ETA Prime has announced a new partnership with a major electronics manufacturer to create exclusive content showcasing their latest products and providing in-depth reviews for their audience.
Fans of the Half-Life franchise are eagerly anticipating the potential release of Half-Life 3, which has not been officially announced despite ongoing speculation. Recent rumors suggested that it might be unveiled alongside Valve's Steam Machine, scheduled for commercial launch in early 2026. Game journalist Mike Straw indicated that industry insiders believe Half-Life 3 could be a launch title for the Steam Machine. Valve has not confirmed a specific launch date or pricing for the Steam Machine, only stating it will be available in early 2026 and priced similarly to a DIY gaming PC.
Tactical Breach Wizards begins with defenestration, combining strategy and whimsy. Scrabdackle features a defenestrative attack as part of its charming, hand-drawn RPG, reminiscent of classic 2D Zelda games. The game includes screen-by-screen exploration, environmental puzzles, and various items to discover. Its aesthetic reflects the dedication of its developer, jakefriend, and incorporates clever mechanics and surprises. The first chapter of Scrabdackle offers a complete experience, blending narrative and exploration with an old-school vibe and modern mechanics, making it particularly enjoyable on the Steam Deck.
Syncthing, an open-source file synchronization tool, faced discontinuation of its official Android app in late 2024 due to Google's strict Play Store policies and lack of maintenance. In response, the community developed the Syncthing-Fork as an alternative, which integrates the core Syncthing engine and offers enhancements for Android users. The fork's development is now maintained under the researchxxl/syncthing-android repository on GitHub, addressing issues like file synchronization problems caused by Android's battery optimization features. Users have reported sync failures during device sleep, prompting discussions on workarounds. The fork has received positive feedback for its regular updates and compatibility with other tools, although challenges remain, such as intermittent issues with larger file transfers. Community involvement has been crucial for ongoing development, with contributors exploring new features and improvements. The fork is also available on F-Droid, providing an open-source distribution option.
Valve has unveiled the Steam Machine, a compact console-style PC that is six inches in size and has over six times the processing power of the Steam Deck. The pricing strategy for the Steam Machine will align with similarly spec'd PCs rather than undercutting competitors like PlayStation and Xbox. The exact price is still under consideration, but Valve aims to offer a competitive deal reflecting the current PC market. Current-generation console prices include the PS5 ranging from 9 to 9, the PS5 Pro at around 9, and the Xbox Series X starting at 9. Analysts suggest the success of the Steam Machine will depend on its pricing, as its specifications may not match high-end gaming PCs. Further details on the final price and availability are anticipated for next year.
MGA’s Miniverse has collaborated with Minecraft to launch the Make It Mini Minecraft line, a collection of 12 miniature DIY collectibles that allows fans to build and customize in-game tools, weapons, and accessories. Each blind-packaged capsule contains various miniature items inspired by the game, including TNT, pickaxes, food items, and crafting materials. The collection is aimed at fans aged eight and up, encouraging creativity and hands-on play. The products are available on the MGA’s Miniverse website, and fans can share their creations using the hashtag #MiniverseMinecraft. For trade inquiries, contact details are provided.
The back-connect motherboard design allows users to connect cables from the back, reducing clutter. The proposed BTF 3.0 standard, supported by Asus, aims to eliminate power supply cables by introducing a PCIe slot-like edge connector for power connections. This connector can handle over 2000W, accommodating a 200W CPU and a 600W GPU. BTF graphics cards will include an additional edge connector for power, and a riser card will ensure compatibility with existing graphics cards. DIY-APE has also proposed a new standard for headers connecting USB-C and other front panel features to the motherboard. A prototype has been developed in collaboration with Colorful and Sego, showcasing a design that enhances airflow and aesthetics.
Enterprises are modernizing their databases due to latency issues, the need for global uptime, and licensing pressures. PostgreSQL is emerging as a preferred alternative to traditional database solutions like Oracle and SAP, focusing on reliability, control, and efficient management of modern workloads, including AI and edge applications. pgEdge, an open-source Postgres vendor, emphasizes that migration to PostgreSQL is about ensuring flexibility and avoiding vendor lock-in. PostgreSQL's governance model, independent of any single company, is a significant advantage, particularly in light of licensing audits and forced upgrades.
PostgreSQL has a large developer community and is a mainstream enterprise technology, with tools like pgAdmin widely used. Concerns about operational burdens with open source are addressed by extensions like pgEdge, which enhance PostgreSQL's capabilities for high availability and seamless multi-cloud deployment. pgEdge operationalizes PostgreSQL for distributed use, automating upgrades, backups, and point-in-time recovery, leading to a lower total cost of ownership compared to proprietary models.
Modern applications require edge-native databases to operate close to users, reducing latency. pgEdge supports multimaster PostgreSQL across geographically distributed clusters, allowing local read and write capabilities while maintaining data consistency. It builds on PostgreSQL’s logical replication without forking it, ensuring compatibility and consistency.
pgEdge facilitates database automation on Kubernetes, managing backups, recovery, and upgrades, making it easier for platform teams. Organizations can start with a simple setup and scale to a multiregion architecture as needed, using the same PostgreSQL stack throughout. pgEdge offers container builds that cater to enterprise needs for geospatial intelligence and AI workflows.
As AI applications increasingly run at the edge, pgEdge provides the necessary performance and coherence for edge-native AI. PostgreSQL's SQL compatibility and ACID compliance ease the migration process from systems like Oracle and SAP. The extensive user base across various sectors simplifies hiring PostgreSQL expertise.
Combining PostgreSQL with pgEdge offers a strategic modernization pathway for enterprises needing reliable, Kubernetes-native operations and AI-ready extensions, freeing them from vendor lock-in and high licensing costs. This integration transforms PostgreSQL into a globally distributed, cloud-native control plane for data, benefiting architects, CFOs, and developers alike.
MGA Entertainment has launched the MGA’s Miniverse™ Make It Mini™ Minecraft™ collection, a line of miniature DIY collectibles that allows fans to build and customize real-life versions of iconic Minecraft tools, weapons, and items. Each blind-packaged capsule contains miniature blocks, tools, and accessories, with 12 unique miniatures available to collect. The collection is priced at .99 and will be available starting November 1 at major retailers including Target, Amazon, Walmart, and the MGA Shop. The interactive experience is designed for ages 8 and up. Fans can share their creations using the hashtag #MiniverseMinecraft.
MGA Entertainment has launched the Miniverse Make It Mini Minecraft collection, featuring mystery capsules filled with miniature DIY collectibles that reflect the aesthetics and items of Minecraft. Each capsule contains blocks, tools, weapons, and accessories, allowing fans to recreate elements from the game. There are 12 unique minis to collect, aimed at enthusiasts aged 8 and older. The collection is available at retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart, with each capsule priced at an MSRP of .99.
