scaling Archives

Winsage

May 16, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27858 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27858 has been released to the Canary Channel. A new system tray icon for the emoji and more panel has been introduced, allowing users to access emojis, GIFs, and Kaomojis, with customization options available. Several fixes have been implemented, including resolving black screen issues during upgrades, enhancing accessibility in File Explorer, updating desktop icon logic, fixing voice typing initiation issues, resolving explorer.exe crashes related to snap layouts, addressing taskbar icon resizing problems in tablet mode, fixing night light functionality, and resolving MIDI device recognition issues. Known issues include potential problems with Windows Hello PIN and biometrics on new Copilot+ PCs and unresponsive pen input on certain devices. Insiders are reminded that builds in the Canary Channel are early development versions and may change. A clean installation is required to exit the Canary Channel, and a desktop watermark will be present in pre-release builds.

Tech Optimizer

May 16, 2025

The $1 Billion database bet: What Databricks’ Neon acquisition means for your AI strategy

Databricks acquired the privately held serverless PostgreSQL startup Neon for approximately billion. Neon, founded in 2022, had previously raised million in a Series B funding round. Over 80% of the databases generated on Neon's platform were initiated by AI agents. PostgreSQL, an established relational database platform, is ranked as the fourth most popular database as of 2025. Serverless PostgreSQL offers operational simplicity, allowing on-demand resource allocation, which is particularly beneficial for AI-centric projects. Major cloud providers, including Google, Microsoft, and AWS, offer serverless PostgreSQL services. Databricks aims to build a developer and AI-agent-friendly database platform with this acquisition. Serverless architectures excel in handling short bursts and smaller workloads, providing rapid scalability, but may present challenges in data management. Neon’s model enhances appeal for developers by distinguishing between storage and compute, facilitating automated scaling. The acquisition indicates a shift in infrastructure requirements for successful AI implementation, highlighting the need for flexible, instantly scalable serverless solutions.

AppWizard

May 15, 2025

Stellar Blade heads to PC on June 11

Stellar Blade will be released on PC on June 11, following its PS5 launch in April of the previous year. The PC version features enhanced graphics with support for NVIDIA DLSS 4, NVIDIA DLAA, NVIDIA Reflex, and AMD FSR 3, as well as compatibility with ultrawide resolutions. It is designed to work with the DualSense controller and offers customization options for various input methods. The minimum system requirements include 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core i5 processor, and a GeForce GTX 1060. Sony is expanding its portfolio of first-party games on PC, reflecting a trend away from exclusivity.

Tech Optimizer

May 15, 2025

Neon Serverless Postgres: Azure Native Integration Now Available

Microsoft and Neon have launched Neon Serverless Postgres as a native integration within the Azure ecosystem, following its initial preview in December 2024. This open-source, serverless database solution is positioned as an alternative to AWS Aurora Postgres. Key features include automatic scaling, branching capabilities, direct database connection from Azure, Azure CLI and SDK support, and Semantic Kernel integration for RAG pipelines. Microsoft has invested millions in Neon as part of a broader funding round to enhance collaboration. Neon’s platform includes autoscaling, branching, and point-in-time restore capabilities, specifically designed for AI applications. EnterpriseDB has appointed Nancy Hensley as Chief Product Officer to lead growth for its EDB Postgres AI platform, which supports various workloads and modernizes legacy systems. Additionally, companies are increasingly adopting passwordless authentication methods, with MojoAuth offering solutions that integrate into applications to enhance security and user experience.

Tech Optimizer

May 15, 2025

Databricks to acquire serverless database startup Neon for USD 1 Billion

Databricks intends to acquire Neon, a serverless Postgres startup, for approximately USD 1 billion. Neon specializes in a modern database service based on PostgreSQL, offering features such as near-instantaneous database provisioning, elastic scaling, and powerful branching capabilities. This acquisition aims to enhance Databricks' offerings for AI tools, particularly AI Agents. Databricks has a history of expanding through acquisitions, including the purchase of MosaicML for USD 1.3 billion in 2023 and Tabular for over USD 1 billion in 2024. The company has a valuation of USD 62 billion and projected annualized revenue of USD 2.4 billion by mid-year. The acquisition awaits regulatory approvals.

Tech Optimizer

May 15, 2025

Databricks to Acquire Neon in USD 1 Billion Deal to Power AI Agent Workflows with Serverless Postgres

Databricks intends to acquire Neon, a cloud-based serverless Postgres platform, for approximately USD 1 billion. Neon, founded in 2021, offers a managed, open-source Postgres service with features like effortless database cloning, isolated environment testing, and point-in-time data restoration. Over 80% of databases on Neon are created by AI agents. The acquisition aims to enhance Databricks' infrastructure for AI-native applications, allowing developers to create isolated Postgres instances quickly and decouple compute and storage resources. Neon has raised USD 129.5 million from investors, while Databricks has secured over USD 19 billion in funding, with a valuation of USD 62 billion. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals, and Neon's team will join Databricks post-acquisition.

Tech Optimizer

May 14, 2025

Databricks to Acquire Neon, Targeting Serverless Postgres for AI Agent Workloads

Databricks plans to acquire Neon, a serverless Postgres provider designed for automation and AI-driven database interactions. Neon's architecture allows for 80% of databases on its platform to be provisioned automatically by AI agents, enabling rapid execution and unpredictable scaling. It can provision fully isolated Postgres instances in under 500 milliseconds and features instant schema and data forking. Neon's usage-based pricing model charges organizations only for executed queries, addressing cost inefficiencies of traditional databases. It is fully compatible with Postgres and supports common extensions, facilitating ease of use for developers. After the acquisition, Neon's team will join Databricks to support existing users and develop tools for AI-native systems.

Tech Optimizer

May 14, 2025

Databricks adds Postgres database with $1B Neon acquisition

Databricks announced its intention to acquire Neon, a developer of a cloud-based dataset platform built on PostgreSQL, to enhance capabilities for developers and autonomous AI agents. The acquisition's estimated value is approximately billion, although financial specifics remain undisclosed. Neon, based in Menlo Park, California, raised .6 million prior to the acquisition. This move will expand Databricks' portfolio with open-source database functionalities, aiding in the development of data and AI applications. Databricks has made several acquisitions to support generative AI development, including MosaicML, Arcion, Einblick, Lilac AI, BladeBridge, and Tabular, with some valued at over billion. Neon's platform allows users to create PostgreSQL instances quickly and features a disaggregated compute and storage architecture for automatic scaling. The Neon team will join Databricks following the acquisition's completion.

Tech Optimizer

May 14, 2025

Databricks to buy open-source database startup Neon for $1B

Databricks intends to acquire Neon, a startup known for its open-source alternative to AWS Aurora Postgres, in a deal valued at approximately billion. The acquisition aims to integrate Neon’s serverless relational database management system with Databricks' data intelligence services, enhancing the deployment of AI agents. Neon, founded in 2021, offers a managed cloud-based database platform with features like automatic scaling, database cloning, and point-in-time recovery. Recent data shows that 80% of databases on Neon are provisioned by AI agents. Neon has raised .6 million from investors including Microsoft’s M12, while Databricks has raised over billion, recently closing a .3 billion funding round. Databricks has previously acquired Tabular and MosaicML to strengthen its position in the AI landscape.

Tech Optimizer

May 14, 2025

Databricks acquires Neon: serverless Postgres database for AI agents

Neon can spin up a Postgres instance in less than 500 milliseconds. Databricks has acquired Neon, rumored to be valued at over a billion, to enhance its AI capabilities. Neon focuses on developing a premier Postgres solution for cloud environments and aims to refine its offerings with Databricks' support. Neon’s serverless architecture allows for a fully isolated Postgres database deployment in under 500 milliseconds, separates compute and storage for cost efficiency, and maintains compatibility with the Postgres ecosystem. The integration of Neon’s architecture with Databricks' platform aims to improve AI agent systems, alleviate performance bottlenecks, streamline infrastructure, and reduce operational costs. The acquisition will result in the Neon team joining Databricks, pending regulatory approvals.