TechCapsules

Windows 11 26H2 still includes a hidden compatibility shim called EmulateHeap that runs the original Windows 95 heap manager for legacy applications. The shim originated from a 1995 fix that forced Windows 95 to retain freed memory when the original SimCity game read it after release, preventing crashes. Microsoft later generalized the trick, recompiling the 1995 heap code and embedding it in the modern compatibility framework so it can be enabled per‑app via the Compatibility Administrator tool. The fix [...]

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has allocated £50 million to British quantum‑technology firms, complementing a separate £20 million for quantum networking and an £8 million boost to its QuEST Apprentices Programme. Recipients include MoniRail’s quantum railway‑monitoring system for fault detection where GPS fails, Siloton’s handheld quantum eye scanner aimed at portable diagnostics, and ColdQuanta UK’s compact quantum radio for high‑precision signal location to aid military intelligence and emergency response. The funding, part of the government’s Quantum Technologies Priority Programme and [...]

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s producer Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that the title will feature a selectable Hard Mode from the outset, a departure from the series’ previous entries where hard difficulty unlocked only after a full playthrough. The new mode will not mirror Remake or Rebirth’s implementation; instead, it aligns with Revelation’s redesigned combat system and includes expanded player options beyond simple item bans. A novel “Enemy Strength” setting lets players toggle between Dynamic and static enemy behaviors, offering additional [...]

Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 campaign entered Steam early access on Friday, prompting a “Very Positive” rating of 92 percent from more than 3,100 user reviews. The six‑hour single‑player experience, available only to players who pre‑ordered digitally, has seen its score climb as reviewers completed the missions. Although official launch isn’t until 23 October and SteamDB cannot yet report active player counts, the early sentiment eclipses that of recent titles, including last year’s Black Ops 7 (Mostly Negative, 37 percent) [...]

Microsoft is dividing the Windows 11 Photos app into two separate tools. The existing app is being renamed Photo Viewer and will handle only single‑image opening and editing, launching automatically from File Explorer or the desktop but no longer appearing in the Start menu. A new Photos app, built on the web‑based OneDrive Photos platform, becomes a Gallery that aggregates pictures from the PC, OneDrive and iCloud, offering date‑based browsing, natural‑language search (Copilot+ only), album creation and shared [...]

On October 16 an intruder accessed a legacy OpenCode system and may have exposed API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic and Google that users stored in the OpenCode Console, the company’s hosted workspace service. The breach affects about 1.4 % of Console users who had linked an external provider; they were emailed on October 17 to revoke and replace the keys. OpenCode stresses the breach involves only the Console, not its core platform, and that the keys are bearer credentials that [...]

RIKEN researchers have shown that silicon spin qubits can be controlled in parallel with high fidelity using a single shared microwave line and a pairwise phase‑calibration protocol. In a five‑qubit silicon array they identified the AC Stark shift from microwave drive as the main error source and mitigated it by calibrating phase relationships between qubit pairs. Single‑qubit gate fidelities exceeded 99.99 % individually, remained above 99.99 % for up to three qubits operating simultaneously, and stayed near 99.9 % when [...]

MAPPA chief executive Manabu Otsuka told AnimeCorner that the studio views artificial intelligence as a functional aid rather than a creative substitute. He emphasized that emotional resonance in animation must originate from human creators, describing AI, 3D software and other digital tools as “just tools.” Otsuka said MAPPA will continuously assess which technologies improve workflow efficiency without compromising artistic agency. The stance reflects broader industry debate, as recent years have seen scrutiny of AI use in anime, [...]