management Archives

Winsage

October 11, 2026

Microsoft is giving Windows 11’s legacy UI dark mode instead of killing it, now in Hyper-V

Windows 11 is introducing dark mode support for various applications and features, including file-operation dialogs and the Hyper-V Manager tool. Recent updates have applied dark mode to several key dialogs within Hyper-V Manager, such as the New Virtual Machine, Export Virtual Machine, Import Virtual Machine, New Virtual Hard Disk, Edit Virtual Hard Disk, and the virtual machine settings page. The Virtual Switch Manager and Virtual SAN Manager also now support dark mode. These features are currently available in Windows Server and Windows 11 preview builds but are not yet in the production channel. Hyper-V Manager allows users to choose between light and dark themes, although switching requires a restart of the application. Microsoft plans to extend dark mode to more legacy areas of Windows and is working on rebuilding certain dialogs using WinUI, with dark mode support already appearing in preview builds for various components.

Winsage

October 11, 2026

Windows PCs that are not up to date will lose Windows Update itself in 2027

Windows machines that are not current with updates will face changes in access to Windows Update due to two critical certificate expirations on May 17, 2027, and June 19, 2027. Supported versions must install specific security updates before these dates to maintain access. - Windows 11, version 25H2 and later: No action required. - Windows 11, version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025: Must install the September 2025 Windows security update or later, before June 19, 2027. - Other in-support Windows 11 versions and Windows Server 2022: Must install the July 2026 Windows security update or later, before June 19, 2027. - In-support Windows 10 versions: Must install the July 2026 Windows security update or later, before June 19, 2027. - Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2016: Must install the July 2026 Windows security update or later, before May 17, 2027. - Any other Windows version: Upgrade to a supported release to maintain access. Devices that are up to date will continue receiving updates without interruption, while those that are behind will lose access to Windows Update services after the expiration dates. Out-of-support versions will lose access entirely. The notice regarding the certificate expiration was posted on October 8, 2026, and reiterated on October 10, 2026.

Tech Optimizer

October 10, 2026

AWS embeds DuckDB in its PostgreSQL DBMS to speed queries of live and historical data

Amazon Web Services Inc. has enhanced its Aurora PostgreSQL database management system to allow users to query the Apache Iceberg data lake directly. This feature integrates the DuckDB analytical engine, enabling seamless access to live transactions and historical records without data duplication or complex ETL processes. Customers can use existing PostgreSQL applications to query data in Amazon S3, including S3 Tables. The integration aims to reduce the engineering workload associated with data pipelines and supports real-time applications. DuckDB processes analytical scans within Aurora, eliminating extra network hops and allowing single queries to access both live and archived data. The feature supports external catalogs compliant with the Iceberg REST Catalog specification and can create foreign tables referencing data across multiple catalogs. Aurora optimizes query performance by filtering records and caching frequently accessed data. Customers can combine recent transactions in Aurora with historical data from S3 without manual schema definitions. For low-latency workloads, selected data can be copied into native Aurora tables using standard SQL. This capability requires the aurora_analytics extension and an AWS IAM role for S3 and Glue access, and is compatible with Aurora PostgreSQL versions 17.11 and 18.6. The feature is available across all AWS regions at no additional charge, with costs incurred only for Aurora computing resources and S3 requests.

Tech Optimizer

October 10, 2026

AWS Embeds DuckDB in Aurora PostgreSQL, Enabling Direct Data Lake Queries Without ETL

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has integrated the open-source analytics engine DuckDB into its Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL database, allowing users to query Apache Iceberg tables and Parquet files directly from data lakes without traditional ETL processes. This feature, announced on September 30, 2026, enables seamless access to both operational and historical data in a single SQL statement. Users can enable the aurora_analytics extension, assign an IAM role for S3 and AWS Glue access, and create external tables using standard PostgreSQL syntax. The integration supports Iceberg tables managed by AWS Glue Data Catalog, Iceberg REST Catalog-compatible external catalogs, Parquet files on S3, and S3 Tables. Performance optimizations include predicate pushdown and column pruning on the data lake side, with caching for frequently accessed data. This feature is available for Aurora PostgreSQL versions 17.11 and later, and 18.6 and later, across all commercial regions and AWS GovCloud (US), with no additional charges beyond Aurora compute and S3 request fees. In a separate development, AWS has a significant contract with AI company Anthropic, anticipating billion in cloud-related contractual obligations over several years, with approximately billion projected to be paid to Amazon from a 10-year agreement announced in April 2026. Anthropic's revenue has shown impressive growth, with first-quarter 2026 revenue reaching 0 million and second-quarter revenue at .8 billion. However, risks are present, as a significant portion of Anthropic's revenue comes from a few customers, and many larger clients lack long-term contracts. Amazon has invested .8 billion in Anthropic, with its stake valued at approximately billion as of June 2026.

Tech Optimizer

October 10, 2026

Designing a Concurrent Donation Ledger With FastAPI and PostgreSQL

Every year, billions of dollars flow through online crowdfunding platforms, leading to donor concerns about the allocation of funds. Traditional crowdfunding applications lack transparency, often leaving funds in unverified balances without real-time auditability or guarantees against double-allocations. GoodCause, a social impact platform, aims to address this issue by creating a system that ensures financial integrity and atomic fund distribution. Its architecture is based on mobile-first delivery, atomic auditability, and strict data isolation, utilizing technologies such as React Native, FastAPI, and PostgreSQL. The platform incorporates a mobile client for cross-platform navigation, a backend API for domain-driven routing, a database with Row-Level Security, and a payment gateway for secure transactions. A significant engineering challenge is preventing race conditions and double-spending in concurrent donation scenarios.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

Be warned: Nivalis Nights may not be the cozy game you expect: ‘If you want a cozy existence in this city, you’re going to have to earn it’

Nivalis Nights is a user-generated tag on Steam that is described as a cyberpunk shop/life simulation game, with elements of management and relaxation. However, the game presents an overwhelming volume of quests and notifications, creating a chaotic experience that contrasts with traditional notions of coziness. Lead writer Thomas Welsh acknowledges that the game reflects life in a capitalist society, where players face burdensome debt and bureaucratic challenges. Despite its harsh world, the game includes decorating and management elements, visually stunning graphics, character narratives, and a hint of romance. The initial overwhelm from the quest log and constant notifications contributes to the subjective interpretation of coziness in gaming.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

A week with Googlebooks: four notes from our testing so far

Google has launched five new Googlebook laptops featuring the Googlebook OS, which has received mixed reviews. While the hardware is praised, the software is criticized for being problematic and not a significant upgrade from ChromeOS. Users report issues such as the inability to run Chrome with separate Google accounts, clunky Android apps, and awkward command requirements for messaging apps. The app ecosystem is struggling, with many applications failing to adapt to the Googlebook's interface, resulting in a frustrating user experience. Linux applications face integration challenges, complicating multitasking. Despite some successful features like file transfer and notification responses between Googlebook and Android devices, users experience frequent connectivity issues and sluggish performance.

Tech Optimizer

October 10, 2026

Russian software taught to work more easily with large data arrays

Russian Postgres Professional has released an update to Postgres Pro AXE, version 2.0, which allows users to handle analytical data using standard SQL queries instead of specialized stored procedures. This update improves accessibility to analytical data, which is stored in Parquet format and managed through a dedicated metadata catalog. The system is designed for analytical workloads, supporting Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) and hybrid workloads. The first public version of Postgres Pro AXE was launched in January 2026, featuring vectorized analytical queries and compatibility with columnar storage. In the Russian market, alternatives to Postgres Pro AXE include Arenadata DB, optimized for corporate data warehouses, and Arenadata QuickMarts, a clustered columnar DBMS based on ClickHouse for rapid analytics.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

This App Wants to Make Your Android Handhelds Last Even Longer

Battery life is a significant concern for Android handheld device users, prompting some to use custom firmware while others prefer stock Android. Strategies to extend battery life exist but vary in effectiveness and effort required. SleepManager is an application designed to optimize battery usage during inactivity by automatically disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, activating Battery Saver, managing specific applications, scheduling syncs, and preventing clamshell devices from waking inadvertently. It is accessible without rooting or complex commands, allowing users to download and configure it easily. The developer noted that SleepManager was created using AI-assisted development, which has sparked discussions about AI's role in app creation.

Tech Optimizer

October 10, 2026

DBtune autonomous optimization blows PostgreSQL bottlenecks away

DBtune, a startup based in Malmö/Lund, Sweden, was founded in 2020 by Dr. Luigi Nardi as a spin-off from Stanford University and Lund University. The company focuses on enhancing PostgreSQL's capabilities through autonomous database optimization technology and has raised .4 million in a seed round from various investors in July 2023, with support from the Wallenberg Foundation and Vinnova. DBtune's technology utilizes agentic AI for optimizing PostgreSQL databases by tuning server parameters, optimizing indexes, and monitoring autovacuum processes. The release of DBtune version 4.0 incorporates machine learning and AI to dynamically adjust server parameters and suggest optimal indexing strategies. The platform identifies and ranks potential index opportunities based on workload and provides recommendations for new indexes and maintenance of existing ones. A case study with Midwest Tape demonstrated a 10.8x performance improvement in database query runtime after employing DBtune for performance tuning. Benchmarking tests showed a transaction throughput increase of 87% during initial optimization, with a further 17% improvement on an already optimized system. Disk I/O activity was reduced by 43%, and WAL generation decreased by 23%. Dr. Nardi emphasizes the need for AI-driven optimization to manage the complexities of PostgreSQL databases and rising cloud costs, suggesting that significant code adaptations will be necessary for achieving fully autonomous PostgreSQL.