, while advertisers using third-party AI tools must self-disclose their AI usage. This initiative aims to enhance transparency in digital advertising and improve the identification of AI-generated content. However, the responsibility for disclosure in cases not involving Google's tools lies with the advertisers, which may allow some to evade transparency measures.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

Pastor turns Minecraft into a mission field for the unchurched

A Reformed pastor in Switzerland, Florian Homberger, conducts weekly devotionals in Minecraft, attracting around 20 participants each session, nearly half of whom have no prior ties to the church. Homberger began using Minecraft after being inspired by the strong connections within an online gaming community. He created a virtual city named Convento and initiated the devotionals in summer 2025, with sessions lasting about 30 minutes. The format is interactive, involving in-game activities related to biblical themes, such as obstacle courses representing trust during challenges. Each session ends with participants launching virtual fireworks as a symbolic gesture of prayers. Homberger believes this virtual setting helps dismantle barriers to church attendance, providing a comfortable space for young people. He has also set up laptops in the parish hall for young people to log on together, viewing Minecraft as a legitimate social space.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

“Child of Minecraft and Sim City”: Creator of Ori and No Rest for the Wicked Showed a New Game

Thomas Mahler has unveiled a new build of his game, Luma, developed during a recent GameJam. Luma is a culmination of prototypes he has been working on for the past decade and combines elements of Minecraft and SimCity. Mahler shared screenshots of a vibrant city he built in Luma and highlighted the game's dynamic experience with both daytime and nighttime settings. He expressed excitement about the game's aesthetics and the potential for players to build a space station and colonize the Moon or Mars. A demonstration of Luma's gameplay is available through a provided link.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

This week in PC games: vert-ramping trains, a retold murder mystery, and Cthulhu’s new gig as an AI Director

Edwin is currently sidelined by an illness following TennoCon, and he is expected to submit stories on Soulframe and Warframe: Tau before fully resting. New PC games being released this week include: - Ascend to Zero: A sci-fi action-roguelike with temporal manipulation. - Forensics: Crime Scene Detective: A game focused on managing fingerprint and bullet comparisons. - Soulforge Lost Path: A Survivorslike/bullet heaven game with limited inventory management. - D-Topia: A puzzle adventure about maintaining an AI-managed society. - The Incident at Galley House: A visual novel remake of a murder mystery text adventure. - Happy's Humble Burger Cult: A cooking horror game for 1-4 players. - Moss: The Forgotten Relic: A 3D platformer available for non-VR PC players. - Storebound: A cooperative horror puzzler launching into version 1.0. - Wreck Runners: A multiplayer game set in a haunted Bermuda Triangle. - Fogpiercer: A tactical roguelike deckbuilder focused on defending a train. - Frozen Ship: A first-person survival game launching in early access on the 17th. Additionally, today marks RPS’s 19th birthday, and the team will be scattered in the coming days for various events and holidays.

Winsage

July 13, 2026

Force any site into dark mode with Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is set to introduce a feature that allows users to enforce dark mode on any website as part of the "Web Remix" initiative. This feature enables users to customize web pages, including simplifying articles, providing summaries, organizing recipes into shopping lists, converting prices to local currencies, and updating webpage appearances. It operates locally and can be toggled on or off via a button in the address bar. Users can access Web Remix by enabling specific flags in Edge Canary. While it effectively applies dark mode to websites lacking native support, results may vary, and some elements may be altered in ways that are not ideal. Premium extensions like Dark Reader offer more nuanced dark mode customization compared to Web Remix.

Winsage

July 13, 2026

Windows 11’s smallest upgrade shows a big commitment from Microsoft

Windows 11 is set to receive an update that includes a slightly taller search box in the Start menu, increasing its height by four pixels. This change, currently in preview, is part of Microsoft's Windows K2 initiative aimed at improving user experience by addressing inconsistencies in the operating system. The update was revealed in the release notes for a preview build, leading to humorous reactions from users. Despite the minor nature of this adjustment, it highlights ongoing design issues within Windows 11, such as misaligned windows and inconsistent menus, which contribute to a perception of incompleteness. Additionally, the context menus in the latest preview build feature more rounded corners, raising questions about UI consistency. The Windows K2 initiative aims to enhance both performance and visual appeal, improving the overall user experience.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Expensive Games Are Fueling Steam’s Most Lucrative Year

The video game industry is experiencing closures and cancellations, yet Steam is set for its most profitable year, having generated a billion in gross revenue in the first half of 2026. Steam's performance has nearly matched that of 2021, with blockbuster titles like Resident Evil Requiem, Forza Horizon 6, and Crimson Desert each earning nearly 100 million in sales. Premium pricing for new releases is a key factor in revenue growth, although new releases account for less than 20% of total sales. Asian markets, especially China, are increasingly embracing Steam, and many studios are adapting to align with its ecosystem. A significant portion of Steam's revenue comes from its back catalogue, which has seen a 6% decline in new release contributions compared to the previous year, indicating a trend towards long-tail publishing strategies.

BetaBeacon

July 12, 2026

Your living room doesn’t need a Steam Machine when a cheap Android TV box and Moonlight can do better

Moonlight is a combination of apps that allows you to stream games from your gaming PC to your Android TV box. It works well even over Wi-Fi and does not require a powerful TV box since all the games run on your desktop PC. Moonlight is a cost-effective way to enjoy high-end PC gaming on your TV without the need for a new PC or console.

Winsage

July 12, 2026

Microsoft is killing 15 products in 2026, including Windows 11 24H2 and Office 2021

Microsoft will discontinue support for several products in 2026, including: 1. Windows 11 24H2 (Home and Pro) - End of servicing on October 13, 2026. 2. Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 - End of support on October 13, 2026. 3. Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 - Final ESU year ending on October 13, 2026. 4. SQL Server 2016 - Extended end of support on July 14, 2026. 5. SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019, Project Server 2016 and 2019 - Support ends on July 14, 2026. 6. Microsoft Publisher - Retired after October 2026. 7. Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, Skype for Business Server - Final ESU cutoff on October 31, 2026. 8. Windows 11 Enterprise and Education 23H2, .NET 8, .NET 9, PowerShell 7.4 - End of servicing on November 10, 2026. 9. Windows 10 2016 LTSB and IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 - Extended support ends on October 13, 2026. 10. Windows 11 SE - Support ends on October 1, 2026. 11. Dynamics CRM 2016 and older versions - Lost support earlier in January 2026. 12. Microsoft Configuration Manager, version 2409 - End of support on June 6, 2026. 13. Visual Studio 2022 LTSC channels, versions 17.10 and 17.12 - End of support in January and July 2026, respectively. 14. InfoPath 2013, SharePoint Designer 2013 - End of support on July 14, 2026. 15. Azure service retirements - Occurring in late 2026. Organizations are advised to review their software landscape and plan for transitions to avoid disruptions.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

2026’s best RPG might look like Disco Elysium, but it was heavily inspired by Deus Ex, and its creator wants ‘to do a first-person game at some point’

Christoffer Bodegård began his journey into PC gaming with a DOS machine from his father and first played Disney's The Jungle Book. His passion for role-playing games was ignited by Dragon Age: Origins, which led him to explore many titles, including Planescape: Torment. After eight years of development, his game Esoteric Ebb launched in March to critical acclaim. Currently, he is playing Victoria 3, having logged around 400 hours, and previously played Abiotic Factor. The oldest games on his PC are Heroes of Might and Magic 3, King of Dragon Pass, Deus Ex, and Diablo 2, with Heroes 3 being a favorite. He has logged around 1,000 hours in Esoteric Ebb and is particularly fond of Europa Universalis IV, especially the Anbennar mod. Bodegård has never uninstalled Deus Ex, which greatly influences his design philosophy. He relies on Notepad++ for scripting and has improved his desktop organization from a cluttered state to a cleaner setup.