RAM usage Archives

Tech Optimizer

September 3, 2026

Bitdefender vs Norton 2026: Which Antivirus Wins?

Norton and Bitdefender both have a malware detection rate of 99.8%. Norton excels in phishing protection, blocking 95% of phishing attempts compared to Bitdefender's 89%. In terms of system impact, Bitdefender uses 11% CPU and 183 MB RAM during scans, while Norton uses 23% CPU and 384 MB RAM. Norton offers features such as cloud backup, parental controls, and unlimited VPN, whereas Bitdefender lacks cloud backup and has a limited VPN. Pricing for both is competitive, but Bitdefender generally has cheaper renewal costs. Norton provides faster customer support response times. In a comparison of nine categories, Norton won five and Bitdefender won three. For users needing backup and parental controls, Norton is preferred; for those with older laptops, Bitdefender is recommended.

AppWizard

August 29, 2026

Android’s new RAM rules come with a Play Store threat attached

Google will implement new regulations in February 2027 that impose per-app memory ceilings on the Play Store, requiring Android developers to optimize their apps for RAM usage. Apps exceeding these memory thresholds may be removed from the Play Store, leading to increased competition and enhanced user experience due to faster load times and improved performance.

AppWizard

August 28, 2026

Google clamps down on Android app RAM usage amid AI memory crisis — developers have until February 2027 to adapt to new memory-optimizing rules

Google has introduced new guidelines to improve memory management for Android applications due to a shortage of memory, requiring developers to reduce their apps' memory usage by February 2027. Smartphone manufacturers are responding to memory shortages by decreasing the memory in devices, with many entry-level smartphones now featuring only 4GB instead of the previous 6GB to 8GB. Microsoft is also optimizing Windows 11 for devices with 8GB of memory to ease the need for upgrades.

AppWizard

August 27, 2026

Google to tighten oversight of Android apps’ memory use

Google is implementing stricter oversight on RAM usage by applications and games to enhance the performance of Android devices. New memory usage restrictions will be introduced on Google Play, requiring apps to adhere to specified memory thresholds, with potential consequences for non-compliance, including slowdowns, termination by the system, reduced visibility in the Google Play store, and publishing restrictions. Monitoring of compliance will begin in February 2027, following the introduction of memory limits with Android 17 on Pixel smartphones. This initiative is linked to a RAM shortage affecting the device market, with reports indicating that the base versions of the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL have less RAM than their predecessors.

Tech Optimizer

August 26, 2026

AVG Antivirus Review 2026: Is the Free Version Enough?

AVG AntiVirus Free has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, with specific scores of 4.7 for protection, 4.3 for performance and features, and 3.5 for customer support. The software is available for free or can be purchased starting at .88 for the first year, with pricing verified in August 2026. It achieved a 99.77% malware detection rate with only four false alarms and offers features such as real-time protection and Ransomware Protection. However, customer support is rated lower, and there are upselling prompts after scans. AVG is owned by Gen Digital and has been in operation for over 35 years, originally founded as Grisoft in the Czech Republic. The free version includes essential features like File Shield, Behavior Shield, Web Shield, Email Shield, and Ransomware Protection, while some features like Enhanced Firewall and Fake Website Shield are exclusive to paid versions. AVG's performance on Windows 11 has been validated by independent tests, scoring 6/6/6 in AV-TEST and achieving a 96.3% offline detection rate in AV-Comparatives. The software is available across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. AVG's customer support includes email and phone options, with a reasonable response time. The software is safe to install when downloaded from official sources, and it has been recognized for its effectiveness in malware detection.

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

Android Pulse has appeared in the Google Play updates – what does the new system app do?

A new system-wide application called Android Pulse has started rolling out to Pixel smartphones, enhancing resource management by monitoring abnormal resource consumption by the operating system and installed applications. It is included in the latest updates for Pixel devices and operates in the background without a separate interface. Android Pulse tracks unusual patterns in battery, CPU, or RAM usage, although Google has not confirmed the exact metrics monitored. The application is integrated within the system settings of Pixel smartphones and is referred to as "Pulse." It has over 10 million downloads on the Play Store, and builds have been available since at least March 27, 2026. Android Pulse may collect encrypted data regarding app performance, but users cannot delete this data.

AppWizard

August 22, 2026

Samsung Galaxy Phones Could Get Smarter RAM Management With Android 17

Samsung Galaxy smartphones will benefit from the new Android 17 feature that imposes per-app memory limits, preventing any single app from monopolizing RAM. This feature is already active on Pixel devices and is expected to be adopted by other manufacturers, including Samsung, in the coming year. Android 17 allows the operating system to compress memory pages and terminate apps that exceed their memory limits, optimizing RAM usage without noticeable disruptions for users. This update aims to improve multitasking by allowing more applications to remain active in the background, particularly benefiting devices with limited RAM. Samsung's One UI already includes memory management tools, but the new system in Android 17 operates at a deeper level to enhance overall device performance. While no timeline for implementation has been announced, One UI 9 is based on Android 17, and the feature is anticipated to significantly improve user experience on Galaxy devices.

Winsage

August 21, 2026

Microsoft quietly hides the new OneDrive app it force-installed on Windows 11, but it’s still on your PC

Microsoft has removed the OneDrive Photos app from the Start menu and Windows Search results as part of efforts to improve user experience and address feedback about its intrusive nature. The app was initially force-installed on Windows 10 and 11 devices but faced backlash due to difficulties in launching and uninstalling it. Microsoft acknowledged that the app's widespread release was unintended and plans to allow users to uninstall it independently from the OneDrive sync client later this year. Although OneDrive Photos is hidden from the Start menu and search results, it remains installed on users' PCs and can still be accessed through the OneDrive installation folder.

Tech Optimizer

August 20, 2026

Surfshark Antivirus Review 2026: Test Results and Costs

Surfshark offers a cybersecurity package called Surfshark One, which includes antivirus capabilities and a VPN service. The overall rating for Surfshark is 4.1/5, with specific ratings of 3.7/5 for protection, 4.5/5 for performance, 3.3/5 for features, 5.0/5 for support, and 4.5/5 for value. The antivirus component has a 93.44% malware detection rate and a 95% phishing detection rate with no false alarms. Surfshark One costs .79 per month and includes features like real-time protection, scheduled scans, breach alerts, a private search engine, and webcam protection. The One+ tier adds Incogni data removal and identity theft insurance. Surfshark Antivirus is not available as a standalone product and lacks features such as a firewall, password manager, and parental controls. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Android. Surfshark provides a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Winsage

August 19, 2026

Windows 11 is breaking Legacy Media Player features to push you to a modern app that uses 3x more RAM

Microsoft is reducing the functionality of Windows Media Player Legacy in the latest update, Windows 11 Experimental Build 29648.1000, by restricting caption controls. Users can no longer enable captions in the legacy player and are prompted to switch to the modern Media Player instead. This change was first noted by Windows enthusiast Xeno Panther and indicates a deliberate move by Microsoft to encourage users to adopt the newer application. In the previous Experimental Build 26340.9212, captions were still operational, but the latest build has removed options for Off and Defaults, leaving only "On if available." When attempting to activate captions, users receive a message stating that captions cannot be enabled in Windows Media Player Legacy. The modern Media Player does offer enhanced caption customization features, such as font size and color adjustments, but it has been criticized for its performance issues. The modern app takes longer to open videos and consumes significantly more RAM while idle compared to the legacy version. Additionally, the modern Media Player requires users to purchase HEVC Video Extensions to play HEVC files, which the legacy player supports without additional costs. Despite these changes, the Legacy Media Player still retains features like library view and CD burning, and it remains an optional feature in Windows 11. Microsoft has previously removed other functionalities from the legacy player, such as the Sync tab in 2023. As users look for alternatives, third-party open-source media players like VLC and mpv are becoming more popular, with mpv recommended for its performance and minimal interface.