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Tech Optimizer
October 11, 2026

A practical guide to cost optimization with Lakebase Postgres

Lakebase is a fully managed Postgres database designed for modern application development, featuring an architecture that separates storage and compute with a serverless compute layer. This design allows for cost efficiencies through various mechanisms: 1. **Branching**: Developers can create isolated environments for development, testing, or experimentation without duplicating storage costs, as branches share the same underlying storage. 2. **Autoscaling**: Lakebase adjusts compute resources based on activity levels, allowing users to pay only for the compute they use. It can scale down during low activity and can be suspended entirely after inactivity, reducing costs to zero. 3. **Read Replicas and High Availability**: The separation of storage and compute allows for adding read replicas and high availability without incurring additional storage costs, as these instances utilize the same storage layer. 4. **Synced Tables**: Integration with the Databricks Intelligence Platform enables efficient data syncing, allowing users to sync only the necessary working set of data, which helps avoid unnecessary storage and sync costs. 5. **Sync Modes**: There are three sync modes (Snapshot, Triggered, Continuous) for transferring data from the Lakehouse to Lakebase, each with different cost implications based on data freshness requirements. 6. **Right-sizing Compute**: Users can set the initial compute range during project provisioning to avoid over-provisioning and unnecessary costs. 7. **Monitoring and Metrics**: The Lakebase Metrics dashboard provides insights into working set size and cache utilization, helping users optimize their compute sizing and performance. 8. **Point-in-Time Restore (PITR) and Snapshots**: PITR maintains history for recovery within a configurable window, while snapshots offer discrete recovery points. Both are priced lower than standard storage, making them cost-effective options for data recovery. Lakebase costs are categorized into compute, storage, and serverless pipeline compute for syncing data. Compute is measured by CU usage, while storage includes branch storage, PITR history, and snapshot storage, all tracked separately. Users can access detailed usage and cost information through system billing tables.
Query Plan Hints in PostgreSQL 19: A New Postgres Feature You Will Probably Never Need
Tech Optimizer
October 11, 2026

Query Plan Hints in PostgreSQL 19: A New Postgres Feature You Will Probably Never Need

PostgreSQL 19 features an advanced query planner that utilizes table statistics from pg_statistic, gathered during the ANALYZE process, to generate and evaluate potential query plans based on their costs. The planner assesses various configurations, especially in complex joins, to select the most efficient option. Instances of poor planning are treated as bugs and addressed promptly. To improve query performance, users are advised to refresh statistics with ANALYZE, use CREATE STATISTICS for column correlations, modify indexes, and adjust memory settings. In cases where the query cannot be altered, providing planner advice may be necessary, particularly when the planner misestimates the output of PL/pgSQL functions or other custom functions, leading to inefficient query execution.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
October 10, 2026

Google redesigns the search bar in its Android app

Google has updated the search bar on the home screen of its Android app in version 17.65.17, introducing a new "plus" button for easier access to file uploads and AI tools. The redesigned search bar is slimmer with a white background, a border, and a shadow effect. The plus icon on the left allows users to attach images or files, create visuals with Nano Banana, or switch models in AI Mode, while the microphone and Google Lens icons remain on the right. The two shortcut buttons beneath the search bar now have text labels: "Create" for Nano Banana and "Talk" for Search Live, improving usability. The update is being rolled out broadly, but no specific timeline has been provided for when users in the UAE will receive it. Users need to update the app to version 17.65.17 to access the new search bar, and the plus button does not add new features but provides quicker access to existing ones.
Russian software taught to work more easily with large data arrays
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.
October’s Humble Choice Lineup Is Officially Live, Featuring Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Psychonauts 2, and 6 More Games
AppWizard
October 9, 2026

October’s Humble Choice Lineup Is Officially Live, Featuring Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Psychonauts 2, and 6 More Games

This month, Humble Choice offers a selection of eight games for .99/month, including Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and Psychonauts 2, all rated 8/10. Members receive a complimentary month of IGN Plus and contribute 5% of their subscription fee to Hilarity for Charity, supporting families affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Microsoft’s AI-Powered Windows Strategy: 5 Things To Know
Winsage
October 9, 2026

Microsoft’s AI-Powered Windows Strategy: 5 Things To Know

Microsoft has transitioned its Execution Containers capability into general availability, creating a secure environment for AI agents on Windows 11. Nvidia's CEO praised Microsoft's MXC architecture as a revolutionary foundation for application development. Organizations are increasingly relying on managed service providers to navigate AI tools. The general availability of Microsoft Execution Containers allows organizations to define access for AI agents, with real-time policy enforcement. The open-source MXC library integrates across Windows, macOS, and Linux, helping manage agent interactions and mitigate risks. Microsoft is enhancing the Copilot experience with hybrid intelligence features and revamping Windows Search for better performance. Preorders for new Copilot+ PCs powered by Nvidia's RTX Spark technology are open, with shipments starting on October 16. Device partners like Dell, HP, and Lenovo are also launching AI PCs on the same date. Later this year, Dell and HP will introduce Nvidia’s DGX Station technology to enable local running of frontier-class AI models on Windows devices.
Your Android phone could be infected before you turn it on
AppWizard
October 9, 2026

Your Android phone could be infected before you turn it on

Bitdefender researchers have identified a malware campaign called Midnight Mimosa that can be embedded in the software of low-cost Android devices before sale. This malware operates stealthily, allowing it to install and remove applications without user knowledge, generate fraudulent advertising activity, and convert devices into residential-proxy relay nodes for a botnet. It has been found on MediaTek-based, white-label devices marketed under misleading names. Users should be cautious of suspiciously cheap devices and look for signs of infection, such as unexplained ads, unfamiliar apps, sudden battery drain, and discrepancies in model names. Standard uninstallation or factory resets may not remove this malware, and users are advised to update their devices, review app lists, and contact sellers for refunds or replacements if they suspect infection. Mobile protection solutions can help monitor app behavior and alert users to potential threats.
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