letters Archives

Winsage

May 19, 2026

Yet Another Windows Update Done In By The EFI System Partition

The EFI System Partition (ESP) is an important part of modern computing that users are generally advised to avoid tampering with. Insufficient space on the EFI partition can lead to ambiguous error messages during updates, particularly with Microsoft’s security updates. The EFI partition is typically mapped to drive Y:, but may also be assigned to Z: or other letters. In some cases, such as transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11, users may need to access the EFI partition, where one solution involves removing TrueType Font (TTF) files under EFIMicrosoftBootFonts. However, caution is advised when handling the EFI partition, as mistakes can prevent the operating system from booting.

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

Q-Games announces cozy co-op open-world golf game Yodelee Golf for PC

Q-Games has announced Yodelee Golf, a cooperative open-world golf game set to launch on PC via Steam, with additional platforms to be announced. Players can experience the game at BitSummit PUNCH from May 22 to 24 in Kyoto, Japan, where a mini putt-putt challenge will be held. Yodelee Golf features a vibrant multiplayer environment where golf is just one aspect of the gameplay, allowing players to explore using various vehicles and interact with whimsical elements. The game supports one-to-four players in both online and offline modes and includes a unique voice-to-3D-text system that enhances the immersive experience. An announcement trailer and screenshots are available for viewing.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

Google releases experimental ‘COSMO’ AI assistant app on Play Store

Google released an experimental AI assistant application called COSMO for Android devices, which has since been removed from the Play Store due to an accidental launch. The app, which is 1.13 GB in size, was designed to enhance daily productivity by organizing schedules and answering complex queries. COSMO features include a list tracker, document writer, calendar event suggester, browser agent, timer suggestions, deep research capabilities, quick photo lookup, web search functionality, jargon definitions, insights provision, context understanding for people and events, recall assistance, and conversation summarization. It offers three settings: Hybrid, PI Only, and Nano Only, with the latter two indicating different processing methods. The app also includes voice match and screen access features but is not intended for the general consumer market.

Winsage

April 20, 2026

Windows OS and Microsoft Office app bundle now $104 (Reg. $449)

The Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business bundle, along with Windows 11 Pro, is available for .99, reduced from the regular price of .99. This bundle includes essential applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and features Windows 11 Pro with advanced tools and an AI-driven assistant. The offer represents a discount of over 75% off the manufacturer's suggested retail price.

Tech Optimizer

April 15, 2026

Connecting .NET Lambda to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL via RDS Proxy

Many organizations are modernizing legacy .NET applications while reducing database costs and enhancing scalability, particularly during migrations to AWS Lambda and transitions from SQL Server to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition. The process involves connecting Lambda functions to Aurora PostgreSQL using Amazon RDS Proxy, with AWS Secrets Manager managing secure credential storage. The architecture includes a .NET Lambda function interfacing with Aurora PostgreSQL via RDS Proxy, which provides connection pooling to minimize database connection overhead. The solution requires a CloudFormation template to provision resources such as a VPC with private subnets, an Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, RDS Proxy, and Secrets Manager. The RDS Proxy is configured with parameters including PostgreSQL engine family, idle client connection timeout, and Secrets Manager secret. A Windows EC2 instance is provisioned, and access is facilitated through AWS Systems Manager Fleet Manager. The solution includes creating a sample table named "employee" in the database and a new .NET Lambda project that utilizes Npgsql for database connections. The Lambda function is deployed using the AWS CLI, and testing involves invoking the function and retrieving logs from Amazon CloudWatch. Finally, resources created during the process should be deleted to prevent ongoing charges.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Farm a Fish codes March 2026

Farm a Fish codes enhance gameplay by unlocking in-game items that allow players to expand their ponds and increase earnings. The latest codes include: - 67: Unlocks the 6-7 skin - 25K: Grants ten golden food scoops, one golden cookie, one supreme auto feeder, one extreme auto feeder, and one time jumper - Wilco: Provides the Wilco cat and Wilco skin To redeem these codes, players must launch Farm a Fish in Roblox, complete the tutorial, navigate to the store menu, enter the code, and click on redeem. Expired code: 10K.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

Remember when Mastercard pressured Steam to remove a bunch of NSFW games? The FTC says that’s not cool—sort of

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has addressed concerns to the CEOs of major financial service companies, including Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, and Stripe, regarding the potential denial of services to customers based on political or religious beliefs. The letters warn that such practices could lead to investigations and enforcement actions. This initiative follows an incident involving Valve, where Mastercard was alleged to have pressured the company into removing adult-themed games from its Steam platform, although Mastercard clarified it did not directly influence the removals. FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson emphasized the importance of ensuring all law-abiding individuals can engage in commerce. The situation is further complicated by an executive order from former President Donald Trump, which raised concerns about financial institutions surveilling individuals involved in conservative activities. Ferguson urged Mastercard's CEO to prevent unlawful debanking practices by its network members. There is uncertainty regarding a proposed rule change that may not significantly alter the discretion financial institutions have in customer-related decisions. Inquiries have been made to Valve and the FTC about the implications of these letters for adult video games on the Steam platform.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

Tiny Empires codes March 2026

Players in Tiny Empires can use special codes to unlock free items that help grow their city. The current codes include: - SECRETSHOPCODE: grants three Super Farms - 1MILVISITS: provides two Super Farms - UPDATE2: offers two Super Farms - Update1: rewards one Super Farm - Release: includes one Super Farm and 5,000 gold To redeem codes, players need to launch the game, click on the store icon, enter the code in the code box, and hit enter. Codes are provided by the developer, Factory Limited, and can typically be found on the developer's Discord server. Some codes may not work if they are expired or invalid, but the listed codes are currently functional.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

I crashed out reading layoff condolence letters in this shop sim about a laid-off adventurer made by a laid-off Xbox developer

In Dungeon Bodega Simulator, players are greeted with a message reflecting on job loss and resilience. Solo developer Alien Fruit, previously at Turn 10 Studios, experienced layoffs and the emotional toll that comes with it. Harrison, the creator of the game, struggles with imposter syndrome after being laid off and acknowledges the impact of job loss on identity. He is currently working on Dungeon Bodega Simulator as a way to navigate the indie market while also holding an entry-level QA position to manage finances. Harrison expresses a desire to find another role in systems or gameplay design, valuing teamwork and collaboration in his career.

Winsage

March 17, 2026

Windows 11 uses five letters of your email for the user folder, but Microsoft is fixing it

A recent update in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8068 allows users to customize their User folder name during the out-of-box experience (OOBE). This feature enables users to input a folder name of their choice on the Device Name page, with names allowed up to 16 Unicode characters. If users do not select a name, the system will revert to the default naming scheme derived from the first five letters of their Microsoft email address. Previously, changing the User folder name required using the Command Prompt, which was not user-friendly. The update is aimed at improving the setup experience for new Windows users.