Cloud Archives

AppWizard

April 12, 2026

DayZ creator Dean ‘Rocket’ Hall has over 2,000 hours in Kerbal Space Program and played the original XCOM at Mount Everest base camp: ‘I think when I die, I will still be playing that game’

Dean Hall, the founder of RocketWerkz, began his gaming journey with a Commodore 64 and developed a passion for computers after a challenging five-hour gaming session. He is currently developing Icarus, a space survival game that has recently become profitable after a difficult launch. Hall has logged 1,400 hours in RimWorld, where he has released two popular mods. He enjoys playing Ostranauts, accumulating at least 150 hours per playthrough, and is looking forward to its upcoming update. Hall has also played the original XCOM for around 600 hours over the past year. He has nearly 5,000 hours in Stationeers, a game developed by his studio, and over 2,000 hours in Kerbal Space Program. His favorite game is Space Station 13, where he plays a character named Colton Murphy. For non-gaming software, he relies on Rider for programming development. Hall maintains a very clean desktop, regularly organizing it for security and efficiency in his game development process.

Tech Optimizer

April 12, 2026

Modernizing Nexus Repository: Moving Beyond OrientDB

Support for OrientDB in Sonatype Nexus Repository has been discontinued, and older versions of Nexus Repository (prior to 3.70.5) are built on an outdated architecture that presents high-severity vulnerabilities and cannot be fully patched. The recommended database for Nexus Repository is now PostgreSQL, which offers better performance and support for modern architectures. Users have two migration options: transition to Sonatype Nexus Repository Cloud, which is fully managed and eliminates database management, or migrate to PostgreSQL while maintaining a self-hosted environment, which requires ongoing maintenance and infrastructure ownership.

BetaBeacon

April 11, 2026

Your Amazon Luna library is about to get a lot more restricted

Amazon Luna has removed individual game purchases and third-party store integrations like GOG, Ubisoft, and EA. Users have until June 10, 2026, to play purchased or linked titles before they vanish from the Luna platform.

Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2026

Antivirus protection built into Windows

Windows 11 includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which is active from the moment the device is powered on and integrated into the operating system. It continuously updates to protect against various threats, including malicious files and unsafe links. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen evaluates the safety of websites and downloads, providing warnings for dubious content. Smart App Control prevents untrusted applications from executing, while Controlled folder access protects personal files from unauthorized modifications. Users can verify the operational status of Microsoft Defender Antivirus through Windows Security settings. Best practices for maintaining security include keeping the antivirus updated, using a single real-time antivirus engine, and enhancing security habits. Microsoft Defender Antivirus is generally sufficient for everyday risks, but additional third-party antivirus solutions may be considered based on individual needs.

Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2026

Overcoming barriers to database modernisation in the AI age

Enterprises in Malaysia are transitioning from legacy systems to modern infrastructure to facilitate AI deployment. A roundtable discussion highlighted the challenges of AI integration, emphasizing the need to reduce costs associated with outdated systems. Organizations are adopting hybrid cloud approaches and utilizing various databases to manage extensive data across multiple applications. The push for AI is driven by management and customer expectations, but employee willingness to upskill remains a challenge. Not all challenges require AI solutions, and starting with smaller use cases can lead to successful scaling. The adoption of open-source database systems like Postgres is increasing, necessitating reliable support to address issues and ensure application availability. Data sovereignty is a concern for enterprises operating in mixed environments, and EDB Postgres AI offers a platform that combines security with cloud agility. Reducing infrastructure costs is essential for freeing up resources for new initiatives.

Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2026

Google Cloud Highlights Ongoing Work on PostgreSQL Core Capabilities

Google Cloud has made technical contributions to PostgreSQL, focusing on advancements in logical replication, upgrade processes, and system stability. Key developments include the evolution of logical replication towards active-active configurations with automatic conflict detection to identify row-level conflicts during replication. This progress has sparked discussions about consistency models in database systems. Enhancements have also expanded logical replication to include sequences, reducing manual synchronization needs. Improvements to pg_upgrade have streamlined large object management and reduced upgrade times, while ensuring WAL data retention and schema constraint preservation. Bug fixes have addressed issues with index pages, extension loading, and WAL flush logic. Future features under development include a structured conflict log for replication and enhancements to parallel data export in pg_dump.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming service is ending support for game purchases and subscriptions from third-party stores, and users will lose streaming access to purchased third-party games in June

Amazon announced a reduction of 14,000 jobs in October 2025, with significant cuts to its gaming division as part of a strategic shift away from competing with platforms like Steam. The focus will now be on enhancing the Luna cloud gaming service, which will no longer support the purchase of games from third-party stores such as EA, Ubisoft, and GOG. Subscriptions for Ubisoft+ and Jackbox Games will be discontinued, although users who previously purchased games from these developers can stream them until June 10, 2026. The decision to eliminate third-party game access was based on feedback from players seeking easier access to games and more social experiences. This change raises concerns about Luna's appeal in comparison to competing services like Xbox Game Pass. Some suggest this may encourage users to transition to Luna Premium, which requires an additional monthly fee.

BetaBeacon

April 11, 2026

Amazon’s idea of improving Luna involves stripping back most of it

Amazon Luna is removing game purchases, third-party subscriptions, and game stores, simplifying its offerings starting on April 10. Subscriptions to Ubisoft Plus and Jackbox through Luna will be automatically canceled after one final renewal at the end of the current billing cycle.

Winsage

April 10, 2026

French government says au revoir Windows, bienvenue Linux

France announced its intention to migrate its workstations from Microsoft Windows to the open-source Linux operating system as part of a broader initiative across Europe aimed at achieving digital sovereignty and reducing reliance on foreign technology. The French government also plans to replace its videoconferencing tools with the domestically developed Visio and migrate its health data to a new platform by the end of 2026. European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, have emphasized the importance of maintaining digital sovereignty despite pressures from the Trump administration, which has criticized European regulations on American tech companies. Christian Kroll, CEO of Ecosia, and Giorgos Verdi, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, have highlighted the need for Europe to assert its independence and strengthen its innovation landscape to avoid external pressures.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

Kazakhstan Considers National Messaging App Aitu for Insurance Companies – The Times Of Central Asia

Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market is considering the domestic messaging platform Aitu for communication between insurance companies, non-bank financial institutions, and their clients. The regulator has encouraged market participants to assess Aitu as a communication tool aimed at enhancing personal data protection. Concerns have been raised about Aitu’s user base, functionality, integration costs, and the absence of clear regulatory guidelines for handling personal and financial data. The adoption of Aitu is not mandatory but is seen as a potential secure communication channel. Aitu’s infrastructure supports high data protection due to localized servers in Kazakhstan, which reduces risks of cross-border data issues. The platform features end-to-end encryption and biometric identification through Aitu Passport, aiming to enhance user verification and minimize phishing and identity theft risks. The agency noted that open APIs and business dashboards could allow financial institutions to integrate with Aitu cost-effectively. Additionally, government agencies and quasi-state companies have been encouraged to use Aitu for official communications.