customers Archives

Winsage

March 4, 2026

Stolen Microsoft Office and Windows keys land a Florida woman with 22 months in prison and a $50,000 fine — after she ironically stored them in Excel spreadsheets

Heidi Richards, a 52-year-old entrepreneur, has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for trafficking thousands of stolen Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels through her e-commerce venture, "Trinity Software Distribution." She has also been ordered to pay a 0,000 fine for her company. The COA labels, which verify the authenticity of Microsoft software, are not intended for standalone sale. Between July 2018 and January 2023, Richards and her accomplices acquired tens of thousands of legitimate Windows 10 and Microsoft Office COA labels, generating ,148,181.50 in revenue by selling extracted product key codes.

Winsage

March 4, 2026

Stolen Office and Windows keys land Florida woman with 22 months in prison

Heidi Richards has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for trafficking stolen Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels through her e-commerce business, "Trinity Software Distribution." She has also been ordered to pay a ,000 fine. The COA labels are issued by Microsoft to verify software authenticity and are not meant to be sold separately. Between July 2018 and January 2023, Richards and her associates procured tens of thousands of genuine Windows 10 and Microsoft Office COA labels, generating ,148,181.50 in revenue by selling extracted product key codes globally.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Best Android game and app deals for Galaxy 26 pre-order day: Agent A, Down in Bermuda, more

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 series, including the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra, have started. Customers can save up to 0, receive off accessories, and get complimentary Galaxy Buds. Notable discounted Android games include "Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise" and "Down in Bermuda." Additional offers include free credit towards accessories, up to 0 in trade-in value primarily for the S26 Ultra, and up to 0 off Galaxy S26 devices. More details are available on Samsung's official site.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Numo Launches Bitcoin Tap-to-Pay App For Merchants

Numo has introduced a tap-to-pay point-of-sale app that allows merchants to accept Bitcoin payments without additional hardware, utilizing the Cashu open-source ecash protocol. The app is available for free as an open-source Android download, with plans for a Google Play Store release. It uses NFC technology for quick transactions, enabling customers to pay via a Cashu wallet interacting with an NFC tag on the merchant's device. Payments are settled in Cashu ecash, which can be automatically transferred to a merchant's Lightning address once a specified balance is reached. Numo also supports Lightning invoices and offers features like inventory management, payment history tracking, offline payment support, and tipping options. The app has no platform fees and is developed under the MIT license, aiming to simplify Bitcoin payments for merchants. Cashu employs blind signatures for privacy-preserving custodial payments and connects independent mints over the Lightning Network.

Winsage

February 25, 2026

Microsoft gives Windows laggards the ‘gift of time’ wrapped in licensing fees

Microsoft is offering up to three years of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for older Windows installations, with the expectation of compensation. Most major versions of Windows 10 will reach end of support by 2025, while Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB and Windows IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 will end support on October 13, 2026, and Windows Server 2016 will conclude support on January 12, 2027. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2025 for Windows Server 2016 users. The pricing for ESU for Windows 10 2016 LTSB starts at a specified amount per device for the first year, with expected increases in subsequent years. Customers using Intune or Windows Autopatch may receive a reduced rate. There is no official pricing for Windows Server 2016 ESU, creating uncertainty for administrators. Historically, Microsoft has charged a premium for extended support, with previous ESU costs for Windows Server 2012 being 100 percent of the full license price for the first year. The final cost of ESU will depend on each organization’s licensing agreement.

Winsage

February 23, 2026

De-Enshittify Windows 11: Microsoft Copilot and AI ⭐

Windows 11 was introduced amid concerns of user experience degradation, termed "enshittification," due to frequent updates and feature changes. Microsoft initially promised to shift from biannual to annual feature updates, but instead adopted a "continuous innovation" model, leading to monthly updates that compromised quality. The introduction of Copilot in early 2023 marked a significant change in strategy, but enterprise customers could delay updates, creating a conflict for Microsoft. In an unusual move, Microsoft released many features of Windows 11 version 23H2 early through a monthly security update, disregarding enterprise needs. The quality of updates declined as AI features were rushed, and the updates, initially called "Moments," became frustrating for users. Microsoft ensured all supported Windows 11 versions received the same features, allowing enterprises to stay on older versions while accessing new features. The Copilot+ PC initiative in mid-2024 aimed to boost hardware sales but created disparities in feature availability. The Recall feature faced backlash over privacy concerns, leading Microsoft to shift it to an opt-in feature. Partial solutions for managing AI features, like Win11Debloat, allow users to remove certain functionalities, including Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot, while others require more complex removal processes.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

A Minecraft Movie 2

A leading tech firm has formed a strategic partnership with a prominent financial institution to integrate advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning into the financial services sector. The collaboration aims to enhance customer experience by providing personalized financial solutions, streamlining operations, and improving security. Customers can expect benefits such as enhanced user experience, personalized financial insights, and increased security measures. Both companies are committed to transparency and collaboration throughout the partnership.

Tech Optimizer

February 23, 2026

Databricks Introduces Lakebase, a PostgreSQL Database for AI Workloads

Databricks has launched Lakebase, a serverless database solution based on PostgreSQL that allows independent scaling of compute and storage resources. It integrates with the Databricks platform, combining transactional and analytical functionalities. Lakebase aims to simplify real-time application and AI workload development by consolidating database management, analytics, and governance. Key features include instant data branching, point-in-time recovery, and unified access controls. It is designed to address the limitations of traditional operational databases, which struggle with modern AI demands. Lakebase offers a managed PostgreSQL service, supporting up to 8TB per instance and featuring pgvector for AI-driven search. It has been in development since June 2025, utilizing technology from the PostgreSQL company Neon and enhanced by the acquisition of Mooncake. Lakebase is available in Autoscaling and Provisioned versions, with the Autoscaling version billed based on usage. It is currently available on AWS, in public preview on Azure, and expected on Google Cloud later this year. SOC2 and HIPAA certifications are projected for early 2026.

Tech Optimizer

February 23, 2026

O2 launches McAfee Protect Advanced, a unique security package built exclusively for O2 customers and packed full of award-winning features to protect the whole family

O2 has launched McAfee Protect Advanced, a security solution for its customers available through O2 Extras. This service addresses parents' concerns about children's online safety, with 76% worried about excessive screen time and 78% about misinformation. McAfee Protect Advanced includes features such as AI-powered antivirus, parental controls, a text scam detector, personal data cleanup, and a social privacy manager. O2 customers can access the service for free for the first six months with an Ultimate Plan upgrade or new sign-up, while existing customers can add it for £4.99 per month. The offering allows protection for up to ten devices and enhances O2's existing security measures.

Winsage

February 22, 2026

Opinion: Windows 11 isn’t the disaster some claim – and it’s time to say so

Windows 11 has faced challenges, including a comprehensive list of top issues identified in 2025, but it is not uniquely unstable compared to earlier versions like Windows 95, 98, XP, 7, and 10. Recent headlines have highlighted various problems such as printer malfunctions and performance issues, but these are often exaggerated due to increased visibility. Historically, Windows has experienced similar cycles of instability, and the perception of widespread failure today is amplified by rapid documentation of minor issues. User trust in Windows has eroded, with skepticism about performance stemming from cumulative updates and the personal impact of issues on over a billion users. The focus should shift to improving predictability and transparency regarding updates rather than solely counting bugs. Windows 11's frequency of out-of-band updates is comparable to that of Windows 7 and 10, with improved mechanisms for addressing problems quickly. Gamers continue to adopt Windows 11 due to enhanced CPU scheduling, improved GPU performance, and features like Auto HDR and DirectStorage. Microsoft is committed to further improving the gaming experience. The scale of Windows operations, with over a billion users and multiple concurrent releases, contributes to occasional anomalies. Despite criticisms, most Windows 11 systems operate without significant issues, performing adequately for daily tasks and gaming. Microsoft has announced plans for enhancements, including bug fixes, performance improvements, and security upgrades, indicating that Windows 11 remains a solid choice for users.