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What Is Serverless PostgreSQL?
Tech Optimizer
July 12, 2026

What Is Serverless PostgreSQL?

Serverless PostgreSQL is a fully managed cloud database model that separates compute and storage, allowing them to scale independently and automatically based on demand. It eliminates the need for manual infrastructure provisioning and capacity planning, charging only for active usage. Unlike traditional PostgreSQL setups, which require continuous resource allocation and manual scaling, serverless PostgreSQL provisions resources on demand and can scale down to zero during idle periods. Serverless PostgreSQL integrates with serverless compute platforms, enabling analytical queries to access the same data within a unified architecture. Key differences between traditional and serverless PostgreSQL include manual versus automatic provisioning and scaling, fixed versus usage-based billing, and high versus reduced operational overhead. Lakebase architecture is an emerging model that combines transactional databases with lakehouse foundations, allowing operational and analytical workloads to coexist on a single platform. This architecture minimizes data duplication and simplifies access, enhancing data management and analysis. Serverless PostgreSQL operates on a cloud-native architecture that enhances efficiency by allowing compute and storage to scale autonomously. It features scale-to-zero behavior, where compute resources are suspended when inactive and reactivated upon new queries. Major providers include Databricks Lakebase, Amazon Aurora Serverless v2, and Neon, each offering varying capabilities and integrations. Pricing for serverless PostgreSQL typically includes charges for compute resources, storage, and data transfer, with costs fluctuating based on workload activity. Cold start latency is a performance consideration, as reactivating compute resources can introduce delays. Strategies to mitigate this include keeping resources partially active or selecting providers with minimal cold start impacts. Serverless PostgreSQL is well-suited for OLTP workloads, while lakebase architecture is better for AI development, variable workloads, and environments requiring rapid iteration. Setting up serverless PostgreSQL involves choosing a provider, creating a database instance, and configuring access settings. It can also be used alongside serverless compute platforms for analytics, further extending its capabilities.
Weekend PC Game Deals: GTA, Borderlands, Kingdom Come, Stray and more
AppWizard
July 12, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: GTA, Borderlands, Kingdom Come, Stray and more

The Epic Games Store is offering two free titles this week: Nova Lands and Tattoo Tycoon, available until July 16, when Echo Generation and Luto will replace them. The July Humble Choice lineup includes eight games: Sea of Stars: Sunset Edition, TUNIC, Neon White, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, Drop Duchy - Complete Edition, Sledders, Dicefolk, and Our Adventurer Guild, available for purchase until August 4. Additionally, Humble has released two game bundles: the Narrative Bundle, featuring 12 games, and the Squad Goals bundle, which includes cooperative titles. The GOG store has ended its DRM-free summer sale but continues with standard promotions. Availability and pricing may vary by region.
Running pgvector in production on Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL
Tech Optimizer
July 12, 2026

Running pgvector in production on Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL

Running pgvector on Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition offers a vector store with operational capabilities, high availability, and scalability. It is favored for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) workloads transitioning to production, but increased traffic introduces challenges like query latency and memory management. Key operational practices for pgvector workloads include selecting the appropriate index type (HNSW or IVFFlat), establishing a baseline schema, choosing a suitable distance operator, scaling the index through quantization and partitioning, and preparing for churn and observability. The prerequisites for using pgvector include an Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible cluster with specific PostgreSQL versions and the vector extension enabled. The embedding model used in examples is Amazon Titan Text Embeddings V2, which produces 1024-dimensional embeddings. pgvector supports two Approximate Nearest Neighbor (ANN) index types: HNSW, which is efficient for querying and allows for incremental insertions, and IVFFlat, which is less resource-intensive but requires rebuilding if data changes. There are scenarios where forgoing an index is beneficial, such as small datasets or partitioned datasets requiring 100% recall. A baseline schema for a multi-tenant document store includes creating a table for documents with an embedding vector and establishing indexes for tenant IDs and embeddings using HNSW. The recommended parameters for HNSW include m = 16 and ef_construction = 128. Scaling to millions of vectors involves quantization, tuning HNSW parameters, and partitioning. Aurora Optimized Reads can extend effective cache capacity, and managing index churn is crucial for maintaining performance. Observability metrics include query-level statistics, instance-level metrics, and custom application-defined metrics. To clean up after testing, it is advisable to drop the created indexes and tables, and delete the Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible cluster and any manual snapshots taken during testing.
Steam Summer Sale may be over, but this Fanatical bundle has 15 Steam Deck games worth $206 for $22
AppWizard
July 10, 2026

Steam Summer Sale may be over, but this Fanatical bundle has 15 Steam Deck games worth $206 for $22

The Steam Summer Sale ends on July 9, and Fanatical has launched the Onyx Bundle, allowing gamers to customize their selection of titles. The pricing for the bundle is as follows: three to four games cost .65 each, five to six games cost .60 each, seven or more games cost [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: As the Steam Summer Sale draws to a close, with its final curtain falling on July 9, gamers are left to reflect on the discounts that have now reverted to their original prices. However, for those who may have missed the excitement, Fanatical has introduced a new opportunity that is sure to pique interest among Steam Deck owners and PC gamers alike. What does the bundle offer? How much does it cost? Enter the Onyx Bundle, a customizable offering that allows gamers to select their desired titles rather than purchasing a pre-defined package. This build-your-own theme empowers players to curate their gaming experience, enabling them to exclude any games they may have already played or simply aren’t interested in. The flexibility of this bundle means you can also share any extra codes with friends. The pricing structure of the Onyx Bundle is designed to reward bulk selections. For instance, choosing three to four games will set you back .65 each, while selecting five to six games lowers the price to .60 per title. The savings continue to grow, with seven or more games bringing the cost down to an impressive .45 each. Opting for the full 15 Steam Deck-compatible games will cost only .75, a staggering 89% discount from the original total of 5.84. Here’s a detailed look at the Steam Deck-friendly games included in Fanatical’s Onyx Bundle. Keep in mind that this offer is available for just six more days, so act quickly to take advantage of these savings: Game Steam Deck compatibility Original price Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate Verified .99 Last Time I Saw You Verified .99 Heroes Of Loot: Gauntlet Of Power Verified .99 Surmount: A Mountain Climbing Adventure Verified .99 Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open Playable .99 Hamster on Rails Playable .99 SHEEPO Verified .99 Escape From Lavender Island Playable .99 Garden Simulator Verified .99 Fight of Animals Unknown, but reportedly runs fine .99 Russian Subway Dogs Unknown, but reportedly runs fine after some tweaks .99 Omno Playable .99 Nasty Zombies Playable .99 Diorama Builder + Medieval Castle DLC Playable .98 VOSPETKA Simulator Playable .99 For newcomers to the Steam Deck ecosystem, games marked as Verified are guaranteed to perform seamlessly on the device, while those labeled as Playable may require minor adjustments for optimal play. Additionally, for those looking to expand their library further, Fanatical's Indiependence Day bundle features 15 Steam Deck-friendly games valued at 8, available for just .49." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].45 each, and the full 15 games cost [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: As the Steam Summer Sale draws to a close, with its final curtain falling on July 9, gamers are left to reflect on the discounts that have now reverted to their original prices. However, for those who may have missed the excitement, Fanatical has introduced a new opportunity that is sure to pique interest among Steam Deck owners and PC gamers alike. What does the bundle offer? How much does it cost? Enter the Onyx Bundle, a customizable offering that allows gamers to select their desired titles rather than purchasing a pre-defined package. This build-your-own theme empowers players to curate their gaming experience, enabling them to exclude any games they may have already played or simply aren’t interested in. The flexibility of this bundle means you can also share any extra codes with friends. The pricing structure of the Onyx Bundle is designed to reward bulk selections. For instance, choosing three to four games will set you back .65 each, while selecting five to six games lowers the price to .60 per title. The savings continue to grow, with seven or more games bringing the cost down to an impressive .45 each. Opting for the full 15 Steam Deck-compatible games will cost only .75, a staggering 89% discount from the original total of 5.84. Here’s a detailed look at the Steam Deck-friendly games included in Fanatical’s Onyx Bundle. Keep in mind that this offer is available for just six more days, so act quickly to take advantage of these savings: Game Steam Deck compatibility Original price Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate Verified .99 Last Time I Saw You Verified .99 Heroes Of Loot: Gauntlet Of Power Verified .99 Surmount: A Mountain Climbing Adventure Verified .99 Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open Playable .99 Hamster on Rails Playable .99 SHEEPO Verified .99 Escape From Lavender Island Playable .99 Garden Simulator Verified .99 Fight of Animals Unknown, but reportedly runs fine .99 Russian Subway Dogs Unknown, but reportedly runs fine after some tweaks .99 Omno Playable .99 Nasty Zombies Playable .99 Diorama Builder + Medieval Castle DLC Playable .98 VOSPETKA Simulator Playable .99 For newcomers to the Steam Deck ecosystem, games marked as Verified are guaranteed to perform seamlessly on the device, while those labeled as Playable may require minor adjustments for optimal play. Additionally, for those looking to expand their library further, Fanatical's Indiependence Day bundle features 15 Steam Deck-friendly games valued at 8, available for just .49." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].75 each, representing an 89% discount from the original total of 5.84. The bundle includes various Steam Deck-compatible games, with some marked as Verified and others as Playable. Additionally, Fanatical offers an Indiependence Day bundle featuring 15 Steam Deck-friendly games valued at , available for .49.
Id Software founder John Carmack mourns layoffs: "Games need to succeed, not just be beloved"
AppWizard
July 10, 2026

Id Software founder John Carmack mourns layoffs: “Games need to succeed, not just be beloved”

Id Software is laying off 136 positions, more than half of its workforce, as part of broader layoffs affecting Microsoft and Xbox studios. Co-founder John Carmack expressed sadness over the layoffs, which coincide with the launch of new DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages. He noted that his previous optimism regarding Microsoft's management of the brand is diminishing and highlighted the increasing pressures in the gaming industry. Carmack suggested that Id Software may be viewed as a marginal business by Microsoft, with revenues from Minecraft supporting other studios. He discussed the fierce competition for consumer attention and questioned whether different pricing models or broader audience targeting could have helped Doom succeed. The latest DLC for Doom received praise but arrived too late to make a significant impact. Carmack remains hopeful for the studio's future and expressed doubt about reclaiming ownership of the Doom IP, while also supporting Team Beef's commercialization of legacy open-source games on VR.
silver Android smartphone
Tech Optimizer
July 10, 2026

I tested Norton Antivirus on my PC – and it found a hidden Trojan in 15 minutes

Norton Antivirus is a well-regarded malware protection tool, consistently ranking among the top in the industry with a robust suite of security features. It has a user-friendly interface similar to Malwarebytes, but intrusive upselling tactics detract from usability. Norton offers comprehensive scanning tools, including Quick Scan, Full Scan, Smart Scan, Targeted Scan, and Startup Scan, which successfully detected a Trojan missed by other antivirus software. Its Scam Protection tools provide alerts for online scams and phishing attempts, and it includes unique features like Deepfake Protection and an AI assistant named Genie. According to MRG Effitas, Norton blocked 98% of malware samples with a 0.33% miss rate, achieving a Level 2 certification. Pricing includes several plans, with Norton 360 Deluxe offering the best value at an introductory price of .99 for the first year, rising to .99 annually. Despite its strengths, the intrusive upselling makes it less recommendable compared to Malwarebytes, although it has unique capabilities in threat detection and a comprehensive suite of security tools.
'To Continue Being Produced Long Term, Games Need to Succeed, Not Just Be Beloved' — John Carmack Responds to id Software Layoffs
AppWizard
July 10, 2026

‘To Continue Being Produced Long Term, Games Need to Succeed, Not Just Be Beloved’ — John Carmack Responds to id Software Layoffs

John Carmack, co-founder of id Software, expressed sadness over the recent layoffs at the studio, which saw 96 employees at its Richardson location and 40 remote positions cut, representing a 50% workforce reduction. This restructuring is part of a broader initiative by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, which has resulted in 1,600 staff layoffs earlier in the week, with another 1,600 expected throughout the financial year. Carmack suggested that id Software may have been viewed as a "marginal business" within Microsoft's portfolio and noted that its financial contributions to Microsoft appear minimal compared to the tech giant's overall revenue of 1.72 billion. He reflected on the competitive nature of the gaming industry and questioned whether different strategies could have improved id Software's financial performance. Despite the layoffs, he remains hopeful for the studio's future. Fellow co-founder John Romero also expressed support for the affected staff and emphasized the importance of preserving the legacy of iconic franchises like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein.
TIDAL Raises Prices Again: What It Means for Music Streamers
AppWizard
July 9, 2026

TIDAL Raises Prices Again: What It Means for Music Streamers

TIDAL will implement a price increase for its U.S. subscribers starting August 3, 2026. The new pricing structure will be as follows: Individual plan at .99/month, Family plan at .99/month, and Student plan at .99/month. Existing subscribers will maintain their current rates until their first billing date after the price change. TIDAL's Individual plan remains competitive compared to Spotify Premium and Qobuz Studio, but is higher than Apple Music's .99/month for Individual and .99/month for Family plans. TIDAL cites the need to support artists and invest in new features as reasons for the price increase. The impact on Individual subscribers is expected to be minimal, while Family and Student subscribers may reconsider their options due to the higher costs.
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