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How Mindbody improved query latency and optimized costs using Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL Optimized Reads
Tech Optimizer
February 22, 2025

How Mindbody improved query latency and optimized costs using Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL Optimized Reads

Mindbody utilizes a cloud-based platform for the fitness and wellness industry, offering services such as client booking, scheduling, payments, marketing, and analytics. Their email marketing platform is built on an Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, currently at version 13.8, with a size of approximately 17 TB and a workload distribution of 80% reads and 20% writes. Mindbody faced scaling and performance challenges due to architectural limitations and increasing data demands, leading to all workloads being directed to the writer node. The average BufferCacheHitRatio was below 80%, indicating frequent disk access rather than cache hits, contributing to higher query latencies and I/O costs. To address these issues, Mindbody adopted Aurora Optimized Reads, which enhances caching capacity and improves latency and throughput for I/O-intensive workloads. Transitioning required upgrading the database cluster to version 14.9 or higher, and extensive testing was conducted in a proof-of-concept environment. The upgrade process involved a blue/green deployment strategy to minimize production disruption. After implementing Aurora Optimized Reads, Mindbody experienced significant performance improvements, including a 50% reduction in average daily CPU utilization and a 90% reduction in ReadIOPS. The AuroraOptimizedReadsCacheHitRatio indicated that 85% of read requests were served from the optimized cache. Cost analysis revealed a 23% reduction in monthly Aurora costs post-transition, with potential for further savings by downsizing instances.
Ex-PlayStation Indie Boss Says Bringing PlayStation Games To PC Is ‘Almost Like Printing Money’
AppWizard
February 21, 2025

Ex-PlayStation Indie Boss Says Bringing PlayStation Games To PC Is ‘Almost Like Printing Money’

Shuhei Yoshida, the former head of PlayStation’s indie division, discussed Sony's strategy to release major first-party titles on PC, highlighting the benefits of reaching a broader audience, especially in regions where console gaming is less popular. He noted that releasing games on PC can attract new fans who may later purchase PlayStation consoles. Yoshida emphasized the financial advantages of porting games to PC, stating it is more cost-effective than developing new titles, generating additional revenue to support new projects. He also pointed out the potential of the Chinese market, which is primarily PC-based, and mentioned the importance of PC releases to access that audience. Additionally, he suggested that a launch for the anticipated PS6 in 2028 seems plausible.
Amazon to Discontinue Amazon Coins and Amazon Appstore on Android
AppWizard
February 21, 2025

Amazon to Discontinue Amazon Coins and Amazon Appstore on Android

Amazon will cease the availability of Amazon Coins on February 20, 2025, and the Amazon Appstore on Android devices will be discontinued on August 20, 2025. Customers must use any remaining Amazon Coins by that date, as unspent balances will be refunded afterward. The Appstore will still be available on Fire TV and Fire Tablet devices. Additionally, the Appstore will not be downloadable from the Microsoft store on Windows 11 devices starting March 6, 2024. Amazon Web Services will stop accepting new customers for Amazon Chime on February 19, 2025, with full support until February 20, 2026. The social commerce feature, Inspire, integrated into the Amazon shopping app in 2022, will also be discontinued.
Payday 3 sales dropped off hard in 2024, but Starbreeze has hope for the future
AppWizard
February 21, 2025

Payday 3 sales dropped off hard in 2024, but Starbreeze has hope for the future

Payday 3's financial performance has significantly declined, with sales dropping to million in the 2024 financial year, compared to million in its inaugural year. In contrast, Payday 2 generated million during the same period. The game's disappointing performance led to the departure of the CEO in early 2024 and the game director in September 2023. A lead producer described the 2023 launch as 'disastrous.' Starbreeze is collaborating with platforms like PUBG and Roblox and is offering Payday 3 for free on PlayStation Plus in February to attract new players. The company is also developing a co-op Dungeons & Dragons game, currently in internal playtesting, which has received positive feedback from potential business partners.
Serious PostgreSQL flaw exploited in US Treasury zero-day attack
Tech Optimizer
February 21, 2025

Serious PostgreSQL flaw exploited in US Treasury zero-day attack

Security researchers have identified a zero-day vulnerability in PostgreSQL, labeled CVE-2025-1094, which is believed to have contributed to the cyber breach of the US Treasury in December. The breach was initially attributed to the command injection vulnerability CVE-2024-12356 in the BeyondTrust Remote Support platform. Successful exploitation of CVE-2024-12356 required prior exploitation of CVE-2025-1094. Although BeyondTrust issued a patch for CVE-2024-12356 in December 2024, it did not resolve the underlying issue of CVE-2025-1094, leaving it a zero-day vulnerability until reported to PostgreSQL. Chinese hackers reportedly gained remote access to multiple workstations within the US Treasury, potentially compromising unclassified documents. The details of the accessed documents and the number of workstations involved are not disclosed. This incident is part of a broader pattern of cyber attacks linked to Chinese state-sponsored actors.
Score Free Access to These Premium Android & iOS Apps
BetaBeacon
February 20, 2025

Score Free Access to These Premium Android & iOS Apps

The fact described in the text is that there are various Android apps and games available for free for a limited time, including productivity and lifestyle apps like Dockalizer, Reminder Pro, Image Converter, Stabilize Video, and Liquid Glossy Live Wallpaper.
Windows 11 Pro vs Windows 11 Home: which version is right for you?
Winsage
February 20, 2025

Windows 11 Pro vs Windows 11 Home: which version is right for you?

Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Home are two primary versions of Windows 11, each catering to different user needs. Windows 11 Pro allows for up to 2TB of RAM and 128 CPU cores, while Windows 11 Home is limited to 128GB of RAM and 64 CPU cores. Pro includes additional features for networking, security, and management, which may not significantly impact everyday performance for typical users but can enhance performance for those using virtual machines. Support for both versions is available through online resources, phone support, and in-app help, but Pro users may receive quicker responses and more specialized assistance due to dedicated support options. In terms of pricing, Windows 11 Home is more budget-friendly, while Windows 11 Pro is priced higher due to its advanced features aimed at professionals and businesses. Upgrading from Home to Pro is possible for a fee, and there are differences between OEM and retail versions. Windows 11 Home is suited for average users and families, while Windows 11 Pro is tailored for advanced users and professionals, offering enhanced security, device management, and connectivity features.
The Surface you know and love (or hate) is dead — Microsoft's Windows hardware enters a new era
Winsage
February 20, 2025

The Surface you know and love (or hate) is dead — Microsoft’s Windows hardware enters a new era

The Surface division at Microsoft has experienced significant internal changes over the past 18 months, including the departure of Panos Panay and new leadership. This has led to a strategic refocusing of the Surface portfolio, moving away from experimental hardware designs to more conventional offerings aimed at a broader audience. The company has discontinued extravagant devices like the Surface Studio and Surface Duo, favoring products that resonate with business customers and general consumers. Last year, Microsoft introduced AI-powered Windows computers known as Copilot+ PCs, which emphasize continuity and refinement of established designs rather than radical innovations. The Copilot+ PC initiative has allowed Windows on Arm to demonstrate its viability, with Snapdragon chips competing effectively in the Windows ecosystem. Surface continues to play a crucial role in shaping the Windows ecosystem, but with a more cautious approach that prioritizes ecosystem health over creating new markets. Future form factor experimentation will likely be delegated to OEM partners, while Microsoft focuses on transitioning users to Windows 11 and promoting Copilot+ PCs. Stakeholders can expect a steady stream of sensible Surface devices and incremental updates in the near future.
EDB Postgres® AI Significantly Outperforms Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, and MySQL in New Benchmark Study
Tech Optimizer
February 20, 2025

EDB Postgres® AI Significantly Outperforms Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, and MySQL in New Benchmark Study

EnterpriseDB (EDB) has released findings from a benchmark study by McKnight Consulting Group, showing that EDB Postgres AI outperforms Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, and MySQL in various workloads, including transactional, analytical, and AI tasks. Key performance metrics include being 150 times faster than MongoDB in processing JSON data, 4 times faster than MySQL in handling insert operations, and outperforming Oracle by 17% and SQL Server by 30% in processing New Orders Per Minute (NOPM). EDB Postgres AI also offers 7 times better price performance than Oracle and 6 times better than SQL Server. The study highlights the challenges enterprises face with legacy systems consuming 55% of IT budgets, which hampers modernization efforts. EDB Postgres AI aims to address these challenges by streamlining data infrastructure, reducing total cost of ownership, and facilitating AI capabilities in a secure environment.
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