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Microsoft is testing deeper Phone Link integration in Windows 11, but do you actually use it?
Winsage
August 3, 2026

Microsoft is testing deeper Phone Link integration in Windows 11, but do you actually use it?

Windows Insiders can access new features in Windows 11 Insider Build 26300.9032, available through the Experimental Preview Channel. Key updates include: - Windows Search: Introduces customizable options for integrating personal or work/school Microsoft accounts and OneDrive in search results. It can automatically expand indexing based on user activity, which can be managed in Settings > Privacy & security > Search. - Phone Link: Users can now preview recent messages or notifications by hovering over them in the Start menu, enhancing visibility into mobile activity. This feature is gradually rolling out and requires a minimum Phone Link build of 1.26021.3.0. - Settings App: Improved search functionality for quicker navigation to relevant settings. - Adaptive Hibernate Policy: Enhancements for instant-on resumes from Modern Standby and better battery preservation based on battery levels. - Start Menu: A fix for an issue causing crashes when dragging apps. - Taskbar: Resolved an issue where hovering over app window previews in an overflow state dismissed them. - File Explorer: Home now retains the state of sections, and improvements have been made for reliability when dragging files to disconnected network drives. Issues with files on DFS mapped drives being misidentified have also been addressed. - Windows Spotlight: Changes to enhance reliability on the lock screen. - Storage: Fixes for File History automatic backups to network shares that displayed false "invalid credentials" errors.
I've helped 100 cats mail parcels in Cat Mail Co. which is why I can safely say it's one of the best management sims I've played in a very long time
AppWizard
July 14, 2026

I’ve helped 100 cats mail parcels in Cat Mail Co. which is why I can safely say it’s one of the best management sims I’ve played in a very long time

Cat Mail Co. is a management simulation game where players act as a postmaster on Cat Island, responsible for delivering mail to feline residents. Players must sort packages based on various criteria such as weight and type, while also deciphering vague requests from cats. The game involves collecting packages for delivery by a Captain who has a variable schedule, requiring players to manage stock and organize items strategically for transport. As players progress, they unlock new areas and face increasingly complex delivery logistics. The game also allows for multiplayer interactions, adding an element of chaos to the cozy gameplay experience.
3 Big Changes Coming To Google Messages In 2026
AppWizard
July 10, 2026

3 Big Changes Coming To Google Messages In 2026

Google Messages is set to introduce several improvements aimed at enhancing user experience, particularly in sharing and forwarding messages. The app will allow users to share content with both individual contacts and groups, recognizing pre-existing groups to simplify the process. Additionally, it will issue warnings when sending multimedia to mixed groups of RCS and MMS users. Another upcoming feature is the ability to forward multiple messages at once, including images, with a preview option before sending. These enhancements are currently in beta testing and may change before their official release.
PDO PostgreSQL Bug Triggers NULL Pointer Dereference and Crashes PHP Worker Processes
Tech Optimizer
July 7, 2026

PDO PostgreSQL Bug Triggers NULL Pointer Dereference and Crashes PHP Worker Processes

Researchers at Positive Technologies have identified two significant vulnerabilities in the PHP Data Objects (PDO) extension layer, both posing high severity risks. The first vulnerability (CVE-2025-14180) leads to a NULL pointer dereference, causing PHP worker processes to crash. It affects PHP versions 8.1.x prior to 8.1.34, 8.2.x before 8.2.30, 8.3.x before 8.3.29, 8.4.x before 8.4.16, and 8.5.x before 8.5.1. This issue occurs when the pdo_pgsql driver operates with PDO::ATTR_EMULATE_PREPARES enabled, allowing a remote attacker to exploit it without authentication by submitting malformed character sequences. The second vulnerability (CVE-2025-14179) allows for SQL injection and affects PHP versions 8.2.x before 8.2.31, 8.3.x before 8.3.31, 8.4.x before 8.4.21, and 8.5.x before 8.5.6. It arises from a mishandling of NUL bytes in the Firebird driver during the PDO::prepare() process, despite the quoting routine functioning correctly. Additionally, the audit revealed an integer overflow in PostgreSQL’s libpq client library and an information disclosure flaw in Firebird 3’s fbclient.
Why most AI projects fail: It’s infrastructure and people
Tech Optimizer
July 6, 2026

Why most AI projects fail: It’s infrastructure and people

AI technology faces significant criticism for its low success rates in delivering business results, with studies indicating a 95% failure rate for enterprise AI solutions and only 9% of organizations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa achieving measurable outcomes from AI initiatives. Four main shortcomings hinder the transition of AI prototypes to production: 1. Deployment Flexibility: Prototyping environments often lack the necessary flexibility for large-scale production deployment, particularly in regulated sectors. 2. Data Sovereignty: Production transitions can complicate data sovereignty at enterprise and regional levels. 3. Reliability: High availability is crucial for production environments, but vendor-managed platforms may not guarantee seamless upgrades or hardware swaps without downtime. 4. Disconnect in Tool Selection: Developers often choose tools for prototyping without considering production implications, leading to difficulties in scaling. The shortage of database administrators (DBAs) is exacerbated by the increasing use of AI tools, with 84% of developers utilizing them according to a 2025 survey. To address these challenges, Merrick suggests leveraging AI DBA agents to support human DBAs and improve database management efficiency. He emphasizes the need for both robust data infrastructure and enhanced operational support to improve the success rates of AI prototypes.
From monolith to Lakebase to LTAP: rethinking the database from storage up
Tech Optimizer
July 2, 2026

From monolith to Lakebase to LTAP: rethinking the database from storage up

Sixteen years ago, the author began their PhD at UC Berkeley and was advised to focus on analytics rather than OLTP databases, which were considered solved. This led to the creation of Apache Spark and Databricks. However, during the development of Databricks, it was found that OLTP databases were not solved problems; they were difficult to scale and fragile. This realization led to the development of Lakebase, a serverless Postgres database designed with modern technology. Lakebase architecture separates the write-ahead log (WAL) and data files into independent, scalable services. The WAL is externalized to a service called SafeKeeper, which uses Paxos-based replication for durability, while data files are managed by PageServer, which stores them in cloud object storage. This design addresses challenges such as data loss, scaling, and performance interference between transactional and analytical workloads. Lakebase maintains compatibility with Postgres, offers unlimited storage, serverless compute, durable writes, and simpler high availability. It also introduces LTAP (Lake Transactional/Analytical Processing), which allows both transactional and analytical processing to operate on a single data copy in real time, eliminating the need for separate data copies and reducing costs. LTAP utilizes a unified storage layer that allows data to be materialized in both row and columnar formats, optimizing it for both transactional and analytical workloads. The system ensures that analytics can access the most current data without affecting transactional performance by using a log sequence number (LSN) to retrieve the latest changes. Unlike traditional CDC approaches, LTAP requires no explicit table replication, as all data is stored in a single governed copy. This architecture circumvents common issues faced by hybrid transactional/analytical processing (HTAP) systems, such as incomplete feature sets, lack of ecosystem support, and performance contention. The Lakebase architecture has unlocked capabilities like unlimited storage, elastic compute, durable writes, and instant branching, with ongoing developments anticipated in the future.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
July 2, 2026

Android’s Linux Terminal no longer restricts you to a single font and window in QPR1 Beta 6

The Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 has introduced enhancements to the Linux Terminal app, including the ability to import custom fonts from phone storage and multi-window support. Users can now select their preferred font as the default and open new terminal windows via the three-dot overflow menu, with each window appearing in Android’s recents screen. The Linux Terminal app debuted on Pixel devices during the March 2025 Pixel Drop and has seen several improvements since its launch.
silver Android smartphone
Tech Optimizer
July 2, 2026

From monolith to Lakebase to LTAP: rethinking the database from storage up

Sixteen years ago, the author began their PhD at UC Berkeley, where they were advised to focus on analytics rather than OLTP databases, which were considered a solved problem. However, upon developing Databricks, they found that OLTP databases were cumbersome, challenging to scale, and fragile. This led to the creation of Lakebase, a serverless Postgres database designed to address these issues by externalizing the write-ahead log (WAL) and data files into independent services. Lakebase architecture separates the WAL into a distributed service called SafeKeeper and data files into another service called PageServer, allowing for improved durability, scalability, and performance. This architecture eliminates data loss risks associated with disk failures and misconfigurations, simplifies high availability, and allows for elastic compute resources. Lakebase also introduces LTAP (Lake Transactional/Analytical Processing), which enables transactions and analytics to operate on a single data copy in real-time, avoiding the need for separate data copies and reducing costs. The system retains Postgres's ACID semantics while storing data in open columnar formats, making it accessible to both transactional and analytical engines without the delays and complexities of traditional replication methods. The architecture allows for unlimited storage, serverless compute, and instant branching, while ensuring that analytics can read the most current transactional data without affecting transactional workloads. LTAP aims to unify transactional and analytical processing by leveraging distinct compute engines for each workload while integrating at the storage layer.
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