Welcome back to Tech News! This week’s roundup includes Microsoft’s controversial new “Recall” feature, Google facing a potential breakup with Chrome, and Rockstar once again delaying the most anticipated game of the decade—GTA 6.
Let’s dive in.
Microsoft’s “Recall” Feature: Innovation or Invasion?
Microsoft has officially rolled out the long-delayed “Recall” feature for Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs—and some users wish it had stayed buried.
Marketed as an AI-powered productivity enhancement, Recall continuously captures screenshots of your desktop to create a searchable visual timeline of everything you’ve done on your PC. In theory, this could be useful. In practice, it feels a bit too Orwellian for comfort.
The Privacy Concerns
Here’s the problem: Microsoft already has a reputation for aggressive telemetry and vague data collection practices. Adding a feature that logs your entire screen activity seems less like a productivity boost and more like a surveillance tool that intelligence agencies would love.
Despite the backlash, Microsoft claims to have made privacy-focused adjustments:
- Recall is now opt-in by default. You must manually enable it.
- It requires BitLocker encryption to function, so it won’t even activate on unencrypted drives.
- All data remains local, supposedly never leaving your machine—though you may want to read that privacy agreement closely.
Still, users must manually configure privacy exclusions for sensitive apps and websites. Expecting the average user—let alone Grandma—to fine-tune these settings is asking a lot.
Security Risks
Even assuming Microsoft keeps its hands off the data, there’s a glaring issue: the screenshots could become a goldmine for malware if your system is compromised. Microsoft says the Recall database is encrypted now, but vulnerabilities could emerge later. And given their sluggish track record with security patches… well, we’re not optimistic.
So do we need Recall? We already have browser history, timestamps, file search, and cloud backups. This feels like solving a non-existent problem with a solution that creates brand new ones.
To summarize: it’s a bit too “1984” for comfort. Hard pass.
Google Might Be Forced to Sell Chrome
In antitrust news, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly pushing for Google to sell off the Chrome browser. This follows a 2024 court ruling that confirmed Google’s monopoly in search.
The DOJ argues that Chrome unfairly steers users to Google Search, reinforcing its market dominance. With Chrome holding a 66% global market share, forcing a sale could open the door for real search competition.
But Here’s the Ironic Twist…
Several companies are already lining up to buy Chrome—including OpenAI, Yahoo, and Perplexity AI. Their plan? Use it to drive traffic to their search engines… basically replacing one monopoly with another.
Short-sighted? Absolutely.
Google, of course, argues that Chrome is deeply integrated into their ecosystem. Stripping it away could degrade functionality and hurt the open-source Chromium project, which powers browsers like Edge and Brave.
To their credit, they’ve got a point:
- Google contributes 94% of code to Chromium.
- They fund 90% of the project’s budget.
Without Google, the future of Chromium could be uncertain. Would Brave or Microsoft pick up the slack? Or would development stall?
Also, let’s not forget: Microsoft bundles Edge with Windows and defaults to Bing. Yet no one accuses them of monopolizing search. Maybe people just prefer Google Search because… well, it’s better?
Taking Chrome away from Google might feel like justice. But if it’s handed to another company only to repeat the same playbook, does that really help consumers?
GTA 6 Delayed… Again (Surprise!)
In news that shocks absolutely no one, Rockstar has once again delayed GTA 6—pushing its release into 2026.
This is just the latest chapter in a trend that’s been going on for over a decade. Let’s break it down:
| Game | Release Year |
|---|---|
| GTA III | 2001 |
| Vice City | 2002 |
| San Andreas | 2004 |
| GTA IV | 2008 |
| GTA V | 2013 |
| GTA VI | 2026 (?) |
See the pattern? The gaps keep growing. From 2 years… to 4… to 5… to 13 years.
Why the Delay?
Simple: GTA V is a cash cow. Between its multiple re-releases (PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC…) and the wildly profitable GTA Online, Rockstar is practically printing money.
Why invest in a new game when the old one is still topping charts?
They did give us a shiny new trailer, which momentarily distracted the internet from the delay. But let’s be real—we’re likely looking at a 2027 or 2028 PC release and possibly a $100 price tag at launch.
For the love of gaming, Rockstar—give us a game worth the wait, and don’t make it cost as much as a Steam Deck.
Final Thoughts
It’s been a packed few weeks in tech:
- Microsoft wants to take screenshots of everything you do.
- Google might lose Chrome, only for someone else to become the new monopoly.
- And Rockstar continues to delay a game we’ve been waiting for since Obama was in office.
Thanks for sticking around. If you enjoyed this breakdown, be sure to check out some of our other posts and subscribe for more updates. And as always, drop your thoughts in the comments below—especially:
Tags:
Microsoft Recall, Windows 11 Copilot, Chrome Antitrust, Google Chrome Sale, DOJ vs Google, GTA 6 Delay, Rockstar Games, Chromium Project, Tech News, Privacy Concerns, AI Surveillance, OpenAI, Brave Browser, Gaming Industry, PC Security, Windows 11 License
Hashtags:
#TechNews #MicrosoftRecall #Windows11 #GoogleChrome #Antitrust #DOJ #GTA6 #RockstarGames #OpenAI #PrivacyMatters #AI #Chromium #GamingNews #PCGaming #SoftwareMonopoly #CyberSecurity
