applications Archives

Winsage

June 7, 2026

RetroPad is a ‘full-feature-parity version of Notepad from XP’ in just 2,749 bytes — x86 assembly coded apps comes from Windows legend Dave W Plummer

Dave W. Plummer has developed a full-feature-parity version of Notepad called RetroPad, written in x86 assembly language, which is 2,749 bytes in size. RetroPad replicates the functionality of the original Notepad from Windows XP and is available on Plummer's GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license. Initially, he managed to reduce RetroPad to 2,686 bytes before adding features like keyboard shortcuts, which increased the size to 2,794 bytes. The original Notepad from Windows XP was approximately 65KB, while later versions of Notepad in Windows 7 to 10 reached sizes of around 190KB to 200KB.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

I’m a sucker for clean UI — these are the 9 best-looking Android apps I’m using in 2026

Hacki for Hacker News is an open-source app with a sleek design, enhancing user experience for accessing Hacker News. Gradient Weather features stunning visuals with bold typography and animated headers for weather updates. PeakFinder uses augmented reality to identify mountain peaks with a minimalist aesthetic. Mako is a minimalist launcher with pastel themes and extensive customization options. Buzzkill offers vibrant notification management with a visually appealing interface. Zest is a to-do list app with an attractive design and organizational tools. Fotmob provides in-depth soccer statistics and real-time updates with customizable widgets. The Wikipedia app features an attractive interface for easy navigation of information. Txori is a time-management app with a retro-minimalist aesthetic and effective scheduling capabilities.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

7 photo gallery apps you should use instead of Samsung Gallery

Samsung's Gallery app will discontinue support for OneDrive syncing by September 30. Users can still access syncing in older app versions, but newer versions have removed this feature. Alternatives for photo backup and gallery applications include: - Google Photos: Designed for cloud storage, accessible from any device, with editing tools and AI features; offers expanded storage with a Google One subscription. - Amazon Photos: Recently updated with a better interface and natural language search; Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5GB for videos; free-tier users have 5GB shared across formats. - Piktures: A user-friendly third-party app with cloud integration and a Secret Space feature for privacy; ad-supported with an option to remove ads via payment. - Microsoft OneDrive: Offers basic photo backup; allows continued use of Samsung Gallery for viewing while handling backups. - Focus Go: Minimalist app that organizes images by folder with essential functionalities like fingerprint lock and HDR rendering. - Aves Gallery: Features a statistics page for tracking user habits and enhanced search functionality. - Fossify Gallery: A customizable fork of Simple Gallery with a straightforward UI and various functionalities for photographers. - Google Gallery: A minimalistic gallery experience for users in Google's ecosystem, supporting Android 8 and higher.

Tech Optimizer

June 7, 2026

Implementing real-time change data capture with Debezium for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL

Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL now support native streaming replication, allowing data changes to flow from source databases. Organizations often struggle to capture and propagate these changes in real time without affecting database performance. Traditional ETL pipelines can introduce significant delays, leading to outdated data and missed opportunities. Debezium is an open-source platform for change data capture (CDC) that monitors databases and streams changes to applications or data pipelines, enabling real-time data synchronization. The CDC solution combines PostgreSQL's logical replication with Debezium's change capture framework, focusing on Amazon Aurora for PostgreSQL. To implement this solution, logical replication must be enabled on Amazon Aurora through DB cluster parameter groups. Debezium connectors monitor the database's Write-Ahead Logging (WAL) via logical replication slots, converting transaction logs into structured event streams. Key components of the solution include: - Amazon Aurora for PostgreSQL as the source database with logical replication enabled. - A Debezium PostgreSQL connector running on MSK Connect for change capture. - Amazon MSK for message streaming. - An Amazon EC2 instance for testing and consuming change events. Steps to implement the solution include: 1. Creating an Amazon Aurora for PostgreSQL DB cluster and enabling logical replication. 2. Creating an Amazon MSK serverless cluster. 3. Setting up an Amazon EC2 instance to install Kafka and connect to the database. 4. Creating a custom plugin for Amazon MSK to replicate changes from RDS for PostgreSQL. 5. Uploading the custom plugin to an Amazon S3 bucket. 6. Storing credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and creating an IAM role for MSK Connect. 7. Testing the solution by verifying data replication and monitoring real-time changes. Monitoring can be done through CloudWatch Logs and the MSK Connect console, addressing common issues like replication slot lag and connector failures. To avoid charges, resources created during the implementation should be deleted in the correct order.

Winsage

June 7, 2026

June 14 is the cutoff to get Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office for life for $35

Until June 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT, Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro are available for a one-time fee of .97, a significant discount from the regular price of 9.99. The bundle includes a permanent license for Microsoft Office Pro, which features applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. Windows 11 Pro includes advanced security features, Remote Desktop, Hyper-V, Snap Layouts, and Copilot. Both licenses are tied to a single PC and include updates at no additional cost. Support for Publisher will end after October 2026.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

Apple removed the Russian messenger Max and deprived 20 million users of access

Russian officials and propaganda outlets have expressed discontent with Apple's decision to remove the state-sponsored messenger app, Max, from its App Store without prior notice. Apple cited compliance with sanctions legislation as the reason for its action, leading to backlash in Russia where the company is labeled as "enemies." The Max messenger, developed in Russia, is used for disseminating propaganda and maintaining control over internet access, and its removal has made it inaccessible to over 20 million users in Russia, reducing the effectiveness of state-sponsored propaganda. The Russian government is attempting to create a "digital iron curtain" for surveillance and internet restriction, while propaganda narratives portray the country as technologically advanced, despite reliance on foreign companies. Russia has become a global leader in the number of app removals from the App Store, and reports indicate that schools in occupied territories are being forced to use the Max messenger for communication.

Winsage

June 7, 2026

It’s not just you: Microsoft says Windows 11’s right-click menu has been quietly slow for years

Windows 11's modern context menu has been criticized for being slower than Windows 10, especially for users with lower-end PCs. Enabling extensions like “Edit with Clipchamp,” “Edit with Notepad,” and “Ask Copilot” can cause delays, leading to misclicks. Microsoft has acknowledged these performance issues and is working on solutions. In March 2026, the company announced plans for a significant update to improve Windows 11, focusing on core functionalities. The right-click context menu has been a key area for improvement, with delays in loading options causing frustration. Microsoft confirmed that these delays are due to late-loading extensions and is testing a streamlined context menu that reduces vertical space by 25% or more. A new nested menu titled “Manage file” has been introduced to organize file-related operations. Additionally, Microsoft is developing a configurable context menu for user personalization, addressing previous customization limitations.

Winsage

June 7, 2026

Windows 11’s June 2026 Update Lands June 9 With Shared Audio And NPU Monitoring: The 6 Features Worth Knowing

Microsoft will begin rolling out the June 2026 update for Windows 11 on June 9, 2026. Key features include Shared Audio, which allows two users to listen to the same audio output from one device using a new Low Latency audio profile, and NPU monitoring in Task Manager, enabling users to track AI processing handled by the neural processing unit. The update also introduces multi-app camera streaming, custom account folder naming during setup, and various enhancements to Settings, Windows Hello, USB functionality, battery management, and personalization options.

Winsage

June 7, 2026

Microsoft is bringing 10 new features to Windows 11’s taskbar and Start menu

Microsoft is planning to introduce several new features and improvements to the Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu in response to user feedback. Users will soon have the ability to reposition the taskbar to the top, left, or right of the screen, with options for icon alignment. A new “Show smaller taskbar buttons” toggle will reduce the physical height of the taskbar, providing more screen space. These features are currently available in the Insider Experimental channel and are expected to roll out to all PCs soon. The Widgets board will also see changes, with the MSN feed being disabled by default and the “Open on hover” behavior eliminated. In the Start menu, users will gain section-level toggles to hide or show the Pinned, Recent, and All Apps sections. The Start menu can be resized to either Small or Large, and a new privacy mode will hide account names and profile pictures. The “Recommended” section will be renamed to “Recent,” and improvements will be made to file relevancy. Additionally, the Start menu will transition to a new modular engine, enhancing responsiveness and addressing previous criticisms regarding performance.

Winsage

June 7, 2026

Microsoft is letting you kill Bing in Windows 11 Search, after years of forcing it on every PC

Windows Search has been criticized for mixing local and web results, often prioritizing Bing over local applications or files. Microsoft is addressing this by allowing users to disable Bing integration and is developing a local-only version of Windows Search. This new feature will enable users to exclude web searches and Microsoft Store results, eliminating prompts for uninstalled applications. Enhancements being tested include a local search experience without interference from various services, faster search capabilities, prioritization of local results with minimal input, and support for substring searching. Users will be able to initiate local searches with just two characters, and substring searching will allow for more flexible file name searches.