unease Archives

Winsage

May 2, 2025

Alarming update: Windows 11 may deprive users of all data

In the recent Windows 11 24H2 update, the bypassnro.cmd script was removed, leading to the automatic activation of BitLocker disk encryption for both corporate and home users. This change has raised concerns about data security, performance degradation, and the risk of irreversible data loss, particularly due to the lack of user notifications when BitLocker is activated. Users are advised to back up their encryption keys to prevent permanent loss of access to files. Microsoft has provided a guide for backing up and recovering BitLocker keys, and users can manually disable BitLocker through the registry or settings. Additionally, Huawei is considering moving away from Windows to its proprietary operating system.

Winsage

April 23, 2025

When Microsoft made the Windows as a Service pivot

Former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer discussed the company's shift from paid upgrades to a Windows as a Service model, highlighting the challenges faced after the success of Windows 7 and the disappointing reception of Windows 8. He noted that Microsoft made Windows 10 available as a free upgrade for users of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, which allowed the company to gather valuable telemetry data while introducing users to subscription services. However, the telemetry raised privacy concerns among users, as it included advertising and upsell mechanisms. Plummer expressed a desire for a version of Windows Pro without telemetry and advertising, indicating he would pay for such a product. He also mentioned that the transition to a service model helped address piracy by offering free upgrades to users with non-genuine copies of Windows.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ is fun but disappointing

Sean Mandell, a writer for the New York Post, described “A Minecraft Movie” as “Gen Z, Alpha’s ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show.’” The film follows Steve, voiced by Jack Black, who becomes disenchanted with adult life and journeys into the “Overworld,” encountering individuals who rely on creativity and resourcefulness. However, character development is lacking, with characters introducing themselves through exposition and showing no growth. The main child protagonist, Henry, constructs a jetpack at both the beginning and end of the story without real challenges. The film attempts to convey themes of creativity and imagination but falls short, leaning heavily on comedic performances. Despite moments of humor, the film is considered superficial and unlikely to resonate with future audiences. The reviewer rates “A Minecraft Movie” a modest 5/10.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

Video ‘A Minecraft Movie’ director defends viral social media trend

Jared Hess, director of ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ defends the viral "chicken jockey" trend as a harmless expression of creativity within the gaming community, despite concerns from theater owners and moviegoers about disruptions in theaters caused by the trend. The mention of "chicken jockey" has led to chaotic scenes that detract from the cinematic experience, causing unease among those maintaining order in screening rooms. Hess believes the trend reflects the vibrant culture surrounding Minecraft and is part of engaging with the film and its source material.

AppWizard

March 23, 2025

Maybe now that Silent Hill 4’s PC release is getting some cut hauntings you’ll admit it’s quite good, actually

Silent Hill 4: The Room is a survival horror game that received a mixed reception upon its release, with some reviewers rating it 6/10. The PC version initially lacked certain features found in the PlayStation 2 version, including haunting elements within the player's apartment. GOG's Preservation Program has restored these missing features and optimized the game for modern hardware, allowing support for contemporary controllers. The game includes a companion character named Eileen, who contributes to the narrative with relatable dialogue. The current price of the game is five dollars.

Winsage

March 4, 2025

AMD RX 9070 requires UEFI — bad news for Windows 10 die-hards

The end of Windows 10 support is approaching in eight months, causing concern among PC gamers. AMD's new graphics cards, the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, require Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) instead of traditional BIOS. AMD confirmed that all graphics cards from the 9000 series will have "UEFI-only support." While many users have transitioned to UEFI, over 40 percent of Steam users still use Windows 10, which is compatible with older BIOS systems. AMD's announcement does not clarify the compatibility of the 9000-series cards with BIOS or motherboards with Compatibility Support Module (CSM). Gamers on Windows 10 may face increasing compatibility issues if they upgrade their hardware after the end-of-service date.

BetaBeacon

February 28, 2025

Dredge mobile review – “A magnificent port in a foggy, Lovecraftian storm”

The fishing mini-game on mobile requires tapping the screen at the right moment. The inventory system allows for easy tapping, dragging, and placing of items. The game involves fishing in a peaceful setting during the day, but at night, a fog rolls in with dangerous creatures. Upgrading your boat with resources allows for better equipment, but overconfidence can lead to disaster. The game features excellent music, sound effects, animations, and world design. The characters encountered have compelling stories, and the mutated fish descriptions are vivid. Some islands in the game are less compelling than others, with minor irritations like vines obstructing paths.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

‘A massive, massive moment of wow.’ Microsoft CEO predicts AI-generated games are a ‘CGI moment’ for the industry

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed the company's plans for artificial intelligence and quantum computing, particularly focusing on their AI-powered game generation platform, Muse. He compared Muse's potential impact on gaming to the influence of CGI in the film industry, despite its current limitations of generating games at a resolution of 300 by 180 pixels. Nadella envisions a future where users can request unique gaming experiences, indicating that the integration of AI into gaming is imminent. He also highlighted the broader implications of AI on economic growth, cautioning against the hype surrounding artificial general intelligence (AGI) and emphasizing the importance of AI's impact on GDP growth. Nadella believes in a collaborative future for AI development, suggesting that the market can support multiple successful players. The timeline for when gamers can fully engage with Muse remains uncertain, with some experts cautioning that its capabilities may be overstated.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Report: Funko Fusion dev 10:10 cutting staff

UK-based developer 10:10 Games has laid off 19 employees following the poor reception of its first title, Funko Fusion, which was deemed a "complete commercial and critical failure." The layoffs were attributed to the "needs of the next project" and did not affect senior or upper management. Severance packages for those laid off were slightly above the legal minimum, leading to concerns about support for affected staff. Employees expressed dissatisfaction with management's handling of the layoffs, noting that feedback was not considered. 10:10 Games was founded in 2021 by veterans from TT Games.

TrendTechie

February 7, 2025

Торрент-империя Meta: Цукерберг подарил миру теневую библиотеку с 160 ТБ книг

Meta is alleged to have unlawfully used pirated books for training its AI models, downloading at least 81.7 terabytes of data from torrent sources, including 35.7 terabytes from Z-Library. Internal communications reveal employee concerns about the legality of downloading pirated content, while leadership reportedly obscured their activities and operated in "stealth mode." Plaintiffs are seeking renewed interrogations of Meta personnel, claiming previous testimonies were misleading, and asserting that Meta's copyright infringements may involve distribution of pirated books. Meta defends its actions as falling under "fair use" and intends to challenge the allegations. Additionally, Meta and its products are prohibited in the Russian Federation due to being designated as extremist.