analysis Archives

Winsage

August 6, 2026

Windows 11 could soon get significantly faster with Microsoft’s new performance tools

Microsoft has introduced a preview of the Event Tracing for Windows Model Context Protocol (ETW MCP) to enhance Windows performance analysis. This server integrates artificial intelligence to streamline the analysis of Windows Event Tracing (ETW) logs. The ETW MCP allows developers to use tools like GitHub Copilot to examine Event Trace Log (ETL) files, answer queries about the logs, and identify performance issues without manual data sifting. The MCP provides structured, read-only access to processed trace information, enabling developers to query insights such as CPU usage and execution paths. Current features of the ETW MCP include trace processing, querying, multi-trace comparison, symbol-aware analysis, critical path analysis, and regions of interest. The ETW MCP is designed for headless environments and automation, while a forthcoming WPA MCP will provide similar AI-assisted analysis within a graphical interface. The ETW MCP preview is available as the Microsoft.Windows.EventTracing.MCP NuGet package, and Microsoft is seeking developer feedback for further enhancements.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Your favorite Android apps might be leaking your location

A report from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) highlights concerns about third-party software development kits (SDKs) in mobile applications collecting and sharing user location data with advertising companies, often without user consent. Many developers use these advertising SDKs for monetization, but their default settings allow for location data collection. This data is sent to advertising companies and location data brokers, which can misuse it in sensitive contexts. Users may unknowingly expose their location data when granting permissions to apps, as third-party SDKs can access this information without clear user awareness. The EFF identified several advertising SDKs, including InMobi, BidMachine, Verve’s HyBid, and Huawei’s Petal Ads, that collect and share location data by default. Developers are encouraged to review SDK settings to protect user privacy, and the EFF calls for regulatory scrutiny of data harvesting practices.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Developers: Beware of Ad Libraries that Betray Your Users’ Location

Advertising companies provide software development kits (SDKs) for mobile app monetization, which often automatically transmit users' location data to ad systems and location data brokers, raising privacy concerns. Many developers and users may be unaware of this data sharing. When developers allow SDKs to collect location data, it poses risks beyond targeted ads, including potential misuse by agencies like ICE and global surveillance. Location data brokers harvest precise movements of individuals, often without their consent, through mobile applications. Some apps directly collaborate with data brokers, while others leak data through advertising SDKs during real-time bidding (RTB) auctions. An incident in 2025 revealed that many apps unknowingly contributed to a location data broker's database. Developers must understand their SDKs' location-sharing practices to mitigate risks. Advertising SDKs can collect location data automatically once users grant permission, without specific permissions for the SDKs themselves. Precise location data can be collected when apps have location permissions, leading to potential privacy violations. Several SDKs have been identified as collecting location data by default, increasing the risk of unintentional data leaks. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) found that four advertising SDKs collect users' location data by default when location permissions are granted. InMobi encourages location sharing for higher revenue, while BidMachine updated its documentation after EFF's inquiry, confirming precise location data collection. Verve's SDK also collects location data by default but presents a cautious narrative in its Play Store guidance. Huawei's SDK recommends obtaining location permissions to enhance revenue, with default location sharing occurring if permissions are granted. Location data can be shared without users' knowledge or meaningful consent, complicating informed consent issues. The focus on four SDKs does not imply that others adequately protect location data, as many have faced criticism for similar practices. Studies indicate that SDKs often encourage increased data collection through design and documentation, leading to minimal control for developers over data transmission. The EFF's analysis highlights that advertising SDKs incentivize location data sharing through default settings and unclear documentation. Developers should assess third-party SDKs and disable unnecessary data collection. Regulators must hold developers accountable for unlawful data sharing, while legislators should enact laws to protect location privacy and address online behavioral advertising, which drives data tracking.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

I let two AI apps track every bite I ate for three days straight to help me count calories and get back into shape. Here’s the most accurate one

The author decided to improve their fitness by maintaining a food diary on their smartphone and explored two AI-powered calorie-tracking apps, BitePal and SnapCalorie. Both apps allow users to log meals by taking pictures and integrate Google Health data to track food intake and physical activities. BitePal features a charming design and user interface, while SnapCalorie offers a more extensive food library and projected an earlier completion date for the author's weight loss goal compared to BitePal. The author chose to trust SnapCalorie for their fitness journey.

Tech Optimizer

August 5, 2026

Google Cloud explains SQL Server to PostgreSQL migration

Google Cloud has introduced its Database Migration Service, which focuses on converting SQL Server stored procedures with multiple result sets into PostgreSQL code. The service uses an automated decision-making process to determine if a SQL Server procedure should be translated into a PostgreSQL stored procedure or function, based on the number of result sets and the presence of a scalar return value. Procedures with a single result set or scalar return value are converted into PostgreSQL stored procedures, while those with multiple result sets are transformed into functions returning a SETOF refcursor. In a healthcare reporting example, a master procedure retrieves patient details and may return multiple result sets along with a status integer. The PostgreSQL translation involves simpler child procedures as standard procedures and more complex routines as functions that open cursors sequentially. Scalar return values are handled by placing them in a dedicated cursor at the end of execution, changing how applications interact with the outputs. Testing of these translated objects must occur within an explicit transaction block due to PostgreSQL cursor lifecycle constraints. The user executes the function to generate cursor references and fetches data sequentially. Google Cloud's internal analysis classifies stored procedures by scanning for direct result sets and considers conditional logic and loops that may complicate result set counts. A directed graph of procedure calls is constructed to determine the result set classification. Database migrations often face challenges due to legacy application logic, especially with stored procedures designed to minimize database round trips. Successful code conversion is only part of the task, as teams must also adjust test harnesses and application data access layers for PostgreSQL's cursor management. Google Cloud's service categorizes SQL Server procedures into three types: no result sets, a single result set, or multiple/dynamic result sets.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Android Developers Unknowingly Leak User Location Data

Recent research from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has revealed that millions of Android users' location data are being inadvertently exposed to advertisers through third-party code libraries. This occurs when seemingly harmless applications, like weather services and fitness trackers, integrate third-party SDKs that collect user location information automatically upon permission approval, often without developers' awareness. Data brokers aggregate this location information to create detailed movement profiles sold to advertisers and government agencies. Despite privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA, enforcement is inconsistent, and developers may claim ignorance regarding data practices they did not implement. Google has improved Android's privacy controls, but visibility into third-party libraries accessing data remains limited. Developers face challenges in auditing third-party code due to resource constraints, leading to a complex landscape where user information traverses multiple entities without clear accountability. Privacy advocates are calling for new technical standards to require SDKs to disclose their data practices.

Winsage

August 4, 2026

Windows Task Manager’s original creator is bringing a new version to Mac first

David W. Plummer, the creator of the original Windows Task Manager, is developing a new tool called Task Manager OG (TMOG) for macOS, aimed at providing a comprehensive system console for users of graphical user interface-based operating systems. TMOG will feature detailed insights into processor frequency, thermal values, resource allocation metrics, in-depth analysis of CPU core activity, and process branching visualization. The macOS version is being developed using Swift and AppKit, while the Windows version will be a pure Win32 application optimized for x86-64 architecture. A beta version for macOS is currently available, with a Windows beta expected soon. TMOG will be free, with a potential "Pro" version planned for additional features. Plummer's previous company, SoftwareOnline, faced legal issues after he left Microsoft, resulting in a settlement that included 0,000 in civil penalties and ,000 in legal fees.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

DoubleVerify finds dozens of Android apps a month showing ads after calls

A recent analysis by DoubleVerify engineers has identified a trend in mobile advertising known as AfterCall ads, where applications display advertisements immediately after a phone call ends. This practice generates hundreds of millions of impressions monthly and raises concerns about user experience and brand integrity. AfterCall applications operate using three components: a misleading permission, a Broadcast Receiver to capture end-of-call events, and an Activity to display ads. The SYSTEMALERTWINDOW permission allows these apps to show content over others, often granted under false pretenses. They utilize Android's telephony system to trigger ads post-call and employ tactics to obscure their presence, such as removing themselves from the recent apps list and using innocuous icons. Detection is challenging due to the lack of shared codebases and the obfuscation techniques used. The scale of the issue is significant, with numerous AfterCall applications identified monthly, negatively impacting user experience and raising concerns for advertisers.

Winsage

August 4, 2026

I used this free Microsoft Edge feature to replace a $29 subscription, here’s how it held up

Microsoft Edge includes a Read Aloud function, which allows users to listen to content. Speechify has launched a Windows app that offers real-time text-to-speech and voice typing capabilities. Speechify provides a variety of natural-sounding voices and allows users to customize speech speed and tone, while Edge's Read Aloud is integrated into the browsing experience without additional downloads. Speechify's app includes voice typing, a feature not available in Edge's Read Aloud.

Winsage

August 3, 2026

Own Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for Just $33

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is available for .97 until August 9, down from its regular price of 9.99. The suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Publisher, and a free version of Microsoft Teams. It offers lifetime access on a single Windows PC and features significant performance enhancements and updated collaboration tools. The software is installed locally, allowing use without an internet connection for many tasks. It does not include continuous feature updates like Microsoft 365, providing a stable, perpetual version of the software.