operations Archives

Tech Optimizer

May 17, 2025

Supercharging your data experience: PostgreSQL 17 is now available on IBM Cloud

PostgreSQL Version 17 has launched on IBM Cloud, featuring optimized memory management, faster query execution, and accelerated bulk operations. These enhancements improve performance, scalability, security, and developer productivity. IBM Cloud's ecosystem of extensions and plugins supports PostgreSQL 17, enabling efficient management of complex applications.

AppWizard

May 16, 2025

Jade Raymond departs Haven Studios

Jade Raymond has left Haven Studios, the company she co-founded in 2021, as it prepares for an external beta of its first project, Fairgames. Haven Studios was established after the collapse of Google Stadia and was acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2022. The studio will continue operations under co-heads Marie-Eve Danis and Pierre-François Sapinski. A PlayStation representative acknowledged Raymond's contributions and leadership. Fairgames represents a shift for PlayStation towards live-service projects, amidst challenges including the cancellation of two live-service games and the withdrawal of Concord from sale.

Tech Optimizer

May 16, 2025

The $1 Billion database bet: What Databricks’ Neon acquisition means for your AI strategy

Databricks acquired the privately held serverless PostgreSQL startup Neon for approximately billion. Neon, founded in 2022, had previously raised million in a Series B funding round. Over 80% of the databases generated on Neon's platform were initiated by AI agents. PostgreSQL, an established relational database platform, is ranked as the fourth most popular database as of 2025. Serverless PostgreSQL offers operational simplicity, allowing on-demand resource allocation, which is particularly beneficial for AI-centric projects. Major cloud providers, including Google, Microsoft, and AWS, offer serverless PostgreSQL services. Databricks aims to build a developer and AI-agent-friendly database platform with this acquisition. Serverless architectures excel in handling short bursts and smaller workloads, providing rapid scalability, but may present challenges in data management. Neon’s model enhances appeal for developers by distinguishing between storage and compute, facilitating automated scaling. The acquisition indicates a shift in infrastructure requirements for successful AI implementation, highlighting the need for flexible, instantly scalable serverless solutions.

Winsage

May 16, 2025

Windows 10 KB5058379 update triggering BitLocker Recovery after install

The Windows 10 KB5058379 cumulative update, released on May 13, 2025, has caused unexpected BitLocker recovery prompts for some users after installation and reboot. Reports indicate that affected devices, including those from Lenovo, Dell, and HP, automatically boot into the Windows Recovery Environment and display the BitLocker recovery screen. Users have experienced various issues, such as needing BitLocker keys to start up or devices refusing to start. A workaround involves disabling Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) in the BIOS. Microsoft has not publicly acknowledged the issue but support representatives are aware and working on a resolution. Microsoft has provided steps to resolve the issue, including disabling Secure Boot and virtualization technologies, checking Microsoft Defender System Guard Firmware Protection status, and disabling firmware protection via Group Policy or Registry Editor.

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Microsoft Copilot+ Recall: who should disable it, and how

Microsoft's Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs was initially announced a year ago but delayed due to privacy concerns raised by cybersecurity experts. The updated version was released in April 2025 for Windows Insider Preview builds and rolled out more broadly in May. Key updates include requiring user permission for activation, encrypting database files with hardware-based Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and implementing a filter to prevent saving sensitive information. Recall is enabled on a per-user basis, can be uninstalled, does not require a Microsoft account, and processes data locally. However, it still has vulnerabilities, such as allowing access with a regular Windows PIN after initial biometric authentication and failing to consistently filter sensitive data. Recall can log interactions during calls and capture self-destructing messages, posing privacy risks. It can impact performance and battery life, especially during gaming. Users handling sensitive data or frequently using video conferencing may want to disable or remove Recall. Instructions for disabling or removing Recall are provided, along with precautions for those who choose to use it.

Tech Optimizer

May 15, 2025

Neon Serverless Postgres: Azure Native Integration Now Available

Microsoft and Neon have launched Neon Serverless Postgres as a native integration within the Azure ecosystem, following its initial preview in December 2024. This open-source, serverless database solution is positioned as an alternative to AWS Aurora Postgres. Key features include automatic scaling, branching capabilities, direct database connection from Azure, Azure CLI and SDK support, and Semantic Kernel integration for RAG pipelines. Microsoft has invested millions in Neon as part of a broader funding round to enhance collaboration. Neon’s platform includes autoscaling, branching, and point-in-time restore capabilities, specifically designed for AI applications. EnterpriseDB has appointed Nancy Hensley as Chief Product Officer to lead growth for its EDB Postgres AI platform, which supports various workloads and modernizes legacy systems. Additionally, companies are increasingly adopting passwordless authentication methods, with MojoAuth offering solutions that integrate into applications to enhance security and user experience.

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Windows Remote Desktop Gateway Vulnerability Let Attackers Trigger Dos Condition

The Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) has released critical security updates to address a significant vulnerability in the Windows Remote Desktop Gateway service, identified as CVE-2025-26677, which allows unauthorized attackers to cause denial of service (DoS) conditions. This vulnerability is rated as "High" severity with a CVSS score of 7.5 and affects multiple versions of Windows Server, including 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025. Microsoft has provided security updates (KB5058383, KB5058392, KB5058385, and KB5058411) to rectify the issue. Additionally, another vulnerability, CVE-2025-29831, has been identified that could enable remote code execution (RCE) through a Use After Free weakness, also rated with a CVSS score of 7.5. This vulnerability requires user interaction, specifically an admin user to stop or restart the service, and affects Windows Server versions 2008 R2, 2012/R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025. Organizations are advised to prioritize patching both vulnerabilities and to review network configurations to limit exposure of Remote Desktop Gateway services. The vulnerabilities were discovered by security researchers from Kunlun Lab.

Winsage

May 14, 2025

WSL is the best feature added to Windows in the last decade

Microsoft introduced the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in August 2016, initially as a tool for developers. WSL debuted as a beta version with a native-kernel translation layer, allowing Windows to run unmodified Linux ELF binaries. Its early performance was limited, leading users to prefer Linux virtual machines for full compatibility. The launch of WSL2 in May 2020 replaced the translation layer with a lightweight, real Linux kernel running in a Hyper-V utility VM, providing near-native performance and comprehensive syscall coverage. WSL2 has since seen continuous improvements, including GPU-compute and CUDA support in 2021, full GUI support for X11 and Wayland applications in 2022, and systemd support in September 2022. WSL2 approaches the performance of bare-metal Linux while integrating seamlessly with Windows, allowing users to launch a Linux shell easily. It enables developers to access the C drive and interact between Windows and Linux environments without dual-booting. WSL2 enhances productivity for data science workflows, allowing the use of tools like PyTorch with CUDA. It also offers features for non-developers, such as creating aliases for launching Windows applications and running Linux GUI applications. WSL's integration into Windows represents a significant shift, providing opportunities for users across various domains to explore Linux functionalities.

Tech Optimizer

May 14, 2025

Databricks to Acquire Neon, Targeting Serverless Postgres for AI Agent Workloads

Databricks plans to acquire Neon, a serverless Postgres provider designed for automation and AI-driven database interactions. Neon's architecture allows for 80% of databases on its platform to be provisioned automatically by AI agents, enabling rapid execution and unpredictable scaling. It can provision fully isolated Postgres instances in under 500 milliseconds and features instant schema and data forking. Neon's usage-based pricing model charges organizations only for executed queries, addressing cost inefficiencies of traditional databases. It is fully compatible with Postgres and supports common extensions, facilitating ease of use for developers. After the acquisition, Neon's team will join Databricks to support existing users and develop tools for AI-native systems.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Slack down: Messaging app hit by major global outage

Slack is currently experiencing a major outage affecting users worldwide, with issues including error spikes that hinder the ability to open channels, send messages, and use integrated applications. The company has stated that backend database routing is contributing to these errors and is actively investigating the situation with its engineering team. While initially reported as a global outage affecting all users, it has been clarified that the impact is widespread but not universal. Users are facing challenges such as difficulties in starting the application, unsent messages, and problems with loading channels and threads. Slack has committed to providing updates every 30 minutes until the issues are resolved. As of the latest update, operations are reportedly returning to normal after significant disruptions.