fine Archives

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Don’t ruin your Galaxy phone with a half-baked beta update

Samsung is expected to begin public beta testing for Android 16 and One UI 8 as early as June, with the software already appearing on a secret test server. Users are advised to exercise caution when considering participation in the beta testing, as unfinished software may lead to bugs and glitches. One UI 8 is anticipated to introduce meaningful changes to enhance user experience, but it is recommended to wait for a fully polished version before adopting it. The initial beta versions are primarily intended for developers, and early adopters may encounter challenges. The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra are highlighted as peak Android devices, featuring impressive RAM, performance, and the latest One UI with unique AI features.

Tech Optimizer

May 8, 2025

The Search Stack That Nearly Broke Us — Until We Did This

The initial architecture for the finlight.me real-time financial news API utilized Postgres full-text search, which was effective for early needs but faced limitations as article volume increased. Key challenges included performance degradation due to the inability to combine GIN indexes with regular B-Tree indexes, leading to slow query performance, especially with complex user queries and pagination. The decision was made to transition to OpenSearch for its optimized search capabilities while retaining Postgres as the source of truth for data integrity. Testing with OpenSearch revealed the need for production-grade resources, which led to a successful deployment that improved search response times significantly. The current architecture separates ingestion, storage, and retrieval responsibilities, with Postgres managing data storage and OpenSearch handling user-facing search queries. Regular snapshotting and thoughtful index management ensure resilience and scalability.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

How to optimize your YouTube experience on Android

Users can customize notification preferences in the app by navigating to the "Settings" section and selecting "Notifications." They can choose to receive alerts about new content from favorite channels, recommended videos that match their viewing habits, and updates on their own channel's activity. This customization helps manage distractions and enhances the overall user experience.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft Photos Can Relight Your Images

Microsoft has introduced new features for Windows 11 and its Copilot+ PCs, along with AI-ready Surface hardware. Key enhancements include: - Photos App: A relight feature for adding digital light sources, auto presets, and manual adjustments; new object selection capabilities in Paint; and improvements to the Snipping Tool with a text extractor and color picker. - Recall Feature: Helps users find content by retracing steps and describing memories, with strong privacy controls. - Improved Windows Search: Allows conversational queries with AI interpreting context for relevant results, aided by specialized chips in Copilot+ PCs. - Click to Do: Streamlines workflows with contextual shortcuts for actions within a single application. - Surface for Business Copilot+ PCs: Introduction of a 12-inch Surface Pro and a 13-inch Surface laptop featuring Snapdragon X Plus processors and advanced security tools. - Surface Laptop for Business: A 13-inch model with a thinner profile, anti-reflective touch screens, and an AI-enhanced camera. - Surface Pro for Business: A 12-inch versatile device that transitions between laptop and tablet modes, featuring an adjustable kickstand. - Availability: Software updates will start in April 2025, while new Surface devices will ship from July 22 in select markets.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

I used Sophia Script to take back control of Windows 11, and I wish I did it sooner

Sophia Script is a PowerShell module available on GitHub that simplifies the process of adjusting Windows settings through the command line interface (CLI), offering over 150 regularly updated functions. It provides GUI-based options for managing tasks like telemetry settings, scheduling tasks, and uninstalling OneDrive, allowing users to select multiple tasks at once. The setup process involves opening the main PS1 file in Notepad++, changing the directory, and executing a command from GitHub, with comprehensive instructions available. Users can customize settings by adding or replacing code with a hashtag next to the script they wish to run, and it allows changes to be applied across all user accounts. Sophia Script is particularly useful for configuring new PCs or fresh installations, as it helps remove unnecessary bloatware and streamline system performance. It can uninstall Microsoft apps, including the Windows Copilot app, and has created five scheduled tasks after running, saving time compared to traditional methods. The creator, Farag2, is also developing a GUI version, SophiApp 2.0.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft will soon allow AI to change your Windows 11 settings

Microsoft is introducing a new AI assistant within the Windows 11 settings app, designed to assist users by adjusting settings upon request and providing guidance on tasks. The AI assistant will be positioned at the top of the Settings app and will have the ability to autonomously adjust settings with user approval. It is currently available on Copilot+ PCs and will soon roll out to Windows Insiders on standard x86-powered systems, though an official release date for all Windows 11 users has not yet been announced. Additionally, the Photos app will receive new dynamic lighting controls, the Snipping Tool will feature an improved cropping area, a text extractor, and a color picker. AI integration will also extend to File Explorer, allowing users to engage with files through AI actions. A significant update called Copilot Vision will enable users to share browser and app windows with Copilot for enhanced assistance. These features will first be tested through the Windows Insider program before being released to the general public.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Minecraft was fine, except for one pesky little phrase

A family outing to the cinema featured the film A Minecraft Movie, which received negative reviews prior to its release. Despite this, the film appealed to the author's child, Sam, who wanted to see it "for the memes." The author had previously endured several children's films and was surprised that A Minecraft Movie exceeded expectations, performing better than titles like Snow White, Wish, Paddington in Peru, DC League of Super-Pets, and Moana 2. The film's cast did not include acclaimed actors Barry Keoghan and Paul Mescal, and it avoided the influence of Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The film had a runtime of 100 minutes, which was appreciated for being shorter than many contemporary films, and it successfully engaged both young and older viewers with its humor and adventure.

Tech Optimizer

May 5, 2025

One-click Postgres Pro optimization with pgpro_tune

pgpro_tune is a command-line utility designed to optimize the initial server configuration of Postgres Pro based on hardware specifications. It scans the server to identify key hardware details, processes these values through shell scripts that encapsulate tuning expertise, and generates recommended parameters for PostgreSQL settings, including memory management, autovacuum tuning, connection limits, and statistics collection. The utility appends these settings to the postgresql.conf file, ensuring they override the default settings. pgpro_tune supports various presets for different use cases and allows database administrators to create custom presets. It runs automatically during cluster initialization and can be executed manually at any time, applying changes through standard PostgreSQL methods. This tool aims to streamline the tuning process, reduce the risks of misconfiguration, and enhance performance without replacing the need for advanced tuning in specialized scenarios.

AppWizard

May 4, 2025

Man Reported His Friend For Being Disruptive During The Minecraft Movie’s Infamous ‘Chicken Jockey’ Scene, And Now The Friend Is Angry After Getting Kicked Out

A group of six friends attended a screening of the Minecraft movie, where one friend became disruptive after consuming alcohol, leading to mixed reactions from the audience. During a key scene, he screamed loudly, prompting another audience member to shout for him to be quiet. One of the friends reported the disruptive behavior to theater management, resulting in the friend being escorted out. This action caused tension among the group, with some friends debating whether the reporting was appropriate. The incident sparked discussion on social media regarding the appropriateness of the friend's behavior and the response to it.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

Microsoft pushes unphishable logins forward with new sign-in options

Microsoft is making passwordless logins the default method for new account sign-ins, promoting passkeys as an alternative to traditional passwords. This initiative is part of a collaboration with Google and Apple under the FIDO Alliance to enhance security and streamline the login process. New users will have passkeys set as their default sign-in method, while existing users will be prompted to switch during their next login. The shift to passkeys aims to address issues related to password management and security vulnerabilities. However, users must install the Microsoft Authenticator app to fully transition to a passwordless experience, as compatibility with other authentication apps is not supported. Without the app, users cannot completely eliminate their login passwords, which may reduce the security benefits of using passkeys.