Cloud services Archives

Tech Optimizer

January 12, 2026

Percona launches fixed-scope packages for open databases

Percona has launched Percona Packages, a suite of consulting and support services for database and IT teams using open-source systems. The initial offerings include: 1. **Quickstart**: Prepares database environments for high-demand periods with proactive optimization, a health check, and three months of expert support. 2. **Performance Optimization**: Identifies and resolves database performance issues, including slow queries and configuration problems, through hands-on tuning and best-practice guidance. 3. **AI Readiness**: Tailored for PostgreSQL, this package optimizes databases for AI workloads, featuring performance metrics analysis and benchmarks. These packages aim to address the skills shortage in data engineering and management, supporting various open-source database technologies like MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, and Valkey. The services are designed to help organizations prepare for peak usage and improve ongoing performance, allowing them to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure.

Winsage

January 5, 2026

Microsoft Bets on Windows as AI Agent Hub to Revive Dominance

Microsoft Corp. is redefining its Windows operating system as a central hub for artificial intelligence agents, aiming to create an ecosystem where AI can autonomously manage tasks and integrate into user workflows. This strategy, announced in 2025, seeks to attract developers by providing tools like Agent 365 for proactive task management. However, challenges related to privacy, security, and user trust persist, as AI agents require extensive access to personal data. Microsoft is embedding AI agents at the OS level, allowing third-party developers to deploy agents that interact with Windows features. The company’s ecosystem includes Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio, which support agent development. Despite having 1.4 billion devices, Microsoft faces competition from Apple and Google, and must navigate privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny. The success of this initiative depends on developer adoption and user acceptance, with potential risks of job displacement and over-reliance on automation.

Winsage

January 1, 2026

Microsoft’s ReFS File System Remains Inaccessible to Windows 11 Users

Microsoft's Resilient File System (ReFS) supports volumes up to 35 petabytes and offers robust data protection through checksums and continuous integrity checks, reducing the risk of data corruption. However, Windows 11 defaults to the NTFS file system, requiring users to use command-line tools to access ReFS features, which may deter average consumers. ReFS is primarily designed for Windows Server environments and has not gained popularity among general users. Testing shows that Windows 11 formats new drives as NTFS, making ReFS less accessible. ReFS can experience performance degradation on single-drive consumer PCs compared to NTFS and lacks features like file system compression, encryption, object IDs, and extended attributes, raising compatibility concerns. Microsoft has introduced the Agent Launchers framework for AI agent registration in Windows, amidst user backlash regarding the evolution of Windows into an "agentic OS." The Windows and Devices segment generated .3 billion in the last fiscal year, remaining flat over three years, while Gaming and LinkedIn generated higher revenues. Users have reported frequent feature changes and declining quality in Windows 11, with Microsoft's Controlled Feature Rollout system causing inconsistencies across devices. ReFS is accessible through the Dev Drive feature in Windows 11, which prioritizes performance over security. Microsoft faces competition from various fronts, including Valve's SteamOS, Apple's upcoming MacBook, and Google's Chrome OS, particularly in the education sector.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

These 10 Android Apps Will Make Your Phone Smarter Than Ever

Your smartphone can be enhanced with various applications that improve productivity, personalization, and digital well-being. A recent video from Xtream Droid highlights ten lesser-known Android apps: 1. Gesture Suite: Allows users to create custom gestures for over 70 actions, automating tasks like turning on the flashlight or controlling music playback. 2. Transfer: Turns your phone into a local file server for quick, wireless file sharing without cables or third-party services, ensuring privacy and security. 3. Safe Space: Provides encrypted, offline storage for sensitive files, protecting data from unauthorized access without relying on cloud services. 4. LED Keyboard: Offers customizable LED effects, multilingual support, and advanced typing features while ensuring user privacy by not collecting typing data. 5. Shelf Launcher: A minimalist app that integrates gesture controls, quick search options, and note-taking features to optimize workflow and productivity. 6. Lock Me Out: Helps manage screen time by allowing users to set app blocking modes and schedule lockouts to minimize distractions. 7. Regain: Tracks app usage patterns and provides insights to maintain a balanced relationship with your device, promoting healthier digital habits. 8. Action Notch: Transforms the phone’s camera cutout into a functional control button for quick access to tasks like taking screenshots or switching apps. 9. Smart Dock Launcher: Offers a desktop-like experience with multi-window support and customizable layouts for better multitasking on Android devices. 10. NotePinr: An offline task management app that allows users to create to-do lists and reminders, with the ability to pin important notes to the notification bar.

Winsage

December 28, 2025

Microsoft Optimizes Windows 11 File Explorer to Slash RAM Usage

Microsoft is addressing criticism regarding Windows 11's File Explorer performance, particularly its excessive RAM consumption during searches. The company is testing optimizations aimed at reducing memory usage while maintaining speed, originating from an Insider Preview build. These changes involve eliminating duplicate indexing tasks, which could lead to a 20-30% reduction in RAM usage during intensive search sessions. Additionally, the update includes a streamlined context menu in File Explorer to enhance usability. Insider feedback has been positive, with users reporting smoother performance across various devices. The optimizations may also improve system stability and scalability in enterprise environments. However, some users express skepticism about whether these fixes are temporary solutions to deeper architectural issues. The full benefits of the update are expected to materialize once it reaches general availability, anticipated in early 2026.

Winsage

December 25, 2025

10 free Windows apps that improved my productivity (and I’d easily pay money for)

Open-source software provides flexibility and control for users. Notable applications for Windows include: 1. LibreOffice: A free office suite with tools similar to MS Office, offering a modern or classic interface and local data privacy. 2. Flow Launcher: A rapid file search and app launcher that is customizable and visually appealing, available for free. 3. Duplicati: A backup solution that allows data backup to various destinations, including cloud services, with features like scheduling and remote management, free for personal use. 4. Nextcloud: An open-source cloud service for file storage and collaboration, installable on Windows at no cost. 5. Franz: An application that consolidates multiple messaging services into one interface, free to install and use. 6. YAZB: A customizable top bar for Windows that displays system information and provides quick access to controls, enhancing desktop aesthetics and functionality. 7. File Converter: A tool for converting and compressing files directly from the Windows file manager, free to use. 8. Bitwarden: An open-source password manager with essential features, free to use with a premium option for advanced features. 9. AutoHotKey: A tool for automating tasks through scripting, available for free installation. 10. Ollama: An open-source AI solution with a user-friendly interface, free to install and use on Windows.

Tech Optimizer

December 24, 2025

Toolkit Brings Agentic AI Workloads To Enterprise Postgres Environments – Open Source For You

An open-source toolkit called the pgEdge Agentic AI Toolkit for Postgres has been released in beta to facilitate the development of agentic AI applications on standard PostgreSQL infrastructure. It addresses the challenges of transitioning from prototype applications to production systems that meet enterprise-level standards for database, security, and regulatory compliance. The toolkit supports various deployment environments, including on-premises and self-managed cloud setups, and is particularly useful for organizations requiring high availability, control over data residency, or air-gapped operations. It includes a Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server for secure connections between AI agents and PostgreSQL databases, natural-language agents accessible via CLI and web interfaces, and a suite of Postgres extensions for AI workloads. Key features include automated vector embedding generation, a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) API server, document ingestion utilities, and hybrid semantic and full-text search. The toolkit is compatible with recent PostgreSQL versions and is fully open source under the Postgres license, with enterprise support for pgEdge subscribers and a managed cloud version expected in early 2026.

Winsage

December 20, 2025

Smarter wallets choose this — Windows 11 Pro just $10

Windows 11 Pro is available for a limited time at a promotional price of .97, reduced from its regular price of 9. The upgrade includes features such as Hyper-V for virtualization, Windows Sandbox for secure application testing, BitLocker encryption for data protection, and Azure AD integration for cloud access. It also introduces Copilot, an AI-powered assistant for productivity enhancements.

Winsage

December 18, 2025

China-Aligned Threat Group Uses Windows Group Policy to Deploy Espionage Malware

A newly identified cyber threat cluster called LongNosedGoblin has been linked to cyber espionage attacks targeting governmental entities in Southeast Asia and Japan, with activities traced back to at least September 2023. The group uses Group Policy to spread malware and employs cloud services like Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive for command and control. Key tools include NosyHistorian, NosyDoor, NosyStealer, NosyDownloader, and NosyLogger, which perform functions such as collecting browser history, executing commands, and logging keystrokes. ESET first detected LongNosedGoblin's activities in February 2024, identifying malware on a governmental system. The attacks showed a targeted approach, with specific tools affecting select victims. Additionally, a variant of NosyDoor was found targeting an organization in an EU country, indicating a possible connection to other China-aligned threat groups.

Winsage

December 18, 2025

Microsoft Eases Windows 11 Smart App Control with Toggle Option

Microsoft's Smart App Control feature in Windows 11 is designed to evaluate and block potentially harmful applications by cross-referencing them against a database of known safe software. Initially, it required a clean installation to enable or disable, which hindered its adoption. Recent updates have removed this requirement, allowing users to toggle the feature on or off directly through the Windows Security app without a system reset. This change addresses user complaints and enhances usability, particularly for developers and IT professionals managing multiple devices. The feature employs artificial intelligence for real-time decisions on app safety and integrates with other Microsoft security tools. Feedback from the tech community has been positive, highlighting the update as a significant improvement in balancing security and user flexibility.