costs Archives

Tech Optimizer

June 12, 2025

Databricks launches Lakebase Postgres database for AI era

Databricks has launched Lakebase, a fully managed Postgres database designed for AI applications, currently in Public Preview. It integrates an operational database layer into Databricks' Data Intelligence Platform, facilitating the development of data applications and AI agents in a multi-cloud environment. Lakebase uses Neon technology within a lakehouse architecture, allowing for efficient real-time data processing and scalable operations. Key features include independent scaling of compute and storage, low latency under 10 milliseconds, high concurrency over 10,000 queries per second, rapid launch times under a second, and a consumption-based payment model. It also offers data synchronization with lakehouse tables, an online feature store for machine learning, and is managed entirely by Databricks with built-in security features. During its Private Preview, Lakebase attracted participation from hundreds of enterprises across various sectors. It is supported by a partner network including Accenture, Deloitte, and others, and will receive further enhancements in the coming months.

Tech Optimizer

June 11, 2025

Malwarebytes Plus antivirus review

Malwarebytes Plus is a straightforward antivirus software priced at approximately .99 per year, offering protection for three devices across Mac, Windows, iOS, or Android platforms. It also has a family plan for up to ten devices at .99 per year and a Teams package for businesses protecting 20 devices or more at 9.99 per year. The subscription includes a VPN with no data transfer limits but lacks a password manager. Users can schedule quick scans and access advanced settings for specific vulnerabilities. The application runs efficiently in the background, with quick scans taking around 26 seconds. It features real-time protection against ransomware and exploits, but offers limited privacy options and identity threat protection primarily as an incentive to upgrade. The interface is clean but may be less user-friendly compared to competitors. Malwarebytes Plus provides 24/7 support via email, chat, and phone, including remediation guidance for specific viruses.

Tech Optimizer

June 11, 2025

Databricks Launches Lakebase: a New Class of Operational Database for AI Apps and Agents

Databricks has launched Lakebase, a fully-managed Postgres database that integrates operational and analytical systems for AI-driven applications. Lakebase is part of the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform and is currently in Public Preview. It utilizes Neon technology for continuous autoscaling, enabling low latency and high concurrency. Key features include separated compute and storage, an open-source foundation, AI optimization, lakehouse integration, and enterprise readiness. Early adopters are using Lakebase to enhance various business processes, and it is supported by a partner network for data integration and governance.

Tech Optimizer

June 10, 2025

Why Instacart Moved to Postgres & pgvector to Boost Semantic Search

Instacart serves 14 million daily users and manages billions of products, necessitating advanced search capabilities that go beyond keyword matching to understand user intent. The search system must reflect real-time inventory changes, leading to significant workloads on the database. Instacart transitioned from Elasticsearch and FAISS to a hybrid architecture using Postgres and pgvector, improving search performance and reducing write workloads by tenfold. This normalization allowed for better storage of machine learning features and improved flexibility. Moving compute closer to storage with NVMe resulted in a twofold increase in search performance. Instacart's migration to pgvector eliminated data duplication and operational complexity, enhancing search quality and user satisfaction, evidenced by a 6% decrease in searches with zero results.

Tech Optimizer

June 9, 2025

Streamline Amazon Aurora database operations at scale: Introducing the AWS Database Acceleration Toolkit

The AWS Database Acceleration Toolkit (DAT) is an open-source solution that enhances database performance, particularly for Amazon Aurora, by utilizing Terraform for setup, provisioning, and maintenance. DAT helps organizations reduce time to market, improve customer satisfaction, and optimize costs. It is beneficial for DevOps teams, SaaS providers, and enterprises transitioning from commercial databases to Aurora. One example of its effectiveness includes a customer reducing database migration time from 12 months to 4 weeks for over 100 databases, achieving zero outages over six months, increasing database team productivity by 60-70%, and lowering infrastructure costs by 42%. DAT's architecture includes automated resource provisioning and security through Terraform, with source code available in a Git repository. It offers multiple provisioning options for Aurora clusters, including the Terraform CLI and Jenkins pipelines. Key modules include: - Aurora cluster module for creating new clusters with customization options. - Amazon RDS Proxy for enhancing application performance and security. - Aurora GlobalDB for creating clusters across AWS Regions for disaster recovery. - Aurora Monitoring for configuring CloudWatch dashboards to monitor database performance. Use case examples are provided in the Git repository for both Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible and Aurora MySQL-Compatible engines. Deployment options include using Terraform directly, setting up a new Jenkins instance, or integrating with an existing Jenkins setup. To provision an Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, users must clone the DAT repository, navigate to the appropriate folder, configure the Terraform variable definition file, initialize the working directory, execute a plan, and apply the changes. Security features include customer-managed keys, integration with AWS Secrets Manager for password management, and enhanced monitoring through CloudWatch. To clean up, users can destroy the Aurora cluster with a Terraform command.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming devices are real and will be released during the 2025 holiday season

Microsoft unveiled its collaboration with ASUS’ ROG division, introducing the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X handheld gaming devices. Pricing details have not been disclosed, but they are expected to be similar to current ROG Ally systems, with the ROG Ally X potentially reaching up to 0. The devices will launch this holiday season in countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States. All games showcased will be playable on the Xbox Ally, although it is unclear if all titles will run natively. Users can play games from various platforms, including Battle.net, Steam, GOG, and Ubisoft Connect, with integration of Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere. The handhelds feature a full-screen Xbox user interface and include accessibility features from Xbox consoles and PCs. Both models run on Windows 11, with the Xbox Ally equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage, while the Xbox Ally X has an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. They share a seven-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The Xbox Ally weighs 670g and the Xbox Ally X weighs 715g, with dimensions of 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm. Both support video output through two USB-C ports, with the Xbox Ally X featuring a ThunderBolt 4 compatible port.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

The Outer Worlds 2 is Microsoft’s first $80 game

The Outer Worlds 2 is set to be released on October 29th, 2025, and will introduce a new price point as the first title from Microsoft to implement this pricing strategy following a global price hike announced in May 2025. Microsoft acknowledged the challenges of this decision, citing current market conditions and rising game development costs. The original game was published by Take-Two's Private Division in 2019, and Obsidian, the studio behind it, was acquired by Microsoft during its development.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Humble Choice Explained: How The Xbox Game Pass PC Alternative Works

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass offers subscribers access to a wide array of games for a monthly fee, but access is revoked if the subscription lapses. In contrast, Humble Choice allows subscribers to keep the games they acquire, regardless of subscription status, and supports charitable causes. Humble Choice charges a monthly fee or an annual subscription fee and provides a selection of games each month, which are owned indefinitely by the subscriber. The service is more focused on indie titles and offers discounts on games in the Humble Store. It is particularly suited for gamers who enjoy indie games and those with older gaming PCs.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

This is my favorite video editing app, and for good reason

Megan Ellis from Android Authority reviewed various video editing applications and highlighted her favorite, Edits, which received 29% of votes in a recent poll, while CapCut led with 38%. Edits is entirely free and offers features like easy clip stitching, transitions, audio incorporation, and the ability to generate captions from voiceovers. It allows exports in 4K resolution at 60fps and includes a cutout functionality for tracking objects in videos. However, users need an Instagram account to access Edits, and export times can be slower than desired. Concerns exist about Edits being a Meta product and potential future monetization. Alternatives suggested include InShot, Adobe Express, VN, YouCut, and LightCut.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Amazon may have cancelled the Wheel of Time show, but the open world RPG ploughs ahead with talent from games like Dark Age of Camelot and Lord of the Rings Online

Amazon has canceled its adaptation of Robert Jordan's fantasy series, The Wheel of Time, despite improvements in its second season and a memorable third season episode. The decision comes amid concerns over production costs and the series' lack of critical acclaim compared to Game of Thrones. Meanwhile, iwot Games is developing a video game adaptation of The Wheel of Time, announced in April, which is being led by Craig Alexander and aims to create a triple-A, open-world RPG that honors the source material. The team includes experienced designers from notable titles. The previous Wheel of Time game was released in 1999. The Rhuidean episode from season three is highlighted as a standout piece of television that may attract renewed interest in the series.