production Archives

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

This week in PC games: Stronghold, Destiny and Neverwinter Nights lead a host of drifters, necromancers and Pac-Monsters

The latest PC game releases include factory-themed titles such as "Kaizen: A Factory Story," an automation puzzle game by former Zachtronics developers, and "MoteMancer," which features real-time factory construction across dimensions with generative AI-inspired art. For those preferring different genres, "Arashi Gaiden" offers a turn-based ninja adventure. Notable revivals include "Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition" and "Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition." "Destiny 2" has released the Year Of Prophecy edition with new content. New games also feature "Becoming Saint," a real-time tactics roguelite, "Worship," which explores occult tactics, and "The Necromancer's Tale," an open-world RPG. Other titles include "Fill Up The Hole," a 2D landfill simulator, "Shadow Labyrinth," a horror twist on Pac-Man, and "The Drifter," a pulp adventure game. "Phantom Squad" promises action-packed gameplay.

Tech Optimizer

July 14, 2025

The performance engineer: a detective licensed to kill… bottlenecks

A SQL query initially took fifteen hours to process, but after performance engineering adjustments by Vadim Laktushin, it was reduced to two minutes. Performance engineers (PEs) work to enhance IT system efficiency by identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks in application code, database management systems, configurations, and hardware. Vadim transitioned from a developer to a performance specialist at Postgres Professional after exploring benchmarks and system tuning. Performance issues often require complex solutions rather than straightforward fixes. For example, a client migrating from Oracle to PostgreSQL faced delays due to the Write-Ahead Log (WAL), which became a bottleneck during heavy write operations. PEs adhere to principles such as proactive analysis, reliance on data, and caution against quick fixes. Essential skills for PEs include programming, Linux expertise, understanding algorithms, statistical thinking, and effective communication. The future of performance engineering may involve specialization, and while AI can assist, it cannot replace human expertise in optimization tasks.

AppWizard

July 12, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Ends Its Theatrical Run. How Much Did It Make?

Jack Black and Jason Momoa’s A Minecraft Movie concluded its theatrical run on July 2, earning a domestic total of ,949,195 and a worldwide gross of ,149,195, which includes ,200,000 from international ticket sales. The film debuted in theaters on April 4 and became available for digital streaming on May 13, followed by its release on HBO Max on June 20. It had a production budget of 0 million. As of the latest update, it is the highest-grossing film domestically in 2025, although it faces competition from Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, which has a worldwide gross of .6 million.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

Jack Dorsey launches Bitchat, a secure messaging app that doesn’t use the internet

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, Bluesky, and Square, has introduced a private messaging application called Bitchat, which operates independently of traditional internet or cellular networks. Bitchat utilizes decentralized Bluetooth technology and end-to-end encryption for secure communication. It is based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks, extending the typical Bluetooth range from 100 meters to 300 meters. Developed with the help of an AI coding companion named Goose, Bitchat is described as a "weekend project." The app aims to provide resilient and private communication, but critics have raised security concerns about its authentication system. Dorsey has issued a disclaimer stating that Bitchat is a "work in progress" and has not undergone external security review, warning users against relying on its security until it is evaluated.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

Lords of the Fallen hits 5.5m players

Lords of the Fallen has attracted over 5.5 million players since its launch in 2023. This figure does not equate to sales, as the game is also available via Xbox Game Pass. The game sold one million copies within the first ten days of its release.

Tech Optimizer

July 10, 2025

New Survey Reveals Strong Demand for High Availability as Businesses Increasingly Use PostgreSQL in Mission-Critical Applications and to Alleviate Cloud Outage Concerns

pgEdge, Inc. conducted a survey revealing that 91% of organizations using PostgreSQL require a maximum of 4 minutes of downtime per month, with 24% aiming for less than 30 seconds. While 21% experienced an outage in the past year, 82% are concerned about potential cloud region failures. Additionally, 79% of respondents are considering or piloting a distributed PostgreSQL solution within the next year. Over half (51%) use PostgreSQL in a hybrid database environment, and 35% use it as their primary database for customer-facing applications. Strategies for high availability include 58% relying on read replicas and automated failover, while 47% have implemented multi-master replication across multiple cloud regions. Businesses exceeding downtime thresholds face delays (56%), damage to brand trust (40%), and increased support requests (49%). Organizations using high availability PostgreSQL solutions report benefits such as increased uptime (53%) and cost savings (36%). The survey included 212 IT decision-makers, with 75% from enterprises with over 500 employees, and the top industries represented were financial services, software and computing, and manufacturing.

Tech Optimizer

July 10, 2025

New Survey Shows Strong Demand for High Availability as Businesses Increasingly Use PostgreSQL in Mission-Critical Applications and to Alleviate Cloud Outage Concerns

In a survey by pgEdge, Inc., 91% of PostgreSQL users expect no more than four minutes of downtime per month, equating to 99.99% uptime, with 24% aiming for less than 30 seconds. Despite these expectations, 21% experienced outages in the past year, and 82% are concerned about cloud region failures. Additionally, 79% of participants are evaluating or piloting distributed PostgreSQL solutions. Over half (51%) use PostgreSQL in hybrid environments, while 35% use it as the primary database for customer-facing applications. To achieve high availability, 58% rely on read replicas and automated failover, and 47% use multi-master replication across multiple cloud regions. Among those who exceeded downtime thresholds, 56% faced delays in operations, 40% reported damage to brand trust, and 49% experienced spikes in support requests. Organizations implementing high availability solutions reported increased uptime (53%) and cost savings (36%). The survey included 212 IT decision-makers from enterprises with 500 or more employees, with 75% in IT, Networking, or Security roles. The leading industries represented were financial services, software and computing, and manufacturing, comprising 69% of responses.

Tech Optimizer

July 10, 2025

EDB Returns to Goodwood with Sovereign AI and Data Platform for Intelligent Mobility

EnterpriseDB (EDB) has returned to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, focusing on the impact of advanced AI data systems in the automotive industry. A global survey by EDB of 190 automotive executives revealed that only 13% of organizations are successfully leveraging agentic and generative AI, with these companies achieving a fivefold return on investment through a focus on data sovereignty. The automotive sector is undergoing a significant transformation, with the U.K. automotive AI market projected to grow from £8 million in 2024 to £2 million by 2030, reflecting a 21.7% CAGR. EDB is also fostering future talent through initiatives that encourage students to propose innovative data and AI solutions, with a £2,000 prize for the winning idea. The U.K. STEM workforce is expected to grow by 10% by 2030, while many tech firms face challenges in filling roles. EDB has received multiple recognitions for its innovation and workplace culture, including listings in various industry awards. EDB Postgres® AI is described as an open, enterprise-grade sovereign data and AI platform that integrates various workloads while ensuring compliance and security.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Warner’s ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Remains Atop Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through July 9

The Minecraft Movie is set to bring the block-building universe to life with a fresh narrative focused on adventure, creativity, and friendship. It will explore the vast possibilities of the Minecraft world, featuring elements like crafting, exploration, and survival while introducing new characters and challenges. The film has a star-studded cast and a visionary director, aiming to create a visually stunning experience that resonates with fans. The production team is engaging with the gaming community for input and feedback, building anticipation for the film's release.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Amazon MGM Hires Charlie Coleman as International Marketing Chief

Amazon MGM has appointed Charlie Coleman as its head of international marketing, based in London, reporting to Sue Kroll. Coleman previously worked at Disney and Warner Bros., where he became EVP of international marketing and led campaigns for films like “The Batman” and “Dune.” His appointment is part of a trend of former Warner executives joining Amazon MGM, which is preparing for a full theatrical release schedule starting in 2026, including films like “Project Hail Mary” and “Masters of the Universe.”