design Archives

AppWizard

June 21, 2026

The best D&D videogame you’ve never played is one guy’s outsider art, personal Baldur’s Gate saga

Swordflight is a mod campaign for Neverwinter Nights, developed by Rogueknight333 since 2008. It consists of multiple modules, with the latest released in 2022, focusing on low-level gameplay and character customization. The mod emphasizes strategic gameplay through resource management, extending potion durations and limiting resting opportunities. Its narrative features moral dilemmas and character interactions influenced by race, class, and alignment, creating a dynamic environment. Swordflight is compatible with the Enhanced Edition of Neverwinter Nights and can be downloaded for free from the Neverwinter Vault. Players can support the developer through Patreon.

AppWizard

June 21, 2026

Doom And Duke Nukem 3D Composer Bobby Prince Dies At 81

Bobby Prince, a significant figure in classic PC gaming, passed away at the age of 81. He was a composer and sound designer known for his work with Apogee/3D Realms and id Software, contributing music to iconic games such as Doom, Wolfenstein, Duke Nukem, and Commander Keen. Originally trained as a lawyer, he transitioned to video game music after connecting with Scott Miller from Apogee. His work on Doom, characterized by heavy riffs and innovative sound design, earned a place in the Library of Congress for preservation. Prince also composed music for Duke Nukem 3D and was recognized as a pioneer in game music, sharing his expertise through articles and presentations at gaming conferences.

AppWizard

June 21, 2026

Commodore Callback 8020 Retro Flip Phone Runs Android Apps

The Commodore Callback 8020 is a Sailfish OS flip phone designed to block browsers and social media, while retaining essential features like maps, messaging, music, and calls. It operates on Sailfish OS and can run over 99% of Android apps through a sandboxed Android AppSupport layer. The device lacks Google Play Services and the Play Store but comes preloaded with WhatsApp and supports various applications such as Signal, Telegram, and mapping services. It blocks web browsers and major social media applications at the system level, and email and work-related apps are excluded from the app store. The Callback 8020 features a clamshell design, T9-style texting, a 48MP rear camera, FM radio, and comes in multiple retro-inspired finishes. Preorders will start on June 30 at a price of 9.99, with shipping expected to begin in winter.

Winsage

June 20, 2026

I spent an entire day with a fan-mod of North Korea’s homegrown operating system, and I’m sorry to say it’s not a Windows killer yet

RedStar OS 3.0 is a national Linux distribution from North Korea, designed primarily for the DPRK's intranet, Kwangmyong. The modified version, RedStar OS 3.5, claims to enhance the original by removing spyware and providing easier access to root privileges. The author faced challenges in accessing the system, implementing a 64-bit kernel, and connecting to the broader internet due to the OS's limitations. Attempts to run the game Tux Racer were unsuccessful due to compatibility issues, resulting in a system with only basic applications available. The overall experience highlighted the shortcomings of RedStar OS 3.5 in terms of practical usability, especially for gaming.

Winsage

June 20, 2026

Microsoft’s AI strategy feels like a beta test — at the expense of Windows and Office

Microsoft has shifted its focus towards generative AI, beginning with its investment in OpenAI in 2019. CEO Satya Nadella has indicated a departure from the company's traditional software-centric vision, emphasizing the need for transformation in light of the AI revolution. The adoption of Windows 11 has been slow, with a survey showing that 30% of HP PCs still run Windows 10, which will reach the end of support on October 14, 2025. Organizations like The Restart Project are helping users transition to Windows 11, while critics argue that Microsoft's upgrade requirements lead to premature obsolescence of functional PCs. Microsoft has launched the Windows K2 program to address user feedback and is exploring an agentic AI operating system. In response to potential EU antitrust fines, Microsoft has unbundled Teams from Office 365, offering a lower-cost option without the collaboration tool. This move has led to a lawsuit from Salesforce, alleging anticompetitive practices. Alternatives like LibreOffice and Euro-Office are emerging, but experts believe they pose limited immediate threats. Additionally, the French government plans to shift from Windows to Linux and replace Microsoft Teams with a domestic platform by 2027. Microsoft's AI initiatives have faced challenges, including backlash over the automatic installation of the Copilot AI app, which was temporarily suspended due to user complaints. Shareholders have filed a class action lawsuit, claiming the company overstated Copilot's success and failed to disclose a revenue decline in Azure. Analysts warn that continued investment in AI without meeting expectations may lead to significant challenges for Microsoft. Reports suggest that Azure was rushed to market, resulting in talent loss and performance issues.

AppWizard

June 20, 2026

Gungrave G.O.R.E. Blood Heat Looks to Refine a Solid Action-Game Foundation

Gungrave G.O.R.E: Bloodheat is a remaster/remake of the original Gungrave G.O.R.E, set to improve the player experience by revamping combat mechanics. The developers have made significant changes, such as reducing gun range to encourage close-quarters combat and enhancing melee experiences. IGGYMOB's acquisition of the Gungrave IP has allowed for closer collaboration with series creator Yasuhiro Nightow, who has influenced gameplay mechanics, including the removal of the BEAT system to promote diverse combat strategies. The game aims to create a more dynamic and engaging combat experience, moving away from monotonous gameplay loops. Early impressions indicate a more exhilarating experience compared to the original game.

AppWizard

June 20, 2026

This 1986 Japanese adventure game showing up on Steam in 2026 guarantees it makes my GOTY list—you’ve really got to play it

Pasokon Retro highlights the rediscovery of the action-adventure game Relics, originally released in 1986 by Bothtec for platforms like MSX and PC-88/98. The game features distinctive blue and yellow graphics and a modest frame rate, offering players a unique experience filled with bizarre scenarios. Players encounter various challenges, including character deaths that require restarts, and the game’s design allows for different outcomes based on player choices. Relics concludes in a cyclical manner, emphasizing exploration and personal growth. It has recently debuted on Steam, inviting new players to engage with its unconventional gameplay.

TrendTechie

June 20, 2026

Что такое торрент, как он работает и можно ли им пользоваться

Downloading a Linux distribution from the official website typically takes about half an hour, but during high-demand periods, such as new Ubuntu releases, speeds can drastically decrease due to server overload. Torrents, which use a peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol, allow users to download and share data simultaneously, reducing the load on a single server. Torrents operate by enabling direct exchanges between users through the BitTorrent protocol, where files are divided into smaller pieces and downloaded in parallel from multiple sources. Key terms include peers (users with parts of the file), seeds (users who have fully downloaded the file), .torrent files (metadata files), and magnet links (text-based alternatives to .torrent files). The BitTorrent protocol does not rely on a central server, enhancing resilience as files can continue to circulate as long as at least one seed is available. To use torrents, a torrent client is needed, with recommended options for 2026 including qBittorrent, Transmission, and BiglyBT. The BitTorrent technology itself is legal, but legality depends on the content being shared. Legal uses include downloading Linux distributions, open-source software, and scientific datasets, while unlicensed movies and cracked software are illegal. In Russia, while torrent technology is not prohibited, downloading copyrighted content without permission is a violation. Risks of using torrents include exposure to viruses and malware, copyright infringement, fake distributions, and IP address exposure. To protect oneself, users should choose moderated trackers, avoid suspicious files, use antivirus software, and limit upload speeds. Common problems include slow speeds, connection issues, and disappearing files, which can often be resolved by checking settings or ensuring there are seeds available. Sharing files after downloading is not legally mandatory but is considered good etiquette in the torrent community.

Tech Optimizer

June 20, 2026

How Five PostgreSQL Optimizations Sped Up Our Dashboard

The dashboard operates on a Django monolith with PostgreSQL and is transitioning to ClickHouse for denormalization. The initial p50 metric was 0.7 seconds, but the p95 was 8 seconds, which was reduced to 1 second. Observability tools were established to monitor performance, and slow HTTP requests were identified using OpenTelemetry traces. Optimization techniques included late joining, asynchronous counting, creating a PostgreSQL replica for read operations, and improving full-text search. Denormalization was explored to enhance filtering performance by creating composite indexes. The production stack was upgraded to PostgreSQL 18, which provided incremental performance improvements. The final p95 value achieved was 1 second, below the target of 3 seconds.

Tech Optimizer

June 20, 2026

Neoclouds, sovereign AI and Postgres: The new operating model for regulated enterprises

Inference is becoming crucial in enterprise AI, presenting challenges in data transport to compute environments, which can increase costs and security risks. Enterprises aim to maintain data integrity and avoid multiple copies. Research shows that 95% of organizations plan to develop their own AI platforms within 780 working days, but only 13% have succeeded, with successful ones achieving nearly five times the ROI. Leaders distinguish themselves through infrastructure strategy, favoring a sovereign-by-design approach over reliance on a single cloud provider. Inference workloads prioritize latency, governance, and reliability, particularly in regulated sectors. Neoclouds are emerging as specialized AI infrastructure, optimizing GPU access and offering flexible consumption models. Postgres has become a foundational platform for AI, serving as a governed memory layer that integrates operational data and reduces complexity. Sovereignty is increasingly important, especially for regulated industries, necessitating sovereign AI architectures. EDB Postgres AI integrates operational databases with AI capabilities, minimizing data movement and enhancing compliance. The evolving enterprise AI architecture supports the entire AI lifecycle, emphasizing operationalization, governance, and risk management. Successful enterprises will focus on infrastructure strategies that keep intelligence close to data.