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Tech Optimizer

July 22, 2026

Google boosts AlloyDB vector search with HNSW preview

Google has introduced a preview of its columnar engine-accelerated HNSW feature for AlloyDB, enhancing vector search throughput by up to four times for users of the pgvector extension in PostgreSQL. This improvement is aimed at approximate nearest neighbor searches using HNSW across large datasets. AlloyDB utilizes a columnar engine that allows HNSW indexes to reside in memory, improving throughput and recall metrics. In benchmark tests on the GloVe 100 Angular dataset, queries per second increased by approximately 4.2x to 4.9x, with recall improving from about 0.78 to over 0.94 at a throughput of around 350 queries per second. The columnar engine's design bypasses traditional PostgreSQL buffer management bottlenecks, enhancing efficiency during graph traversal. The memory architecture is distinct from basic caching techniques, and the feature requires no changes to application code. Users must enable the columnar engine and index caching flags to utilize this feature. Benchmarks were conducted on an AlloyDB C4A machine with 16 virtual CPUs.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Splitgate studio 1047 Games is laying off more people just a month after releasing its latest game

1047 Games has experienced another round of layoffs, described as the "third wave" by employees on LinkedIn. QA director Igor Krinitskiy and concept artist Jonathan Kuo confirmed their departures due to these layoffs. The studio, known for its hit title Splitgate: Arena Warfare, has struggled with subsequent projects, including the rebranded Splitgate: Arena Reloaded and the recently launched Empulse, which has not achieved significant player engagement and has seen concurrent player numbers on Steam drop below 1,000. Studio CEO Ian Proulx emphasized a focus on gradual growth rather than immediate success.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

A new friendslop game is already Steam’s 12th-most wishlisted game a mere week after it was announced

Dear Passengers is a co-op game that has reached the 12th spot on Steam's wishlist chart just one week after its announcement. Players take on the roles of airline crew members managing various tasks while navigating challenges such as turbulence and inclement weather. The game garnered 700,000 wishlists within 36 hours of its trailer release on July 14, surpassing 1.5 million shortly thereafter. The developer, Flexus, faced criticism for edgy humor in character names but clarified that all characters are fictional. A job posting for a 2D Artist sparked speculation about AI use in the game, which the developers denied, stating no AI was used in its creation. The game is scheduled for release in 2026.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Marathon’s experimental PvE mode is live, immediately tripling its daily player count

Bungie released Marathon's 1.1.5 update, introducing the Vault Breaker experimental PvE mode, allowing players to explore the Cryo Archive map for two weeks without competitive interference. Following this update, concurrent player counts on Steam exceeded 14,800, marking a threefold increase compared to the previous week and the highest activity since a decline after the June free weekend.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

One in six Windows PCs still runs Windows 10, and the vulnerabilities are piling up

Approximately 17% of all Windows client devices are still running Windows 10, equating to about one in six machines. Windows 11 accounts for 78% of Windows devices, with third-party trackers indicating it surpassed 70% of desktop share as of February 2026. Official support for Windows 10 ended in October 2025, but Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will provide patches until October 2027 for eligible devices. A typical Windows 10 device has an average of 1,903 active security vulnerabilities, nearly three times the 652 CVE-tracked flaws found on a Windows 11 machine. 66% of Windows 10 vulnerabilities are classified as "high" or "critical." Small and medium enterprises have 21.4% of their Windows devices still on Windows 10, while larger enterprises have 16.6%. The healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors have 23% of devices on Windows 10, followed by consumer and retail at 22%, and manufacturing at 18%. Lansweeper is urging organizations to enroll in the ESU program and address reasons for remaining on Windows 10 as 2026 approaches.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Minecraft Summer Sale Features 300+ Marketplace Items at Up to 33% Off

Minecraft is hosting its annual Summer Sale, offering over 300 Marketplace items at discounts of up to 33%, running until July 28 at 10 a.m. PT. The sale features various add-ons and packs, including: - Fainting Goats Add-On: 328 Minecoins (was 490) - HorrorCraft Add-On 1.1: 807 Minecoins (was 1340) - 3D Weapons Texture Pack: 442 Minecoins (was 660) - Dinosaur Biomes: 663 Minecoins (was 990) - Craftable Mob Houses Add-On: 442 Minecoins (was 660) - Black X Shadow Megapack: 207 Minecoins (was 310) - Fur Craft Add-On 3.0: 663 Minecoins (was 990) - Backpack Add-On: 442 Minecoins (was 660) - Ultimate Trading Add-On: 556 Minecoins (was 830) - Planes Pro 2.0 Add-On: 783 Minecoins (was 1170)

Winsage

July 21, 2026

LG admits its monitor app installs bloatware via Windows Update, and Microsoft is letting it happen

A growing number of LG monitor users have reported that connecting their devices to Windows systems results in the automatic installation of the LG Monitor App Installer, which prompts users with a McAfee trial advertisement. YouTuber Gamers Nexus found that connecting an LG UltraGear monitor led to the installation of LG's driver package and the LG Monitor App Installer, with the McAfee pop-up appearing 31 times over 32 boots. This automatic installation is facilitated by device metadata, which Windows uses to download associated applications without user notification. Users must be signed into the Microsoft Store and connected to the internet for this to occur, leading to frustrations about transparency. Reports of unsolicited McAfee pop-ups have been shared on platforms like Reddit, with users confirming the app's installation was logged as part of a Windows Update. LG has acknowledged the inclusion of McAfee in their app updates, promoting a free trial, which has raised privacy concerns. The app's rating on the Microsoft Store has dropped to around 1 out of 5 due to user dissatisfaction. Users can prevent automatic installations by adjusting Group Policy settings, while macOS requires manual approval for third-party applications. Neither Microsoft nor LG has formally addressed the concerns regarding silent installations and McAfee pop-ups.

Winsage

July 21, 2026

Microsoft fixes the Windows 11 bug slowing down some Dell PCs

Microsoft released an unscheduled update for Windows 11, designated as KB5121767, targeting users on versions 24H2 and 25H2 to address performance issues on certain Dell PCs and laptops with Intel Innovation Platform Framework drivers. The update aims to fix degraded battery life, increased power consumption, and unexpected system behavior caused by conflicts with these drivers. Affected devices primarily include newer Dell models such as the Precision, XPS, and Pro Max series. Users can obtain the update automatically if they have enabled the relevant option in Windows Update or manually through Settings or the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update modifies the Windows build number to 26200.8894 for 25H2 and 26100.8894 for 24H2 and includes previous security and quality enhancements. Microsoft recommends the update for users experiencing sluggish performance or erratic behavior after July updates, particularly those with recent Dell devices with Intel processors.

Winsage

July 21, 2026

One in six PCs still run Windows 10, and they’re far less secure than Windows 11

Windows 10 officially reached its end of support in October 2025. Windows 11 has a 78.8% share of Windows devices, while Windows 10 maintains 16.9%. A typical Windows 10 device has an average of 1,903 active Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), compared to 652 on Windows 11, with 66.6% of Windows 10 vulnerabilities rated as high or critical. Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program has been extended until October 12, 2027, providing critical security patches for eligible Windows 10 devices. The rise in memory and storage prices has made older Windows 10-compatible hardware more economically viable for some users.

AppWizard

July 21, 2026

Minecraft meets No Man’s Sky in ‘Incredible’ new Xbox freebie

The Planet Crafter, developed by Miju Games, is set to debut on Xbox Game Pass on July 21. It is a space survival open-world terraforming crafting game that supports 1 to 10 players, allowing them to transform inhospitable planets into habitable environments. The game has received positive feedback, with a Metacritic score of 81 and an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam from over 35,500 reviews. The Planet Crafter will be available on the Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass tiers, with plans to be added to the Essential tier in the future. It will also be released on PlayStation 5 and is available on the GOG platform for PC users.