management Archives

Winsage

June 26, 2026

Windows 11’s built-in apps are getting quiet but welcome improvements

Microsoft has released a preview version of an upcoming Windows update for members of the Windows Insider Program, enhancing several pre-installed applications including Calculator, Camera, Clock, Media Player, Notepad, Paint, Photos, and Sound Recorder. The Calculator update includes improved accuracy for square root calculations, better readability in high-contrast designs, right-to-left language support for Arabic and Hebrew, and a fix for startup issues. The Sound Recorder enhancements feature an accurate live waveform display for Bluetooth recordings, a streamlined interface, immediate access to the "Highlight" button, disabled tags for WAV recordings, a smoother deletion process for multiple recordings, and a fix for a memory leak issue. Additional features include watermarks for AI-generated images in the Photos app, a zoom slider in the Camera app, customizable subtitles in Media Player, and a 15-minute delay option for alarms in the Clock app.

Tech Optimizer

June 26, 2026

EDB Postgres AI Launch: Shifting To Autonomous, Sovereign Data For The AI Era

EnterpriseDB (EDB) introduced the EDB Postgres AI (EDB PG AI) platform on June 23, 2026, designed for AI applications to operate directly on live data rather than outdated copies from cloud data lakes. The platform allows organizations to host AI models, live data, and enterprise regulations within their infrastructure, reducing vendor lock-in and protecting regulated data. The EDB PG AI platform features a self-optimizing system that transforms PostgreSQL into an autonomous database, monitoring over 200 metrics for automated tuning and scaling. EDB claims performance troubleshooting can be up to 10 times faster, with issues resolved in minutes instead of the traditional 60 to 90 minutes. It also includes a converged query interface that integrates various data types into a unified engine, enabling AI agents to access authorized live data. An agent governance framework will be introduced in late 2026 to address risks associated with AI operations. EDB collaborates with IBM Power for a robust AI-ready infrastructure and integrates Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform for enhanced management capabilities.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

PC Gamers Can Save $40 In Free Game Offer, Includes 10/10 Hit

The Epic Games Store is offering free games for PC users until 4 PM BST on Thursday, July 2. This week's titles are RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition and Voidwright, both typically priced at .99. Voidwright is a 2D action-platformer developed by Powersnake, featuring exploration, combat against over 10 enemies and 11 bosses, and an average Metacritic score of 76. The game offers around eight hours for the main storyline and up to 16 hours for completionist runs. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition is a remastered version of the 2004 classic, allowing players to manage amusement parks with a playtime ranging from 20 to 200 hours. It has an 88% 'Very Positive' rating on Steam and includes both the Soaked! and Wild! expansions.

Winsage

June 26, 2026

Microsoft extends free Windows 10 security updates for consumers

Microsoft has extended its free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for consumers to provide essential security updates until October 12, 2027. This extension allows users more time to transition to Windows 11, as Windows 10 will no longer receive support after October 14, 2025. The initial expiration date for the free ESU program was October 12, 2026. Consumers can access these updates by backing up their Windows settings, redeeming 1,000 Microsoft reward points, and for users in the European Economic Area, logging into Windows 10 with a Microsoft account. An ESU license can be used on up to 10 devices linked to the same Microsoft account, but the program is not available for systems managed through Active Directory or Mobile Device Management, though devices registered with Microsoft Entra are eligible.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Microsoft quietly extends free Windows 10 ESU support to October 2027

Microsoft has extended the free coverage of its Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for consumers by an additional year, now lasting until October 12, 2027. This change was noted in updates to Microsoft's ESU documentation and a blog post. Previously, Windows 10 was set to reach its end of support on October 14, 2025, with initial ESU coverage expiring on October 12, 2026. Consumers can access the extended security updates through various methods, including payment, backing up settings to a Microsoft account, redeeming Microsoft reward points, or for users in the European Economic Area, by logging in with a Microsoft account. Each ESU license can be used on up to 10 devices linked to the same account, and the program is only for personal devices, not those managed through Active Directory or MDM.

Tech Optimizer

June 25, 2026

The database storage problem is solved. Here’s what comes next.

Postgres has been a reliable transactional database for three decades, used for managing customer records and financial transactions. Innovations in the Postgres ecosystem are now focused on minimizing data movement rather than just data storage. The challenge of interoperability is becoming crucial, as organizations seek to share operational data seamlessly across various systems without creating additional copies or pipelines. Many organizations are spending as much effort on data movement as on data storage. Postgres is increasingly viewed as the authoritative system for critical information, and its role is evolving to facilitate better interaction with operational data. Technologies like logical replication and change data capture are enhancing Postgres's integration within data ecosystems. The rise of AI has highlighted the need for real-time access to operational data and has prompted organizations to reconsider the necessity of maintaining multiple copies of the same data. The database industry is shifting focus from optimizing storage to enabling effortless data sharing across systems. Postgres continues to adapt to new workloads and architectural patterns, maintaining its reputation as a stable foundation for operational data while expanding its capabilities through innovative extensions.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

PowerToys replaced tools I used to install on every Windows PC

Raycast for Windows, a productivity app, was initially a valuable tool for launching applications and executing actions quickly. However, the introduction of the Command Palette in Microsoft PowerToys provided similar functionality, leading to Raycast being less essential for the user's needs. The user found that the Command Palette effectively served as a fast app launcher, integrating well with other PowerToys features. The user also transitioned from GlazeWM, a tiling window manager, to FancyZones in PowerToys for better window management, as FancyZones offered more tailored window layout options. Additionally, Text Extractor in PowerToys streamlined the user's optical character recognition (OCR) tasks by allowing easy text extraction from images. Overall, PowerToys consolidated several utilities into one suite, enhancing the user's productivity while reducing the need for multiple separate applications.

Winsage

June 25, 2026

Windows 11 Secure Boot update released to all, hours ahead of expiry

Microsoft has begun rolling out the Secure Boot 2023 certificate update to eligible Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs ahead of the expiration of the Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011 on June 24, 2026. This update enhances device targeting data for automatic Secure Boot certificate updates. Secure Boot is a firmware-level security feature that verifies digital signatures of boot components to prevent rootkits and bootkits. The certificates for Secure Boot were first issued in 2011, with subsequent expirations for related certificates occurring in June and October 2026. Users can check their Secure Boot certificate status through the Windows Security app or System Information. If a PC does not receive the update, it will still boot normally but will lose the ability to receive future boot-level security updates. Multiple restarts after updates are expected due to the Secure Boot certificate process. A new folder, C:WindowsSecureBoot, is not malware but is used for staging cryptographic certificate files. Windows 10 users enrolled in the Extended Security Updates program will also receive the Secure Boot update, while those not enrolled will not. The expiration of the KEK CA 2011 means Microsoft will not be able to sign new Secure Boot revocation payloads using the old key, but existing signed payloads will remain functional.

AppWizard

June 24, 2026

Steam Machine: Hardly any cheaper gaming PCs, 8 GiByte is enough

PCGH and PC Games discussed the new Steam Machine with Valve's Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehayyat. The final cost of the Steam Machine exceeded initial expectations due to unforeseen supply chain challenges related to memory and storage. Aldehayyat expressed pride in the product's quality and performance, despite its higher price point potentially excluding some buyers. Yang mentioned that future price adjustments could be considered if market conditions allow. The SteamOS does not currently support dual booting, but users can set up dual boot systems using external media. Valve is collaborating with anti-cheat providers like Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye to implement solutions for Linux. The Steam Machine is equipped with 8 GB of VRAM, which Aldehayyat believes is sufficient for most games at 1080p resolution. A verification program for the Steam Machine will be implemented, similar to that of the Steam Deck, ensuring better performance for verified games.

Winsage

June 24, 2026

Fixing a broken Windows 11 PC just got easier, and it won’t erase your files

Microsoft has introduced a new feature called point-in-time restore for Windows 11, which allows users to easily revert to previous system states. This feature is available across all editions of Windows 11, including Enterprise, Pro, and Home, and automatically generates restore points every 24 hours. Point-in-time restore captures a comprehensive snapshot of the system, including the operating system, applications, configurations, settings, and local files. It is enabled by default for Windows Home and Pro devices unless under enterprise management, while enterprise-managed systems require Windows 11 version 26H2 for activation. Systems with an OS volume smaller than 200GB have this feature disabled by default. Unlike the traditional System Restore, which requires manual image capture and does not include user files, point-in-time restore integrates user data and can be managed remotely by IT professionals. During its public preview, over two million devices enabled the feature, allowing Microsoft to refine it based on user feedback.