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AppWizard

June 21, 2025

Understanding Android 14 Privacy Changes: Key Insights

The introduction of Android 14 features a sophisticated permissions model that requests app permissions only when needed, allowing users to choose between "approximate" and "precise" location access. Apps handling transactions must justify their need for real-time access. Background location usage must be disclosed in Play Store listings, and developers must complete Data Safety Forms. Android enforces scoped storage, isolating apps in sandboxed environments to reduce data leakage risks. Visual indicators for microphone and camera usage were introduced in Android 12, and Android 14 requires apps to specify the nature of access. In-app transactions in gaming apps must meet elevated security standards, including encryption and biometric logins, and undergo audits under PCI DSS. Background access for location services requires clear justification, and developers must submit a Permission Declaration Form. Google Play mandates disclosure of third-party SDKs and their data practices. User awareness is emphasized through concise permission dialogs and Data Safety summaries in Play Store listings. Secure login protocols like OAuth 2.0 are required for sensitive applications, with stronger encryption mandates. Apps for children must comply with COPPA and GDPR-K regulations, with manual reviews by the Play Store. Google's Privacy Sandbox initiative aims to enhance privacy in advertising practices, with expected rollout in 2024.

Tech Optimizer

June 21, 2025

Implement a rollback strategy for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL upgrades using Amazon RDS Blue/Green deployments

The Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition supports managed blue/green deployments to minimize downtime and risks during updates. This deployment strategy involves creating a staging environment (green) that mirrors the production database (blue) through logical replication. The blue environment represents the current production database, while the green environment incorporates updates without changing the application endpoint. After validating changes, the green environment can be promoted to production. In case of issues post-upgrade, a rollback plan is essential, as the managed blue/green deployment feature does not provide built-in rollback functionality. A manual rollback cluster can be established using self-managed logical replication to maintain synchronization with the new version after a switchover. Before the switchover, two clusters exist: the blue cluster (production) and the green cluster (staging). After the switchover, three clusters are present: the old blue cluster (original production), the new blue cluster (updated production), and the blue prime (rollback) cluster (a clone of the old blue cluster). To implement the solution, prerequisites include a cluster parameter group for the new version database with logical replication enabled and familiarity with the Aurora cloning feature. The process involves creating a blue/green deployment, stopping traffic on the blue cluster, performing the switchover, deleting the blue/green deployment, cloning the old blue cluster to create the blue prime cluster, and establishing logical replication from the new blue cluster to the blue prime cluster. Limitations of the managed blue/green deployment include the inability to replicate certain DDL operations and the need to handle endpoint changes manually if a rollback is required. Setting up the rollback cluster incurs additional downtime. To roll back to the blue prime cluster, application traffic must be ceased, the application or DNS records updated, the subscription on the blue prime cluster dropped, and sequence values manually updated if necessary. This process is not automatic and requires careful planning and testing. In production, it is advisable to retain the new blue prime cluster until all applications have transitioned successfully, and the old blue cluster can be backed up for compliance before deletion. For testing purposes, all clusters should be deleted to avoid additional charges.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Warner Bros Games has been restructured

Warner Bros. Games is restructuring its operations to focus on its key franchises: DC, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Mortal Kombat. Yves Lachance has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Development, overseeing the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones series. Shaun Himmerick will lead the Mortal Kombat and DC franchises, while Steven Flenory has become Senior Vice President of Central Tech and Services. J.B. Perrette, CEO of Global Games and Streaming at Warner Bros. Discovery, expressed enthusiasm for the restructuring and the potential for long-term franchise development.

AppWizard

June 15, 2025

Android Instant Apps Heads to the Google Graveyard This December

Google has announced the discontinuation of Android Instant Apps, which will cease to function by December 2025, although it will remain available on the Google Play Store until then. Launched in 2017, Android Instant Apps allowed users to sample applications without full downloads, but its success depended on developer participation, which has dwindled. Notable brands like Wish and Vimeo integrated Instant Apps, but overall interest did not meet Google's expectations. This move aligns with Google's trend of phasing out legacy features, including the recent sunsetting of Google Assistant in favor of generative AI and the Google Gemini platform.

AppWizard

June 6, 2025

Tencent now owns 16% of Helldivers maker Arrowhead

Tencent has acquired a 15.75 percent stake in Arrowhead Games, valuing the studio at SEK 5.1 billion (approximately .8 million). The founders of Arrowhead Games retain 84.24 percent ownership. Arrowhead reported a turnover of SEK 959 million ([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: Chinese tech and entertainment titan Tencent has made a significant move in the gaming industry by acquiring a 15.75 percent stake in Arrowhead Games, the developer behind the popular title Helldivers 2. According to Swedish media outlet DI, Tencent's investment amounts to million, which places a valuation of SEK 5.1 billion (approximately 2.8 million) on Arrowhead. The founders of Arrowhead Games—Johan Pilestedt, Emil Englund, Malin Hedstrom, Peter Lindgren, and Anton Stenmark—retain the remaining 84.24 percent ownership of the studio. This strategic partnership not only underscores Tencent's growing influence in the gaming sector but also highlights Arrowhead's impressive financial performance, with a reported turnover of SEK 959 million (0.2 million) and a profit of SEK 729 million (.2 million). Success of Helldivers 2 Arrowhead's latest release, Helldivers 2, launched at the beginning of 2024, has garnered substantial acclaim, dominating the Steam charts for four consecutive weeks. Johan Pilestedt, the studio's chief creative officer and former CEO, expressed his pride in the team's accomplishments, stating, "It's fantastic fun, and I feel incredibly proud of what the team has managed to achieve. Above all, it's proof that what we do resonates with the player base." In discussing the implications of the Tencent partnership, Pilestedt remarked, "It also opens up opportunities for China as a market. Gaining access to the Chinese player base is the holy grail in the gaming industry." This sentiment reflects a broader trend in the gaming landscape, where access to the vast Chinese market is increasingly seen as a pivotal factor for success. In a notable leadership transition, Arrowhead promoted Shams Jorjani to the role of CEO in May 2024, signaling a new chapter for the studio as it navigates its growth trajectory in collaboration with Tencent." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].2 million) and a profit of SEK 729 million ([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: Chinese tech and entertainment titan Tencent has made a significant move in the gaming industry by acquiring a 15.75 percent stake in Arrowhead Games, the developer behind the popular title Helldivers 2. According to Swedish media outlet DI, Tencent's investment amounts to million, which places a valuation of SEK 5.1 billion (approximately 2.8 million) on Arrowhead. The founders of Arrowhead Games—Johan Pilestedt, Emil Englund, Malin Hedstrom, Peter Lindgren, and Anton Stenmark—retain the remaining 84.24 percent ownership of the studio. This strategic partnership not only underscores Tencent's growing influence in the gaming sector but also highlights Arrowhead's impressive financial performance, with a reported turnover of SEK 959 million (0.2 million) and a profit of SEK 729 million (.2 million). Success of Helldivers 2 Arrowhead's latest release, Helldivers 2, launched at the beginning of 2024, has garnered substantial acclaim, dominating the Steam charts for four consecutive weeks. Johan Pilestedt, the studio's chief creative officer and former CEO, expressed his pride in the team's accomplishments, stating, "It's fantastic fun, and I feel incredibly proud of what the team has managed to achieve. Above all, it's proof that what we do resonates with the player base." In discussing the implications of the Tencent partnership, Pilestedt remarked, "It also opens up opportunities for China as a market. Gaining access to the Chinese player base is the holy grail in the gaming industry." This sentiment reflects a broader trend in the gaming landscape, where access to the vast Chinese market is increasingly seen as a pivotal factor for success. In a notable leadership transition, Arrowhead promoted Shams Jorjani to the role of CEO in May 2024, signaling a new chapter for the studio as it navigates its growth trajectory in collaboration with Tencent." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].2 million). Helldivers 2, released in early 2024, has topped the Steam charts for four weeks. Shams Jorjani was promoted to CEO of Arrowhead in May 2024.

Tech Optimizer

June 2, 2025

Hackers Allegedly Selling Windows Crypter Claims Bypass of All Antiviruses

Underground cybercriminal forums are seeing an increase in advanced malware tools, including a Windows crypter that claims to bypass major antivirus solutions. This crypter is marketed as fully activated and capable of achieving Full Undetectable (FUD) status against contemporary antivirus engines. It employs advanced obfuscation techniques to evade detection, including code injection methods, entropy manipulation, and anti-debugging features. The tool allows for granular control over obfuscation parameters, enabling customization for specific target environments. The rise of such sophisticated evasion tools poses challenges for traditional endpoint security, making organizations vulnerable if they rely solely on signature-based antivirus solutions. To defend against these threats, organizations should adopt multi-layered security architectures, including behavioral analysis and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions.

AppWizard

June 2, 2025

The Sims co-creator Tim LeTourneau has passed away

Tim LeTourneau, a significant figure in the creation of The Sims, passed away, as announced by his wife, Donna. He began his career in the gaming industry in 1998 at Maxis, where he served as a senior producer for eight years and contributed to the success of The Sims franchise. In 2006, he moved to Electronic Arts, becoming an executive producer and later Vice President and General Manager of The Sims Studio in 2008. In March 2011, he joined Zynga as Vice President of studios and was promoted to Chief Creative Officer within two years. After a brief stint at Storm8 as Chief Creative Officer, he returned to Zynga as Senior Vice President of games. In March 2017, he became Director of Product Design at Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment until his departure in 2021. He then served as Senior Advisor at Fortis Games. Following his passing, a former Maxis team member shared a tribute on Reddit, highlighting the familial atmosphere LeTourneau created at the studio.

TrendTechie

May 30, 2025

Релиз Elden Ring Nightreign: высокий онлайн, много критики и появление на торрентах

FromSoftware has released Elden Ring Nightreign, a game featuring roguelike elements and cooperative action set in the universe of Elden Ring. Players explore the lands of Limvelda, engaging in battles against bosses and navigating procedurally generated environments. The game offers a solo mode and allows players to choose from eight unique characters. At launch, it achieved a peak of 313,593 concurrent players on Steam, but only 68% of players recommend it. Critics noted the absence of a two-player mode, excessive pace for solo players, lack of gameplay variety, and insufficient support for ultra-wide monitors. The game received a score of 80 on OpenCritic and a 78% recommendation rate. FromSoftware released patch 1.01 to address player concerns and Bandai Namco promoted the game with a trailer featuring a new character and a music video for Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life."

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

F1 25 review

Sebastian Vettel's reminder about cherishing current moments resonates within the context of the F1 gaming franchise, particularly with the release of F1 25 on May 30, 2025, developed by Codemasters and published by Electronic Arts. The game is priced at £50 and is the 17th annual edition of the official F1 game. F1 25 features a nine-hour story in Braking Point 3, concluding the saga with character development for Aiden Jackson and introducing California Mayer as a rival. The game includes an email system for team management, allowing players to connect with staff achievements. However, it has faced criticism for its handling model, particularly for pad control, and contains bugs like incorrect radio messages. The game showcases modern advancements such as path-traced lighting but may struggle with performance on lower-end graphics cards. Overall, while F1 25 offers a high-quality racing experience, it lacks significant innovation compared to its predecessors.

AppWizard

May 25, 2025

Double Fine dev embarks on a quest to discover Full Throttle’s true release date: ‘Perhaps the best 30th birthday present I could give Full Throttle was a real birthday’

Full Throttle, an adventure game by LucasArts, marked its 30th anniversary, leading to an investigation into its release date. Conflicting sources suggested various dates: April 30, April 20, and May 19, 1995. Double Fine Productions leans towards April 30, but that date fell on a Sunday, making it unlikely for a retail release. Investigation into original release files indicated modifications as late as May 2, 1995. An advertisement in The Daily Record on May 19, 1995, promoted the game, but staggered releases and miscommunication were common at the time. CompUSA expected copies by May 5, but they didn't reach shelves until at least May 18. Silk noted that requests for hints about the game began to appear after May 19, 1995, suggesting that this date may mark when the game entered public awareness.