preparation Archives

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

This free to-do list app keeps me organized and sane

Megan Ellis discovered TickTick in 2018 and found it to be an indispensable productivity tool, particularly due to its user-friendly interface and simplicity, which is important for users with ADHD. TickTick allows users to start adding tasks immediately without account creation and offers flexibility in organizing tasks into separate lists. The app's notification system keeps tasks visible without overwhelming the user, and the snooze feature helps manage time effectively by allowing users to delay tasks. Ellis has chosen not to subscribe to TickTick's premium plan, believing the free version meets her needs, although the premium offers additional features for a competitive annual cost. She acknowledges alternatives like Todoist, Google Tasks, Microsoft To Do, Any.do, and ClickUp, but still considers TickTick the most comprehensive solution for her task management.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

A Minecraft speedrunner nearly smashed a world record by one whole minute, but then an Enderman ruined everything: “This is the most depressing thing I’ve ever seen in my life”

Skycrab1, a speedrunner in Minecraft, was close to achieving a world record by completing a random seed run in under seven minutes. They spawned near a ruined portal and village, quickly gathered necessary items, and defeated the Ender Dragon using a strategy involving exploding beds. However, just before reaching the finish line, an Enderman teleported behind them and delivered a fatal blow, resulting in a near-victory. Observers noted that skycrab1 had looked at the Enderman for only 15 frames (0.25 seconds) before the incident. Despite their impressive performance, the world record remains unachieved.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

I’m hooked on this free Google app that transports me to different countries from my couch

Saeed Wazir, a daily user of Google apps, discovered the Google Arts & Culture app, which transformed his perspective on art. Initially hesitant about the Visual Arts feature, he found it engaging due to its diverse collection of artwork and user-friendly interface that allows for casual exploration. The app offers a Nature feature showcasing breathtaking locations, a Food feature highlighting unique dishes and culinary traditions, a Travel feature providing virtual visits to various landmarks, and a Design section displaying historical artifacts and inventions. Wazir appreciates the app's extensive features but notes that its cluttered interface can be challenging to navigate, and some sections may not resonate with him as much.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

How to build a creeper farm in Minecraft | Esports News

In Minecraft, players can build a Creeper farm to obtain a reliable source of gunpowder, which is essential for crafting TNT, fireworks, and splash potions. To construct an efficient Creeper farm, players need to gather materials such as building blocks, wooden trapdoors, carpet, cat mobs, slabs, campfires or magma blocks, chests, and hoppers. The construction steps include: 1. Choosing a location elevated above sea level or over the ocean to reduce other mob spawns. 2. Creating a flat spawning platform with solid blocks, attaching trapdoors to restrict spawns to creepers, and placing carpets to prevent spider spawns. 3. Positioning domesticated cats at the center of each platform to scare creepers into the trap zone. 4. Installing campfires or magma blocks at the base to eliminate creepers and using hoppers to collect loot. 5. Adding multiple layers of platforms to increase spawn rates and using trapdoors to guide creepers off the platforms. 6. Illuminating or slabbing nearby caves to prevent unwanted mob spawns. With careful planning and execution, players can establish a self-sustaining farm for a steady supply of gunpowder.

AppWizard

June 2, 2025

Elden Ring’s first major patch sees FromSoft belatedly admit singleplayer is all sorts of unfair, adds an auto-resurrect and buffs the levelling curve

Elden Ring Nightreign presents significant challenges, particularly in single-player mode, which players have found to be especially difficult. A new patch has been released to improve the solo experience and enhance performance for the Steam version. All players must install this patch to play online. Despite the adjustments, many still find survival in the game daunting, and some players have successfully completed it solo before the patch. There is a sentiment among players for the introduction of an easy mode in the game.

Tech Optimizer

May 19, 2025

How to catch and optimize problematic queries in PostgreSQL

Performance issues in PostgreSQL can arise as databases grow, leading to declines in query performance. To identify problematic queries, one can log long-running queries by setting the `log_min_duration_statement` parameter in the `postgresql.conf` file. The `pg_stat_statements` module can be enabled to monitor execution statistics of SQL statements, providing insights into query performance, including execution time and the number of calls. Queries with high standard deviation in execution time may indicate inconsistency, while sorting query statistics by total execution time can reveal excessive load from multiple fast queries. Real-time monitoring can be done using the `pg_stat_activity` view to check active queries and their states, and the `pg_locks` view can help identify blocked processes. The `EXPLAIN` command can analyze query execution plans, and using the `auto_explain` module can log plans for slow queries. Understanding cost parameters in query plans helps in optimizing performance, and different join methods (Nested Loop, Merge Join, Hash Join) have varying complexities and costs. To influence the planner's choice of scanning methods, configuration parameters can be adjusted, such as disabling sequential scanning. Extensions like `sr_plan`, `pg_hint_plan`, and `AQO` can further optimize query execution. Monitoring query progress can be done using dynamic views like `pg_stat_progress_*` for various commands.

AppWizard

May 16, 2025

Stellar Blade comes to PC next month with new armor to cover up Eve’s woefully exposed ears

Stellar Blade is set to release on PC on June 11. The PC version will be a complete edition that includes all content previously available to PlayStation 5 players, including the Nikke DLC and unique outfits for the main character, Eve, such as 2B's attire. The Steam page has been updated in preparation for the launch.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

I wish Ubisoft had ever made the game it promised with Assassin’s Creed 1, but instead the series just spiralled into a weird identity crisis

Ubisoft aimed to create a historical assassination simulator that emphasized careful planning and execution, allowing players to embody a master assassin targeting high-ranking individuals. The original Assassin's Creed, while memorable, fell short of this vision, devolving into repetitive missions. As the series evolved, it strayed from its core elements, introducing new systems that overshadowed the original concept. The closest realization of the initial vision was in Assassin's Creed: Unity, which allowed for intricate schemes but suffered from technical issues at launch. Currently, it seems unlikely that Ubisoft will return to the original concept, though the idea of a cunning, strategy-focused assassin game remains appealing.

AppWizard

May 11, 2025

Scrutinizing the security of messaging apps continues.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the White House are facing scrutiny over security vulnerabilities in their messaging application. Hacktivists breached GlobalX, the airline handling U.S. deportation flights, exposing sensitive flight manifests. The FBI warned about threats exploiting outdated routers. Pearson confirmed a cyberattack compromising customer data. Research shows cybercriminals are using Windows Remote Management (WinRM) for lateral movements in Active Directory environments. A new email attack campaign is delivering a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) via malicious PDF invoices. A zero-day vulnerability in SAP NetWeaver allows remote code execution, affecting multiple sectors. An Indiana health system reported a data breach affecting nearly 263,000 individuals.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Synergy’s full release has more challenges like tricky soil, illness, and death, which will all slowly tear down your paradise

Synergy has transformed for its official launch, introducing new features that enhance gameplay, including new plants, seasons, and storylines. The game has evolved from a city builder with limited resources and storyline to a more complex experience influenced by solarpunk themes, where players care for refugees and establish sustainable settlements. The full release includes a dynamic temperature system that introduces challenges such as severe dry spells and the need for new tools. Players must also manage emerging threats like contagious diseases, necessitating the establishment of hospitals and scientific districts. Improvements in building systems include a unified water supply that simplifies resource management and enhanced monitoring tools for better strategic decision-making.