funds Archives

Tech Optimizer

June 10, 2025

Snowflake and Databricks bank PostgreSQL acquisitions

Databricks acquired Neon for billion, which specializes in serverless PostgreSQL services and claims that 80% of its databases are generated by AI. This acquisition aims to integrate Neon's architecture into the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. Snowflake acquired Crunchy Data for [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: In recent weeks, the landscape of database technology has witnessed significant shifts as both Snowflake and Databricks have strategically utilized their acquisition funds to enhance their offerings in the PostgreSQL domain. Databricks Acquires Neon In May, Databricks, known for its data lake solutions built around Apache Spark, made headlines by acquiring Neon for a reported billion in equity. Neon specializes in serverless PostgreSQL services and has made a remarkable claim that 80 percent of the databases it provisions are generated automatically by AI agents rather than human intervention. This acquisition is poised to integrate Neon's innovative architecture into the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, enabling developers and enterprise teams to efficiently construct and deploy AI-driven systems. Snowflake's Purchase of Crunchy Data Following this, at the beginning of the month, Snowflake, a prominent player in the cloud data warehouse sector, announced its acquisition of Crunchy Data for 0 million. Crunchy Data is recognized for providing PostgreSQL clusters that support both transactional and analytical systems across various environments, including managed cloud services, Kubernetes deployments, and on-premises solutions. Snowflake plans to leverage this acquisition to develop "Snowflake Postgres," allowing users to run any Postgres-dependent application directly on its data and analytics platform. Strategic Insights from Industry Leaders Databricks CEO and co-founder Ali Ghodsi articulated the vision behind the Neon acquisition, emphasizing the intent to attract not only startups but also enterprise customers. He noted that approximately 70 percent of their clientele operates legacy databases that are costly and stagnant. Ghodsi highlighted the eagerness of enterprises to transition to modern solutions that align with the demands of the AI era, revealing that extensive discussions over the past six months confirmed strong interest in the acquisition. Henry Cook, a senior director analyst at Gartner, remarked on the implications of these acquisitions for both Snowflake and Databricks. He pointed out that their historical focus on analytical systems positions them well to penetrate the operational and transactional market over time. Cook noted a growing trend towards the integration of transactional and analytical systems, where transactional data feeds into analytical frameworks, allowing for real-time insights and feedback. This evolution could enable users to create applications that blend both analytical and transactional functionalities. Impact on the PostgreSQL Community For the PostgreSQL community, these developments signify a promising expansion of choices and support for the open-source database. Robin Schumacher, a senior research director and analyst at Gartner, highlighted the challenges faced by data warehouse and analytic vendors attempting to enter the operational database management system (DBMS) market. While companies like Teradata and Vertica have struggled, Snowflake's introduction of Unistore has seen limited traction. Schumacher believes that the trust associated with PostgreSQL could provide both Snowflake and Databricks a unique opportunity to succeed where others have faltered." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million, known for providing PostgreSQL clusters for various environments, to develop "Snowflake Postgres" for running Postgres-dependent applications on its platform. Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi noted the intent to attract enterprise customers transitioning from legacy databases. Gartner's Henry Cook mentioned the potential for integrating transactional and analytical systems, while Robin Schumacher highlighted the opportunities for Snowflake and Databricks in the PostgreSQL community amidst challenges faced by other vendors.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

Humble’s IGN Live 2025 bundle includes eight PC games for £16.32

Humble has launched a new bundle for IGN Live 2025, featuring eight PC games available on Steam for £16.32. The bundle includes titles such as The Medium, Wartales, Slay the Spire, and art of rally. There are three purchasing options: a three-game bundle for £7.41, a six-game bundle for £11.86, and the full bundle for £16.32. The total retail price of the games is £176.48. Proceeds from the bundle support Child's Play Charity, which provides games to children in hospitals, and it has raised over £13.5k so far. Notable games in the bundle include art of rally, described as visually striking, and The Medium, a horror game with psychic elements. Slay the Spire is highlighted as the highest-rated game in the collection with a 97% "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam.

Tech Optimizer

June 9, 2025

Cryptostealing Malware Found in Printer Software Highlights Growing Supply Chain Threat

A cybersecurity incident involving Procolored printers revealed vulnerabilities in everyday hardware, as users may have downloaded malware capable of stealing cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Tech content creator Cameron Coward reported an antivirus alert linked to Procolored printer software, prompting an investigation by G Data researchers who found malicious code in installation files on the manufacturer's website. The identified threats included a remote access tool (Win32.Backdoor.XRedRAT.A) and a cryptocurrency wallet stealer (MSIL.Trojan-Stealer.CoinStealer.H). Compromised files were last updated in October 2024 and distributed through official channels. The company initially denied the issue but later removed the downloads from their website in May 2025 and acknowledged the malware might have been introduced via USB transfers. An analysis of an attacker’s wallet showed a total of 9.3 BTC accumulated across 330 transactions before it was emptied. Cybersecurity experts recommend that users conduct antivirus scans and consider reformatting drives and reinstalling operating systems if infections are suspected.

AppWizard

June 6, 2025

NatWest mobile app down with customers locked out of accounts

NatWest is experiencing issues with its mobile banking app, leading to over 3,000 outages reported around 10 am on a Friday. Customers have expressed frustration on social media due to their inability to send or receive money, pay bills, or transfer funds. The bank has stated that the problem is related to an update made to the app. Recent scrutiny has arisen for high street banks due to a series of outages, particularly at the end of the month when many receive paychecks. Data from the Treasury Committee revealed that nine of the UK’s largest banks and building societies faced over 33 days of unplanned outages in the past two years. NatWest reported 13 "material" incidents between 2023 and 2025, resulting in nearly £350,000 in compensation paid to affected customers. Barclays also indicated it could allocate up to £12.5 million in compensation for affected customers during the same period. Common reasons for these outages include issues with third-party suppliers, system changes, and internal software malfunctions.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

Playdate Season 2 unearths the best game about digging since Minecraft

Dig Dig Dino is a game from Playdate's Season 2 that allows players to excavate dinosaurs and treasures using a team of anthropomorphic animals. Players dig through layers of soil with limited energy, using a shovel and drill to overcome obstacles like rocks. After each excavation, players can use their finds to purchase upgrades that enhance gameplay. The game features multiple areas to explore, offering a variety of skeletons and artifacts, and incorporates puzzle elements that require strategic thinking. It is designed to encourage repeated play and showcases the potential of the Playdate handheld device.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Amplitude secures $13.6m in funding

Developer Amplitude Studios has secured €12 million (.6 million) in funding from a Series A round led by Griffin Gaming Partners, which contributed €10 million. The funds will be used for developing projects like Endless Legend 2 and expanding the studio's capabilities. This funding follows Amplitude's management buyout from Sega. Amplitude CEO Romain de Waubert de Genlis emphasized the studio's commitment to its indie identity and creative vision, while Griffin partner Frankie Zhu highlighted the studio's success in creating strategy-based franchises.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Telegram Signs $300M Deal With Elon Musk’s xAI to Integrate Grok AI Into Its Messaging App

Telegram has partnered with Elon Musk's xAI to integrate the Grok AI service into its app for one year. The agreement includes a financial component of 0 million in cash and equity from xAI, along with 50% of the revenue from xAI subscriptions sold on Telegram. Telegram is also seeking to raise .5 billion through a bond offering, supported by investors like BlackRock, Mubadala, and Citadel, to repurchase debt from a previous bond issuance in 2021. Telegram reported a profit of million on revenues of .4 billion in 2024, and the TON token, the native currency of the TON Network, rose 18.5% following the announcement.

Winsage

May 28, 2025

All Windows users must ‘watch out’ and delete ‘Microsoft’ updates now

Windows 10 and Windows 11 users are experiencing a rise in phishing emails that appear to be from Microsoft, according to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud and cybercrime reporting center. Over 250 users have reported receiving fraudulent messages claiming their devices are infected with malware, often encouraging them to click on malicious links. These emails may look credible, sometimes using legitimate Microsoft addresses. Action Fraud advises users to verify messages directly with organizations using official contact details and warns that legitimate institutions will never request personal information via email. Microsoft also states it does not send unsolicited emails or calls for personal information and recommends downloading software only from official sources.

Winsage

May 27, 2025

These are the end dates for Windows 10 and Windows 11

Windows 10 support will cease for most users on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 version 22H2 will also reach its end-of-life on this date. Windows 10 version 21H2 has already reached its end-of-life as of June 11, 2024. Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates (ESU) for organizations transitioning to Windows 11, with individual consumers able to secure up to one additional year of support and organizations up to three years at increasing costs. The Microsoft Volume Licensing Program starts at per device in the first year, escalating to 0 in the second year and 0 in the third year. Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 will remain supported until January 13, 2032. Windows 11 22H2 is supported until October 8, 2024, Windows 11 23H2 until November 11, 2025, and Windows 11 24H2 until October 13, 2026. Extended Security Updates for Windows 11 could extend support until 2029. Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise offers support until October 12, 2027, while IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 has updates until October 10, 2034. The support timelines indicate a need for quicker transitions to new Windows systems.

Tech Optimizer

May 20, 2025

The ol’ antivirus virus scam | Scam of the Week

A reader received a fraudulent email that appeared to be from Norton, claiming they had a subscription for a service they never signed up for. The email included a reminder about an automatic renewal for a Norton Ultimate Plus plan and provided a phone number that could lead to scams. EECU, a local credit union, warned its members about this scam and advised them to verify the authenticity of such invoices with their bank to prevent identity theft.