song Archives

AppWizard

December 25, 2025

Minecraft criticized for calling solo players “sad” in promo message for multiplayer subscription service

Minecraft allows players to engage in various gameplay styles, including solo or multiplayer experiences, and offers both vanilla gameplay and mod enhancements. A recent advertisement for the Realms Plus subscription, which includes a notification referencing the song "One is the loneliest number," has drawn criticism for suggesting that playing alone is sad and encouraging players to invite friends. The backlash includes concerns about the advertisement's insensitivity towards players who prefer single-player experiences, particularly children, and its potential negative impact on mental health. Minecraft Realms provides private server access for a monthly fee, with basic and enhanced subscription options available. Players have expressed that the advertisement could lead to feelings of inadequacy and has sparked discussions about empathy in marketing strategies.

AppWizard

December 21, 2025

How AIM taught the internet to chat

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) was a transformative platform for online communication during the late 1990s and early 2000s, becoming a cultural phenomenon despite initial skepticism from AOL executives. It gained popularity as a means for users to connect with friends and express themselves through quirky screen names and away messages. AIM faced challenges in monetization and adapting its business model but left a significant mark on internet history. Its decline was influenced by the rise of social networks and mobile messaging apps. The story of AIM's impact is discussed in a recent episode of the Version History podcast.

BetaBeacon

December 17, 2025

This Spotify feature is Android-only, and it’s a game-changer

You can create home screen shortcuts for your favorite artists and playlists on Spotify by following specific steps within the app. This feature is available on Android devices and allows for easy access to your preferred music without relying on Spotify's algorithm-based suggestions.

BetaBeacon

December 13, 2025

From repairing a broken android to magic crime investigation and dark fairy tale yuri: 5 Japanese indie visual novel games

Save My Scrap revolves around repairing an outdated personal android named Harima, revealing her and Miomaru's story through conversations and repairs. The game includes new dialogue and endings, a gallery mode, controller support, and is set to release in 2026 for various platforms.

AppWizard

December 11, 2025

The iBuyPower Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming PC Is the Most Powerful Prebuilt for Under $1,500

Walmart is offering the iBuypower Element Pro gaming PC with an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU for ,449, which includes free delivery. This price is lower than the Black Friday price for the same configuration. The PC features an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB M.2 SSD, along with a 360mm liquid cooling system and an 850W power supply. The Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU received a perfect 10/10 score from IGN and is priced at 0 less than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, outperforming it in gaming tests. The RX 9070 XT is recommended for playing demanding games in 4K at 60fps or higher.

Winsage

December 5, 2025

Microsoft is too busy with AI to fix Windows 11’s design — so developers stepped up

FluentFlyout is a new application for Windows 11 that enhances media control by introducing customizable flyouts activated by media keys. It integrates well with the Windows 11 aesthetic and offers a premium version for .96, which includes a taskbar widget, while a free version is available on GitHub. The app features options for previewing upcoming media, personalizing content display, adjusting flyout position, and selecting themes. Despite improvements in design from Microsoft, such as updates to the Run dialog box and dark mode, users have expressed frustration with the pace of these updates and inconsistent design elements. Third-party developers like those behind FluentFlyout are addressing these gaps and improving the user experience on Windows 11.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

SLIPKNOT’s Shawn “Clown” Crahan launches massive custom built Minecraft universe: “Vernearth”

Shawn "Clown" Crahan, co-founder of Slipknot, has launched Vernearth, a Minecraft universe featuring custom technology and handcrafted maps. It offers four modes: Oblivion (a survival realm with custom factions and three capitals), PVP/Event Server (a competitive hub with weekly tournaments and various arenas), Plotworld (a creative zone for building and community events), and Challenge Mode (a hardcore experience with seasonal challenges inspired by Slipknot's music). The first three seasons of Challenge Mode include distinct themes: Season 1 is "The Heretic Anthem," Season 2 is "The Dying Song," and Season 3 is "Friend or Foe?" Players can earn rewards such as exclusive cosmetics, titles, and placements in the Hall of Heroes.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Slipknot’s Shawn “Clown” Crahan Unveils New Minecraft Realm Vernearth

Shawn Crahan, known as "Clown" from Slipknot, has launched a Minecraft server called Vernearth, featuring a landscape made from over 100 million blocks. The server includes four major game modes: Oblivion, PVP/Event, Plotworld, and Challenge Mode, designed to cater to various player styles. Vernearth also has a Season Mode with three phases: Season 1 ("The Heretic Anthem"), Season 2 ("The Dying Song"), and Season 3 ("Friend or Foe?"). Players can access Vernearth using the Minecraft Java Client 1.21.4 and engage with the community through an official Discord channel.

Winsage

December 3, 2025

New Windows 11 ‘PC you can talk to’ ad pushing Copilot is proving divisive – and I can see it seriously backfiring

Microsoft has released a holiday advertisement featuring its 'Hey Copilot' voice input and AI capabilities in Windows 11, set to the song A-Punk by Vampire Weekend. The ad showcases family-oriented scenarios, such as syncing Christmas lights to music and navigating assembly instructions with Copilot's assistance, including a cameo from Santa. Viewer reactions have been mixed, with some expressing skepticism about Copilot's capabilities and suggesting humorous voice commands. Concerns have been raised regarding the disconnect between the ad's portrayal of Copilot's functionality and the actual limitations of the technology, particularly its inability to connect smart home devices to a Windows 11 PC. Users appreciate advancements in voice input technology but feel that the advertisement may oversell its current capabilities, leading to potential disappointment.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

SLIPKNOT’s CLOWN Has His Own Minecraft Realm Called Vernearth

M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan, the percussionist of Slipknot, has launched a custom Minecraft world called Vernearth, which features 45-day seasons inspired by Slipknot's music. Vernearth includes four major game modes: 1. Oblivion — The Core World: A survival world with a corrupted aesthetic, featuring custom factions and three capital cities: Raziel, Seniomsed, and The City of Eternal. 2. PVP/Event Server — The Arena: A competitive server hosting weekly tournaments across four arenas, where players can earn "War" currency for exclusive items. 3. Plotworld — The Sanctuary: A collaborative space for creativity, allowing players to build, merge plots, and participate in contests. 4. Challenge Mode: A hardcore mode where players have one life per 45-day season, with themes inspired by Slipknot. The seasons will evolve, starting with Season 1: The Heretic Anthem, followed by Season 2: The Dying Song, and Season 3: Friend or Foe?. Players who succeed will receive titles, cosmetics, and rewards from a prize pool.