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Tech Optimizer

July 3, 2026

Percona & HexaCluster team up on database migrations

Percona has formed a strategic alliance with HexaCluster to assist organizations in migrating from proprietary databases to open-source alternatives, specifically PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MariaDB. The partnership combines Percona's migration assessment and production support with HexaCluster's migration software for diverse database environments. The migration process will begin with a comprehensive assessment by Percona to outline the scope and plan the transition. Percona will lead the migration efforts, while HexaCluster will provide software solutions for complex migrations. This collaboration aims to help enterprises reduce costs associated with proprietary databases and minimize risks during migration. HexaCluster specializes in PostgreSQL migration and offers tools for migration assessment, schema conversion, data migration, and live replication. Percona supports various database systems and emphasizes open-source solutions to give organizations more control over their data infrastructure.

AppWizard

July 3, 2026

The Biggest Upcoming July 2026 PC Games and How They May Perform On Steam Deck

Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to release in November. Moonlight Peaks, a farming simulator with a vampire theme, runs at 90 FPS on the Steam Deck with minimal battery drain. An open-world gacha game performs above 30 FPS at default settings on the Steam Deck. The expansion for Granblue Fantasy: Relink is playable on the Steam Deck, though some action sequences may cause minor frame drops. A remake of a classic Assassin’s Creed installment is optimized for the Steam Deck and has received Verified status, with expected frame rates around 30 FPS during intense moments. A highly ambitious game demo showed significant performance issues, dropping below 30 FPS at the lowest settings. A cozy post office simulator runs at 60 FPS with low battery consumption but lacks controller support. A casual puzzle game from Annapurna Interactive is expected to perform well on the Steam Deck. A co-op exploration game with Lovecraftian elements achieves 30 FPS or higher on low settings, though some areas may experience frame drops. A bus-skating game maintains a steady 60 FPS during testing, despite some battery drain fluctuations.

Winsage

July 3, 2026

Microsoft omits controversial workplace check-in feature from June Teams roundup

In June, Microsoft introduced several enhancements for Microsoft Teams, including new calling agents, brand impersonation protection, redesigned in-meeting controls, bot detection, a facilitator in Teams Rooms, and IntelliFrame people labels. A notable feature, "workplace check-in via Wi-Fi," is now generally available after initial criticism and a delayed rollout. SharePoint content shared through Quick Share retains permissions to enhance user privacy.

AppWizard

July 3, 2026

Carcass Clad is less story-heavy than Mouthwashing, but ‘a lot of thought’ has gone into it: ‘We haven’t discovered how much we can push it’

Developer Wrong Organ is set to unveil their latest project, Carcass Clad, a roguelike co-op tank simulation game, following their previous success with the narrative horror game, Mouthwashing. The game is set in a city in disarray and focuses on action and strategy. Developer Jeffrey Tomec stated that while scripted narrative elements are not the focus, storytelling and worldbuilding remain integral to the design. The core idea of Carcass Clad revolves around the tank, with an emphasis on evoking emotional responses from players. Each game element is crafted to enhance the player experience, connecting them with the environment and mechanics. The reveal trailer has garnered attention, suggesting a fresh take on cooperative gameplay and immersive world design.

Winsage

July 2, 2026

Windows 11 surpasses 70% among PC gamers on Steam as Windows 10 starts fading away

Windows 11 has surpassed 70% market share among Steam users, reaching 70.44% with a 0.68% increase from the previous month. Windows 10's market share has declined by 0.43%. Linux's market share has decreased by 0.30% to 3.69%, down from 2.57% last year, while macOS has risen by 0.05% to 2.21% from 1.76% last year.

AppWizard

July 2, 2026

Relax, PC Gamers: We’re not getting GTA 6 on November 19, but we’ve got, um… ‘Phantom Vice Auto’ launching the same day on Steam

Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch on November 19, 2026, but will not be available on PC. On the same day, Phantom Vice Auto will debut, generating significant buzz despite not being part of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Phantom Vice Auto has released five screenshots, which have sparked curiosity among fans. Additionally, another game, Cats and Pillows, is also set to release around the same time.

AppWizard

July 2, 2026

Former Call of Duty frontman launches new studio with a ‘Stop Killing Games’-style mission statement: If the game bombs, it goes open source

Robert Bowling, former strategist of the Call of Duty franchise, has co-founded a new studio called //18.bravo after the closure of his previous venture, Midnight Society, in 2025. The studio aims to foster a collaborative environment by aligning leadership compensation with employee success and introducing a royalty program for employees and profit-sharing with external talents. //18.bravo's debut project will not support live service models, focusing instead on creating a sustainable gaming experience with dedicated servers and optimized peer-to-peer architecture. This approach prioritizes longevity over immediate financial success, addressing gamer concerns about game shutdowns.

BetaBeacon

July 2, 2026

Some Google Pixel owners report issues after installing Android 17 including Wi-Fi disconnects, laggy games

The stable Android 17 update for Google Pixel phones is causing Wi-Fi connectivity and game performance issues for some users.

Winsage

July 2, 2026

Microsoft’s new Azure Linux 4.0 is here, and it could replace Windows Server in the enterprise

Microsoft has released Azure Linux 4.0, transitioning it from an internal tool to a server operating system that users can install on their own servers and virtual machines. Azure Linux 4.0 is built on Fedora Linux, allowing the use of RPMs and ensuring compatibility with Azure's cloud platform. The beta version features a hardened Linux kernel 6.18, optimized for performance on Hyper-V and Azure virtual machines, and incorporates SELinux-based security measures without a graphical user interface. In the Azure Marketplace, it is marketed as a "Microsoft-built Linux distribution for Azure," with formal support available for deployments on Azure but not for standalone hardware. The Azure Linux GitHub repository provides transparency into the distribution, encouraging community engagement while Microsoft retains control over the base image's contents. Azure Linux is positioned as a free, Azure-optimized server operating system for hybrid environments, potentially signaling a shift away from Windows Server.

AppWizard

July 2, 2026

Google is still working on a missing Android 17 feature behind the scenes

The anticipated App Lock feature is absent in the latest Android 17 stable release, despite earlier Canary builds suggesting its inclusion. Recent findings in the Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 indicate that Google is still developing the feature, which will allow users to lock multiple applications simultaneously through the Settings app, improving upon the previous method of securing apps one at a time. Additionally, Google is exploring a feature that restricts app access to biometric authentication only, disabling the traditional PIN-unlock option. Although App Lock is not present in the current beta, ongoing development suggests it may be introduced in the future.