practical applications Archives

Winsage

April 4, 2025

Microsoft unveils AI assistant with ‘memory’

Microsoft launched an enhanced version of its AI assistant, "Copilot," which can remember user preferences and perform tasks autonomously, during its 50th anniversary event. The assistant can independently book tickets, make reservations, and shop online. This update is part of a strategic overhaul to improve Microsoft's consumer image and reduce reliance on OpenAI. The event featured former CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder Bill Gates, highlighting past challenges in the consumer market. Current CEO Satya Nadella has shifted focus to cloud services, resulting in a significant increase in share price. Copilot will include a podcast-generating feature and a "Vision" feature for processing information from a user's phone camera. Microsoft aims to enhance its Bing search engine to compete with Google, which dominates the search market. The company hired Mustafa Suleyman and invested in his start-up Inflection AI to advance its AI capabilities. Microsoft maintains a profit-sharing agreement with OpenAI and access to its models until at least 2030.

Tech Optimizer

April 2, 2025

Improve PostgreSQL performance using the pgstattuple extension

PostgreSQL is an open-source relational database management system known for its extensibility, which allows developers to enhance its capabilities through various extensions and plugins. The pgstattuple extension provides detailed statistics at the tuple level from PostgreSQL tables and indexes, revealing key metrics such as the number of live tuples, dead tuples, average length of live tuples, total free space, and percentages of free space and dead tuples. These metrics help database administrators identify potential health and performance issues, such as excessive table bloat or index fragmentation. Both Amazon Aurora and Amazon RDS support the pgstattuple extension, which can be activated using the command CREATE EXTENSION pgstattuple;. Functions like pgstattuple(relation) and pgstatindex(index) can be used to analyze physical storage and index statistics. Bloat occurs when unused space is left behind after UPDATE and DELETE operations, and the autovacuum process in PostgreSQL automates the cleanup of dead tuples. However, if autovacuum fails, manual intervention may be necessary. Regular monitoring of bloat is essential for maintaining performance, and metrics from pgstattuple can help optimize autovacuum settings. The pg_cron extension can automate VACUUM operations to manage bloat proactively. Index bloat can also be detected using pgstatindex, and significantly bloated indexes can be rebuilt using REINDEX or pg_repack. Best practices for using pgstattuple include estimating bloat with check_postgres, analyzing physical storage, monitoring dead_tuple_percent, and avoiding interference on highly active tables.

Winsage

March 24, 2025

The best Windows laptop for work has one major letdown

HP’s OmniBook Ultra 14 is a premium productivity laptop priced around ,100 for a model with a 1TB drive and 16GB of RAM, and approximately ,300 for a version with 32GB of RAM. It features an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, a 12-core processor, and offers nearly 13 hours of battery life. The laptop weighs about 1.5kg and measures 1.5cm in thickness, with a design that combines aesthetics and functionality. It includes two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, a 3.5mm jack, and a USB-A port. The QHD IPS touchscreen is bright for indoor use, and it has an integrated camera and microphone for virtual meetings. The AI capabilities include an AI Assistant app and a dedicated Copilot button for Microsoft’s assistant, but the practical applications of the AI technology are limited. Comparatively, the OmniBook Ultra 14 outperforms other laptops in its category, such as the Framework Laptop 13 and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x, particularly in AI capabilities and processing power.

Winsage

March 4, 2025

Available today: DeepSeek R1 7B & 14B distilled models for Copilot+ PCs via Azure AI Foundry – further expanding AI on the edge

Microsoft is launching the DeepSeek R1 7B and 14B distilled models via Azure AI Foundry, following the introduction of NPU-optimized versions of the DeepSeek-R1 1.5B model for Copilot+ PCs. These models will be available on Copilot+ PCs powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X, Intel Core Ultra 200V, and AMD Ryzen processors. The NPUs in these PCs can execute over 40 trillion operations per second and are designed for efficient local AI model execution, minimizing battery and resource consumption. The DeepSeek models utilize 4-bit block-wise quantization and int4 per-channel quantization for enhanced performance. Developers can access all distilled variants of the DeepSeek models through the AI Toolkit VS Code extension, allowing for local deployment and experimentation. Copilot+ PCs combine local computing capabilities with Azure's resources, facilitating a new paradigm of continuous computing for AI applications.

Winsage

February 23, 2025

Are YOU actually actively using AI tools?

The introduction of Muse AI has generated skepticism among games media, content creators, and developers, with concerns about job displacement in the creative sector. Some developers have criticized the technology as "AI slop." Microsoft claims these tools are meant to enhance existing workers' capabilities, but skepticism persists. The author rarely uses AI in writing due to concerns about reliability and productivity, though they have found some practical applications, such as generating banner images for AI-related articles and using Generative Expand in Photoshop. They also find Samsung's photo app AI useful for editing personal photos. Despite recognizing some benefits, the author feels they are not fully utilizing AI's potential.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

‘Minecraft’ Gets Free “CyberSafe AI” DLC, Teaching AI Literacy to a New Generation

Mojang Studios and Microsoft released the "CyberSafe AI" DLC as part of their educational content series, aimed at teaching users about the applications and challenges of artificial intelligence. The DLC is free and available on the Minecraft Marketplace. A Microsoft Global Online Safety Survey indicates that in 2024, 51% of individuals reported using generative AI, up from 38% in 2023, with Generation Z leading at 64%. The DLC allows players to simulate AI usage while learning about the importance of verifying AI-generated information. The CyberSafe series has achieved over 80 million downloads since its launch in 2022, focusing on digital citizenship skills. The experience encourages critical questioning of AI content and emphasizes the need for human oversight in AI systems. Families can access additional resources through the Minecraft Family Cyber Toolkit and Xbox's family gaming platform.

Winsage

November 28, 2024

Your next computer might not be an AI PC — and might even still run Windows 10

The global laptop market is projected to grow by 4.9% to reach 183 million units by 2025, driven by upgrade cycles in commercial sectors and the end-of-life for Windows 10 in October 2025. Currently, Windows 11 has a 36% market share. AI-integrated laptops, while gaining attention, have not significantly impacted market growth, as they are priced 10-15% higher than traditional laptops and many businesses are skeptical about their value. An Intel study indicates that users of AI-capable PCs face challenges in realizing benefits due to a learning curve. In Q3, AI PCs accounted for one in five new laptop shipments, with Windows Copilot+ PCs representing 53% of those sales. The transition from Windows 10 is expected to boost adoption of next-generation computing solutions.

AppWizard

November 9, 2024

How To Make TNT In Minecraft

Players can craft TNT in Minecraft using two blocks of Sand and four pieces of Gunpowder. Sand can be easily obtained near bodies of water, while Gunpowder is primarily collected from defeating Creepers, Witches, and Ghasts, or found in chests in various locations. To ignite TNT, players can use Flint and Steel, which is crafted from one Flint and one Iron Ingot. Flint is obtained by mining gravel, and Iron Ingots are produced by smelting Iron Ore. Once ignited, TNT will explode after a few seconds, destroying nearby blocks.

Winsage

November 1, 2024

Announcing the Microsoft Store Awards 2024 winners

Windows serves as an open platform for a diverse ecosystem of applications, with contributions from solo developers and large enterprises. The Microsoft Store is the primary destination for users to explore these applications. The winners of the 2024 Microsoft Store Awards are as follows: - AI category: djay Pro by Algoriddim - Lifestyle category: Diarium Journal & Diary by T. Parti - Personal Finance category: TradingView by TradingView, Inc. - Business category: Gamma by Gamma - Education category: Typing Land by higopage - Productivity category: Todoist: To-Do List & Planner by Doist Inc. - Music category: Apple Music by Apple Inc. - Health & Fitness category: F.lux by F.lux Software LLC - Medical category: Complete Anatomy 2024 by 3D4Medical - Developer Tools category: oh-my posh by jandedobbeleer - Social category: Pinterest by Pinterest Inc. - Creativity category: Adobe Express by Adobe - Game category: Asphalt Legends Unite by Gameloft - Rising Star category: Endel Music: Focus, Sleep, Relax by Endel Sound Each winner will receive a Store Award Winner badge in the Microsoft Store. The list is subject to final confirmation by the winners.

AppWizard

October 29, 2024

Google Play Store could soon answer your app queries, thanks to AI (APK teardown)

Google is developing a feature called “Ask a question” for its Play Store, which will allow users to pose questions about apps directly on the app listing page. This feature will utilize artificial intelligence to provide tailored responses to user inquiries, addressing gaps in standard app descriptions. Code strings found in an APK teardown of Google Play Store version 43.3.32-31 indicate the feature's imminent arrival, with phrases like “Ask a question about this app” and “Created by AI.” The feature is expected to complement previously introduced AI-generated FAQs and will include a button or prompt for users to submit questions. The feature is not yet live, and no official rollout timeline has been provided.