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I got murdered by a ladybug in Neverway, and that cemented it as the only game I care about this year
AppWizard
April 9, 2026

I got murdered by a ladybug in Neverway, and that cemented it as the only game I care about this year

Neverway is a debut game by Coldblood Inc. that combines elements of a farming simulator with a darker narrative focused on self-reflection, mental health struggles, and spiritual rebirth. The protagonist, Fiona, deals with the aftermath of losing her job and experiences feelings of manic depression as she navigates a city filled with hostility. The gameplay involves a mix of combat mechanics and strategic thinking, where players can unlock new abilities by forming bonds with island inhabitants. The game features a dynamic soundtrack composed by Disasterpiece, enhancing the emotional experience. Neverway is set to be released in 2026 and has garnered anticipation for its unique blend of genres and immersive storytelling.
Conspiracy Theories Are Eclipsing the Real Dangers of Russia’s Messaging App Max
AppWizard
April 9, 2026

Conspiracy Theories Are Eclipsing the Real Dangers of Russia’s Messaging App Max

Russia's state-run messaging app, Max, allows authorities to monitor personal messages and calls extensively. Many Russians continue to use WhatsApp and Telegram, which are out of government reach. Following a WhatsApp ban, the government is considering restrictions on Telegram. Intelligence agencies have created bots on Telegram that can lead to legal consequences for users. The Max app offers complete surveillance of messages, photos, and calls without such provocations. Despite efforts to make Max appealing through features like age verification and integration with Gosuslugi, users are reluctant to switch from existing platforms. The government has attempted to position Max as the primary communication tool by potentially eliminating competitors, but Telegram's popularity remains a significant barrier. Recent decisions have eased restrictions on Telegram, and officials now emphasize that using Max is "optional." Some users, including officials, prefer to use Max on separate devices for security. Concerns about Max's geolocation capabilities and its access to other applications are often exaggerated, and the app has faced scrutiny regarding surveillance practices. Developers have reduced checks on VPN usage, but public distrust persists. Many users focus on the risks posed by Max while neglecting other security vulnerabilities. Effective risk mitigation requires a rational assessment of threats and increased digital literacy.
Microsoft rolls out fix for broken Windows Start Menu search
Winsage
April 8, 2026

Microsoft rolls out fix for broken Windows Start Menu search

Microsoft has implemented a server-side remedy for an issue affecting the Windows Start Menu search functionality on select Windows 11 23H2 devices, which began impacting users on April 6. The problem was linked to a server-side Bing update aimed at improving search performance. Microsoft has rolled back the problematic Bing update and expects search issues to decrease as the fix is deployed. Users have reported blank search results in the Start Menu, but options remain clickable. Microsoft confirmed that the issue will resolve automatically with the rollout of the fix, provided devices are connected to the internet and Web Search is enabled. Additionally, there have been previous Start Menu-related issues, including crashes and error messages, with Microsoft working on permanent solutions for these problems.
PostgreSQL cost model: estimating the cost of flushing temp buffers to disk
Tech Optimizer
March 29, 2026

PostgreSQL cost model: estimating the cost of flushing temp buffers to disk

The project focuses on enabling temporary tables in PostgreSQL's parallel query execution by benchmarking sequential writes and reads of temporary buffers. Functions were introduced to measure buffer flush operations, and tests were conducted to estimate the cost of flushing temporary table buffer pages to disk. Findings indicate that sequential writes are about 30% slower than reads, leading to a proposed cost model. Temporary tables have limited parallel usage due to their function as relational variables and the complexity of parallel workers accessing the leader process's local state. Two enterprise PostgreSQL distributions already support parallel operations on temporary tables, and discussions on logical replication of DDL highlight the need for improved tooling for temporary tables. A significant challenge is that temporary buffer pages are local to the leader process, and if not flushed to disk, parallel workers cannot access them. A comment from 2015 suggests flushing the leader's temporary buffers to disk before parallel operations to allow workers to scan the table in parallel. However, this raises concerns about the cost of writing buffers versus the benefits of parallelism. The benchmarking toolkit includes modifications to PostgreSQL to facilitate measurement of local buffers. Two key commits added statistics infrastructure to track allocated and dirty local buffers and UI functions to manage buffer operations. The methodology involves creating a temporary table, flushing buffers, measuring I/O, and evaluating scan overhead. The tests reveal that the cost of writing a temporary table approximates the cost of a sequential page, leading to a proposed formula for flushing costs. The results show that larger buffer sizes lead to higher write overhead and increased variability. A comprehensive formula for pre-flushing temp buffers is suggested, factoring in the number of dirtied and allocated local buffers. Next steps include adding planner flags for temporary objects, implementing executor support for worker access to temporary table storage, introducing a temp-buffer flush operation, and integrating the cost model into the planner for parallel scans of temporary tables.
Windows 95's self-healing tricks saved Microsoft's retro OS from rogue installations — A "fix it after they break it" strategy
Winsage
March 27, 2026

Windows 95’s self-healing tricks saved Microsoft’s retro OS from rogue installations — A “fix it after they break it” strategy

Raymond Chen, a software engineer at Microsoft, shared insights on the Windows 95 operating system, highlighting its rigorous testing phase that caused cash registers to crash, affecting over ,000 worth of software. He discussed issues with software installers that downgraded crucial system files, which Windows 95 addressed by creating a hidden backup directory at C:WindowsSYSBCKUP. This system checked version numbers of replaced files, restoring original files if necessary. Chen noted that blocking installer permissions would have led to complications, so Microsoft allowed installers to operate while implementing a system to check for and fix any damage. Over time, some components began shipping with their own installers, influencing developers' practices.
Windows 95 let installers trash its files then fixed the mess behind their backs
Winsage
March 25, 2026

Windows 95 let installers trash its files then fixed the mess behind their backs

Microsoft veteran Raymond Chen discussed how Windows 95 handled installers that overwrote crucial system files. The operating system was designed to allow installers to compare version numbers, permitting overwrites only if the new file had a higher version. However, many installers ignored this rule, often replacing Windows 95 components with outdated Windows 3.1 versions, causing significant system issues. Windows 95's commitment to backward compatibility meant that preventing file operations could disrupt installers, leading to installation failures or error messages for users. To address these challenges, Microsoft created a hidden directory, c:windowssysbckup, to store commonly overwritten files. After an installation, Windows would check version numbers and replace lower versions with higher ones, maintaining system integrity despite third-party installer chaos.
Microsoft says, for once, Windows update isn't to blame for Galaxy Book4 laptops losing access to C: drive — the Galaxy Connect app was the culprit, and it's been taken down from Microsoft Store
Winsage
March 24, 2026

Microsoft says, for once, Windows update isn’t to blame for Galaxy Book4 laptops losing access to C: drive — the Galaxy Connect app was the culprit, and it’s been taken down from Microsoft Store

In early February, users of Samsung's Galaxy Book4 laptops reported storage issues, specifically error messages stating, "C: is not accessible," which locked them out of their primary drive. Investigations by Microsoft and Samsung identified the Galaxy Connect app, preinstalled on these devices, as the cause of the problem due to its interaction with Windows that revoked permissions. Reports of the issue surfaced before the February 2026 security update for Windows 11, which was initially suspected to be the trigger. Microsoft acknowledged the problem on its website about ten days prior to March 16, when it was marked as "externally resolved." To help affected users, Microsoft provided a recovery article and both companies removed the Galaxy Connect app from their stores, replacing it with an older version. Only users who experienced the issue need to take action to restore their systems.
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