evaluation Archives

AppWizard

April 6, 2025

Pentagon inspector general investigating Hegseth’s use of Signal messaging app

DoD's acting Inspector General, Steven Stebbins, is reviewing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal app for operational airstrike discussions in Yemen to evaluate compliance with policies on commercial messaging for official communications and classification mandates. Concurrently, House Oversight Committee Democrats are investigating the Department of Government Efficiency's data usage, while OPM is directing agencies to revise performance review processes to prioritize adherence to presidential policies. The Defense Department has mandated public reporting of canceled contracts linked to Trump's efficiency initiatives. The SSA is tightening identity-proofing requirements for benefit applications, discontinuing phone verification options. During a nomination hearing, Trump’s nominees for OPM and OMB faced questions regarding federal workforce reductions. The Army has abandoned plans for a billion-dollar software development contract after feedback on draft RFPs. Employees at the IMLS have been placed on administrative leave amid concerns over the agency's future and grant disbursement obligations following Trump's executive order aimed at eliminating smaller entities.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Daily Update: AEW-Minecraft, Adam Copeland, Maria Kanellis

The latest issue of the Wrestling Observer includes updates on the John Cena/Cody Rhodes interview and WrestleMania plans, WBD's interest in UFC, a recap of the New Japan Cup, the announcement of the 2024 Gaspard/Huber award winners, ratings analysis, insights into CMLL’s upcoming event, a report on AAA champion's suspension, details on a WWE superstar's drug test failure, retirement notes regarding Homicide, updates on El Hijo del Santo’s retirement tour, news from Border City Wrestling, Mandy Rose's business aspirations, updates on AEW Dynasty, a lawsuit involving Ryan Nemeth against AEW, WWE's strategies against AEW, Lex Luger's Hall of Fame candidacy, evaluations of Dwayne Johnson’s ownership stake in TKO, Vince McMahon’s ownership valuation, injury updates, and developmental news. AEW's Dynamite will feature "A Minecraft Movie" as the presenting sponsor, with promotional content produced with The Outrunners. Adam Copeland expressed no regrets about joining AEW and emphasized his focus on the company's needs. Saraya discussed her departure from AEW on Busted Open Radio. Matt Hardy highlighted the importance of mentoring young talent. Maria Kanellis-Bennett announced a recent medical procedure. Tom Pestock has joined Busted Open Radio as a host. Cedric Alexander will appear on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. Ultimo Guerrero will participate in MLW Battle Riot VII on April 5. House of Glory is expanding its wrestling academy with a new training school in Orlando, Florida, opening in May.

Winsage

March 26, 2025

Lilbits: AI-enhanced search for Windows PCs and Amazon’s Big Spring Sale

Recent advancements in laptop technology have introduced high-performance neural processing units from manufacturers like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, enabling on-device artificial intelligence applications. Microsoft initially planned to launch its Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs but delayed it due to privacy concerns. Microsoft is now testing a new AI-enhanced search function that allows users to search for files, settings, or documents by description. Additionally, Microsoft is rolling out Local Semantic Search to Windows Insiders with Intel or AMD-powered Copilot+ PCs, which allows searching by description in File Explorer, Windows Search, or Settings, and can be disabled for certain folders.

Tech Optimizer

March 25, 2025

Kapersky Internet Security and Antivirus Review 2025

Kaspersky Anti-Virus features a user-friendly interface organized into four main sections: scan, database update, reports, and an on-screen keyboard. The on-screen keyboard enhances privacy when entering sensitive data, protecting against keyloggers. The Reports section provides an overview of scanning activities and includes data from the System Watcher feature, which can mitigate malware attacks. The Database Update section allows for automatic updates to keep the software current with the latest threats, with options for manual scheduling. The scan menu includes a Quick Scan that completes in about seven minutes and a Full Scan that can take several hours; both scans detected all actual malware during testing. Additional scanning options include selective scans and removable drive scans. The software allows for high customization, including a "Gamer Mode" that defers scheduled scans during full-screen applications. It also postpones tasks during battery operation or high disk activity and offers an option to opt out of promotional offers.

Tech Optimizer

March 19, 2025

TotalAV vs Surfshark VPN: Features Comparison Guide

eSecurity Planet maintains editorial independence and may earn revenue through affiliate links. TotalAV is an antivirus solution with basic VPN functionality, while Surfshark specializes in VPN services. TotalAV: - Overall Rating: 2.8/5 - Pricing: 3.7/5 - Features: 2.7/5 - Usability: 3.7/5 - Security: 2/5 - Customer Support: 2.1/5 - Offers essential antivirus protection and basic VPN features, but lacks the capabilities of a dedicated VPN service. Surfshark: - Overall Rating: 4.5/5 - Pricing: 4.8/5 - Features: 4.3/5 - Usability: 5/5 - Security: 4.5/5 - Customer Support: 3.7/5 - Provides advanced features like multihop connections and IP address rotation, with positive customer feedback despite some support challenges. Pricing Comparison: - TotalAV: Premium plan for the first year; renews at a higher rate. - Surfshark: Starter plan at .49/month billed annually. Feature Comparison: - TotalAV includes a kill switch and split tunneling; lacks rotating IP addresses and multi-hop VPN. - Surfshark includes all features of TotalAV plus advanced capabilities. Usability: - TotalAV supports Windows, Mac, iOS, Android; lacks extensive user documentation. - Surfshark supports multiple operating systems and offers training resources. Security: - TotalAV's encryption and audit policies are unclear. - Surfshark uses AES-256 encryption and has undergone multiple independent audits. Customer Support: - TotalAV offers email support; lacks live chat and community forums. - Surfshark provides 24/7 live chat and email support, along with an official Reddit community. Alternatives: - NordVPN starts at .99/month and includes essential and advanced features. - ExpressVPN offers comprehensive features at .32/month. Evaluation Methodology: The comparison was based on pricing, features, usability, security, and customer support.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PC Patch 5 Released, Bringing Various Performance & Optimization Improves

Nixxes has released Title Update 5 for the PC version of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which includes performance enhancements and optimizations. Key updates include: - Upgrade of DirectStorage to version 1.2.3 to reduce stuttering during city traversal, especially for GPUs with less than 8GB of VRAM. - Optimized performance when playing as Venom, fighting Symbiotes, and in related cinematics. - Improved DLSS Ray Reconstruction to reduce noise in shadows of facial details. - Fixes for UI issues during Prowler side quests when frame generation and upscaling were enabled. - Resolved issues with the Hunter Blinds minigame controls and Photo Mode responsiveness. - Improvements to screen space reflections to prevent flickering when viewing large bodies of water. - Various crash fixes, stability improvements, and performance optimizations. - Enhancements related to ray-traced reflections, ambient occlusion, and shadows. - General user interface bug fixes and improvements.

Tech Optimizer

March 10, 2025

The best Android antivirus in 2025: Save 50% on Avast Mobile Security

Avast Mobile Security is offering a 50% discount on its annual paid plans for the first year, effective March 10. The discounted prices are £42.50 for Premium Security and £69.99 for Avast One Gold. Premium Security includes features like virus and malware blocking, app monitoring, an advanced firewall, and protection against fraudulent websites. Avast One Gold offers all Premium Security features plus an unlimited VPN, online account breach monitoring, automatic driver updates, and device cleanup assistance. After the first year, Premium Security will renew at the standard price unless cancelled.

Tech Optimizer

March 9, 2025

Do Macs Really Need Antivirus? The Truth About Mac Security in 2025

Mac users have historically believed their computers are immune to viruses and malware, but this notion may be outdated as cyber threats evolve. The rise in popularity of Macs has attracted cybercriminals, leading to the development of sophisticated malware and ransomware specifically targeting Mac operating systems. Phishing attacks have also become more prevalent, using impersonation tactics to extract sensitive information from users. Built-in security features like Gatekeeper and XProtect provide some protection, but experts now recommend considering third-party antivirus solutions for enhanced security, especially when handling private information, downloading from unverified sources, or using Macs in business environments. While some users worry that antivirus programs may slow down their systems, modern options are designed to be more efficient. Ultimately, the decision to use antivirus software depends on individual digital habits and risk tolerance.

AppWizard

March 7, 2025

What does ‘good performance’ really mean in the context of PC gaming?

Performance in gaming is a complex topic, with debates on the importance of frame rates and visual fidelity. Some gamers prefer a steady 30 FPS, while others aim for 120 FPS or more. Newer games do not always guarantee better performance, as advanced rendering techniques can be resource-intensive. Frame rate alone is an inadequate measure of performance; both frame rate and frame time data should be considered. A flat frame-time graph is crucial for good performance, as spikes indicate stutters. Achieving a stable frame rate, such as 60 FPS on a 120 Hz display, is preferable to fluctuating rates. Performance targets should align with the monitor's refresh rate, and tools like G-Sync and RivaTuner can help optimize gaming experiences.

Tech Optimizer

February 27, 2025

Upgrade strategies for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL 12

Standard support for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL version 12 will end on February 28, 2025. The final update for PostgreSQL 12, version 12.22, was released on November 21, 2024. PostgreSQL follows an annual major version release cycle, supporting each version for five years post-release. Upgrading to newer major versions requires careful planning and testing to ensure application compatibility. New features in higher PostgreSQL versions include performance improvements, enhanced security, and new functionalities. Aurora PostgreSQL now supports AWS Graviton4 instances, which provide up to 40% performance improvement over Graviton3 instances. Recommended upgrades include moving to PostgreSQL 16 or newer, with options for in-place upgrades, blue/green deployments, and out-of-place upgrades. Amazon RDS Extended Support allows continued operation on a major version beyond the standard support end date, available at an additional cost. Extended Support for Aurora PostgreSQL 12.x and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL 12.x will incur charges starting March 1, 2025, and will cease upon upgrading.