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AppWizard

June 17, 2025

FBC: Firebreak review

Firebreak is a cooperative shooter set to be released on June 17, 2025, priced at £33, developed and published by Remedy Entertainment. The game features players as 'Firebreakers,' janitors in rubber suits tasked with resolving maintenance challenges while battling the Hiss, a hostile force. It is set within The Oldest House, the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Control, and consists of five distinct jobs with various objectives. The gameplay emphasizes trial and error, with a mix of chaotic encounters and peculiar tasks, such as repairing air conditioning units and collecting sticky notes. Firebreak has been reviewed on an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 with an Nvidia 2080 Super and 32 GB RAM, and is verified for Steam Deck. The game lacks extensive tutorials, potentially disadvantaging newcomers. Balancing issues affect gameplay, with fluctuating difficulty levels and some jobs being less successful than others. A clearance system intended to enhance replayability may lead to player fatigue. Despite its current challenges, there is potential for improvement with future updates.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

What’s the best Crisis Kit to pick in FBC: Firebreak?

The game FBC: Firebreak allows players to choose from three Crisis Kits at the start, which can be switched in the loadout menu for strategic flexibility. Players engage in tasks within the Federal Bureau of Control, using the unique abilities of each kit: the Fix Kit for repairs, the Jump Kit for energizing devices, and the Splash Kit for extinguishing fires. The Fix Kit is identified as the most versatile, particularly effective during the Hot Fix job, featuring a wrench that expedites tasks, a Swivel Cannon for damage, and an ultimate upgrade that creates a whirlwind effect. The Splash Kit provides healing and fire extinguishing capabilities but is limited in job scenarios. The Jump Kit is considered less effective, with abilities that often fail to perform as intended, despite having a powerful ultimate augment.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

FBC: Firebreak best weapons tier list

FBC: Firebreak features six weapons at launch, with a tier list categorizing them based on effectiveness against the Hiss. The starting weapons—Revolver, Submachine Gun, and Double-Barrel Shotgun—are independent of the Crisis Kit selection. Players can expand their arsenal by collecting samples and unlocking higher-tier versions through the requisition menu. The tier list is as follows: - S-tier: Machine Gun (Unlock: Page 4), Pump-Action Shotgun (Unlock: Page 5) - A-tier: Revolver (Unlock: Straightaway), Submachine Gun (Unlock: Straightaway) - B-tier: Double-Barrel Shotgun (Unlock: Straightaway) - C-tier: Bolt-Action Rifle (Unlock: Page 1) The Machine Gun is effective for headshots with substantial ammo capacity. The Pump-Action Shotgun is versatile with high damage and useful projectile spread. The Revolver offers impressive stopping power but has limited ammo. The Submachine Gun has a higher ammo capacity but is less effective against heavier foes. The Double-Barrel Shotgun has high damage but limited shots before reloading. The Bolt-Action Rifle is less effective in close quarters due to slow reload time.

Tech Optimizer

June 16, 2025

Norton Antivirus Review 2025: Solid Value for Fast, Effective Protection

Norton Antivirus has a score of 8.6 out of 10 and was established in 1982. The Norton 360 Deluxe package includes features such as real-time protection, manual and automated scans, the Genie Scam Detector, a password manager, and 2GB of cloud backups. It offers four plans: Norton Antivirus Plus, Norton 360 Standard, Norton 360 Deluxe, and Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Plus, each with varying identity protection features and cloud backup space. The installation process is user-friendly, and the software operates efficiently, using minimal CPU and disk space. Norton has maintained a perfect security ranking from AV-Test for over a decade but has experienced a data breach in the past five years. Customer support includes a knowledge base, community forum, and 24/7 live chat and phone support, with an overall customer support score of 8 out of 10. Norton’s pricing is competitive, particularly for higher-tier plans, resulting in a value ranking of 8 out of 10.

AppWizard

June 15, 2025

How to change app icons on any Android phone

App icons on stock Android cannot be changed directly, requiring third-party tools and icon packs for customization. To change app icons on an Android phone, users need a shortcut maker app or a third-party app launcher, along with an icon pack. To change icons individually, users can use a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher. The process involves installing the icon pack, setting up the launcher, long-pressing the app icon, selecting the pencil icon, choosing the icon pack, and selecting the desired icon. To change all app icons with an icon pack, users can install Nova Launcher, long-press a blank area on the home screen, go to Settings, navigate to Look & feel, tap Icon style, select Icon theme, and choose the icon pack. Some icon packs allow direct application if compatible with the device or launcher. With Android 12's Material You, users can theme icons based on their wallpaper by enabling the Themed icons option in the Wallpapers and style section. Samsung users can acquire icon packs through the Samsung Galaxy Theme Store by selecting the Themes option, browsing for icon packs, and applying them. However, these packs may not theme every icon in the app drawer. Good Lock's Theme Park extension allows for more customization by creating personalized icon packs. Users can download Good Lock and Theme Park, select Create New in the Icon tab, choose icon shapes and colors, and apply the new icon pack. Certain applications, like Textra and Pulse SMS, allow users to change the app icon natively. While some tools enable renaming apps, system-wide renaming is not possible without root access.

Tech Optimizer

June 14, 2025

Hackers are sneaking malware into your browser using Google’s link, and antivirus software can’t stop it

A new browser-based malware campaign exploits trusted domains like Google.com to bypass traditional antivirus defenses. The malware operates through an e-commerce site using a manipulated Google OAuth logout URL, which executes an obfuscated JavaScript payload. This script activates silently during checkout or when the browser appears automated, opening a WebSocket connection to a malicious server. Payloads are dynamically executed using JavaScript, enhancing the threat's effectiveness. The attack evades detection by many antivirus programs due to its obfuscation and conditional activation. DNS filters and firewall rules offer limited protection since the initial request goes to a legitimate domain. Advanced users may use content inspection proxies or behavioral analysis tools to detect anomalies, but average users remain vulnerable. Recommendations to mitigate risks include limiting third-party scripts and maintaining separate browser sessions for financial transactions.

AppWizard

June 14, 2025

The FPS genre is addicted to sprinting and clambering, but Halo just proved we’re better off without them

Halo Infinite remains active in 2025, with new content from Halo Studios, including battle passes, weapons, and community-driven map packs. A recent event celebrating Halo 3 features the return of iconic armor sets and remakes of eleven classic maps in a special playlist. The new mode eliminates sprinting and clambering, reintroduces player collision, and enhances jump height, fostering a slower, more strategic gameplay experience. Players must master movement without the automatic ledge-catching feature, rediscovering techniques like crouch-jumping. The game starts with an SMG, emphasizing strategic depth and encouraging players to reconsider their weapon choices. This shift raises questions about the franchise's direction and highlights the potential benefits of returning to classic mechanics.

Tech Optimizer

June 12, 2025

‘Postgres Has Won’

Databricks has launched Lakebase, a fully managed Postgres database, during the Data + AI Summit 2025. Lakebase is currently in public preview and integrates with Databricks' Data Intelligence Platform, targeting AI-driven application development. It introduces an operational layer to the lakehouse ecosystem, allowing developers to build AI applications on a multi-cloud platform. The database architecture, powered by Neon, separates compute from storage for independent scaling, ensuring low latency and high concurrency. Lakebase supports rapid deployment and a usage-based pricing model, and features include copy-on-write clones for development and testing. Databricks aims to create a new category in the database market with Lakebase, which is built on open-source Postgres and compatible with existing tools. The operational database market is valued at over 0 billion, and recent surveys indicate PostgreSQL's rising popularity among developers. The launch follows Snowflake's acquisition of Crunchy Data to enhance its Postgres offerings, indicating a trend towards PostgreSQL in the industry.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

T-Mobile’s T-Life App: Why User Frustration Continues (Despite Updates)

T-Mobile's T-Life app has faced significant criticism from employees and customers since its launch, despite updates aimed at improving functionality. Users report challenges with the app, including unclear and impractical functions. One user experienced difficulty after accidentally deleting their eSIM, as the app did not provide a solution and required a visit to a physical store for assistance. T-Mobile has encouraged customers to use the app for self-service tasks, but reports indicate that employees must report instances when customers refuse to use it. The transition to the app has created friction and raised questions about its effectiveness.

Tech Optimizer

June 11, 2025

Malwarebytes Plus antivirus review

Malwarebytes Plus is a straightforward antivirus software priced at approximately .99 per year, offering protection for three devices across Mac, Windows, iOS, or Android platforms. It also has a family plan for up to ten devices at .99 per year and a Teams package for businesses protecting 20 devices or more at 9.99 per year. The subscription includes a VPN with no data transfer limits but lacks a password manager. Users can schedule quick scans and access advanced settings for specific vulnerabilities. The application runs efficiently in the background, with quick scans taking around 26 seconds. It features real-time protection against ransomware and exploits, but offers limited privacy options and identity threat protection primarily as an incentive to upgrade. The interface is clean but may be less user-friendly compared to competitors. Malwarebytes Plus provides 24/7 support via email, chat, and phone, including remediation guidance for specific viruses.