Microsoft is killing off a bunch of its Internet Games for older OSes

Are you still rocking an older Microsoft operating system? Are you still playing some of the games that are included in them, specifically Microsoft’s Internet Games? That consists of Internet Backgammon, Spades, Hearts, Reversi, Checkers, or MSN Go? Well, we hope you’ve had fun because Microsoft will be shuttering that lot. Very soon indeed. If you’re still using Microsoft Windows ME or Windows XP (and there are a few of you out there. We’ve seen your work PCs, we know what’s up), then you’ve got until the end of this month to make use of Microsoft’s Internet Games. If you’re a Windows 7 user, your reprieve is a little longer. Internet Games (all of ’em) will cease functioning from 22 January 2020. So when that older relative asks why Hearts is no longer working early next year, you’ll know what to say. Right? Right.

Source: Microsoft

Huawei’s Hongmeng OS will apparently be known as Harmony in Europe

It’s a weird time to be Huawei. In a little over a month’s time, we’ll know the fate of the company’s mobile division, since that’s when the American government’s buffer period expires. It’s widely expected that Huawei will rock its own operating system if it can’t get access to Android via Google and now we might have a new name for the OS (which is known as Hongmeng, or perhaps Ark). The company has filed a new trademark application in the European Union for an operating system. The name for the OS is Harmony, which is a little less… panicked than Ark OS, which was perhaps picked as an ‘In Case of Emergency…” placeholder name. The application concerns “Downloadable operating system programs; Recorded operating system programs; Mobile operating systems; Computer operating systems; Downloadable computer operating programs and computer operating systems.” Which sounds to us like that unified (and ambitious) OS Huawei’s apparently been holding on to for a rainy day.

Source: The Next Web

The Great Hack lands on Netflix from 24 July, to Facebook’s dismay

Cambridge Analytica? Remember that little situation? Well, if you’ve forgotten or if you’re looking for a deeper dive into what happened between the data harvesting company (which just changed its name to Emerdata, while other staff created Auspex International and moved most of their operations into Africa and the Middle East — the more you know…), Facebook, and the various government agencies who got mighty upset about all that data being scooped, then check out The Great Hack when it launches on Netflix later this month. Check out the trailer for this documentary at the link below. And fear for your data.

Source: Netflix (YouTube)

Horror fan? Check out the Resident Evil 3 Seamless HD Project

It may not have been announced but consider this a prediction for the future: Capcom’s gonna remaster (and probably reimagine) Resident Evil 3. Soon. And when they do, that’ll be a glorious day. In the meantime, check out something a little more… fan-made. The Resident Evil 3 Seamless HD Project is a player-led attempt at upscaling the graphics for the ageing survival horror game, one that does an impressive job at improving (most of) the visuals while changing very little about how the game itself plays. The upgrade (you can see it in action here) requires that you emulate the GameCube version of Resi 3 on a PC but the update is a free one — once you’ve jumped through the Dolphin GameCube hoops needed to run the title. It’s not perfect, but it’ll do until Capcom makes their Resi 3 remaster an official thing.