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silver Android smartphone
Winsage
June 20, 2026

I used Windows 11 exactly the way Microsoft wanted, and it drove me crazy

The author customized their Windows experience by changing the default browser, decluttering the Start menu, and preventing OneDrive from managing their files. They recently set up Windows 11 on a new mini PC and initially allowed OneDrive to back up their files, which led to confusion about file locations. They found Windows Search frustrating, as it redirected them to Microsoft's web version despite choosing a different search provider. The author refrained from altering Microsoft's recommended defaults, which made the system feel more aligned with Microsoft's agenda rather than their own needs. After three days, they reverted to their usual practices to regain control over their Windows experience.
silver Android smartphone
Tech Optimizer
June 20, 2026

EDB Reports Growing Adoption of Postgres AI as Enterprises Build Sovereign AI Foundations

EnterpriseDB (EDB) reported increased global adoption of its EDB Postgres AI (EDB PG AI) platform for managing mission-critical workloads. Research by MIT Technology Review Insights found that organizations prioritizing AI and data sovereignty achieve five times the return on investment. The Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) migrated 15 core systems to EDB PG AI, reducing licensing costs and enhancing operational flexibility. Shinhan EZ Insurance transitioned its core system to the public cloud using EDB PG AI, achieving 24/7 service and scalability for AI workloads. Other companies like MNTN, Euronext FX, and Kyobo Book Centre are also leveraging EDB PG AI for various applications. EDB has received industry recognition, including being named among the most innovative companies in data and awarded for its data management solutions. EDB PG AI integrates transactional, analytical, and AI workloads, providing a secure and scalable platform for enterprises.
PostgreSQL 18 on Amazon Aurora and Amazon RDS: Performance enhancements
Tech Optimizer
June 20, 2026

PostgreSQL 18 on Amazon Aurora and Amazon RDS: Performance enhancements

PostgreSQL 18 addresses common performance challenges for users, including managing query performance across composite indexes, diagnosing memory spills in materialized Common Table Expressions (CTEs), and upgrading major versions without plan regressions. Key enhancements include skip scan optimization for multicolumn indexes, improved EXPLAIN functionality, and optimizer statistics that persist through major version upgrades. Skip scan optimization allows PostgreSQL to efficiently utilize multicolumn B-tree indexes even when leading columns are not specified in the WHERE clause, significantly improving query performance. The EXPLAIN command has been enhanced to include buffer statistics by default, providing deeper insights into query execution and resource usage. PostgreSQL 18 also introduces visibility into the storage of materialized nodes in query plans, indicating whether intermediate results were stored in memory or spilled to disk. A new metric, Index Searches, has been added to EXPLAIN ANALYZE output, indicating how many times the database traversed the index tree during query execution. Additionally, Self-Join Elimination (SJE) automatically detects and removes unnecessary inner joins of a table to itself, optimizing query performance. The autovacuum mechanism has been improved with the introduction of autovacuum_vacuum_max_threshold, which caps the number of dead tuples that can accumulate before autovacuum triggers a VACUUM, addressing issues with large tables. The vacuum_truncate parameter provides a server-wide control point to disable VACUUM’s file truncation behavior, reducing locking issues on busy systems. PostgreSQL 18 also separates the allocation of autovacuum worker slots from their usage, allowing for dynamic adjustments to autovacuum_max_workers without requiring a server restart. Finally, new columns in pg_stat_all_tables track cumulative time spent on maintenance operations, providing better insights into maintenance overhead for each table.
Save 75% and Get 3 Free Months on NordVPN + Antivirus (Test Results Included)
Tech Optimizer
June 20, 2026

Save 75% and Get 3 Free Months on NordVPN + Antivirus (Test Results Included)

NordVPN has introduced a revamped application, new subscription plans, and an antivirus upgrade called Threat Protection Pro, which detects 96% of phishing attempts according to AV-Comparatives. The Complete plan has a price drop of 75%, now costing .49 per month with three complimentary months, allowing users to secure up to ten devices. Key features of NordVPN Complete include ID theft protection, scam call protection, malware protection, a password manager (NordPass), and 1 TB of cloud storage (NordLocker). All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Threat Protection Pro achieved a 99% score in an independent test by Turtlecute, effectively blocking trackers and detecting malware. Not all plans include antivirus protection; the Basic plan offers VPN access without additional features, while NordVPN Prime provides enhanced ID protection through Coveron.
pgEdge Announces ColdFront for PostgreSQL, Seamlessly Uniting AI, Analytical and OLTP Workloads
Tech Optimizer
June 20, 2026

pgEdge Announces ColdFront for PostgreSQL, Seamlessly Uniting AI, Analytical and OLTP Workloads

pgEdge ColdFront is a data tiering solution for PostgreSQL that allows seamless access to hot and cold storage without changing application code, reducing storage costs by up to 90%. The cold tier is writable, enabling operations like UPDATE and DELETE on archived rows using standard SQL commands. ColdFront automatically migrates older data to Apache Iceberg in Parquet format, compatible with S3-compatible object stores, while maintaining full accessibility through a single Postgres table name. It enhances performance with the DuckDB vectorized columnar engine, achieving 10-100x faster analytical performance on cold data. ColdFront simplifies data management by automating the movement of cold data to cost-effective storage, addressing challenges like increased storage costs and operational complexities. It allows for compliance tasks, such as GDPR deletion requests, to be executed with a single SQL statement. Key features include a directly writable cold tier, no application changes required, open-source operation, automated partition lifecycle management, cost-effective operations, and distributed access in multi-master clusters. ColdFront is beneficial for sectors like SaaS, IoT, and regulated industries, and is currently available as a production-grade beta, set to be integrated into pgEdge Cloud in the second half of 2026.
Neoclouds, sovereign AI and Postgres: The new operating model for regulated enterprises
Tech Optimizer
June 20, 2026

Neoclouds, sovereign AI and Postgres: The new operating model for regulated enterprises

Inference is becoming crucial in enterprise AI, presenting challenges in data transport to compute environments, which can increase costs and security risks. Enterprises aim to maintain data integrity and avoid multiple copies. Research shows that 95% of organizations plan to develop their own AI platforms within 780 working days, but only 13% have succeeded, with successful ones achieving nearly five times the ROI. Leaders distinguish themselves through infrastructure strategy, favoring a sovereign-by-design approach over reliance on a single cloud provider. Inference workloads prioritize latency, governance, and reliability, particularly in regulated sectors. Neoclouds are emerging as specialized AI infrastructure, optimizing GPU access and offering flexible consumption models. Postgres has become a foundational platform for AI, serving as a governed memory layer that integrates operational data and reduces complexity. Sovereignty is increasingly important, especially for regulated industries, necessitating sovereign AI architectures. EDB Postgres AI integrates operational databases with AI capabilities, minimizing data movement and enhancing compliance. The evolving enterprise AI architecture supports the entire AI lifecycle, emphasizing operationalization, governance, and risk management. Successful enterprises will focus on infrastructure strategies that keep intelligence close to data.
Pixel Screenshots just moved away from using on-device AI only, but is it less private?
AppWizard
June 19, 2026

Pixel Screenshots just moved away from using on-device AI only, but is it less private?

The Pixel Screenshots app has transitioned from relying solely on on-device AI to a hybrid model that incorporates cloud processing. The latest update, version 1.26.134.11, reflects this change by revising the app's settings to indicate that AI processing may occur on-device or in the cloud. Google emphasizes that user privacy will be prioritized, utilizing a “secure, isolated environment” for processing. The update is currently rolling out and may not yet be available to all users in the Play Store.
Windows Platform Security and the Race to Secure AI Agents
Winsage
June 19, 2026

Windows Platform Security and the Race to Secure AI Agents

Microsoft has introduced the Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) SDK to establish Windows as a reliable operating system for autonomous agents, focusing on containment, identity, and manageability. The MXC framework serves as a policy-driven execution layer for agents on Windows and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), allowing developers to set access permissions using JSON or TypeScript. It employs process and session isolation for agent containment and identity. Future enhancements will include micro-VM support for high-risk tasks and integration with Windows 365 for cloud PC workloads. IT teams can manage MXC policies through Entra ID and Intune, while Defender and Purview provide protection and observability. The MXC framework is built on Microsoft's security initiatives, including Secure Boot and passwordless sign-in, allowing agents to inherit a secure foundation. However, early commentary expresses caution regarding MXC's perception as a comprehensive security solution, noting issues with overly permissive policies and the lack of outbound network filtering. Other platforms, such as Linux, are also enhancing security for agents with kernel-level isolation and secure environments like NVIDIA's OpenShell runtime. Various projects are focusing on agent sandboxes within Kubernetes, employing technologies like gVisor and Kata Containers for isolation. Overall, no singular dominant platform security model for AI agents has emerged, with Windows' MXC still considered nascent compared to existing solutions in Linux and Kubernetes ecosystems.
Norton 360 Deluxe 'is perfect if you are looking for family protection' especially in this major sale – and performs with near perfect score in testing
Tech Optimizer
June 18, 2026

Norton 360 Deluxe ‘is perfect if you are looking for family protection’ especially in this major sale – and performs with near perfect score in testing

Norton 360 Deluxe is a comprehensive antivirus software package that includes features such as a parental control app, a virtual private network (VPN), a password manager, scam protection, and cloud backup capabilities. The current promotional price for the first-year subscription is £29.99, reduced from £89.99, representing a 67% discount. It offers 50GB of cloud backup, a secure password manager, a scam detector for analyzing suspicious communications, and a SafeCam feature for webcam protection. The School Time control feature helps parents restrict access to certain websites during study time.
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