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AppWizard
September 20, 2026
YouTube users on Android have been experiencing a persistent bug since April that affects the full-screen landscape mode, causing suggested video thumbnails to overlap the bottom of the screen and obscure the progress bar and video timer. This issue makes it impossible for users to scrub through videos. The problem was first reported by a user in April, and complaints have continued to grow. A recent discussion included suggestions from someone claiming to be a Google employee, such as closing the app, ensuring it is updated, switching video orientations, checking if the bug is specific to certain videos, and using the mobile website as an alternative. Users are advised to report the issue through the app's settings. The bug remains unresolved after nearly five months.
AppWizard
September 20, 2026
Recent reports indicate that the Gemini smart home control feature in Android Auto has stopped functioning for many users, similar to issues previously experienced by Wear OS users. Despite Google announcing a fix for Wear OS, the cause of the Android Auto malfunction remains unclear. Users have reported that commands for smart home devices, such as turning on air conditioning, are not working, with Gemini providing a message that it "cannot control smart home devices through Google Maps while driving." Some users have reverted to Google Assistant for reliability, as commands still work within the Gemini app. The exact cause of the disruptions is under investigation, with speculation about a potential server-side bug or unannounced changes in functionality. Efforts to obtain a statement from Google are ongoing.
Tech Optimizer
September 19, 2026
For nearly two months, Windows 11 users received persistent notifications from the Windows Security app falsely indicating that Microsoft Defender was disabled, despite it functioning properly. This issue, which began in early August, has been addressed with a security update from Microsoft. The false alerts affected all versions of Windows 11, Windows Server, and Windows 10, and were linked to a bug introduced with a recent Defender security update. Microsoft confirmed that no manual action is required from users to resolve the issue, as the fix will be automatically deployed to all PCs with mandatory security updates enabled. The problem was resolved in the Microsoft Defender Antivirus update (version 4.18.26080.4), released on September 17, 2026. Users can verify the status of Defender by checking Windows Security or using a PowerShell command.
AppWizard
September 15, 2026
Players in the game Wardogs exhibit a strong aversion to the Blue faction, Lonestar, often chanting “Anything but blue” during team selection. This sentiment is reflected in community discussions, with humorous posts highlighting Lonestar's sparse player roster and rebranding factions based on difficulty levels. Anecdotal evidence suggests that players actively avoid joining Blue, resulting in delays for matches to start. In matches played as Lonestar, players report overwhelming defeats, with opposing teams quickly establishing fortified positions. Theories explaining Lonestar's negative reputation include its conspicuous blue attire, a strategic disadvantage due to its starting position, and a self-fulfilling prophecy where negative experiences lead to fewer players choosing Blue.
AppWizard
September 14, 2026
LG asserts that its smart TVs do not secretly record or transmit user conversations, clarifying that listening for a wake word does not mean recording conversations. Audio without the wake word is discarded locally and not sent to LG servers. The company uses technology that listens for a specific wake word and processes audio only after recognition. LG's Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology, which enhances user experience, relies on audio fingerprinting and requires user consent to activate. Users can disable ACR in TV settings. This privacy debate follows a previous incident involving unsolicited promotional pop-ups from LG monitors, which led to intervention from Microsoft.
Tech Optimizer
September 14, 2026
The encryption landscape has shifted significantly, with Microsoft’s BitLocker and Apple’s FileVault becoming the primary free and integrated solutions for disk encryption. Organizations are encouraged to focus on comprehensive management capabilities rather than just acquiring encryption technology. Key management, compliance proof for auditors, and consistent policy enforcement across devices are critical. Native encryption solutions do not provide fleet-wide compliance, centralized key escrow, or advanced pre-boot authentication options. Various management models exist for different organizational needs, including options from Microsoft, Sophos, ESET, Trend Micro, Check Point, Trellix, WinMagic, Broadcom (Symantec), Dell, and Kaspersky. It is essential to ensure proper key management and recovery procedures before enforcing encryption to avoid data loss. Organizations should verify claims of compatibility and effectiveness of encryption solutions, especially regarding pre-boot authentication and cryptographic standards. Native encryption solutions are free, but management layers typically incur costs. Open-source solutions like VeraCrypt lack necessary management features, making them impractical for businesses.
Tech Optimizer
September 11, 2026
Lakebase Postgres employs a disaggregated storage model that enhances data management through efficient caching, utilizing an object store like S3 for backups. The caching operates on two layers: within distributed storage for optimizing write and read performance, and on the Postgres compute side for ultra-fast access to frequently accessed pages. Traditional Postgres caching involves shared buffers and the OS page cache, which leads to double buffering and inefficiencies. Lakebase Postgres addresses these issues by implementing a local file cache (LFC) and larger shared buffers, allowing for more effective memory utilization without the drawbacks of the OS page cache. The shared buffers are set to a maximum of 1 GB, while the LFC can utilize up to 75% of DRAM. The introduction of huge pages reduces memory management overhead and improves performance, resulting in significant throughput increases and reduced latency in production environments. Recent enhancements have shown up to 2× throughput improvements and substantial reductions in CPU usage. The focus is now on extending these benefits to autoscaling Postgres computes, with plans to implement dynamic shared buffers and autoscaling huge pages.
AppWizard
September 11, 2026
Sony is moving towards a discless future, raising concerns about game distribution and pricing control. The upcoming release of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will have a physical disc version but will require a digital download for certain components, causing mixed feelings among fans. Director Naoki Hamaguchi acknowledged the importance of physical media while explaining that the digital download was necessary to maintain the game's quality, as compromising on disc size would affect fidelity. This situation illustrates the tension between technological advancement and the desire for tangible ownership in gaming.
AppWizard
September 9, 2026
A new hotfix for The Blood of Dawnwalker has been released, focusing on stability improvements, resolving progression blockers, and fixing controller-related frame rate drops. Key enhancements include: - Improved game stability. - Resolved tutorial progress issues with the Voracious Bite ability. - Fixed character Coen becoming trapped in buildings. - Enabled dialogue between Crake and Coen during training. - Prevented dead NPCs from initiating conversations. - Addressed blocking issues under specific conditions. - Resolved game saving problems. - Ocha will no longer attack Coen when guards are present. - Fixed a bug causing Coen to get stuck in a cave during the "Deep Down" quest. - Ensured Murohn spawns correctly. - Corrected premature ending of a solution in the "Hive and Seek" quest. - Resolved infinite loading screens in the "On the Run" quest. - Accurate display of difficulty level for "A Lone Wolf's Hunt." - Fixed a soft-lock issue after following Sara. - Investigating the rag in the "Smoke and Ashes" quest is now optional. - Resolved a blocker in "The Heart Wants What It Wants" quest. - Coen and Iorgu will drink from cups at lower graphical settings. - Removed the red pipe asset. - Fixed music stopping during the prologue. - Fixed frame rate drops from outdated GameInput software. - Torches will no longer grow uncontrollably. - Resolved issues with Quality preset mods. - Fixed VSync issues with FSR Frame Generation. The hotfix is now live on Steam.
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