fees

Winsage
July 11, 2025
The end-of-support date for Windows 10 is October 14, 2025, after which Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, security, or reliability fixes. Users can continue using Windows 10 without updates at their own risk, buy new PCs or rent virtual PCs through Windows 365, switch to a Linux distribution or ChromeOS Flex, sign up for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for continued security updates, or attempt to upgrade incompatible hardware to Windows 11 through specific methods.
AppWizard
July 10, 2025
The Precise Volume app for Android has introduced a redesigned volume interface that aligns with the upcoming Android 16. Users can activate this new interface by enabling the Volume Button Override feature, which is available only in the Pro version of the app priced at .49. The app offers up to 1,000 distinct volume steps, compared to the native interface's 15 to 20 steps, allowing for more precise audio adjustments. Additional features of the Pro version include reverb control, unlimited volume presets, and Bluetooth automation, with a one-time purchase model that avoids recurring subscription fees. The app is available for download on Google Play.
AppWizard
July 9, 2025
Microsoft is planning layoffs that could affect over 9,000 employees, about four percent of its global workforce of 228,000. These layoffs are impacting various gaming studios and projects. The company is shifting its strategy towards artificial intelligence and reducing focus on hardware sales within the Xbox division. Concerns have been raised about the profitability of Xbox and PC Game Pass, with claims that Game Pass may not be as financially successful as previously thought. Christopher Dring noted that the profitability calculations for Game Pass do not include first-party development costs, which could significantly alter the perception of its financial success. A Microsoft spokesperson stated that the layoffs are part of efforts to align with business demands and improve organizational efficiency.
Winsage
July 7, 2025
Popular Science readers can acquire Windows 11 Pro keys for .97 until July 20 or while supplies last, a significant discount from the typical retail price of 9. Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Windows 11 Pro includes features such as BitLocker encryption, Windows Sandbox, Azure AD, Hyper-V, a revamped user interface, Windows Copilot AI assistance, Smart App Control, TPM 2.0, and DirectX 12 Ultimate. The offer provides a lifetime license with no future fees.
Tech Optimizer
July 4, 2025
Percona has introduced Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) for PostgreSQL as a fully open-source and production-ready solution, enabling organizations to encrypt data at rest and comply with regulations like PCI DSS v4.0 without incurring licensing fees. The TDE extension, named pg_tde, is now part of the Percona Distribution for PostgreSQL and addresses barriers to adopting enterprise-level data encryption in open-source environments. Key features include encryption of all database files on disk, granular encryption policies, seamless integration into existing systems, and streamlined key management with major Key Management Services. The solution supports online key rotation and has minimal performance impact. Percona also provides 24/7 assistance for setup and management, making the solution accessible to organizations of all sizes.
Tech Optimizer
July 2, 2025
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) is a method for securing data at the storage layer, which PostgreSQL lacks in its open-source version. Percona has developed a TDE extension called pg_tde, included in the Percona Distribution for PostgreSQL, and aims to integrate it into the main PostgreSQL distribution. The extension is beneficial for organizations needing to comply with regulations like GDPR. EDB also offers a TDE solution, but only within its licensed products. Percona's TDE provides enterprise-grade data-at-rest protection without licensing fees. The extension encrypts all database files on disk and features centralized Key Management, compatible with various Key Management Services (KMS) providers.
Tech Optimizer
July 2, 2025
CompTIA's State of the Tech Workforce 2025 report shows a 1.2% growth in the tech workforce in 2024, totaling 5.9 million professionals, with projections of reaching 6.1 million by 2025. California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Virginia are the leading states in tech employment, while Texas, North Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, and Tennessee have seen the most growth. Major cities with advancements in tech job opportunities include New York City, Orlando, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and Baltimore. Meta has joined the Kotlin Foundation to promote Kotlin within its development ecosystem and will contribute to a grants program for open-source library authors. Percona has launched an open-source Transparent Data Encryption extension for PostgreSQL, allowing organizations to secure data at rest without licensing fees or vendor lock-in. The extension supports deployment without application changes, multi-tenant environments, control over encryption strategies, and centralized key management.
Winsage
July 1, 2025
Microsoft's initiatives to transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 have faced criticism from privacy advocates regarding the environmental impact of obsolete PCs. The company announced that the first year of Extended Security Updates (ESU) would be free for individual consumers, but users must either sync their settings to the cloud or redeem Microsoft Rewards points to qualify. Lucas Rockett Gutterman from PIRG criticized the limited options, noting that many Windows 10 PCs cannot upgrade to Windows 11. While Microsoft has made some concessions, such as affordable pricing for schools, it has not committed to extending support for Windows 10 or easing hardware requirements for Windows 11. In 2023, PIRG petitioned Microsoft to extend Windows 10's life, as support for many editions ends in October 2025. Commercial customers will still incur fees for ESU, which are expected to increase in subsequent years. ControlUp's Windows 11 Readiness Report indicates that 50 percent of enterprise Windows endpoints have not migrated to Windows 11, a decrease from over 82 percent the previous year. Migration rates vary by sector, with healthcare lagging behind.
Search