capacity Archives

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Migrate Google Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL to Amazon RDS and Amazon Aurora using pglogical

PostgreSQL is a popular open-source relational database used by enterprise developers and startups, enabling rapid prototyping and supporting mission-critical applications. Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL and Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition facilitate easy setup, operation, and scaling of PostgreSQL deployments in the AWS Cloud, automating administrative tasks like software installation, storage management, and backups. The pglogical extension, compatible with PostgreSQL versions 9.4 and higher, allows for asynchronous replication and is supported on RDS for PostgreSQL and Aurora PostgreSQL from version 12. It uses a publisher/subscriber model for logical streaming replication. To migrate a PostgreSQL database from Google Cloud SQL to RDS for PostgreSQL or Aurora PostgreSQL, users must configure the primary database in Cloud SQL, create a PostgreSQL user with replication privileges, enable logical replication parameters, and create the pglogical extension. The RDS instance also requires a special user for replication, enabling logical replication parameters and creating the pglogical extension. Known limitations of pglogical include the inability to replicate primary key changes directly, the need to manually transfer extensions, and the lack of support for materialized views and large objects. Workarounds involve using surrogate keys for primary keys, manually creating extensions, and converting large objects to bytea columns or storing them in Amazon S3. DDL statements are not automatically replicated, but can be queued using the pglogical.replicate_ddl_command function.

Tech Optimizer

June 3, 2025

Snowflake Inc. (SNOW) Acquires Crunchy Data to Add Enterprise-Grade Postgres to Its AI Data Cloud

Artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly increasing energy consumption, with data centers using electricity comparable to small cities. Industry leaders, including Sam Altman and Elon Musk, have raised concerns about the sustainability of this energy demand, warning of potential limitations in AI development due to energy shortages. A specific company is emerging as a key player in the AI energy sector, owning vital nuclear energy assets and having expertise in large-scale energy projects. This company is also involved in U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exportation and is strategically positioned to benefit from increased demand for energy resources. It is debt-free and has a cash reserve that constitutes nearly one-third of its market capitalization, along with investments in AI ventures. Recent assessments suggest that the company's stock is undervalued, trading at less than seven times earnings when excluding cash and investments. The company is generating real cash flows and possesses critical infrastructure that supports its growth in the evolving energy landscape.

Winsage

June 2, 2025

Microsoft imposes new rules on Windows 11 laptop makers to ensure they don’t cut corners with key features of USB-C ports

Microsoft has introduced new regulations to standardize USB-C ports on Windows 11 laptops, ensuring that all ports provide essential functionalities: display support, PC charging support, and data transfer. The updated Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) mandates that every USB-C port must adhere to a minimum standard of functionality, allowing users to connect external monitors, charge devices, and transfer data efficiently. Ports supporting USB 40Gbps will also be compatible with USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals. These requirements are effective with the release of Windows 11 24H2. While the regulations establish a baseline, variations in specifications such as supported displays, power delivery capacity, and data transfer speeds may still exist and should be detailed in laptop specifications.

AppWizard

June 2, 2025

Here’s a better look at Gmail’s Material 3 Expressive makeover, rolling out to some users

Google has begun rolling out its Gmail app's Material 3 Expressive redesign through a server-side switch, allowing select users to experience the new design ahead of a broader release later this year. The update, Gmail app v2025.05.11, features a vibrant color palette and a card-based user interface with a lighter background for the message list, rounded corners, and a more visible Compose button. The account switcher has been repositioned outside the search bar for improved navigation. The email screen's card-based UI has been refined, with a full-width order summary snippet and lighter colors. A new pill-shaped button animation for swipe gestures has also been introduced. Users can expect to see these design elements on their devices soon.

Tech Optimizer

June 1, 2025

Supercharging vector search performance and relevance with pgvector 0.8.0 on Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL

The Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition has integrated support for pgvector 0.8.0, enhancing vector search capabilities significantly. This version achieves up to 9x faster query processing and delivers 100x more relevant search results compared to previous iterations. Key improvements in pgvector 0.8.0 include: - Up to 5.7x improvement in query performance for specific patterns. - Introduction of the iterative_scan feature, enhancing recall for filter queries requiring approximate nearest neighbor (ANN) index searches. - Improved cost estimation for more efficient query planning, allowing the selection of traditional indexes for complex filtered searches. - Flexible performance tuning with two modes for iterative_scan: relaxed_order and strict_order. Previous versions faced challenges with overfiltering, where combining vector similarity search with traditional SQL filters resulted in fewer results than expected. The HNSW indexing algorithm accelerates vector similarity searches by creating a multi-layered graph structure for efficient navigation. Iterative index scans in pgvector 0.8.0 improve query reliability and performance by applying filters during the scanning process, reducing false negatives and enhancing performance. The configuration options for iterative scanning include off, strict_order, and relaxed_order, with relaxed_order providing the best balance between performance and accuracy. In performance tests, pgvector 0.8.0 demonstrated substantial improvements across various query patterns, with significant enhancements in result completeness and recall. The database can now efficiently handle enterprise-scale applications, such as e-commerce and recommendation systems, with high performance and result quality even as product catalogs expand. Best practices for deploying pgvector 0.8.0 include using HNSW with recommended parameters, creating additional indexes on commonly filtered metadata columns, and tuning query parameters based on specific use cases. Operational best practices involve using Graviton4-based instances for optimal performance, monitoring and tuning slow vector queries, and considering partitioning for very large tables.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

New Minecraft Server “Marvelous Anarchy” Launches with No Rules

A new Minecraft server called "Marvelous Anarchy" launched in May 2025, accessible via the IP address marvelousanarchy.com. It operates on Minecraft Java Edition version 1.12.2 and allows the use of hacked clients and exploits like item duping. The server has an initial player capacity of 25 and offers a completely unregulated gameplay experience, lacking traditional elements such as land protection and anti-griefing measures. Players can engage in unrestricted exploration, conflict, and resource acquisition, with the environment characterized by volatility and emergent social dynamics. The use of hacked clients is expected, providing players with various advantages. Spawn points are dangerous, and survival requires escaping quickly and finding untouched land. The server offers a fresh start for players to explore and establish themselves before chaos ensues.

Tech Optimizer

May 29, 2025

Xanthorox, the AI that promotes itself as an easy resource for committing cybercrimes

Xanthorox is an AI developed in 2023 by an anonymous creator, claiming to surpass WormGPT and EvilGPT. It promotes itself as a tool for illicit online activities, offering features like ransomware creation, deepfake generation, phishing email production, and malware development. The AI operates on open-source models without typical security measures, allowing for unregulated content generation. Its pricing includes a free tier for limited features and negotiable rates for full access. Security experts note that while Xanthorox is effective, its actual impact on large-scale cybercrime is uncertain. The legality of Xanthorox stems from its open-source nature, which allows for its use as long as it does not violate laws, although using it for illegal activities remains unlawful.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Google Play Store Gets Gemini AI-Powered App Support Feature

Google has launched an AI-driven feature called “Ask Play about this app” in the Play Store, integrating Gemini AI into app listings. Users can ask questions about apps directly on their pages using a text box located below the Install button. They can type personalized inquiries or select from suggested questions. Gemini AI provides responses that include usage tips and feature explanations. However, not all apps support this feature, and some major Google applications like YouTube and Google Search are excluded. Additionally, the AI-generated answers may not always be accurate, such as providing incorrect subscription costs.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Japanese Government Releases Free ‘Minecraft’ Map

The Japanese government has released a free Minecraft map replicating the G-Cans underground flood facility, developed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The G-Cans, completed in 2006, is the largest underground flood diversion system in the world, designed to manage overflow from Tokyo's waterways during heavy rainfall. The Minecraft map accurately reflects the facility's design, including five large concrete silos and a network of tunnels spanning 6.4 kilometers. It was created using actual blueprints to provide a realistic experience. The G-Cans features a water tank that is 83 feet high and can discharge up to 200 metric tons of water into the Edo River every second. The map is available on the Edogawa River Office homepage.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

RedMagic 10S Pro plays full PC games natively with built-in Windows emulator

The RedMagic 10S Pro features a built-in Windows emulator, allowing users to play full-fledged Steam or Epic Games titles on a smartphone. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version chip, achieving over 3 million benchmark points. The device has a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate and 2,000 nits peak brightness. It includes an active cooling system, LPDDR5T RAM, and UFS 4.0 storage for optimal performance. The shoulder buttons operate at 520 Hz for responsive controls, and the battery capacity is 7,050 mAh for the Pro variant and 7,500 mAh for the Pro+ with 120 W fast charging. The RedMagic 10S Pro is priced at approximately 4,000 CNY in China, while the Pro+ variant is around 3,000 CNY.