Development Archives

Tech Optimizer

June 3, 2025

Snowflake acquires Crunchy Data for enterprise-grade PostgreSQL to counter Databricks’ Neon buy

Snowflake and Databricks are both integrating PostgreSQL into their offerings, but with different strategic focuses. Snowflake targets large enterprises with an emphasis on enterprise readiness, integration, and governance. In contrast, Databricks focuses on a serverless, cloud-native PostgreSQL optimized for AI agent development and low-latency transactions, appealing to developers and startups. Additionally, Snowflake's integration of PostgreSQL within its AI Data Cloud aims to merge operational and analytical workloads on a single platform, reflecting a broader industry trend toward creating data intelligence platforms.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Splitgate 2’s official launch is just days away as devs tease ‘a massive surprise’ which will be unveiled at Summer Game Fest

Splitgate 2 has entered its open beta phase, launched in early May, with the official release of version 1.0 scheduled for June 6. 1047 Games has released a new trailer that explores the emotional complexities of a character from the Sabrask faction dealing with perpetual resurrection. The character learns to reconcile with their fate, improving their performance and teamwork. The trailer concludes with the message “Get up,” emphasizing resilience in competitive gaming. The open beta remains active until the official launch, allowing players to explore the game and purchase exclusive cosmetics. A significant announcement related to Splitgate 2 is expected during the Summer Game Fest livestream.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Jajaja! Microsoft finally gives up pestering EU users about goddamn Edge

Microsoft has been designated as a "gatekeeper" by the European Commission under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), effective September 2023. This designation requires Microsoft to comply with specific measures, including publishing annual reports on its DMA obligations. As part of its compliance, Microsoft has allowed Windows users in the European Economic Area to uninstall the Microsoft Store while keeping previously installed applications functional and updated. Microsoft has also removed persistent prompts to set Microsoft Edge as the default browser, allowing users more autonomy in their choices. When Edge is uninstalled, other Microsoft applications will not prompt users to reinstall it, except for Progressive Web Apps that use Edge technology from the Microsoft Store.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Windows 11 is getting some big upgrades to tackle dreaded boot failures – and help novices set up their new PC

Windows 11 has released a new preview build, 26200.5622, in the Dev channel, introducing several features aimed at improving user experience. Key additions include Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) for recovering from boot failures, a PC-to-PC migration feature for easier transitions to new devices, a new option in Phone Link to mirror Android phone screens from the Start menu, enhancements to the widgets board with a navigation bar, and a Click to Do feature for drafting text in Word using Copilot on Copilot+ PCs. These features are in early testing and may be included in the upcoming Windows 11 25H2 release.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Nvidia GPUs are broken in one of the most demanding new PC games, says developer

Nvidia users with RTX 40-series and 50-series GPUs may experience crashes when launching the Hell is Us demo, prompting Rogue Factor to recommend lowering graphics settings and disabling upscaling and frame generation options before starting the game. The developer is working on a patch ahead of the game's official release on September 4. Previous titles have also faced similar issues, with suggestions for Nvidia users to roll back driver installations due to ongoing driver stability challenges. The crashing issue is tentatively linked to Nvidia's DLSS technology, which has been implicated in crashes across various games. The system requirements for Hell is Us indicate that an RTX 4090 is necessary for 4K gameplay at 30 fps, while an RTX 2080 Ti is recommended for 60 fps at 1080p.

BetaBeacon

June 3, 2025

Forget PS3, you can already emulate these PS4 games

The ShadPS4 emulator has expanded its compatibility list, allowing users to play popular titles such as Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2. The emulator is still in early stages, with potential graphical glitches and crashes, but marks a significant achievement in PS4 game emulation on Windows.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Microsoft agrees that USB is a mess and it’s making changes to fix it: ‘Manufacturers can implement ports that look identical but differ wildly in functionality’

Microsoft is implementing new standards to enhance the reliability of USB connections, particularly for devices that comply with the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP). All WHCP-compliant hardware with USB Type-C must use USB-IF-certified silicon, ensuring efficient charging and support for DisplayPort Alt-Mode for additional monitors. USB4 certification requires a maximum data speed of 40 Gbps, up to 15 W of power for accessories, support for dual 4K displays at 60 Hz, and compatibility with PCIe and Thunderbolt 3. Testing is conducted through Microsoft's Hardware Lab Kit (HLK), and certification is paused if issues arise during testing. This initiative aims to clarify USB Type-C port capabilities and improve consumer confidence in WHCP-certified devices.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Meta and Yandex are de-anonymizing Android users’ web browsing identifiers

Recent developments in browser technology have raised concerns about user privacy and data tracking by companies like Meta and Yandex. In response, several Android browsers are enhancing user privacy by blocking abusive JavaScript linked to web trackers. DuckDuckGo has implemented measures to block domains and IP addresses associated with trackers, preventing the transmission of identifiers to Meta and restricting access to Yandex Metrica. Following feedback, DuckDuckGo's developers updated their blacklist to include missing addresses. The Brave browser uses extensive blocklists to prevent identifier sharing and blocks requests to localhost without user consent. Vivaldi forwards identifiers to local Android ports by default but allows users to adjust settings to block trackers. Researchers warn that these solutions may not be foolproof and emphasize the ongoing challenge of maintaining effective blocklists. Chrome and most other Chromium-based browsers execute JavaScript as intended by Meta and Yandex, while Firefox has faced challenges with SDP munging and has not yet announced plans to address this behavior.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Adobe launches all-new Photoshop app for Android, available now

Adobe has launched a new Photoshop mobile app for Android users, fulfilling a promise made in February. The app features tools such as selections, layers, masks, Tap Select, Spot Healing Brush, Firefly-powered generative AI features, Object Select, Magic Wand, Remove, Clone Stamp, and advanced blend modes. It also includes tutorials for users. The app is available for devices running Android 11 and later, and the beta phase offers features at no cost, though the duration of the beta and potential subscription costs are not yet known.

Tech Optimizer

June 3, 2025

Snowflake targets PostgreSQL gains with Crunchy Data acquisition – here’s what it means for customers

Snowflake intends to acquire Crunchy Data, a provider of open-source Postgres solutions, to enhance the development of secure agentic AI. This announcement was made at the Snowflake Summit in San Francisco, where the integration of Snowflake Postgres into the AI Data Cloud service was discussed. The acquisition aims to merge Postgres capabilities with improved security and governance features, addressing the demand for enterprise-grade Postgres solutions. Crunchy Data's expertise in FedRAMP compliant environments is expected to enhance developer productivity and meet security and compliance needs. PostgreSQL is widely used among developers, and the integration aims to streamline its enterprise utilization, particularly for AI applications. Clients using PostgreSQL can expect improved operational efficiency and a competitive edge in AI development.