neutrality Archives

TrendTechie

March 14, 2026

МТС начал взимать ежедневную плату за использование VPN

MTS, a major mobile operator in Russia, has reclassified virtual private networks (VPNs) as equivalent to torrent services, imposing a daily fee of up to 87 rubles for users who wish to engage in private browsing. Traffic routed through VPNs will no longer be included in standard service packages, leading to additional charges for accessing blocked resources or securing connections. The new tariff structure charges users based on their region and plan, with fees ranging from 80 to 87 rubles per day for a quota of five gigabytes of specialized traffic. Users can block this service to avoid charges, resulting in the complete unavailability of VPN connections. This policy is seen as a response to pressures for new monetization strategies and aligns with government efforts to limit internet circumvention. The potential for other major telecom operators to adopt similar practices could impact net neutrality in Russia.

AppWizard

February 16, 2026

5 of the best news apps for Android, whether you want original reporting or powerful aggregators

Google News is an app on Android that aggregates stories from various global news outlets, allowing users to navigate categories and personalize their news experience. The BBC News app is known for its impartiality and UK-centric coverage, offering topic selection and breaking news alerts. Reuters is recognized for factual accuracy and minimal bias, with a history of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism. Readly provides access to numerous newspapers and magazines through a subscription model. Ground News aggregates content from over 50,000 sources, highlighting biases and reliability, and offers AI-generated summaries, with some content available for free and full access requiring a subscription.

Winsage

January 20, 2026

Microsoft’s Windows 11 ad accidentally promoted Google Chrome, then quietly edited after people noticed it

On December 23, 2025, Microsoft launched a YouTube advertisement for Windows 11 that mistakenly featured the Chrome icon on the taskbar. After coverage by Windows Latest, Microsoft quickly edited the ad to replace the Chrome icon with its Edge browser. The inclusion of Chrome was seen as an oversight, as Microsoft aims to promote Edge over Chrome and Bing. The original ad, which included Chrome, is still available in saved copies, but the current version on YouTube has removed the Chrome icon. Microsoft has not publicly acknowledged the mistake, and similar competitive tactics are also used by Google to promote Chrome.

AppWizard

November 3, 2025

The Best Crypto Apps for Android: A 2025 Guide to Trading and Managing Your Portfolio

There are over 3 billion Android devices in use, making it a significant platform for cryptocurrency applications. The Google Play Store features numerous trading, wallet, and portfolio apps due to evolving regulations and a focus on user experience. Key elements for navigating crypto apps include usability, security, compliance, and responsibility. Popular trading apps include Binance, Coinbase, and Bybit, which offer features like biometric login and real-time notifications. Security measures such as two-factor authentication and Know Your Customer verification are essential for safe trading. Users can choose between hot wallets and cold wallets, with options like Trust Wallet, MetaMask, and SafePal available. Staking apps like Binance Earn and Crypto.com encourage user engagement by offering rewards for locking tokens. Ethereum underpins many Android crypto apps, facilitating interactions with ERC-20 tokens and enhancing transaction efficiency. A checklist for safe app downloads includes security checks, reputation checks, functionality checks, and transfer checks. As the crypto landscape evolves, apps are expected to integrate more with fiat finance and Web3 technologies, emphasizing the importance of verification and security for users.

AppWizard

October 30, 2025

CWA president urges regulators scrutinise EA Saudi deal

Claude Cummings Jr., president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union, has requested a thorough investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) regarding the proposed acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) by a consortium of investors primarily funded by Saudi Arabia. He expressed concerns about job security for thousands in the gaming industry and the potential impact on market dynamics, urging regulators to evaluate how the acquisition could affect EA's market power and wage-setting authority. The acquisition would transition EA to private ownership under investors including the Saudi Public Investment Fund. The CWA previously supported the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft after negotiating a labor neutrality agreement.

AppWizard

October 16, 2025

Blizzard’s platform and tech team unionises

Over 400 employees from the platform and tech teams at Blizzard have voted to form a bargaining unit, marking a significant move towards collective representation. This new union has received recognition from Microsoft, which aligns with its labor neutrality agreement with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), who will represent the Blizzard employees. Members of the organizing committee expressed optimism about increased union representation improving workplace standards. Additionally, over 450 staff members involved in the Diablo franchise have also voted to unionize, indicating a growing trend of unionization at Blizzard.

Tech Optimizer

September 1, 2025

From Postgres extensions to global spotlight, DocumentDB sparks clash between open source ideals and corporate cloud power politics

DocumentDB originated as a pair of PostgreSQL add-ons in 2024, designed to manage BSON data models and facilitate document queries. It evolved into a standalone database within a year, leveraging PostgreSQL's reliability while offering NoSQL flexibility. DocumentDB has been adopted under the MIT license, fostering community engagement, and is supported by major companies like Microsoft, AWS, and Google. The project aims to provide an open document database that combines NoSQL flexibility with PostgreSQL's power and ecosystem. Its transition to the Linux Foundation has garnered support from industry giants, although concerns about vendor neutrality and influence on community governance have been raised. DocumentDB is seen as a response to MongoDB's restrictive licensing, promoting a more interoperable standard for document databases. Jim Zemlin from the Linux Foundation highlighted DocumentDB's role in filling a gap in the document database ecosystem.

Tech Optimizer

August 26, 2025

Microsoft donates DocumentDB to Linux Foundation

Microsoft's open-source document database, DocumentDB, has joined the Linux Foundation to provide a vendor-neutral environment for developers seeking an alternative to MongoDB. It operates under the MIT license, allowing developers to use PostgreSQL interfaces for enhanced JSON support or MongoDB compatibility. Microsoft aims for "100% compatibility with MongoDB drivers" to facilitate user transitions. DocumentDB has grown rapidly since its inception, gaining nearly 2,000 stars on GitHub and attracting PostgreSQL enthusiasts. It combines PostgreSQL capabilities with improved JSON/BSON support and maintains compatibility with existing MongoDB drivers and tools. By joining the Linux Foundation, DocumentDB establishes an independent identity and invites contributions from various database providers, ensuring alignment with open-source PostgreSQL. A Technical Steering Committee (TSC) has been formed to oversee project decisions, while maintainers will ensure code quality and adherence to standards. The Linux Foundation will help maintain DocumentDB's neutrality and developer-focused approach as it expands.

Winsage

August 22, 2025

IGEL benefits from seismic VMware and Windows 10 shifts

IGEL Technology, founded in 2001, initially specialized in thin clients but has shifted towards software solutions that protect endpoints with a read-only operating system, reducing the attack surface by up to 95 percent. Each endpoint operates statelessly, retaining no memory of past interactions, and is managed through a unified portal that integrates with various vendors like Zscaler and CrowdStrike. IGEL's solutions allow for the integration of endpoints in operational technology environments without introducing additional security vulnerabilities, effectively replacing EDR systems with over 120 integrations. The company aims to extend the lifespan of endpoints from 3-5 years to 6-8 years, providing significant cost savings and addressing the challenges posed by the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11. IGEL's approach enhances security while offering flexibility in application delivery options, although it does not eliminate all cyber threats.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Blizzard story and franchise staff form new union

Blizzard's Story and Franchise Development team has voted to establish a new union in collaboration with the Communications Workers of America, recognized by Microsoft, resulting in approximately 3,000 Xbox employees becoming part of a unionized workforce. The union aims to preserve company culture, ensure transparency in decision-making, and apply policies equitably. This effort follows successful contract negotiations by staff at Raven Software and ZeniMax with Microsoft, indicating a trend towards collective bargaining in the gaming industry.