performance enhancements Archives

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Your gaming PC is overdue for an upgrade—Windows 11 Pro can fix that

Microsoft will stop providing security updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. A Windows 11 Pro license is currently available for .97 until June 1 at 11:59 PM, requiring no subscription. Windows 11 Pro offers enhanced security, performance, and features, including DirectX 12 Ultimate for improved gaming, Snap layouts, virtual desktops, AI-enhanced voice typing, and Copilot powered by GPT-4 Turbo. It also includes security features like TPM 2.0, Smart App Control, and biometric login.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Google requiring Android apps support 16 KB memory page size to improve performance

Android is transitioning to a 16 KB page size, which will become mandatory for applications in the Google Play Store by November 1, 2025. This change replaces the previous 4 KB page size and aims to enhance performance by improving memory management and reducing overhead. The introduction of Android 15 has been refactored to support this larger page size, with testing currently available on Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 devices. Expected performance improvements include faster app launches (3% to 30% faster), improved battery usage (average gain of 4.5%), quicker camera starts (4.5% to 6.6% faster), and speedier system boot-ups (approximately 8% faster). Apps without native code should remain compatible, while those using libraries or SDKs with native code may need updates. Apps containing native code might require recompilation and review for compatibility. Developers can check memory page size support through the Play Console.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Expanding the Surface for Business Copilot+ PC portfolio

AI has evolved into a transformative force for organizations, increasing the demand for secure and high-performance AI-ready Windows 11 PCs. Microsoft has introduced Copilot+ PCs, including the new 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop, both powered by the Snapdragon X Plus processor with an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 45 trillion operations per second. The 13-inch Surface Laptop offers up to 23 hours of video playback and 16 hours of web browsing, with performance enhancements of up to 50% faster speeds and double the battery life compared to its predecessor. It features an AI-enhanced 1080p front camera for video conferencing and a durable design. The 12-inch Surface Pro is the thinnest and lightest Copilot+ PC, providing 50% faster performance and up to 16 hours of local video playback. Both devices are designed as Secured-core PCs with advanced security features, including Windows Hello for Business and biometric authentication options. They support enhanced productivity through AI features in Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 Copilot, enabling faster file searches and improved team efficiency. Microsoft emphasizes sustainability with the use of recycled materials and energy-efficient designs. The new devices will be available starting July 22 in select markets.

AppWizard

May 5, 2025

Gears of War: Reloaded Announced, Coming to PC This Summer

Microsoft has announced a remaster of the original Gears of War, titled Gears of War: Reloaded. This remaster features 4K assets, enhanced post-processing effects, improved shadows and reflections, HDR support, and Dolby Vision, along with 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos audio. The campaign mode runs at 60 FPS, while multiplayer aims for up to 120 FPS. The game supports cross-play between PC and consoles without requiring a Microsoft account for the Steam version, although signing in unlocks additional cross-platform features. The remaster will be available on Steam, and the developers have not yet confirmed the engine used or the official PC requirements.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

Microsoft really, really wants Windows 10 users to buy Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft is encouraging Windows 10 users to transition to Windows 11, promoting its Copilot+ PCs as a solution for those whose devices do not qualify for the upgrade. Copilot+ PCs feature AI tools like Recall, which captures and indexes screenshots for easy searching, and offer performance improvements, claiming to be up to five times faster than devices that are five years old. However, there are concerns about privacy and security related to Recall. Support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025, after which it will no longer receive security updates. Options for Windows 10 users include upgrading to Windows 11 if eligible, purchasing a Copilot+ PC, paying for extended support, switching to Linux, or remaining on Windows 10 with associated risks.

Tech Optimizer

May 2, 2025

Amazon Aurora now supports PostgreSQL major version 17

Amazon Aurora has integrated support for PostgreSQL major version 17, specifically version 17.4. This release includes enhancements such as improved memory management, faster storage metadata initialization, and optimizations for write-heavy workloads on Graviton 4 instances. It also introduces new features for Babelfish, security updates, and revisions to extensions like pgvector 0.8.0 and postgis 3.5.1. PostgreSQL 17.4 is available across all commercial AWS Regions and AWS GovCloud (US) Regions. Users can create a new Aurora PostgreSQL-compatible database through the Amazon RDS Management Console and should review the Aurora documentation for upgrade strategies.

Winsage

April 26, 2025

Windows 11 KB5055627 update released with 30 new changes, fixes

Microsoft has released the KB5055627 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2, which introduces new features and bug fixes. This update is part of optional non-security preview updates and does not include security updates. Users can install it via Settings under Windows Update or download it directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update elevates Windows 11 24H2 systems to build 26100.3915 and includes features such as Recall (preview), Click to Do (preview), improved Windows Search, Narrator enhancements, Phone Link, interactive Widgets, curated views in File Explorer, updated Settings for app recommendations, and Windows Studio Effects. It also addresses bugs related to blue screen errors, DHCP Client connectivity issues, Windows Hello functionality, and provides estimated offline times for updates. Notable issues include potential installation blocks for Citrix components and download issues for Roblox players on Windows Arm devices, with workarounds available.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

GeForce NOW Adds Hunt: Showdown 1896, Forever Skies and 9 More Games This Week

NVIDIA has updated its cloud streaming platform, GeForce NOW, by adding 11 new PC games, including notable titles such as Hunt: Showdown 1896 and Forever Skies. Hunt: Showdown 1896, developed by Crytek, is a horror-themed extraction shooter that has been enhanced with updates to the CryEngine, featuring NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution, DirectX 12 support, HDR display compatibility, and multi-bounce global illumination. The game is set to receive a new DLC titled Last of the Herd, introducing the Plains Warden playable character and a new weapon, the Herd Thinner. Forever Skies, a first-person sci-fi survival game from Far From Home, has launched its version 1.0 after nearly two years in early access, bringing new content including the final chapter of the narrative, new biomes, colossal creatures, and various collectibles. It also features new tools, resources, crafting recipes, and performance enhancements with NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation. The complete list of new additions to GeForce NOW includes: - Forever Skies (New release on Steam, available April 14) - Night Is Coming (New release on Steam, available April 14) - Hunt: Showdown 1896 (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass April 15) - Crime Scene Cleaner (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass April 17) - Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (New release on Steam, available April 17) - Tempest Rising (New release on Steam, Advanced Access starts April 17) - Aimlabs (Steam) - ContractVille (Steam) - Gedonia 2 (Steam) - MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Steam) - Path of Exile 2 (Epic Games Store)

Winsage

April 16, 2025

What does Microsoft’s new ReFS file system mean for Windows?

The NTFS file system has been the default for Windows operating systems for decades, but Microsoft is developing the Resilient File System (ReFS), which has been in use primarily in Windows Server environments since its introduction in 2012. ReFS is designed to enhance system and data resilience, featuring error detection and correction capabilities, a data integrity scanner, and the ability to repair detected corruption using another volume. It supports file and volume sizes up to 35 petabytes and includes advanced features like Block Clone and Sparse VDL, which improve performance in specific scenarios. However, ReFS is not a full replacement for NTFS, as it lacks several critical features such as file system compression, encryption, bootable media support, and support for removable media. Its current limitations make it unsuitable for typical home PC use, and while it may eventually replace NTFS, this transition is not expected to happen soon. ReFS is primarily designed for specialized applications involving large data sets and environments with multiple drives.

Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2025

Announcing pgvector 0.8.0 support in Aurora PostgreSQL

Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition has integrated support for pgvector 0.8.0, an open-source extension for storing vector embeddings in databases, enhancing its capabilities for generative AI applications, particularly in semantic search and retrieval-augmented generation. The new version improves the PostgreSQL query planner's index selection, elevating query performance and search result quality. It refines data filtering through WHERE clauses and joins, and features iterative index scans to prevent overfiltering, ensuring sufficient query results. Additionally, pgvector 0.8.0 enhances performance for searching and constructing HNSW indexes. This version is available in Amazon Aurora clusters on PostgreSQL versions 16.8, 15.12, 14.17, and 13.20 or higher, across all AWS Regions except China. Users can upgrade by modifying their DB cluster settings.