AI-driven Archives

Winsage

June 18, 2025

Windows 10 End Nears: Switch to Linux for Security

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, affecting an estimated 200 to 400 million devices that will no longer receive updates or patches, exposing them to security vulnerabilities. Transitioning to Windows 11 requires modern hardware specifications, which many older devices lack. Users must decide between investing in new hardware, opting for extended security updates, or switching to alternative operating systems like Linux. The Document Foundation advocates for Linux and LibreOffice as viable alternatives, emphasizing their ability to run on older hardware and providing robust security updates. Linux offers users greater control and transparency, addressing privacy concerns associated with proprietary systems. LibreOffice supports open document formats, ensuring long-term accessibility without vendor constraints. The end of Windows 10 support may prompt significant shifts in the tech industry, encouraging a move towards systems that prioritize sustainability and user rights.

Winsage

June 17, 2025

Windows 10 End Nears: Switch to Linux for Security

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, leaving an estimated 200 to 400 million devices vulnerable to security risks due to a lack of updates. Users must choose between upgrading to Windows 11, which has strict hardware requirements, paying for extended security updates, or switching to alternative operating systems like Linux. The Document Foundation advocates for Linux and LibreOffice as viable options, emphasizing their ability to run on older hardware and provide robust security updates without vendor lock-in. Privacy concerns regarding data collection by major tech companies are highlighted, with Linux offering users greater control and transparency. The transition away from Windows 10 is seen as an opportunity to promote user empowerment and sustainability in technology choices.

Tech Optimizer

June 17, 2025

EnterpriseDB targets AI development with latest update

EnterpriseDB has introduced new features for its EDB Postgres AI platform, including a low-code/no-code environment for application development and enhanced data observability across various databases. The platform, launched in May 2024, integrates relational and non-relational data, automates data pipelines, and supports multiple workloads. The new capabilities aim to improve the success rate of AI projects, which face an estimated 80% failure rate in transitioning from development to production. The updates include tools for managing PostgreSQL databases in hybrid cloud and on-premises environments, Transparent Data Encryption for security, and an analytics engine optimized for AI workloads. EnterpriseDB's enhancements were influenced by customer feedback, focusing on maximizing the value of existing data and supporting GenAI workflows. The company plans to expand its AI ecosystem and enhance its competitive position within the PostgreSQL community.

Tech Optimizer

June 16, 2025

Norton Antivirus Review 2025: Solid Value for Fast, Effective Protection

Norton Antivirus has a score of 8.6 out of 10 and was established in 1982. The Norton 360 Deluxe package includes features such as real-time protection, manual and automated scans, the Genie Scam Detector, a password manager, and 2GB of cloud backups. It offers four plans: Norton Antivirus Plus, Norton 360 Standard, Norton 360 Deluxe, and Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Plus, each with varying identity protection features and cloud backup space. The installation process is user-friendly, and the software operates efficiently, using minimal CPU and disk space. Norton has maintained a perfect security ranking from AV-Test for over a decade but has experienced a data breach in the past five years. Customer support includes a knowledge base, community forum, and 24/7 live chat and phone support, with an overall customer support score of 8 out of 10. Norton’s pricing is competitive, particularly for higher-tier plans, resulting in a value ranking of 8 out of 10.

Tech Optimizer

June 16, 2025

Databricks rolls out Lakebase Postgres and Agent Bricks for AI-era apps

Databricks has introduced the Lakebase Postgres database layer to enhance its lakehouse architecture, facilitating AI applications and analytics on operational data. The company also launched Agent Bricks to simplify the development of automated AI agents. During the Data + AI Summit, CEO Ali Ghodsi emphasized the importance of transitioning from outdated systems to modern solutions for AI. Lakebase, powered by Neon technology, is a fully managed, Postgres-compatible database that supports data loading from over 300 sources. Databricks aims to unify operational and analytical systems for real-time decision-making. The summit outlined a three-chapter framework: establishing the lakehouse, integrating AI, and introducing Lakebase. Agent Bricks enables business users to create AI agents without extensive technical knowledge, while Managed Iceberg Tables support external engines and promise performance optimizations. Databricks announced partnerships with Microsoft and Google Cloud for deeper integration and AI model usage. The company is investing 0 million in AI education and plans to release Lakeflow Designer for no-code ETL capabilities. Databricks anticipates reaching .7 billion in annualized revenue by July, with a growth rate of 50 percent and plans to hire 3,000 employees in 2025. Lakebase is currently in Public Preview.

Winsage

June 15, 2025

It’s been four years, and I still don’t have a strong enough reason to upgrade to Windows 11

Windows 11 was released in October 2021 and initially received a score of 6.5/10 due to its focus on aesthetics over functionality. The author currently uses both Windows 10 and Windows 11, with Windows 10 on their personal laptop and Windows 11 on their work laptop. They have been using Windows 11 for six months but still prefer Windows 10 for its familiarity. While Windows 11 has introduced features like enhanced virtual desktops, improved Microsoft Teams integration, a refined taskbar, and new widgets, these changes do not significantly impact the author's daily tasks. The author would consider switching to Windows 11 if it offered enhancements that directly improve their workflow, particularly with meaningful integration of Teams or AI-driven productivity features. The end of life for Windows 10 is approaching, prompting users to decide whether to upgrade to Windows 11 or explore alternatives. Microsoft is trying to encourage upgrades, but many users remain on Windows 10, which is still the most widely used operating system.

Tech Optimizer

June 14, 2025

Striim Announces Neon Serverless Postgres Support with Databricks

The integration of real-time data for AI applications is crucial, but traditional ETL processes can introduce latency and complexity. Open-source Postgres is a popular choice for developers, and Neon has developed an AI-driven approach to database creation. Databricks has launched Lakebase, a managed Postgres database, after acquiring Neon. Striim has expanded its Postgres offerings to facilitate high-throughput ingestion from Neon into Databricks for real-time analytics and enables rapid data delivery from legacy systems into Neon. This allows for seamless data flow for AI applications, including support for real-time ingestion, Change Data Capture (CDC), and event streaming from Apache Kafka. Striim's platform supports operational data replication from various traditional systems and upholds data governance with AI-driven PII detection. This expansion enhances partnerships with Databricks and supports real-time SQL Server data access.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Google To Shut Down Android Instant Apps By End of 2025: What Is It? What Will You Miss?

Google introduced Android Instant Apps in 2017, allowing users to access a lightweight version of an app without full installation. However, Google has announced that support for Instant Apps will be discontinued in December 2025, meaning developers will no longer be able to publish new instant apps or receive support for existing ones. The decision is attributed to low user engagement, prompting a shift towards more effective app promotion methods, such as AI-driven highlights and simultaneous installations. Instant Apps required developers to create compact versions of their applications, which was challenging for complex apps. Most users were unaware of the feature, and its adoption was limited.

Tech Optimizer

June 13, 2025

Postgres and the Lakehouse Are Becoming One System — Here’s What Comes Next

Developers are increasingly using Postgres for application needs alongside lakehouse technologies for analytics and data science. Postgres has evolved into a versatile operational database suitable for various applications, while lakehouse technologies enable organizations to manage and analyze large-scale data efficiently. There is a growing synergy between these systems, although they often operate in silos managed by different teams. An emerging architectural paradigm views Postgres and lakehouses as complementary layers within a modular framework to address both operational and analytical requirements. Historically, OLTP systems were used for transactions and OLAP systems for analysis, but this model is shifting. Scenarios such as financial applications requiring real-time risk reports and SaaS applications calculating usage metrics are becoming standard. Effective communication between product-engineering teams managing operational systems and data teams overseeing lakehouse services is essential for enhancing system resilience. A trend called operational medallion architecture incorporates bronze, silver, and gold layers for real-time and user-facing systems. The bronze layer consists of raw data, the silver layer contains cleaned data in Postgres for real-time analytics, and the gold layer features pre-aggregated data for low-latency experiences. Each layer is queryable, allowing for bidirectional data movement between S3 and Postgres. Key developments facilitating the integration of operational databases and lakehouses include the maturation of Iceberg as a flexible table format, the evolution of Postgres with support for various data types and querying capabilities, and a growing demand for composability among developers. The market is moving towards modular, open, and developer-friendly architectures that integrate operational and analytical layers. Future data infrastructure will focus on interconnected components and coherent modern data architecture that serves both operational and non-operational use cases seamlessly.

Tech Optimizer

June 13, 2025

Databricks opens up agentic AI pipelines, fills in Postgres-powered Lakebase

Databricks has introduced advancements at its user conference, focusing on agentic AI pipelines and a Postgres-powered Lakebase. The Lakebase streamlines data management and analytics by combining PostgreSQL with Databricks' data lake architecture. The agentic AI pipelines automate data workflows, allowing organizations to gain AI-driven insights with minimal manual intervention. Key features include automated workflows that reduce processing time, enhanced data management through a familiar relational database experience, and the ability to extract actionable insights using advanced AI capabilities.