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Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2026

Overcoming barriers to database modernisation in the AI age

Enterprises in Malaysia are transitioning from legacy systems to modern infrastructure to facilitate AI deployment. A roundtable discussion highlighted the challenges of AI integration, emphasizing the need to reduce costs associated with outdated systems. Organizations are adopting hybrid cloud approaches and utilizing various databases to manage extensive data across multiple applications. The push for AI is driven by management and customer expectations, but employee willingness to upskill remains a challenge. Not all challenges require AI solutions, and starting with smaller use cases can lead to successful scaling. The adoption of open-source database systems like Postgres is increasing, necessitating reliable support to address issues and ensure application availability. Data sovereignty is a concern for enterprises operating in mixed environments, and EDB Postgres AI offers a platform that combines security with cloud agility. Reducing infrastructure costs is essential for freeing up resources for new initiatives.

Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2026

Database Branching in Postgres: Git-Style Workflows with Databricks Lakebase

Database branching is a modern approach that addresses the limitations of traditional database management in development workflows. Unlike conventional database copies, which require significant time and resources to duplicate data and schema, database branching allows for the creation of isolated environments that share the same underlying storage. This method utilizes a copy-on-write mechanism, enabling branches to be created in seconds regardless of database size, with storage costs tied only to the changes made. Key features of database branching include: - Branch creation time: Seconds, constant regardless of database size. - Storage cost: Proportional to changes only, not the total data size. - Isolation: Each branch has its own Postgres connection string and compute endpoint. - Automatic scaling: Idle branches can scale compute to zero, incurring costs only when active. The architecture supporting this approach separates compute from storage, allowing multiple branches to reference the same data without conflict. This design facilitates time travel capabilities, enabling branches to be created from any point in the past for instant recovery and inspection. Database branching unlocks new workflows, such as: - One branch per developer, providing isolated environments for each engineer. - One branch per pull request, automating branch creation and deletion tied to PRs. - One branch per test run, provisioning fresh databases for each CI pipeline execution. - Instant recovery from any point in time within a designated restore window. - Ephemeral environments for AI agents, allowing programmatic database provisioning. Databricks Lakebase offers this database branching capability, transforming the database from a bottleneck into a streamlined component of the development process.

AppWizard

April 11, 2026

iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 R17 review – a fantastic RTX 5080 gaming PC

The iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 R17 is a high-end gaming PC featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. It is housed in a visually striking Hyte Y70 case that provides excellent cooling and ample upgrade potential. The system includes a 240mm AIO liquid cooler and is equipped with various front and rear ports for connectivity. It offers impressive gaming performance, achieving over 105fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p and maintaining playable frame rates at higher resolutions. The PC is priced at ,199.99 and comes with a three-year labor and two-year parts warranty. Minor shipping damage was noted, and initial CPU fan noise may require BIOS adjustments for quieter operation. The dimensions of the case are 470 x 320 x 470mm, and it weighs 13.2kg.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

Privacy Messenger Session Is Staring Down a 90-Day Countdown to Obscurity

The messaging app Session, which prioritizes user privacy and offers end-to-end encryption without requiring personal information for registration, is facing potential closure and has issued a call for support. The Session Technology Foundation (STF) has received funding to support operations for 90 days but will rely on volunteers after all paid staff have been let go. Development activities have paused due to insufficient funding, affecting the introduction of new features and the resolution of existing bugs. The STF has stated that it needs million to complete ongoing projects and introduce a subscription model to achieve self-sustainability. As of now, 0,000 has been raised towards this goal. Users can contribute at getsession.org/donate.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

YouTube Premium just got a price hike, and it’s not a small one

YouTube Premium prices in the US are increasing next month for individual, family, and student plans. The individual plan will rise to .99/month, and the family plan will increase to .99/month. This follows a previous price adjustment in July 2023 when the individual plan rose from .99 to .99 per month. Users have started receiving official emails about the changes, which highlight benefits like ad-free viewing and offline downloads. The increase comes as YouTube has increased ads for free users and is cracking down on ad blockers. Some users have expressed frustration over the rising costs without perceived improvements in value.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

I didn’t know how much I needed Gemini’s scheduled actions until I tried them

Megan Ellis, a user of the Gemini app, has found scheduled actions to be a valuable feature that automates routine tasks, saving her time and enhancing her productivity. Scheduled actions allow users to set automated prompts for the chatbot to generate responses at designated intervals, such as weekly or monthly reports and daily news summaries. Access to this feature varies by account type: personal accounts require Google AI Pro or Ultra plans, while work and school accounts have access limited to specific Google Workspace editions. To set up a scheduled action, users can chat with the AI, input a prompt, and instruct Gemini to repeat the action at specified times. Notifications alert users when their scheduled actions are ready. Megan uses scheduled actions to receive weekly summaries of consumer tech news and curated series recommendations, helping her stay informed and manage her viewing preferences. She wishes the feature were available to free users with some limitations.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

If you loved Balatro, don’t miss your chance to get this indie deck builder at under $3

Fanatical's latest Platinum Collection features discounted Steam games, including "This Ain't Even Poker, Ya Joker," which combines cards and strategy with chaotic gameplay. Players battle a Jester, unlocking upgrades and creating unique synergies. The game allows players to bend rules, such as adding or eliminating cards. The collection offers a "build your own" bundle format, where players can select a minimum of three games, potentially acquiring "This Ain't Even Poker, Ya Joker" for under £3. Other titles in the collection include "Gloomy Eyes," "The Evil Within," "Outbreak Island," and "Metal Garden." The offer is available until Thursday, April 30th, and is subject to key availability.

BetaBeacon

April 10, 2026

The Android Tablet That Runs Steam Games : Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5

The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset and offers up to 24GB of RAM, delivering high performance for gaming, multitasking, and streaming.

AppWizard

April 10, 2026

Minecraft Java Snapshot Introduces New Mob and Sulfur Caves Biome

The Minecraft Java snapshot, named Chaos Cubed, introduces the Sulfur Caves biome, featuring Sulfur Springs and blocks of Sulfur and Cinnabar. It includes a new block called Potent Sulfur, which generates gas bubbles causing nausea and can be crafted from nine regular Sulfur blocks. A new mob, the Sulfur Cube, can absorb nearby blocks and transform into a ball-like state, with nine behavior types affecting its interactions. Adjustments have been made to Beds and Slime Blocks, allowing Slime Blocks to continuously bounce mobs when air drag is removed. The rendering system has transitioned from OpenGL to Vulkan for optimized graphics processing, while OpenGL remains available for older hardware. The snapshot is available for Java edition users and can be tested in the Bedrock preview, with a full release expected in June.

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Jazzy stealth-action game Thick as Thieves hits PC on May 20

OtherSide Entertainment has announced that their game, Thick as Thieves, will be released on Steam on May 20. The game is set in a fictional Scottish city named Kilcairn and features two distinct thieves, two maps, sixteen contracts, six unique pieces of gear, and multiple difficulty settings. Originally introduced as a PvPvE experience at The Game Awards in December 2024, it has shifted to focus on solo and two-player cooperative gameplay, with the announcement made on Steam on April 2, 2026. The game was initially planned for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, but the current focus is on the Steam release.