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Microsoft is now using your Windows 11 wallpaper as ad space — Bing Wallpaper app faces criticism over movie promotional images

The Bing Wallpaper app is one of the few items under the Bing brand that's praised. The app provides beautiful images that can be set to rotate as your desktop background. But the app is in the headlines for the wrong reasons this week.

Some unlucky users have had their desktop background swapped to a fullscreen ad for a collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.

People have taken to Reddit to complain about the ad-filled wallpaper. A Microsoft Learn post shares similar complaints.

There's often debate about what counts as an ad on Windows 11. For example, prompts to use OneDrive are called ads by some but are viewed simply as optional features by others.

Promotional content isn't entirely new to Bing Wallpaper. The app frequently cycles through images tied to popular movies or Xbox games. Perhaps I'm splitting hairs, but I view the new Harry Potter wallpaper differently than a normal background image.

Blank Pixel

Bing Wallpaper features a gorgeous clean image of David Corenswet's Superman. It's a well-framed shot with dynamic lighting that captures the hopeful tone of Corenswet's rendition of the character. While the image is from Superman (2025), it is not a promotional poster with text about how to buy the movie.

In contrast, the Harry Potter wallpaper is specifically about the 11-film collection. The lower-right corner of the image says "AVAILABLE NOW" in all caps.

JK Rowling Wallpaper
 from r/EnoughJKRowling

If the image were simply of Hogwarts and the surrounding area, it would be different. People are passionate about Harry Potter and other franchises. It's completely natural to enjoy a wallpaper showing off a favorite character or iconic setting.

I'd be just as bothered if the Superman image featured prominent text telling me the movie is available on Amazon. If Microsoft needs to monetize the Bing Wallpaper app, that needs to happen without crowding the images. Clicking to learn more about an image from a movie and being told about the film is fine. A big promo on my desktop is not.

Bing Wallpaper is an optional app, so it's not as if Microsoft is pushing more ads through Windows 11's settings. But as mentioned earlier, Bing Wallpaper is one of the only parts of the Bing brand that's well received. Tarnishing it with ads is penny wise, pound foolish.

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  • ✇Yanko Design
  • The $100 Keypad That Puts Each AI Coding Tool Behind Its Own Button
    Every developer juggling AI agents right now knows the feeling of context switching until the whole workflow blurs together. Copilot suggests something in one window, Claude Code runs a task in another, and a dozen prompts live scattered across notes and muscle memory. The Logitech MX Keypad exists to collapse all of that into nine small screens sitting next to the keyboard, each one a physical shortcut into a specific piece of that chaos. Every key on the keypad carries its own full-color LCD
     

The $100 Keypad That Puts Each AI Coding Tool Behind Its Own Button

Par : JC Torres
8 septembre 2026 à 10:20

Every developer juggling AI agents right now knows the feeling of context switching until the whole workflow blurs together. Copilot suggests something in one window, Claude Code runs a task in another, and a dozen prompts live scattered across notes and muscle memory. The Logitech MX Keypad exists to collapse all of that into nine small screens sitting next to the keyboard, each one a physical shortcut into a specific piece of that chaos.

Every key on the keypad carries its own full-color LCD display, so instead of memorizing which function key does what, you glance down and see an icon that actually represents the command underneath it. Press one, and it can refactor a function, trigger a prompt macro, or hand off a task to an AI agent entirely. That small visual feedback loop turns an abstract keyboard shortcut into something closer to a labeled button on a control panel.

Designer: Logitech

What makes the hardware worth paying attention to is where Logitech chose to draw the compatibility line. Instead of building this around one coding environment, the MX Keypad works across GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, VS Code, and IntelliJ IDEA at once. A developer bouncing between an IDE and a terminal-based AI agent doesn’t need separate tools for each, just a different page of keys pulled up on the same nine buttons.

That pattern of paging matters more than it sounds. The keypad can hold multiple profiles, so switching from a Python project running through Copilot to a JavaScript refactor handled by Claude Code becomes a single tap rather than a mental reset. Anyone who has lost a train of thought hunting through browser tabs for the right prompt will recognize the value in never breaking eye contact with the code itself.

Underneath the surface, the MX Keypad ships with prebuilt plugins that Logitech had developers test directly against real coding platforms, rather than shipping generic templates and hoping they fit. An SDK opens the door further, letting teams build their own tools around internal workflows, while a community marketplace means the plugin library keeps growing without waiting on Logitech’s own release schedule.

None of that ambition comes wrapped in bulky, wasteful materials either. The body is made with recycled plastics, keeping the hardware in line with the sustainability commitments Logitech has built into its broader MX ecosystem. It is a small detail, but for a device meant to live permanently on a desk, it matters that the object itself doesn’t feel disposable.

At $99.99, the MX Keypad occupies a strange but clarifying position in a developer’s setup. It doesn’t replace a keyboard, and it doesn’t try to be an AI tool in its own right. Instead, it works like a translator between fast-moving human intent and the growing swarm of coding agents developers now manage daily, one labeled key at a time.

The post The $100 Keypad That Puts Each AI Coding Tool Behind Its Own Button first appeared on Yanko Design.

  • ✇Yanko Design
  • An Android Drawing Tablet With 127 Layers That Still Feels Like Paper
    Most Android drawing tablets make you choose between a screen that feels like paper and hardware fast enough to keep up with a real workflow. The Kamvas Pad 12 refuses that trade-off. Huion built a 12.2-inch standalone tablet around a textured, paper-like display and paired it with enough processing power to hold 127 layers open without stuttering, treating the screen as a genuine canvas rather than a stylus afterthought. That screen runs a 3:2 aspect ratio instead of the usual 16:9, and the di
     

An Android Drawing Tablet With 127 Layers That Still Feels Like Paper

Par : JC Torres
8 septembre 2026 à 09:20

Most Android drawing tablets make you choose between a screen that feels like paper and hardware fast enough to keep up with a real workflow. The Kamvas Pad 12 refuses that trade-off. Huion built a 12.2-inch standalone tablet around a textured, paper-like display and paired it with enough processing power to hold 127 layers open without stuttering, treating the screen as a genuine canvas rather than a stylus afterthought.

That screen runs a 3:2 aspect ratio instead of the usual 16:9, and the difference shows up the moment you start sketching. A wider canvas means fewer awkward crops when composing a portrait or a page layout, and it doubles as a better shape for reading documents or comics without letterboxing. Combined with a 90Hz refresh rate, linework tracks the pen smoothly instead of lagging a beat behind your hand.

Designer: Huion

Canvas Glass 3.0 does the quieter work here. The surface is nano-etched for texture, so the pen tip grips the way it would on actual paper, while a soft-light treatment and anti-glare coating keep long sessions from turning into eye strain. Setting up near a window or working outdoors doesn’t wash out the display, which matters more than most spec sheets give it credit for.

The PW600C pen leans into that same philosophy of getting out of the way. It’s battery-free, weighs just 12 grams, and snaps magnetically onto the tablet body instead of needing a separate case or loop. Someone sketching on a train can toss the pen against the tablet’s edge between stops and trust it’ll still be there, without fishing through a bag for a charging cable or a lost cap.

Underneath, an eight-core MediaTek Genio 720 chip and 8GB of RAM handle the kind of multitasking that used to choke budget Android tablets, running multiple layers and apps without the frame drops that make digital painting frustrating. At 16,384 pressure levels and 60-degree tilt support, the stylus itself translates a feather-light highlight or a bold ink stroke with the kind of nuance that used to be reserved for pricier displays.

Storage tops out at 256GB onboard with room to expand to 1TB, so a growing library of finished pieces, reference photos, and half-done sketches doesn’t force anyone into constant cleanup. Android 16 and full Google Play access mean the tablet isn’t locked into a single app either. Clip Studio Paint, ibisPaint X, MediBang Paint, and Huion’s own HiPaint all come preloaded, ready for whichever workflow fits the project at hand.

Battery life rounds out the case for treating this as a genuine mobile setup instead of a tethered accessory. An 8,000mAh cell inside a 7.8mm metal body keeps the Kamvas Pad 12 running for roughly eight hours, long enough for a full day of sketching at a café or a cross-country flight without hunting for an outlet. That kind of stamina turns a drawing tablet into something closer to a sketchbook you never outgrow.

The post An Android Drawing Tablet With 127 Layers That Still Feels Like Paper first appeared on Yanko Design.

Carte interactive The Blood of Dawnwalker : Manuels, Objets légendaires, Secrets... Emplacement de tous les points d'intérêt

8 septembre 2026 à 07:40
Explorer Val Sangora dans le RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker à l'aveuglette demande beaucoup de temps et d'efforts. Heureusement, l'interactive map évite de rater des objets importants ou de passer à côté de différentes opportunités, tout en gagnant du temps. Découvrez notre sélection dans ce guide.

  • ✇The Hacker News
  • Liquid Hackers Return 3,400 Bitcoin Taken via Elements Bug, Still Holding $47M in BTC
    Whoever took nearly 4,000 bitcoin from the Liquid Network on Sunday, September 6, returned 3,400 of it the next day, Bitcoin's public record shows. About 598.5 bitcoin has not come back. Liquid is a Bitcoin sidechain that holds real bitcoin to back a token called L-BTC. The network is still paused, so holders cannot turn that token back into bitcoin. The 3,400 bitcoin was sent to a&
     

Liquid Hackers Return 3,400 Bitcoin Taken via Elements Bug, Still Holding $47M in BTC

Whoever took nearly 4,000 bitcoin from the Liquid Network on Sunday, September 6, returned 3,400 of it the next day, Bitcoin's public record shows. About 598.5 bitcoin has not come back. Liquid is a Bitcoin sidechain that holds real bitcoin to back a token called L-BTC. The network is still paused, so holders cannot turn that token back into bitcoin. The 3,400 bitcoin was sent to a&

  • ✇The Hacker News
  • ChatGPT Flaw Let a Planted Prompt Send a Victim's Gmail Data to Another Account
    Check Point Research said in a report published today that a single instruction planted in a ChatGPT conversation could cause ChatGPT to quietly work for an attacker while answering the user's question as usual. In the company's proof of concept, that hidden work read data from the user's connected Gmail account and passed it to a second ChatGPT account through a hidden channel
     

ChatGPT Flaw Let a Planted Prompt Send a Victim's Gmail Data to Another Account

Check Point Research said in a report published today that a single instruction planted in a ChatGPT conversation could cause ChatGPT to quietly work for an attacker while answering the user's question as usual. In the company's proof of concept, that hidden work read data from the user's connected Gmail account and passed it to a second ChatGPT account through a hidden channel

Anthropic Moves IPO Timeline Toward Mid-October, Report Says

8 septembre 2026 à 10:14

Anthropic's IPO timeline reportedly shifted toward mid-October as investors weigh its financing, growth projections and a potential $2 trillion valuation.

The post Anthropic Moves IPO Timeline Toward Mid-October, Report Says appeared first on TechRepublic.

Best Lead Tracking Software for Sales Teams in 2026

8 septembre 2026 à 10:07

Compare the best lead tracking software for monitoring activity, follow-ups, ownership, and pipeline movement from capture to conversion.

The post Best Lead Tracking Software for Sales Teams in 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

  • ✇The Hacker News
  • Autonomous AI Agents Compromise Thousands of Credentials in Under Six Hours
    Threat actors are continuing to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline their operations, with one financially motivated hacking group employing an autonomous, multi-agent attack framework to carry out a large-scale credential harvesting campaign within six hours. Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) said it has observed attackers with diverse motivations targeting proprietary AI
     

Autonomous AI Agents Compromise Thousands of Credentials in Under Six Hours

Threat actors are continuing to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline their operations, with one financially motivated hacking group employing an autonomous, multi-agent attack framework to carry out a large-scale credential harvesting campaign within six hours. Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) said it has observed attackers with diverse motivations targeting proprietary AI

Get the Red Dead Redemption 2 Ultimate Edition Xbox Key for $50 (reg. $100)

8 septembre 2026 à 09:43

Rockstar's complete western epic and every online bonus now arrive as an Xbox key at half the usual price.

The post Get the Red Dead Redemption 2 Ultimate Edition Xbox Key for $50 (reg. $100) appeared first on TechRepublic.

OnePlus Ace 7 Series: Latest Specs, Rumors, and Release Clues

8 septembre 2026 à 08:40

OnePlus Ace 7 series leaks reveal a 185Hz display, active cooling, huge battery tests and possible Pro hardware, with availability still unknown.

The post OnePlus Ace 7 Series: Latest Specs, Rumors, and Release Clues appeared first on TechRepublic.

Microsoft Confirms Windows 11 Age Signals for Apps — But They Aren’t Live Yet

8 septembre 2026 à 08:38

Microsoft details Windows 11 age-signal APIs that let eligible apps receive age brackets without exposing users’ exact ages or birth dates.

The post Microsoft Confirms Windows 11 Age Signals for Apps — But They Aren’t Live Yet appeared first on TechRepublic.

This $30 Tool Helps You Spot Scams Before You Click

8 septembre 2026 à 08:30

IsThisSpam helps you check suspicious emails, texts, links, and websites before you click or respond.

The post This $30 Tool Helps You Spot Scams Before You Click appeared first on TechRepublic.

Singapore Employers Put AI Higher on 2027 Agenda as Wage Plans Cool

8 septembre 2026 à 08:02

Nearly half of Singapore employers rank AI as a 2027 priority as wage caution grows and implementation barriers remain.

The post Singapore Employers Put AI Higher on 2027 Agenda as Wage Plans Cool appeared first on TechRepublic.

Best Lead Scoring Software for Sales and Marketing Teams in 2026

7 septembre 2026 à 17:24

I compared six leading lead scoring platforms for 2026 based on scoring flexibility, predictive capabilities, data quality, automation, CRM fit, and overall value for sales and marketing teams.

The post Best Lead Scoring Software for Sales and Marketing Teams in 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

Apple Reportedly Plans Major Hardware Push Under John Ternus

7 septembre 2026 à 17:22

Apple reportedly plans a two-year hardware push under CEO John Ternus, including a foldable iPhone, AI wearables, new Macs, iPads, and home devices.

The post Apple Reportedly Plans Major Hardware Push Under John Ternus appeared first on TechRepublic.

OpenAI Commits $1B to Put Daybreak AI in Defenders’ Hands

7 septembre 2026 à 16:29

OpenAI is committing $1 billion in subsidized Daybreak access and support to help cyber defenders protect critical infrastructure and fix flaws faster.

The post OpenAI Commits $1B to Put Daybreak AI in Defenders’ Hands appeared first on TechRepublic.

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