products Archives

Winsage

July 12, 2026

Microsoft is killing 15 products in 2026, including Windows 11 24H2 and Office 2021

Microsoft will discontinue support for several products in 2026, including: 1. Windows 11 24H2 (Home and Pro) - End of servicing on October 13, 2026. 2. Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 - End of support on October 13, 2026. 3. Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 - Final ESU year ending on October 13, 2026. 4. SQL Server 2016 - Extended end of support on July 14, 2026. 5. SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019, Project Server 2016 and 2019 - Support ends on July 14, 2026. 6. Microsoft Publisher - Retired after October 2026. 7. Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, Skype for Business Server - Final ESU cutoff on October 31, 2026. 8. Windows 11 Enterprise and Education 23H2, .NET 8, .NET 9, PowerShell 7.4 - End of servicing on November 10, 2026. 9. Windows 10 2016 LTSB and IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 - Extended support ends on October 13, 2026. 10. Windows 11 SE - Support ends on October 1, 2026. 11. Dynamics CRM 2016 and older versions - Lost support earlier in January 2026. 12. Microsoft Configuration Manager, version 2409 - End of support on June 6, 2026. 13. Visual Studio 2022 LTSC channels, versions 17.10 and 17.12 - End of support in January and July 2026, respectively. 14. InfoPath 2013, SharePoint Designer 2013 - End of support on July 14, 2026. 15. Azure service retirements - Occurring in late 2026. Organizations are advised to review their software landscape and plan for transitions to avoid disruptions.

Winsage

July 11, 2026

The Windows Central Podcast breaks down the Copilot OS leaks, the latest Microsoft layoffs, and what all of this means for the future of Windows and the company’s AI strategy

Microsoft has laid off 4,800 employees, particularly in the Xbox division, raising concerns about the effectiveness of its management structure, which includes 14 layers of middle management. A leaked internal project, "Project Aion," proposes a web-native operating system integrated within Microsoft Edge, replacing the traditional Start menu with Copilot. The podcast discusses consumer skepticism regarding AI adoption and the high costs of cloud-based large language models. Upcoming products include the Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12, which will feature a new 24 GB RAM configuration and more affordable 8 GB options. Additionally, Microsoft has confirmed the discontinuation of the 10-inch Surface Go and Surface Laptop Go lines.

Tech Optimizer

July 11, 2026

Norton 360 Deluxe by Gen Digital Inc. – multi-device security with VPN bundled

Norton 360 Deluxe is a subscription service from Gen Digital that combines antivirus, firewall, VPN, and password management tools, covering up to five devices across various platforms. It includes features such as Norton Secure VPN, cloud backup for Windows PCs (up to 50 GB), Norton Password Manager, a smart firewall, and real-time malware scanning. The service is priced at €34.99 for the first year in Germany and around .99 in the U.S., with higher renewal prices. It is designed for households and small offices, providing multi-device coverage and ease of use. Norton 360 Deluxe is available through Norton’s website and retailers like Amazon, and it is recommended by review platforms for its comprehensive security features.

Tech Optimizer

July 10, 2026

Gen Digital stock holds steady as cybersecurity demand supports long term growth

Gen Digital is a publicly traded company focused on cybersecurity and digital privacy solutions, primarily targeting consumers and small businesses. The company generates revenue through recurring subscriptions for its security and identity protection services, which include antivirus software, VPN services, and identity monitoring. Gen Digital's business model relies on bundling multiple security features into comprehensive offerings, providing predictable revenue and stability in cash flows. The company emphasizes continuous updates to its services to protect against evolving cybersecurity threats. Its growth prospects are linked to trends in cybersecurity spending and the increasing adoption of subscription-based solutions. Gen Digital differentiates itself from competitors by focusing on individual devices and home networks rather than large enterprises. The company also benefits from distribution partnerships that help expand its customer base. Long-term demand for its products is driven by digitalization, cyber risks, and growing consumer awareness of privacy issues. Gen Digital's stock performance is influenced by both company-specific factors and broader market trends in technology and cybersecurity.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Gemini won’t cut you off as much, and its reliability improved in Google Home

Google has released patch notes for an early July update, enhancing reliability, sports interactions, and visual aesthetics for Gemini. The Home app now offers improved light control for two Walmart onn products and "Suggested Automations" for a tailored user experience. Gemini is evolving with improved assistance and conversational capabilities, featuring revamped visual layouts for weather forecasts and sports updates. Automation suggestions for tasks like home security and energy efficiency are being rolled out. The Home app introduces light control for the onn Outdoor Camera Plug-in and the onn Floodlight Camera Hardwired devices, along with improvements to the setup process for older Nest cameras. Earlier this year, Google launched the Continued Conversations feature for Gemini, enhancing the AI's memory for ongoing discussions. In June, the introduction of Pet Memory allowed smart home cameras to better recognize pets, providing personalized alerts based on the pet's name and breed.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Outliver, Dealer’s Life, Zero Stress King, more

9to5Toys provides updates on the latest deals in technology and lifestyle products, featuring a homepage with news and insights. The platform has an active presence on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Key features include a section for the best Apple deals, a daily podcast discussing technology trends, and a YouTube channel for video content on deals and tech reviews.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Fanatical’s Field of Glory Bundle nets you 10 games and DLC for less than $30

Fanatical has launched a Bundle for the Field of Glory series, allowing players to choose from titles such as Kingdoms, Empires, and Field of Glory II, along with various DLCs. Discounts increase with the number of selections: three games or DLCs cost .33 each, ten or more drop to .75 each, and the full bundle of 18 items totals .49, down from a retail price of 7.13. The bundle includes various products from the Field of Glory series. The promotion runs until August 9, 2026, and spending over .00 in a single transaction grants a random game for free.

Tech Optimizer

July 9, 2026

LG Monitors Allegedly Install Software Without User Consent

Certain LG monitors are reportedly installing software on Windows PCs without user consent, including unsolicited advertisements for McAfee antivirus. This was discovered by a Reddit user who found the "LG Monitor App Installer" in their Windows event log. The application may install itself automatically via the Microsoft Store or Windows Update and is difficult to remove. Users can disable the app's automatic startup or uninstall it, but it may reinstall in the future. Windows Pro users can use the Group Policy Editor to prevent automatic installations of manufacturer-specific applications. The incident raises concerns about user control and transparency regarding unsolicited software installations.

Tech Optimizer

July 8, 2026

Logical replication improvements in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL 18

PostgreSQL logical replication has operational challenges, such as the absence of generated columns in the replication stream, replication conflicts causing apply worker halts, and lingering replication slots consuming write-ahead log (WAL) files. PostgreSQL 18 introduces enhancements to address these issues, including the ability to include STORED generated columns in the replication stream with a new publication parameter, detailed conflict counters in pg_stat_subscription_stats, automatic invalidation of idle replication slots, and the ability to toggle two-phase commit settings on live subscriptions. To set up a test environment, two PostgreSQL 18 instances (one publisher and one subscriber) are required, along with an EC2 instance for executing commands. The publisher and subscriber must have specific configurations for logical replication, including enabling logical replication and setting appropriate parameters. PostgreSQL 18 allows the replication of STORED generated columns by using the publish_generated_columns parameter. The subscriber must define these columns as regular columns. The new version also enhances conflict monitoring by providing detailed counters for different types of replication conflicts. Parallel streaming is now the default behavior for subscriptions, improving efficiency. The two-phase commit feature can now be modified on existing subscriptions without needing to recreate them. PostgreSQL 18 also introduces automatic cleanup of idle replication slots, which can be configured to invalidate unused slots after a specified duration. Considerations for implementation include ensuring that the subscriber's column types match those of the publisher for generated columns, the requirement for track_commit_timestamp for certain conflict counters, and the fact that sequences are not replicated. Cleanup of replication resources is recommended after testing to prevent unnecessary costs and WAL accumulation.

Tech Optimizer

July 7, 2026

Avast Premium Security from Gen Digital – multi-device protection tuned for US households

Avast Premium Security is a multi-device security suite developed by Gen Digital, designed for U.S. households and small offices. It includes antivirus, ransomware protection, firewall, and web shield features. The product offers plans for one device, up to ten devices, or unlimited devices, with pricing around .99 per year for a single device and .99 for up to ten devices. It is compatible with Windows PCs, Macs, Android phones and tablets, and iOS devices. Key features include real-time malware scanning, advanced ransomware shields, phishing site detection, and a configurable firewall. The software operates quietly in the system tray and provides notifications when threats are detected. Avast Premium Security is positioned in a competitive market alongside brands like Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, and Kaspersky, and is part of Gen Digital's strategy for recurring subscription revenue. The product is available for purchase online and targets U.S. households and small offices seeking comprehensive protection.