region Archives

Winsage

June 12, 2026

Vietnam launches first criminal case over pirated Windows, Office software

Authorities in Phu Tho province have initiated a criminal case regarding the illegal installation and use of copyrighted software, specifically targeting pirated Microsoft Windows and Office products. Formal charges for "infringement of copyright and related rights" have been made following urgent searches at five locations in Hanoi and Phu Tho. The investigation revealed that individuals and businesses were using various platforms to promote, distribute, and sell unlicensed software, including cracked software and counterfeit license keys. The inquiry began with Song Lam Trading and Service Co, whose director faces allegations of supplying 81 computers pre-installed with unauthorized software. An additional 350 computers linked to a local educational institution were also found to have illegal software activation. The implicated companies include Athena Vietnam Information Systems Co and Tek-Solution Technology Co, whose directors are under police scrutiny. Authorities estimate that the financial losses for copyright holders could reach tens of billions of đồng, and they have raised concerns about cybersecurity threats associated with illegally activated software.

Tech Optimizer

June 11, 2026

Avast One: Security and privacy suite under the microscope

Avast One is the flagship consumer security suite from Avast (Gen Digital), combining antivirus, firewall, VPN, and privacy utilities into a single subscription for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It offers four primary areas: device security, online privacy, identity protection, and performance tools. Device security includes real-time antivirus, Web Shield, Mail Shield, and Ransomware Shield. The online privacy component features a full VPN service with bank-grade encryption and a no-logs policy. Identity protection includes data breach monitoring and, in some markets, credit monitoring. Performance tools assist with disk cleanup and system optimization. Avast One has three plan tiers: Avast One Essential (free), Avast One Individual (paid, supports multiple devices), and Avast One Family (paid, supports up to 30 devices). Pricing varies based on promotions, with Avast One Individual typically around per year and Avast One Family ranging from to 0 per year. The suite can be downloaded directly from Avast's website, with installers available for various platforms. Avast One includes automatic updates and is designed to operate lightly on modern hardware, with options to minimize system impact during scans. Customer support includes self-help documentation, community forums, and direct support for paying customers. Avast One aims to appeal to both non-technical users and power users, providing a user-friendly interface while allowing for advanced configurations. The product is positioned as a comprehensive solution for households looking to secure multiple devices with a single subscription.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

Where Winds Meet is Out Today, With Exclusive XBOX Game Pass Benefits and a New Expansion on the Way

Where Winds Meet, a free-to-play Wuxia open-world ARPG, is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and cloud platforms. Since its launch last November, the game has attracted over 80 million players and has had two expansions. The game is set in 10th Century China and features six distinct regions for exploration. Players can customize their combat style with various weapons and martial arts skills, and take on roles such as a doctor or assassin. A new expansion, Hidden Mountain, was announced, introducing a mountainous region with new gameplay mechanics. The game supports Smart Delivery and is optimized for Xbox, featuring HDR support and upscaling for better visuals. Xbox Game Pass members can access the game and receive a starter pack of resources from June 7 to July 23.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

Nintendo’s latest Direct has a lion’s share of exciting Xbox and PC games reveals

Sora, Donald, and Goofy return in Kingdom Hearts 4, set in the city of Quadratum, with a release planned for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Kingdom Hearts Collection [I ~ III] will be released on October 8, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen will launch on October 9, 2026, introducing a new region and challenges. Final Fantasy Resonance, featuring an HD-2D art style, is set for release on October 22, 2026. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World will be available on December 3, 2026. Jujutsu Kaisen Rumble: Survivaton is expected in 2026, while Atelier Karia: The Kingdom of Night and the Signpost of Reminiscence is slated for early 2027. Tales of Eternia Remastered will launch on October 16, 2026.

AppWizard

June 9, 2026

Ball State IDIA Lab Launches Mesa Verde Virtual Companion App for Apple and Android Devices

Ball State University’s Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) has launched the Mesa Verde Virtual Companion, an augmented reality mobile app designed to enhance public engagement with Mesa Verde National Park. The app is available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play and includes features such as augmented reality experiences, 3D visualizations of ancestral structures, narrated interpretations, animated figures, and interactive learning content about the Ancestral Pueblo people. The app aims to facilitate both on-site and off-site exploration of the park, which contains nearly 5,000 archaeological sites and is recognized as a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It targets park visitors, educators, families, and remote users, incorporating accessibility features like a welcome tutorial and voiceover options. The project emphasizes immersive learning and cultural preservation, using advanced digital media to connect users with Indigenous history. The IDIA Lab, supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc.’s Digital Media Initiative, develops projects that explore virtual and augmented reality and collaborates with various organizations to enhance educational experiences.

AppWizard

June 8, 2026

Minecraft Dungeons II date announce

A new trailer has been released, inviting individuals to engage with its narrative. A special pre-order offer will be available at select retailers from June 6, 2026, at 12 PM PDT until September 28, 2026, at 12 PM PDT, while supplies last. Each individual may secure one offer per account, with availability varying by region, platform, and retailer.

AppWizard

June 8, 2026

Average pocket money received by children revealed by money app

Children aged seven to 18 received an average of £9.90 per week in pocket money from January to April 2026, reflecting a 1.2% increase from £9.78 in 2025. Girls earned an average of £9.89, while boys received £9.91. The consumer prices index (CPI) inflation rate was 2.8% in April 2026. Children in the South East of England had the highest average weekly pocket money at £12.88, while those in the East of England had the lowest at £8.57. The most common task for earning pocket money was tidying bedrooms, averaging £1.14, with music practice being the highest-paying chore at £1.84. The most popular savings goals among children were holidays, birthdays, and electronics. Grocery stores and supermarkets were the primary spending venues, followed by restaurants, clothing shops, transport, and health and beauty outlets. Children saved an average of £3.93 per week. The average weekly pocket money payments by age for 2026 were as follows: - Seven: £4.30 - Eight: £4.44 - Nine: £4.78 - Ten: £5.38 - Eleven: £6.46 - Twelve: £8.12 - Thirteen: £10.68 - Fourteen: £12.86 - Fifteen: £14.54 - Sixteen: £16.66 - Seventeen: £18.61 - Eighteen: £16.57 Average weekly pocket money payments by region from January to April 2026 were: - East Midlands: £9.47 - East of England: £8.57 - London: £10.02 - North East: £8.75 - North West: £9.74 - Scotland: £10.67 - South East: £12.88 - South West: £8.69 - Wales: £8.89 - West Midlands: £9.90 - Yorkshire and the Humber: £8.93 Popular tasks for pocket money payments in 2026 included: - Tidying bedroom: £1.14 - Helping around the house: £1.21 - Brushing teeth: £1.31 - Doing homework: £1.39 - Looking after pets: £1.42

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

Guild Wars 3 announced for PC and PS5

ArenaNet has announced Guild Wars 3, the third installment in the MMORPG series, set to launch globally on PC, Steam, and PS5. The game takes place over a millennium before the original Guild Wars in the Tyrian region of Orr, where players will assume the role of a Vaelwarden. Players can use a spirit called the Seeker as a mount. The combat system will support both controller and keyboard users, focusing on strategic positioning and movement. Beta testing is scheduled for the third quarter of 2027, and while no specific release date is provided, players can add the game to their wishlists on Steam and the PlayStation Store.

Tech Optimizer

June 7, 2026

Implementing real-time change data capture with Debezium for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL

Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL now support native streaming replication, allowing data changes to flow from source databases. Organizations often struggle to capture and propagate these changes in real time without affecting database performance. Traditional ETL pipelines can introduce significant delays, leading to outdated data and missed opportunities. Debezium is an open-source platform for change data capture (CDC) that monitors databases and streams changes to applications or data pipelines, enabling real-time data synchronization. The CDC solution combines PostgreSQL's logical replication with Debezium's change capture framework, focusing on Amazon Aurora for PostgreSQL. To implement this solution, logical replication must be enabled on Amazon Aurora through DB cluster parameter groups. Debezium connectors monitor the database's Write-Ahead Logging (WAL) via logical replication slots, converting transaction logs into structured event streams. Key components of the solution include: - Amazon Aurora for PostgreSQL as the source database with logical replication enabled. - A Debezium PostgreSQL connector running on MSK Connect for change capture. - Amazon MSK for message streaming. - An Amazon EC2 instance for testing and consuming change events. Steps to implement the solution include: 1. Creating an Amazon Aurora for PostgreSQL DB cluster and enabling logical replication. 2. Creating an Amazon MSK serverless cluster. 3. Setting up an Amazon EC2 instance to install Kafka and connect to the database. 4. Creating a custom plugin for Amazon MSK to replicate changes from RDS for PostgreSQL. 5. Uploading the custom plugin to an Amazon S3 bucket. 6. Storing credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and creating an IAM role for MSK Connect. 7. Testing the solution by verifying data replication and monitoring real-time changes. Monitoring can be done through CloudWatch Logs and the MSK Connect console, addressing common issues like replication slot lag and connector failures. To avoid charges, resources created during the implementation should be deleted in the correct order.

Tech Optimizer

June 6, 2026

Implementing real-time change data capture with Debezium for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL

Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL support native streaming replication, allowing data changes to flow from source databases. Organizations often struggle with real-time data capture and dissemination, leading to outdated information due to traditional batch ETL pipelines. Debezium is an open-source platform for change data capture (CDC) that streams database changes to applications or data pipelines in real time. The CDC solution utilizes PostgreSQL's logical replication capabilities and Debezium's framework. Key components include Amazon Aurora for PostgreSQL as the source database, a Debezium PostgreSQL connector on MSK Connect, Amazon MSK for message streaming, and an Amazon EC2 instance for testing. To implement the solution, users must enable logical replication on Amazon Aurora, create an Amazon MSK cluster, set up an EC2 instance with Kafka, and create a custom plugin for MSK Connect. The process involves configuring IAM roles and policies, connecting to the database, and creating an Amazon MSK connector to stream changes. Testing the solution includes verifying real-time changes by inserting, updating, and deleting records in PostgreSQL, with events appearing in Kafka. Monitoring tools are available through CloudWatch for troubleshooting issues like replication slot lag and connector failures. To clean up resources after testing, users should delete the MSK Connect connector, custom plugin, Amazon MSK cluster, Aurora PostgreSQL database instance, EC2 instance, IAM role and policy, Secrets Manager secrets, CloudWatch Logs log group, and S3 bucket.