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AppWizard

April 18, 2026

Google builds on its hotel price tracking for Android with a summer update

Google is launching a hotel discovery update that enhances its previous offerings from the summer of 2025. Starting April 17, users can search for specific hotels by name and monitor price fluctuations, receiving alerts via email. The update also broadens the Agentic Booking feature to more countries, including the U.S., allowing users to use AI Mode for booking restaurants. The focus of this update is on refining hotel price tracking, enabling users to receive notifications if prices drop for any hotel in their destination cities.

Tech Optimizer

April 18, 2026

Avast Antivirus: Free Protection Faces Premium Competition Pressure

Avast Antivirus offers a free version with features like real-time scanning, malware detection, a ransomware shield, and network security, appealing to budget-conscious users on multiple platforms. It has a lightweight design, regular updates, and community-driven threat intelligence. Gen Digital acquired Avast in 2022 and integrated it into its cybersecurity portfolio, focusing on transitioning users from free to premium services and emphasizing AI-driven threat detection. Avast faces competition from free alternatives like Windows Defender and premium solutions such as Bitdefender and Kaspersky, while regulatory scrutiny affects all providers. The demand for antivirus tools is driven by rising ransomware attacks and data breaches, with remote work increasing the need for endpoint protection. Risks for users include performance issues on older devices, false positives, data privacy concerns, and potential subscription traps. Future updates may incorporate more AI features, and partnerships with hardware manufacturers could expand Avast's market reach.

Tech Optimizer

April 17, 2026

EDB Spearheads the Year of the Agentic Workforce with Industry Recognition, Ecosystem Momentum, and Continued Postgres® Leadership

EnterpriseDB (EDB) announced that its product, EDB Postgres AI (EDB PG AI), won the "Data Management Innovation of the Year" at the 2026 Data Breakthrough Awards. EDB PG AI is recognized for transforming Postgres into a unified data and AI platform, facilitating hybrid management and observability across workloads. EDB contributes 30% to the open-source Postgres project, leading contributions among commercial entities. EDB PG AI was highlighted at the NVIDIA GTC 2026 and received multiple accolades, including recognition in CRN's 2026 AI 100 and Sustainability Innovation of the Year. EDB hosts a podcast, AI & Data Horizons, featuring industry experts discussing responsible AI use and data sovereignty. EDB PG AI is described as the first open, enterprise-grade sovereign data and AI platform, capable of unifying various workloads while ensuring compliance and security.

Tech Optimizer

April 16, 2026

Trend Micro Security Suite Pro Plus Review 2026: Is It The Best Protection?

The review of Trend Micro Security Suite Pro Plus highlights its features, pricing, and performance. The subscription costs A.95 for a 12-month period and includes multi-device antivirus protection, anti-scam software, a VPN, and identity theft protection. The pricing structure for other plans ranges from A.95 for Maximum Security to A9.95 for Security Suite Ultimate. Key features include AI-scam detection, gamer mode, and Folder Shield for ransomware protection. The installation process requires separate logins for each component, which is seen as outdated. The user interface is functional but minimalistic, and compatibility extends to Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. The VPN is developed in-house, and phishing protection is provided through a browser extension. Lab tests show mixed results, with Trend Micro performing well in real-time web threat protection but lagging in offline malware detection. Overall, it is considered a competitively priced option for online security.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Ex Ashes of Creation boss Steven Sharif claims he was advised against a $250 million proposal from Riot Games to buy the MMORPG

Steven Sharif, former founder and game director of Intrepid Studios, alleges a "deliberate misinformation and defamation campaign" against him amid ongoing legal battles with investors led by Robert Dawson. He claims to have received a 0 million acquisition offer from Riot Games, which he was advised to reject. Sharif posted a 3,700-word statement on Reddit, including court filings with witness declarations from former staff and statements from investors. Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill clarified that while they considered acquiring Intrepid, they ultimately decided not to proceed. Sharif accuses Dawson of orchestrating a defamation effort and claims that investor Jason Caramanis sought to intimidate him. Additionally, TFE Games Holdings has filed a separate lawsuit against Sharif for allegedly misappropriating funds. Sharif asserts that he believed the company was financially stable before its shutdown and that access to financial details was limited after a control shift in 2024.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Introducing the ultimate college bundle: built for student life

Eligible U.S. students can access significant discounts on select Windows 11 PCs and the Microsoft College Offer, which includes over 0 in complimentary value. This offer provides a full year of Microsoft 365 Premium, a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a complimentary design-your-own Xbox Wireless Controller. Notable discounted PCs include the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x for 9, HP OmniBook X Flip for 9, and HP Victus for 9. Students can find qualifying devices from brands like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft Surface at various retailers. Additionally, 86% of students report using AI to support their studies, and Microsoft 365 Premium includes features like Copilot for organizing notes, aiding in budget tracking, generating presentation drafts, and summarizing emails. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers access to hundreds of games, including new titles like Forza Horizon 6, with unlimited cloud gaming.

Tech Optimizer

April 15, 2026

Bitdefender Total Security

Bitdefender Total Security includes features such as a network security inspector, advanced ransomware defense, a hardened browser, and an active Do Not Track system. It offers a two-tier pricing model: an individual subscription for .99 per year for five licenses and a family subscription for .99 for 25 licenses, which includes parental controls. The software features an interface similar to Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, with user-configurable buttons for quick access to features. It boasts high scores from independent antivirus testing labs and excels in malware protection and antiphishing tests. Bitdefender includes a SecurePass password manager, firewall protection, spam filtering, webcam protection, and cryptomining protection. The parental control features allow parents to manage their children's online activities, but they may not be as effective as dedicated solutions. Bitdefender Total Security provides protection for macOS and Android, with high ratings for its performance on these platforms. The Android app includes malware scanning, web protection, and anti-theft features. The Bitdefender Central app allows users to manage their security settings from mobile devices.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Tags messenger app

A subsidiary of VnExpress operates under license number 71/GP-CBC, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on September 22, 2021. The Editor-in-Chief is Pham Van Hieu. Contact information includes the email evne@vnexpress.net and phone number 028 7300 9999 - Ext 8556. The office is located at FPT Tower, 10 Pham Van Bach Street, Dich Vong Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Microsoft shuts down Android Outlook app

Microsoft will retire Outlook Lite for Android on May 25, 2026, after which users will no longer be able to access emails through the app. New downloads of Outlook Lite ceased in October 2025. Users will be guided to transition to the full Outlook app, and their accounts and data will remain intact. Outlook Lite was designed for low-end devices and had over 10 million downloads in its first year but struggled in the market. The trend of phasing out Lite applications is seen as a response to improved smartphone capabilities and internet connectivity. Users have just over a month to transition before the official retirement of Outlook Lite.

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

Microsoft Is Killing Outlook Lite

Microsoft is retiring the Outlook Lite app for Android, with the official end-of-life date set for May 25, 2026. Outlook Lite was introduced in 2022 for smartphones with lower processing power and slower internet connectivity. Microsoft announced the decision to discontinue it back in September, and downloads were halted on October 6 of the previous year. Users are encouraged to transition to the primary Outlook for Android app, which can meet the needs of most users due to improvements in network speeds and device capabilities. An "Upgrade" option is available within the Outlook Lite app to facilitate this transition.