consolidation Archives

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Report: Unity makes further layoffs

Unity is planning another round of layoffs, as communicated by CEO Matthew Bromberg via email. The Chief Technology Officer and teams focused on Engine Product and Ads will be affected, although the exact number of layoffs is not specified. The layoffs are attributed to an overwhelming workload on the engine team and the need for restructuring following Unity's merger with Ironsource, which requires consolidating advertising teams into the Runtime business. Unity will provide support to impacted employees, including access to mental health benefits through Lyra.

AppWizard

February 11, 2025

T-Mobile has finally pulled the plug on its legacy app

The T-Mobile app has reached the end of its lifecycle and is now non-functional. T-Mobile removed the app from the Play Store and App Store in November. Users are prompted to update to the new T-Life app, which reflects T-Mobile's strategy to enhance online support for account management. The transition to the T-Life app indicates a shift towards digital solutions, with concerns about potential reductions in physical store locations. Downloading the T-Life app is now essential for managing accounts without visiting a store.

Winsage

February 4, 2025

Microsoft Paint brushes up on AI

Microsoft Paint is receiving an upgrade with a Copilot AI feature, currently available only to Windows Insiders. This feature includes tools such as Image Creator, which generates images from text prompts using OpenAI's DALL-E model, and Cocreator, which combines user doodles with text inputs to create unique artwork. The Generative Erase function allows users to remove objects from images while maintaining the background. Microsoft previously integrated Cocreator and generative fill into Paint in 2023. Additionally, Microsoft is enhancing its AI-powered search capabilities to include cloud storage, enabling users to find OneDrive photos by describing them.

Tech Optimizer

December 10, 2024

Top Database Technologies to Consider in 2025

The landscape of database technologies is transforming due to the rise of Generative AI (GenAI), with modern enterprises requiring unlimited storage, intelligent data consolidation, and real-time querying. The effectiveness of AI systems depends on high-quality data storage that overcomes organizational silos. Key factors in selecting database solutions now include developer experience, serverless architecture, and adaptability to trends like Postgres. Neon has received a million-dollar investment from M12 and aims to simplify launching Postgres databases through its serverless platform, with over four thousand databases created daily. Neon Authorize enhances security with granular access controls using Postgres Row-Level Security. ClickHouse is recognized as a leading live data repository for large enterprises, with clients like Deutsche Bank, eBay, and Spotify. It recently acquired PeerDB to improve change data capture and replication for Postgres, promising speed enhancements of up to 10x. Timescale has extended PostgreSQL for time-series data and analytics, allowing efficient application development while managing costs. It claims to deliver queries that are 1,000 times faster than MongoDB, with virtually limitless scaling through the separation of storage and compute resources. MongoDB has enhanced its integrations with Microsoft Azure to support real-time data analytics and generative AI applications, integrating MongoDB Atlas with Azure OpenAI services and launching MongoDB Enterprise Advanced on the Azure Marketplace for increased flexibility in data development.

AppWizard

November 26, 2024

Google is redesigning its News app to streamline your feed (APK Teardown)

Google is refining its News app user experience with a new home screen layout in version 5.120.0.696279761. The update merges the “For You” and “Headlines” tabs into a single “Home” tab to simplify navigation. Interactive buttons, or chips, have been added to filter news feeds by preferences, including the merged categories and sections like World, Business, and Technology. The “Following” and “Newsstand” tabs remain unchanged. The updated interface is not yet available in the stable version, but a broader rollout may be imminent.

AppWizard

November 21, 2024

Bandai Namco dissolves online subsidiary

Bandai Namco has announced the dissolution of its online division, Bandai Namco Online, which will be fully integrated into the broader Bandai Namco structure. Founded in 2009, Bandai Namco Online focused on developing online gaming experiences, with notable titles including Dragon Ball Z: X KeeperZ, Gundam Evolution, and Blue Protocol. The decision is part of a strategic realignment due to "recent changes in the environment surrounding the game business." Earlier this year, Bandai Namco also announced the shutdown of Blue Protocol, set to conclude on January 18, 2025.

AppWizard

November 14, 2024

T-Mobile finally retires old app and goes all-in on T-Life

The old T-Mobile app has been retired and is no longer available for download on Google Play or Apple’s App Store. Existing users can still access its features, but future updates are uncertain. T-Mobile transitioned to the new T-Life app at the beginning of 2024, which has expanded functionality beyond promotional giveaways. T-Mobile has encouraged users to explore T-Life as their comprehensive mobile solution. The consolidation of apps aims to enhance user experience, though some users may miss the simplicity of the old app and may be concerned about the introduction of advertisements in T-Life. T-Life has adopted the icon of the former T-Mobile app and is available for download on the Play Store.

AppWizard

October 29, 2024

Tencent pushes back on games layoff reports

Tencent has denied rumors of layoffs within its gaming division, stating that no restructuring efforts are underway and that the Timi Studio Group is actively hiring. The company refuted reports suggesting a reduction in workforce and consolidation of its 13 development studios into four. However, there have been leadership changes within the Interactive Entertainment Group, including the amicable departure of Vice President Zeng Yu and ten other management transitions, including Huang Lanxiao stepping down as General Manager of Timi's Level 1 studio.

Winsage

October 3, 2024

Microsoft retires WordPad after 28 years — app no longer available as of Windows 11 24H2 | Tom’s Hardware

Microsoft has officially discontinued WordPad with the rollout of Windows 11 24H2, adding it to the 'Deprecated Feature' list. Users are encouraged to use Microsoft Word for rich text documents and Windows Notepad for plain text needs. There is no direct replacement for WordPad in Windows 11 24H2, and its return is uncertain. Microsoft has also indicated plans to phase out the Control Panel, integrating its functionalities into the Settings options.

Winsage

September 25, 2024

Will Windows Server 2025 release spark VMware migrations? | TechTarget

Microsoft is positioning itself to attract VMware customers following VMware's acquisition by Broadcom. The upcoming release of Windows Server 2025 will include enhanced features for Hyper-V, such as revised GPU partitioning, dynamic compatibility for live migrations between hosts with different CPU architectures, improved virtualization-based security, and simplified deployment for smaller organizations. Broadcom's history of selling off underperforming products raises concerns about VMware's stability, prompting customers to reconsider their options. Microsoft is offering solutions like the Azure VMware Solution and the VMware Rapid Migration program to facilitate transitions away from VMware. The enhancements in Windows Server 2025 aim to address enterprise needs and may encourage users to switch from VMware.