learning Archives

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

How to neutralize corrupted items in FBC: Firebreak

The Black Rock Neutralizer is a special weapon in FBC: Firebreak essential for neutralizing corrupted items that complicate gameplay. Players can typically find it at ammo collection points or in safe rooms, which require unlocking. It fires stones to destroy corrupted items, rewarding players with samples. The weapon has limited ammo that cannot be replenished, so it should not be used on regular enemies. If players run out of ammo, they will have to deal with the corrupted modifiers without the weapon's help.

Tech Optimizer

June 17, 2025

Databricks Unveils Lakebase Database for AI Applications

Databricks acquired the serverless Postgres startup Neon for approximately billion and integrated this technology into its offerings, launching Databricks Lakebase, a new operational database designed for intelligent applications. Lakebase is a fully-managed Postgres database aimed at addressing the integration of operational and analytical data for AI workloads. It operates on PostgreSQL and allows developers to manage data applications without server infrastructure concerns. Databricks also introduced additional products, including Lakeflow Designer, a no-code ETL tool, Databricks One for easy access to data and AI capabilities, and Agent Bricks for automating the creation of customized AI agents.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

‘End of 10’ offers hope and support to Windows 10 users who can’t upgrade their PCs

Support for Windows 10 will cease on October 14, 2025. Microsoft encourages users to purchase new hardware, while the End of 10 campaign proposes transitioning to Linux as an alternative. The campaign provides resources for users, including links to local PC shops and user groups, a guide on installing Linux, and a calendar of events for assistance. The initiative emphasizes cost-effective solutions, lack of intrusive ads or data tracking, environmental friendliness, community support, and user control. It is supported by a collaborative group dedicated to helping Windows 10 users navigate their options.

Tech Optimizer

June 16, 2025

Databricks rolls out Lakebase Postgres and Agent Bricks for AI-era apps

Databricks has introduced the Lakebase Postgres database layer to enhance its lakehouse architecture, facilitating AI applications and analytics on operational data. The company also launched Agent Bricks to simplify the development of automated AI agents. During the Data + AI Summit, CEO Ali Ghodsi emphasized the importance of transitioning from outdated systems to modern solutions for AI. Lakebase, powered by Neon technology, is a fully managed, Postgres-compatible database that supports data loading from over 300 sources. Databricks aims to unify operational and analytical systems for real-time decision-making. The summit outlined a three-chapter framework: establishing the lakehouse, integrating AI, and introducing Lakebase. Agent Bricks enables business users to create AI agents without extensive technical knowledge, while Managed Iceberg Tables support external engines and promise performance optimizations. Databricks announced partnerships with Microsoft and Google Cloud for deeper integration and AI model usage. The company is investing 0 million in AI education and plans to release Lakeflow Designer for no-code ETL capabilities. Databricks anticipates reaching .7 billion in annualized revenue by July, with a growth rate of 50 percent and plans to hire 3,000 employees in 2025. Lakebase is currently in Public Preview.

AppWizard

June 15, 2025

How to change app icons on any Android phone

App icons on stock Android cannot be changed directly, requiring third-party tools and icon packs for customization. To change app icons on an Android phone, users need a shortcut maker app or a third-party app launcher, along with an icon pack. To change icons individually, users can use a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher. The process involves installing the icon pack, setting up the launcher, long-pressing the app icon, selecting the pencil icon, choosing the icon pack, and selecting the desired icon. To change all app icons with an icon pack, users can install Nova Launcher, long-press a blank area on the home screen, go to Settings, navigate to Look & feel, tap Icon style, select Icon theme, and choose the icon pack. Some icon packs allow direct application if compatible with the device or launcher. With Android 12's Material You, users can theme icons based on their wallpaper by enabling the Themed icons option in the Wallpapers and style section. Samsung users can acquire icon packs through the Samsung Galaxy Theme Store by selecting the Themes option, browsing for icon packs, and applying them. However, these packs may not theme every icon in the app drawer. Good Lock's Theme Park extension allows for more customization by creating personalized icon packs. Users can download Good Lock and Theme Park, select Create New in the Icon tab, choose icon shapes and colors, and apply the new icon pack. Certain applications, like Textra and Pulse SMS, allow users to change the app icon natively. While some tools enable renaming apps, system-wide renaming is not possible without root access.

AppWizard

June 14, 2025

The FPS genre is addicted to sprinting and clambering, but Halo just proved we’re better off without them

Halo Infinite remains active in 2025, with new content from Halo Studios, including battle passes, weapons, and community-driven map packs. A recent event celebrating Halo 3 features the return of iconic armor sets and remakes of eleven classic maps in a special playlist. The new mode eliminates sprinting and clambering, reintroduces player collision, and enhances jump height, fostering a slower, more strategic gameplay experience. Players must master movement without the automatic ledge-catching feature, rediscovering techniques like crouch-jumping. The game starts with an SMG, emphasizing strategic depth and encouraging players to reconsider their weapon choices. This shift raises questions about the franchise's direction and highlights the potential benefits of returning to classic mechanics.

Winsage

June 13, 2025

LibreOffice maker urges Windows 10 users to defect in viral ‘Go Linux, not Windows 11’ campaign

The Document Foundation (TDF) is advocating for users to transition from Windows 10 to Linux, emphasizing its benefits as a free and open operating system. The deadline for Windows 10 support is October 14, 2025. TDF argues that users are not required to upgrade to Windows 11, which has new hardware requirements that may make many existing PCs obsolete. TDF promotes Linux and LibreOffice as a privacy-centric alternative that allows users to maintain their current hardware while accessing a suite of applications. Other Linux advocates, including KDE, have criticized Microsoft for its subscription model. Transitioning to Linux may be challenging for less tech-savvy users due to the learning curve and potential software compatibility issues. TDF suggests testing Linux on secondary partitions, but acknowledges that this may be difficult for some users.

Tech Optimizer

June 13, 2025

Microsoft Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Tips to Protect Your Business Following the Latest Outage

Microsoft attributed a recent global outage affecting various digital infrastructures to a "CrowdStrike update," which disrupted multiple applications including OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, PowerBI, Microsoft Teams, and others. Users experienced issues such as synchronization failures and access difficulties. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in supply chains that organizations rely on for managing sensitive data, which can be targeted by cyber threats. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a feature within Microsoft Purview designed to protect sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure. DLP policies can monitor user activity and take protective actions like alerting users about inappropriate sharing, blocking sharing attempts, or relocating data to secure locations. DLP can be applied across various platforms, including Office 365 applications and Windows endpoints. The DLP lifecycle includes planning and deployment phases, where organizations assess data to be monitored and ensure policies do not disrupt workflows. Monitoring and reporting tools provide insights into policy matches and incidents, helping organizations refine their DLP efforts. However, DLP has limitations, including false positives, user resistance, and challenges in detecting data leakages through new communication channels.

Tech Optimizer

June 12, 2025

Striim Announces Neon Serverless Postgres Support to Broaden Agentic AI Use Cases with Databricks

The demand for real-time data in artificial intelligence is increasing, but integrating data from legacy systems poses challenges due to traditional ETL pipelines that can introduce latency. Open-source Postgres is favored for operational needs, and Neon offers a new approach to database creation using AI agents. Databricks has launched Lakebase, a managed Postgres database for AI applications, after acquiring Neon. Striim has expanded its Postgres offerings to enable high-throughput data ingestion from Neon into Databricks for real-time analytics and supports rapid data delivery from legacy systems into Neon. Striim's platform allows real-time replication of operational data from various traditional systems to Neon, real-time ingestion into Databricks, and enhances generative AI applications with inline data enrichment. Alok Pareek from Striim highlighted the importance of this expansion for Postgres-native teams to build real-time AI architectures. Striim also supports Databricks Delta Lake and SQL2Fabric-X for real-time SQL Server data access. Striim's platform processes over 100 billion daily events with sub-second latency, aiding proactive decision-making.

AppWizard

June 12, 2025

Queens high school students take top prize in NYC Minecraft Battle of the Boroughs

A team of students from World Journalism Preparatory in Queens, named ‘Diamond Sword Bustamoney,’ won the inaugural NYC Video Games Festival in the high school division of the Minecraft Education “Battle of the Boroughs” competition. Their victory followed a three-stage tournament that included preliminary digital submissions, borough-level championships, and a final showdown on May 31. This is the first time a Queens school has won the title since the competition began in 2021. The event was organized by the New York City Department of Education in collaboration with Microsoft and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, originally conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team defeated the defending champions from Staten Island’s Tottenville High School. The winning team consists of five 11th-grade students.