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5 best racing games to play on PC (2025) | Esports News - The Times of India
AppWizard
February 22, 2025

5 best racing games to play on PC (2025) | Esports News – The Times of India

Forza Horizon 5 features diverse gameplay modes, breathtaking visuals, and a vibrant Mexican backdrop, with an innovative EventLab for custom tracks. Dirt 5 offers a fun racing experience reminiscent of 90s games, focusing on high-speed escapism rather than realism. Need for Speed: Heat includes solid racing mechanics, police chases, and extensive car customization, featuring a unique day-and-night cycle in Palm City. Assetto Corsa EVO, launching on January 16th, 2025, provides photorealistic graphics, an expanded roster of tracks and cars, and the open-world Nürburgring region. Ridge Racer Unbounded introduces chaotic gameplay with vehicular and environmental destruction in the fictional Shatter Bay, focusing on accumulating collateral damage points for progression.
Microsoft's new Edge Add-ons site might keep you away from the Chrome Web Store
Winsage
February 22, 2025

Microsoft’s new Edge Add-ons site might keep you away from the Chrome Web Store

Microsoft has enhanced the user experience of its Edge browser by integrating Chrome extensions and promoting its redesigned Edge Add-ons website, which improves navigation and usability. The updated site features enhanced autosuggestions for finding and installing extensions, including a "Get" button for direct installation. While Edge can run Google Chrome extensions, some users prefer the Edge Add-ons store for a Microsoft-centric experience. Certain extensions remain exclusive to the Chrome Web Store, as developers often prioritize Chrome due to its larger market share. Users can access these extensions through the Chrome Web Store on various Chromium-based browsers, including Edge. Currently, extensions like uBlock Origin work on Edge, but their future compatibility is uncertain.
5 reasons why Windows isn't the best OS for productivity
Winsage
February 22, 2025

5 reasons why Windows isn’t the best OS for productivity

Operating systems significantly influence user interactions with computers, accommodating various preferences. Windows is the most widely used operating system for traditional desktops but has several productivity limitations: 1. Windows installations often come with excessive pre-installed applications (bloatware), unlike macOS and most Linux distributions, which have minimal bloatware. 2. Windows lacks built-in productivity software, requiring users to purchase Microsoft Office or use alternatives, while macOS includes basic applications and Linux offers LibreOffice for free. 3. Windows does not have an integrated local file-sharing solution comparable to Apple's AirDrop, making file transfers between devices more cumbersome. 4. Keyboard and touchpad shortcuts in Windows are less intuitive and consistent compared to macOS, which can hinder productivity for users accustomed to macOS gestures. 5. Windows is a primary target for malware due to its widespread use, leading to a higher risk of system compromise compared to macOS and Linux, which encounter less malware.
How Mindbody improved query latency and optimized costs using Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL Optimized Reads
Tech Optimizer
February 22, 2025

How Mindbody improved query latency and optimized costs using Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL Optimized Reads

Mindbody utilizes a cloud-based platform for the fitness and wellness industry, offering services such as client booking, scheduling, payments, marketing, and analytics. Their email marketing platform is built on an Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, currently at version 13.8, with a size of approximately 17 TB and a workload distribution of 80% reads and 20% writes. Mindbody faced scaling and performance challenges due to architectural limitations and increasing data demands, leading to all workloads being directed to the writer node. The average BufferCacheHitRatio was below 80%, indicating frequent disk access rather than cache hits, contributing to higher query latencies and I/O costs. To address these issues, Mindbody adopted Aurora Optimized Reads, which enhances caching capacity and improves latency and throughput for I/O-intensive workloads. Transitioning required upgrading the database cluster to version 14.9 or higher, and extensive testing was conducted in a proof-of-concept environment. The upgrade process involved a blue/green deployment strategy to minimize production disruption. After implementing Aurora Optimized Reads, Mindbody experienced significant performance improvements, including a 50% reduction in average daily CPU utilization and a 90% reduction in ReadIOPS. The AuroraOptimizedReadsCacheHitRatio indicated that 85% of read requests were served from the optimized cache. Cost analysis revealed a 23% reduction in monthly Aurora costs post-transition, with potential for further savings by downsizing instances.
PC gamers are getting console-exclusive features for GTA 5
AppWizard
February 22, 2025

PC gamers are getting console-exclusive features for GTA 5

Rockstar Games will release a complimentary update for Grand Theft Auto V on PC on March 4, enhancing the game with features previously exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The update includes access to new vehicles and performance upgrades at Hao’s Special Works, improved animal encounters, the option to purchase a GTA+ Membership, and significant graphics improvements with faster loading times. The game will utilize modern hardware capabilities, recognizing SSDs and DirectStorage for quicker load times, and will support AMD FSR1, FSR3, and NVIDIA DLSS 3 for enhanced visual fidelity.
Ex-Amazon Gaming Exec Explains Why No One Has Beaten Steam
AppWizard
February 22, 2025

Ex-Amazon Gaming Exec Explains Why No One Has Beaten Steam

Valve's Steam has dominated the PC gaming market for nearly two decades, despite various attempts by companies like Amazon to challenge its supremacy. Ethan Evans, former VP of Prime Gaming at Amazon, shared insights on their unsuccessful efforts to disrupt Steam, which included acquiring Reflexive Entertainment, developing a PC game store leveraging Twitch, and launching the Luna game streaming service. Other major publishers such as EA, Ubisoft, and Bethesda also failed to establish competitive storefronts. The Epic Games Store, launched in 2017, has not positioned itself as a true rival to Steam. Evans noted that Amazon underestimated the reasons consumers use Steam, which combines a store, social network, library, and trophy case. Despite criticisms of Steam, its ecosystem and features have reinforced its dominance, while alternatives have struggled to gain traction.
Windows upgrades to Start, Search, and Share might arrive sooner than you expect
Winsage
February 22, 2025

Windows upgrades to Start, Search, and Share might arrive sooner than you expect

A new Drag Tray feature allows users to share files by dragging them to a tray at the top of the screen, simplifying the sharing process. The Start menu can now be customized with a Grid view or a Category view for easier navigation. Windows Search has been updated to allow users to find images by typing a description instead of the file name, including images stored in the cloud. This search enhancement is currently available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel models expected soon.
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