virtual environments Archives

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

A couple met, then married, in ‘Minecraft’

Sarah Nguyen, 24, from Oregon, and Jamie Patel, 25, from England, recently got married in Minecraft, a game where they first met as children. They chose this virtual venue to symbolize their shared home despite the physical distance in their relationship. The trend of virtual weddings is growing, with other couples also marrying in games like Roblox and Animal Crossing, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, which led many to rethink traditional wedding plans. This shift has resulted in a rise in digital officiants and non-traditional wedding formats, with Minecraft weddings becoming increasingly popular in 2025.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

The Best PC Games of 2025 So Far (Spring Edition)

Spring 2025 has seen the release of several notable PC games, including: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Released on April 24, 2025, by Sandfall Interactive, it sold over 1 million copies in three days and features a blend of French art nouveau aesthetics and JRPG combat mechanics. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Released on February 28, 2025, by Capcom, it introduces full narrative integration and dynamic monster interactions. - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered: Released on April 22, 2025, by Bethesda Game Studios, it attracted over 4 million players shortly after launch and features enhanced visuals and gameplay updates. Other early 2025 releases include: - Blue Prince (April 10, 2025) - Split Fiction (March 6, 2025) - Atomfall (March 27, 2025) - Assassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20, 2025) - Two Point Museum (March 5, 2025) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (January 23, 2025) - Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (January 22, 2025) - Ninja Gaiden II Black (January 23, 2025) - The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10, 2025) Highly anticipated titles for later in 2025 include: - Grand Theft Auto VI (Late 2025) - Doom: The Dark Ages (May 15, 2025) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (August 28, 2025) - The Outer Worlds 2 (Expected 2025) - Borderlands 4 (September 12, 2025) - Marvel’s Blade (TBA 2025) - Hades II (Full Release later 2025) - Frostpunk 2 (Summer 2025) - Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access Expected 2025) - Anno 117: Pax Romana (Expected 2025) - Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (October 2025) - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Expected 2025) - Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Expected 2025) In 2024, top-rated PC games included: 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 2. Metaphor: ReFantazio 3. UFO 50 4. Tekken 8 5. Caves of Qud 6. Animal Well 7. Satisfactory 8. Balatro 9. Thank Goodness You’re Here! 10. The Last of Us Part II Remastered The PC gaming landscape in 2024 was characterized by significant hardware advancements, improved game integration and compatibility, and thriving online communities.

Winsage

March 25, 2025

5 Windows tools and apps you can’t find on other operating systems

Certain features remain exclusive to the Windows operating system, offering unique functionalities not available on Mac or Linux. Microsoft has developed tools like PowerToys, which includes nearly 20 utilities enhancing Windows functionality, and Windows Sandbox, providing a secure environment for testing applications. Windows Notepad serves as a basic note-taking and coding app with features like spellcheck and autocorrect. The Snipping Tool allows users to capture screenshots and extract text from images, while the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) enables seamless access to both Windows and Linux environments. These tools are designed to enhance productivity and provide significant advantages for Windows users.

Winsage

March 12, 2025

March Patch Tuesday warnings: Act fast to plug zero day holes in Windows, VMware

Recent assessments have identified critical vulnerabilities in VMware's virtualization products that allow attackers to escape the VM sandbox and execute arbitrary code at the hypervisor level, targeting the ESXi host. This can compromise the hypervisor and grant attackers control over all virtual machines on the server, threatening the entire VMware vSphere infrastructure. These vulnerabilities are particularly concerning as they are targeted by ransomware operators and advanced persistent threat groups, with tens of thousands of systems worldwide affected across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, government, critical infrastructure, and telecommunications. Cybersecurity experts recommend that organizations using affected VMware products urgently deploy patches, assess their virtualization infrastructure for signs of compromise, and enhance monitoring systems to detect suspicious activity.

Winsage

March 6, 2025

Cybercriminals Exploit YouTubers to Spread SilentCryptoMiner on Windows Systems

A malware campaign has emerged, exploiting the popularity of Windows Packet Divert drivers. The SilentCryptoMiner malware, disguised as legitimate tools, has affected over 2,000 victims in Russia. Cybercriminals manipulate YouTubers to share malicious links, with one YouTuber having 60,000 subscribers attracting over 400,000 views on infected videos. Compromised files were hosted on gitrok[.]com, with over 40,000 downloads. Attackers issue copyright strikes to content creators, threatening channel shutdowns to propagate malware. The infection begins with a modified script that executes an executable via PowerShell, using a Python-crafted loader to fetch the payload. SilentCryptoMiner, based on XMRig, mines various cryptocurrencies stealthily, employing techniques to evade detection and dynamically adjust its behavior. This campaign highlights the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, leveraging demand for bypass tools to distribute malware. Users are advised to be cautious when downloading tools from untrusted sources.

AppWizard

December 17, 2024

In survival game Rust, Santa Claus doesn’t care if you’ve been good or bad or really, really bad, he still has gifts for you

The Christmas event in the survival shooter game Rust has begun and will run until January 2. Players can enjoy seasonal features such as festive hats, presents, and the "lickable candy cane club." They can hang stockings in their bases and will receive gifts from Santa regardless of their in-game behavior. Players can hear jingle bells signaling the arrival of Santa's sleigh, which drops presents within a 40-meter radius. Upon finding a present, players can open it for resources, weapons, and festive treats, and they can trade smaller gifts for larger ones. The event includes "Rustmas" Twitch drops and a base decorating contest with exclusive rewards. Ice sculptures have been delayed but are expected to be released before Christmas. Full details of the event and a celebratory video marking the game's 11-year anniversary are available.

AppWizard

December 15, 2024

Android XR: The Gemini era comes to headsets and glasses

The upcoming launch of Android XR, featuring headsets developed by Samsung under the codename Project Moohan, is set for next year. These headsets will enable users to transition between immersive virtual environments and the real world, enhanced by an AI assistant named Gemini. Gemini will assist users in interacting with their surroundings and managing tasks. Google is also adapting popular applications for this headset experience, allowing users to watch YouTube and Google TV on a virtual big screen, view Google Photos in 3D, explore Google Maps in an Immersive View, manage multiple virtual screens with Chrome, and use Circle to Search for information. Android XR will support existing mobile and tablet applications from Google Play, with more tailored content expected to be released next year.

AppWizard

November 28, 2024

5 Best Android Emulators for Mac: Run Android Apps and Games Seamlessly

Android emulators for Mac allow users to experience the Android environment, bridging the gap for Mac users who face limitations with mobile gaming and Android-exclusive applications. The top Android emulators for Mac include: 1. BlueStacks: Widely used, supports both Intel and M-series Macs, free, features native gamepad support and impressive FPS capabilities. Currently available as BlueStacks 4, with BlueStacks 5 anticipated. 2. NoxPlayer: Lightweight design, operates on Android 9, supports Intel Macs only, free, features script recording and gamepad support, but does not support M1 or later chips. 3. Genymotion: Primarily for developers, supports both Intel and M-series Macs, offers cloud-based or desktop application options, free and paid versions, features ADB access and sensor simulation. 4. MuMuPlayer Pro: Supports M-series Macs only, paid with a 7-day trial, operates on Android 12, allows multiple instances for gameplay, but lacks extensive customization options. 5. Android Studio: Integrated development environment for Android app development, supports both Intel and M-series Macs, free, offers debugging tools and hardware/software simulation capabilities. Emulators serve various purposes, including gaming, app testing, and managing social media accounts.

Winsage

November 21, 2024

Your Meta Quest 3 is getting a free Windows PC upgrade – and it could change how you work

Microsoft announced the integration of "full capabilities of Windows 11" with Meta's Quest 3 and Quest 3S headsets at the Ignite event. Users can connect their local Windows PC or Windows 365 Cloud PC to their Quest headsets in a few seconds, enabling a private workstation experience with virtual screens. While Windows cannot run natively on Quest devices, users can stream their desktop environments to the headset. Mark Zuckerberg mentioned that connecting the devices is as simple as "looking at the keyboard." The update will eliminate the need for additional software for casting features and is set for a public preview in December. Microsoft hinted at ongoing collaboration with Meta for "Windows Volumetric Apps" designed for Meta Quest headsets, although specific compatible apps have not been disclosed.

Winsage

November 14, 2024

Microsoft releases Windows 11 ISO file for Arm, but older PCs may require extra effort

Microsoft has released a Windows 11 ISO file for Arm-based computers, allowing installation on devices like Copilot+ PCs, set for 2024. This is the first time an ISO is available for Arm systems, which previously only had Windows 11 preinstalled. The ISO can be used to create virtual machines, upgrade existing installations, or create bootable flash drives for clean installations. Newer Arm-based PCs with Snapdragon X chips can boot from the ISO without additional drivers, but full functionality requires downloading drivers via Windows Update. Older Arm-based PCs may need specific drivers from manufacturers for bootability, and those with previous Snapdragon generations must inject necessary drivers into the installation image to avoid boot failures. Microsoft provides support documentation for this process.