Zoom Archives

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

Build Your Own TNT Jungle House with LEGO Minecraft

The LEGO TNT Jungle House set consists of 287 pieces and is designed for builders aged 8 and older. It features a buildable house resembling the TNT block from Minecraft, a lever that triggers a blast effect, and includes minifigures of Steve, a parrot, and enemies like the Creeper and Zombie. The set is part of a broader collection aimed at bringing the Minecraft universe to life and is expected to retail for .99, with pre-orders opening soon ahead of its official launch in June 2025. The LEGO® Builder app enhances the experience by allowing users to interact with their models in 3D.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

You’ll never manually crop screenshots again thanks to this new Snipping Tool feature

Microsoft is updating the Snipping Tool to version 11.2504.38.0, introducing a Perfect screenshot feature that uses AI to intelligently resize selections for precise screenshots. Users can access this feature by selecting the Perfect screenshot button or by holding the Ctrl key while selecting a region. Additionally, a color picker feature will allow users to obtain exact color values from their screen. Both features are available exclusively on Copilot+ PCs. Furthermore, Paint will receive an AI-powered sticker generator and an Object select tool, while Notepad will introduce an AI-powered Write function for text drafting. Access to these functionalities requires a Microsoft account and a subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Enterprise, or Copilot Pro.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft Notepad can now write for you using generative AI

Microsoft is testing updates to Notepad and Paint for Windows Insiders, focusing on integrating artificial intelligence into these applications. Notepad's new Write feature assists users in generating text based on prompts and enhances existing content with AI support. Users can insert new text or select existing text for reference, and the AI-generated text can be accepted, discarded, or refined. Notepad also includes features like Summarize, which condenses content, and Rewrite, which modifies tone and structure. Paint is receiving AI enhancements, including a Sticker generator for creating custom stickers by describing designs and an Object select tool for smart selections in images. The Snipping Tool is improving with a Perfect screenshot button that resizes screenshots intelligently and a new Color picker for precise color selection. To use Notepad's Write feature, users must sign into their Microsoft accounts, which will operate under a credits system. Pricing for these credits has not been disclosed.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Paint, Snipping Tool, and Notepad updates with new features begin rolling out to Windows Insiders

Windows 11 has rolled out updates for Paint, Snipping Tool, and Notepad for users in the Canary and Dev Channels. Paint (version 11.2504.451.0) introduces three features: 1. A sticker generator that creates custom stickers based on user prompts, accessible via the Copilot menu. 2. An object select tool that uses AI to isolate and edit elements within images. 3. A new welcome experience that guides users through the app's features. Snipping Tool (version 11.2504.38.0) adds: 1. A perfect screenshot feature that captures content precisely without needing cropping or resizing. 2. A color picker tool that allows users to inspect or select color codes from their screen. Notepad (version 11.2504.46.0) features: 1. An AI write feature that helps users draft text based on prompts, with options to keep or discard generated content. Access to the sticker generator, object select, and AI features requires signing in with a Microsoft account, and some features are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Signal resorts to “weird trick” to block Windows Recall in Desktop app

Microsoft's Recall feature indexes a wide range of personal data, including Zoom meetings, emails, photos, medical conditions, and conversations on Signal, affecting both users and their contacts without consent. Researcher Kevin Beaumont found that the feature captures sensitive information like payment card details and can decrypt its database using a fingerprint scan or PIN. Developers, such as those at Signal, lack tools to prevent their content from being indexed by Recall, leading Signal to utilize a Digital Rights Management API to protect privacy. This workaround may help, but it depends on all chat participants using the Windows Desktop version with default settings. Microsoft has not addressed concerns regarding developer control over Recall.

AppWizard

May 17, 2025

LEGO Minecraft Woodland Mansion Fighting Ring

The LEGO Minecraft Woodland Mansion Fighting Ring set is designed for children aged 10 and above and allows them to recreate battle scenes from the Minecraft video game. It features a functional fighting ring, score-keepers, a mansion facade, a removable chest, and a weapons rack. The set includes characters like Steve, Garrett, Henry, a baby zombie, a chicken jockey, and a great hog. It comes with interactive accessories such as weapons and potions, and the LEGO Builder app provides 3D instructions for building. The set is currently priced at £35.99, down from £44.99.

AppWizard

May 16, 2025

Watch Out! LEGO Unveils New Minecraft 8” Tall The Creeper Set

The LEGO Minecraft Creeper set features 665 pieces and creates an 8-inch tall figure of the iconic Creeper character. It includes a first-version Creeper minifigure and a TNT element. Priced at .99, it will be released on June 1, 2025, and is designed for fans aged 10 and up. The figure has four articulated legs and a tilting head, with a detachable front revealing an interior space. The LEGO Builder app is available to enhance the building experience.

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Microsoft Copilot+ Recall: who should disable it, and how

Microsoft's Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs was initially announced a year ago but delayed due to privacy concerns raised by cybersecurity experts. The updated version was released in April 2025 for Windows Insider Preview builds and rolled out more broadly in May. Key updates include requiring user permission for activation, encrypting database files with hardware-based Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and implementing a filter to prevent saving sensitive information. Recall is enabled on a per-user basis, can be uninstalled, does not require a Microsoft account, and processes data locally. However, it still has vulnerabilities, such as allowing access with a regular Windows PIN after initial biometric authentication and failing to consistently filter sensitive data. Recall can log interactions during calls and capture self-destructing messages, posing privacy risks. It can impact performance and battery life, especially during gaming. Users handling sensitive data or frequently using video conferencing may want to disable or remove Recall. Instructions for disabling or removing Recall are provided, along with precautions for those who choose to use it.

AppWizard

May 15, 2025

Chrome’s Android app will now let you zoom in on text without affecting the webpage

Google has introduced updates to enhance user experience on its platforms, focusing on accessibility and usability for Android users. The TalkBack screenreader now allows follow-up questions about images, enabling users to ask specific queries like identifying colors or materials. An update for Chrome on Android improves text zooming, allowing users to enlarge text without affecting the webpage layout, using a slider accessible through the three-dot menu. Google’s Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tool now automatically recognizes scanned PDFs on desktop, enabling text highlighting, copying, and searching. Expressive Captions provide real-time captions for audio content on Android devices, capturing spoken words along with tone and emotion, and are being rolled out in English across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia for devices on Android 15 and later.

Winsage

May 14, 2025

Patch Tuesday for May: Five zero day vulnerabilities CISOs should focus on

A vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-30397 can be exploited when Microsoft Edge is in “Internet Explorer” mode, which is typically not the default setting but may be necessary for certain users. Another vulnerability, CVE-2025-29831, can only be exploited during a restart of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) service. SAP has released 18 Security Notes to address various vulnerabilities, including critical authorization issues, remote code execution, information disclosure, and cross-site scripting.