advancements Archives

AppWizard

October 1, 2026

Popular 3D modelling app Blender is coming to Android tablets, but not iPad

Blender is set to launch an application for Android tablets in the first half of 2027. An APK demo is currently available, showcasing the app's features. The development focuses on optimizing Blender for tablets, emphasizing stylus input and redesigning controls for touchscreen use. This launch coincides with Google's introduction of the Googlebook platform, which aims to enhance productivity on larger screens. There is no progress on an iPad version of Blender at this time.

AppWizard

September 30, 2026

Blender, the 3D modeling app, is launching for Android next year; iPad app still on pause

Blender is planning to port its 3D modeling application to the Android platform, with an anticipated launch in the first half of 2027. This was announced during the Blender Conference 2026, where an APK demo was also released. The port will primarily target tablet users, but challenges exist due to Blender's reliance on keyboard shortcuts, requiring a redesign for touchscreen interfaces and the integration of stylus support. Support for iPad is currently on hold.

AppWizard

September 30, 2026

Play Store premium gaming listings are really starting to take shape

Google Play is revamping app listings for premium games to enhance user experience. The new layout features larger banner graphics and detailed information about each game, including Play Pass availability, in-app purchases, and advertising presence. The updated user interface, version 53.3.21-34, includes expressive labels instead of traditional numerical ratings. Listings now have a “What you get” list and a “More features” breakdown for easier decision-making. These changes aim to improve the representation of Android as a serious mobile gaming platform, with ongoing developments expected before the public rollout.

AppWizard

September 30, 2026

Amazon’s new Fire TV Stick 4K ditches Android & sideloading for $59.99

Amazon has introduced the new Fire TV Stick 4K, which operates on Vega OS instead of Android. It is available for purchase at .99, with a promotional price of .99 during Prime Day events. The new model offers a 20-40% performance boost over competitors and has a more compact design. It can draw power directly from a TV's USB port, simplifying setup. The redesigned remote features an asymmetric shape, a metal home button, a customizable Star button, and infrared controls for managing other devices. The transition to Vega OS includes over 2,000 new apps added this year, but it no longer supports sideloading. The Fire TV Stick 4K is now available in the United States.

Tech Optimizer

September 28, 2026

What Is Happening with PostgreSQL 19?

Postgres 19 is experiencing delays in its release schedule, with Beta 4 scheduled for September 24, 2026. The development team is prioritizing quality over timelines, leading to the reversion of 53 significant features during the beta phase. Notable feature reversions include SQL Property Graph Queries, ALTER TABLE MERGE/SPLIT PARTITION(S), UPDATE/DELETE FOR PORTION OF, GROUP BY ALL, a change to default TOAST compression, nontext output formats for pg_dumpall, JSON_TABLE ON ERROR cascading, fast defaults for domains with nonvolatile constraints, logical replication database-specific snapshots, nested query tracking, and online data checksums. The majority of these reversions are due to design flaws, incorrect results, or compatibility issues. There are also at-risk features identified, including RI fast-path FK checks, REPACK / REPACK CONCURRENTLY, and Postgres_fdw statistics import. Despite these challenges, promising features such as pg_plan_advice, parallel autovacuum, ON CONFLICT DO SELECT, and logical replication enhancements are still anticipated in PG19. AI tools are being utilized in the development process to identify bugs and create test cases. Postgres 18 remains a reliable upgrade target, while features like property graphs and GROUP BY ALL are now planned for PG20.

Winsage

September 28, 2026

Microsoft was better at software in the ’90s, and these still-useful Windows utilities prove it

Microsoft PowerToys originated during the development of Windows 95 as small programs created by engineers to test concepts and ease workloads. The first collection of PowerToys included tools like FindX, Send To X, and Tweak UI. System Configuration (MSConfig) helps isolate configuration and startup issues by allowing selective loading of services and startup components, remaining useful despite modern management shifting to Task Manager. Disk Cleanup was launched with Windows 98 to help users reclaim disk space, featuring commands that allow saving cleanup profiles, a functionality that persists in Windows 11. Task Scheduler, introduced in 1995 as System Agent in the Microsoft Plus! pack for Windows 95, automates tasks based on specific triggers. System File Checker (SFC), dating back to Windows 98, scans and repairs protected Windows resources, evolving from a graphical utility to a command-line tool. Device Manager provides an expandable tree of hardware components and reflects advancements in Microsoft's Plug and Play system from Windows 95, continuing to assist users in hardware inspection and troubleshooting. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool (DxDiag) was created for gamers in the late '90s to examine hardware and software configurations related to DirectX and remains available in Windows 11.

AppWizard

September 27, 2026

Gears of War story director laid off mere days after E-Day went gold

The development team behind Gears of War: E-Day is experiencing layoffs due to corporate restructuring at Microsoft’s Xbox division. Story director Juan Vaca announced on LinkedIn that he is seeking new opportunities after being laid off. Gears of War: E-Day has gone gold and is set for release on October 6, having sold over one million copies.

AppWizard

September 27, 2026

5 of my favorite Android features you won’t find on Samsung or Pixel phones

Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra has a maximum charging speed of 60W, while the Pixel 11 Pro family reaches up to 45W. The OnePlus 15 offered 80W charging, and brands like HUAWEI and Xiaomi have devices capable of 120W charging or more. IR blasters are now rare in flagship devices, with the OnePlus 15 being an exception, while Xiaomi's Second Space allows for a separate user profile at the OS level. Motorola's Moto Actions use hardware sensors for gesture-based controls, enabling actions without waking the display. The Nothing Phone's Glyph system features a dot-matrix display for app-specific alerts, contrasting with Google's HiLight LED indicator.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

27-year-old GTA 2 gets full path tracing and 60 FPS frame generation via RTX Remix — custom Direct3D 9 wrapper modernizes classic with custom Direct3D 9 bridge, unlocks dynamic lighting

Modder gebdag has released GTA2 RTX Remix, a mod for Grand Theft Auto 2 that utilizes Nvidia’s RTX Remix technology to enhance the game, originally launched 27 years ago. The mod introduces full path tracing, dynamic time-of-day cycles, and modernizes the aspect ratio from 4:3 to 16:9. It improves gameplay fluidity with frame rates up to 60 FPS and addresses issues like the sudden appearance of cars and pedestrians. Players need a copy of Grand Theft Auto 2 version 9.6, available for free since 2004, and a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or 11, along with the RTX Remix runtime files, to use the mod. The RTX Remix platform has also enabled similar enhancements for other classic games.

Winsage

September 26, 2026

Microsoft just rethought its entire AI strategy: What the new Copilot means for Windows & your everyday workflows

Microsoft is evolving its offerings in artificial intelligence, particularly with updates announced at its Copilot event, which signify a shift towards a more integrated Microsoft 365 experience. The latest version of Copilot aims to create a cohesive workspace that connects documents, conversations, data, and tasks, making AI more accessible for everyday users and enterprise customers. CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the importance of keeping humans "in the flow of work" and creating systems that learn continuously. Key features include Autopilot, a digital teammate that manages tasks across Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and other applications, allowing users to focus on strategic initiatives. At the core of these advancements is Microsoft IQ, a unified intelligence layer that connects data and workflows throughout the Microsoft ecosystem. Microsoft is also introducing a plugin registry for custom integrations and implementing FinOps for AI to optimize spending. Regular consumers can access these features based on their M365 Premium or Pro subscriptions, with further developments expected at Microsoft Ignite in November.