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AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 reviews are in, and there's one glaring issue with this gaming CPU launch
AppWizard
April 23, 2026

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 reviews are in, and there’s one glaring issue with this gaming CPU launch

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 was launched with a subdued announcement and limited review samples distributed to select publications and YouTubers, indicating its niche appeal rather than broad gaming market focus. The CPU features a second 3D V-Cache for its 16 cores, but performance enhancements are marginal, particularly in gaming. Initial reviews show slight performance gains in some titles, but overall improvements over its predecessor are minimal. The 9950X3D2 has an 8% performance increase in certain scenarios but also an 11% rise in power consumption. Its price is set at 9, making it a premium option for high-end PC builds.
Fallout co-creator says non-linear design is all about never assuming how players will act, illustrates his point by fantasising about an NPC guard he seems to really hate
AppWizard
April 23, 2026

Fallout co-creator says non-linear design is all about never assuming how players will act, illustrates his point by fantasising about an NPC guard he seems to really hate

Tim Cain, co-creator of the Fallout series, shared insights on game design in a YouTube video titled Eight Level Design Guidelines, emphasizing the importance of understanding player behavior and intentions. He advocates for non-linear gameplay, warning against making assumptions about player choices and criticizing design documents that enforce linearity. Cain believes that understanding the purpose of game elements is crucial for designers. He also credits his experiences with Dungeons & Dragons, which began in 1979, as a significant influence on his design principles, particularly in storytelling and mechanics.
Tanzania welcomes MAX, the new Russian messaging app
AppWizard
April 23, 2026

Tanzania welcomes MAX, the new Russian messaging app

A new Russian-developed messaging application called MAX has been launched in Tanzania, designed to provide effective communication even in areas with limited internet connectivity. The application, which aims to enhance communication between Tanzania and Russian-speaking communities, allows users to send messages, make voice and video calls, share files, and participate in online meetings. MAX currently has over 110 million registered users globally, with about seven million outside Russia and over 80 million active daily users. It offers features such as group calls, information channels, and virtual meeting tools, making it suitable for various sectors including education and business. The application operates efficiently in areas with weak internet connections using technology called NoLACE, which improves voice clarity and restores communication during network interruptions. It also includes an AI assistant named GigaChat for translation and content creation. MAX is optimized for low-cost smartphones and has been introduced in several African countries, with plans for expansion to others including Egypt and South Africa.
PC Limited-Time Free Game Is A Resident Evil and Silent Hill Hybrid
AppWizard
April 22, 2026

PC Limited-Time Free Game Is A Resident Evil and Silent Hill Hybrid

PC gamers can download the horror game The Whispering Valley for free on the GOG platform, thanks to a tip from Twitter user Wario64. The game is a folk horror point & click adventure that involves exploring a remote village and solving complex puzzles related to guilt and depression. It has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 on GOG based on eight user reviews and is rated "Very Positive" on Steam from a total of 157 reviews. Players can claim the game for free until April 28, 2026, after which it will cost £9.99. Games on GOG are DRM-free, allowing players to own the installation file and play across multiple devices without restrictions.
Google and Back Market Launch $3 ChromeOS Flex USB Kit for Windows 10 Users Locked Out of Windows 11
Winsage
April 22, 2026

Google and Back Market Launch $3 ChromeOS Flex USB Kit for Windows 10 Users Locked Out of Windows 11

Google has launched a physical ChromeOS Flex USB Kit, priced at a modest amount, to support users on Windows 10 whose hardware does not meet Windows 11 requirements. This kit, developed with Back Market, is part of a pilot program with limited stock. The kit includes printed guides and video tutorials for installing ChromeOS Flex, which is available for free download. ChromeOS Flex allows devices to boot in under 10 seconds and primarily supports web browsing and cloud-based applications, but does not support Android applications. It consumes approximately 19 percent less energy than similar systems and aims to extend the lifespan of existing devices to reduce electronic waste. The kit is available through Back Market, but future production and pricing details have not been disclosed.
Nvidia graphics research just made a 2-3x gain in performance, and this time it didn't use AI
AppWizard
April 22, 2026

Nvidia graphics research just made a 2-3x gain in performance, and this time it didn’t use AI

Nvidia has released a research paper that indicates potential graphics performance improvements of 2-3 times in certain scenarios, utilizing techniques like reciprocal neighbor selection and duplication maps, without heavily relying on artificial intelligence. The research focuses on path tracing, a rendering technique that is currently only feasible on advanced graphics cards. Nvidia's recent advancements include reservoir-based spatiotemporal importance resamplers (ReSTIRs), which could achieve up to a 65x performance improvement over existing methods. The new paper revisits this algorithm, offering an additional 2x-3x performance boost and enhancing image quality. The research suggests that path-traced modes in video games could experience significant performance enhancements, although it remains unclear if these improvements can be implemented via a simple driver update or if new hardware will be required.
'A performance tool that requires a graduate seminar before breakfast has already lost the room': Why Windows Task Manager looks like it's getting CPU usage wrong
Winsage
April 22, 2026

‘A performance tool that requires a graduate seminar before breakfast has already lost the room’: Why Windows Task Manager looks like it’s getting CPU usage wrong

Users have expressed frustration with Windows 11's Task Manager CPU usage reporting, believing it relies only on base clock speeds. Dave Plummer, the original architect of Task Manager, indicated that discrepancies may arise from average calculations and inherent compromises in the metrics. In response, Microsoft announced a fix in a recent Preview build, stating that Task Manager will now use standard metrics for CPU utilization across all pages to align with industry standards. Plummer also suggested a distinct Windows mode for power users to enhance flexibility.
Ex-Escape From Tarkov devs will "ride the wave" of AI, but stress "the finishing touch must always come from a human hand"
AppWizard
April 21, 2026

Ex-Escape From Tarkov devs will “ride the wave” of AI, but stress “the finishing touch must always come from a human hand”

Nomion Games was founded by Dmitri Ogorodnikov and German Terekhov, former contributors to Battlestate Games. They believe that "creative potential, accumulated experience, and ambition should not be put on hold." Their upcoming title, Rush is Real, will incorporate AI as a crucial tool in game development. Ogorodnikov views AI as essential, comparing it to a sculptor's chisel, and emphasizes its role in speeding up the ideation process. He acknowledges AI's ability to alleviate tedious tasks in game development but insists that final decisions must come from humans. He warns against over-reliance on AI, particularly in critical areas like level design and gameplay mechanics, to avoid losing creativity and identity. The gaming community has raised concerns about AI-generated content, and Ogorodnikov recognizes the need for vigilance in maintaining unique artistic vision while using AI to enhance efficiency.
Samsung's powerful photo editing app is acting wonky for some users. Are you affected?
AppWizard
April 21, 2026

Samsung’s powerful photo editing app is acting wonky for some users. Are you affected?

Samsung's Enhance-X app for photo and video editing recently received an update that includes a new interface, plugins, and expanded editing options. However, users in the United States, Korea, and Israel have reported issues such as installation failures and crashes after the update, with some experiencing an update loop that prevents access to new features. While not widespread, these issues suggest potential problems in Samsung's update process. Some users have successfully installed the update, and an alternative solution for those facing difficulties is to sideload the APK to bypass the Galaxy Store update issues.
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