NewApp Digest
search bot

SOFTWARE TESTING

Windows 11 Home vs. Windows 11 Pro: I compared both versions, and here's my upgrade advice
Winsage
January 18, 2026

Windows 11 Home vs. Windows 11 Pro: I compared both versions, and here’s my upgrade advice

Windows 11 is nearing its fifth anniversary and features enhancements in visual design, system performance, and support for Android applications. Microsoft offers a Pro version for power users, which includes advanced functionalities not available in the Home version, such as BitLocker Drive Encryption, Hyper-V, and enhanced remote access capabilities. Windows 11 Home is suitable for average users who prefer simplicity, offering essential features for everyday tasks and automatic updates. It is free for users upgrading from compatible Windows 10 devices and comes preinstalled on new PCs. Windows 11 Pro, priced around 0 for a full license, is ideal for users seeking greater control over system settings and those who rely on virtualization tools. Key specifications include: - Both editions share core features like the full Windows 11 UI, Snap Layouts, and Copilot. - Windows 11 Home includes basic security features, while Pro adds advanced options like BitLocker and Credential Guard. - Pro supports virtualization with Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox, while Home does not. - Processor support differs, with Home supporting 1 CPU and 64 cores, and Pro supporting 2 CPUs and 128 cores.
Windows 10 Users Are Being Targeted With New Upgrade Offer
Winsage
January 11, 2026

Windows 10 Users Are Being Targeted With New Upgrade Offer

A surge of attacks targeting Windows 10 machines highlights the need for users to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro, which is currently available at a discount of approximately 94% off its standard price. Windows 10 is becoming increasingly vulnerable as it approaches its end of support, leaving users exposed to cyber threats. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warns that unsupported systems are often exploited by cybercriminals. Windows 10 remains widely used, making it a significant target for attackers, as evidenced by over billion in reported cybercrime losses in 2023. Windows 11 Pro offers enhanced security features, including BitLocker drive encryption, Credential Guard, and Smart App Control, along with a security-first design that requires compatible hardware. Current promotions allow users to purchase a Windows 11 Pro license for under 0, providing a one-time purchase option that includes updates until Microsoft ends support for Windows 11. Users are advised to check compatibility before upgrading and to back up important files. For those unable to upgrade, alternatives include purchasing Extended Security Updates or investing in new hardware that meets Windows 11 specifications.
Ditch the Subscription: Get Lifetime Access to Windows 11 Pro for Just $10
Winsage
December 28, 2025

Ditch the Subscription: Get Lifetime Access to Windows 11 Pro for Just $10

71% of businesses prioritize security when selecting their operating systems. Companies using outdated Windows software face risks from cyber threats. Windows 11 Pro offers enterprise-grade security features, including BitLocker device encryption, Azure AD integration, Hyper-V for virtual machines, and Windows Sandbox for safe software testing. It has a revamped interface with snap layouts and virtual desktops for better project management, enhanced voice typing, and improved search capabilities. The AI assistant, Copilot, manages tasks and integrates with Microsoft Teams. Windows 11 Pro provides lifetime access for a one-time payment, requiring 4GB RAM and 64GB of hard drive space. The current price is .97, subject to change.
Microsoft bets on AI to rewrite Windows after code it wrote broke the OS
Winsage
December 23, 2025

Microsoft bets on AI to rewrite Windows after code it wrote broke the OS

Microsoft plans to eliminate all C and C++ code from its products by 2030, as announced by Galen Hunt on November 25, 2025. This decision follows significant malfunctions in Windows 11 that began in July 2025, affecting core components like the Start Menu and Taskbar. The company aims to achieve "1 engineer, 1 month, 1 million lines of code" through AI-assisted rewrites. A patch to address these issues is promised for December 2025. The initiative is part of Microsoft's Future of Scalable Software Engineering group, with a focus on leveraging AI to manage and modify code at scale. A Principal Software Engineer position has been opened, emphasizing expertise in Rust. Microsoft is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, with plans to allocate billions for datacenter construction in 2025.
Denial of Fuzzing: Rust in the Windows kernel
Winsage
October 17, 2025

Denial of Fuzzing: Rust in the Windows kernel

Check Point Research (CPR) identified a significant security vulnerability in the Rust-based kernel component of the Graphics Device Interface (GDI) in Windows, reported to Microsoft in January 2025. The issue was resolved in OS Build 26100.4202, part of the KB5058499 update released on May 28, 2025. The vulnerability was discovered during a fuzzing campaign targeting the Windows graphics component through metafiles, revealing multiple security issues including information disclosure and arbitrary code execution. The specific bug was linked to a crash occurring during the execution of a NtGdiSelectClipPath syscall in the win32kbasers.sys driver, triggered by an out-of-bounds memory access when processing malformed metafile records. Microsoft classified the vulnerability as moderate severity and addressed it in a non-security update, implementing substantial changes to the affected kernel module.
Windows Sandbox is a criminally underrated feature
Winsage
September 23, 2025

Windows Sandbox is a criminally underrated feature

Windows Sandbox is a feature introduced with Windows 10, available exclusively on Pro editions or higher. It functions as a lightweight virtual machine that runs a fresh copy of the current Windows version without personal data or applications. Users can launch it without extensive setup, and it starts with a clean slate each time, ensuring no changes persist after a session. This isolation helps protect the main operating system from potential threats when testing new software. Windows Sandbox shares similarities with Hyper-V but cannot be enabled on the Home edition of Windows. Upgrading from Home to Pro costs approximately 0. It is considered a significant enhancement for users of Windows 11 Pro.
silver Android smartphone
Tech Optimizer
August 5, 2025

Building a job search engine with PostgreSQL’s advanced search features

Job search platforms connect employers and candidates through advanced search engines that analyze structured and unstructured data. These platforms require robust database technologies for executing complex queries, full-text and semantic searches, and geospatial functionalities. A modern job search engine consists of a data repository that stores job listings and candidate profiles, and a search engine that facilitates bidirectional searches. Key features of an effective job search engine include: - **Full-text search**: Provides lexical matching for job titles and skills, supporting exact phrase matching and typo-tolerant searches. - **Semantic search**: Uses vector-based similarity to understand context and relationships beyond literal terms. - **Geospatial search**: Incorporates geographic considerations to find opportunities within specific distances. PostgreSQL serves as both a data repository and search engine, supporting full-text search, semantic search via the pgvector extension, and geospatial queries using the PostGIS extension. The job search engine utilizes PostgreSQL to manage job listings and candidate profiles, enabling real-time searches across millions of entries. The data model for a job search engine includes tables for jobs and resumes, with columns for full-text search vectors, semantic vectors, and geographical locations. PostgreSQL's full-text search capabilities include tokenization, dictionaries for language-aware parsing, and ranking functions for relevance. Advanced features such as proximity search, simple and weighted ranking, and fuzzy matching enhance search accuracy. Vector embeddings represent text in high-dimensional space, allowing for semantic searches that recognize similar roles or skills. PostgreSQL supports vector similarity searches with specialized indexing methods like IVFFlat and HNSW for efficient querying. Geospatial search capabilities in PostgreSQL enable location-aware job searches, allowing candidates to find jobs within commuting distances. Combining different search techniques, such as full-text and semantic searches, provides more relevant results. Performance optimization features in PostgreSQL address challenges related to computational complexity, indexing overhead, and concurrent query loads. The architecture discussed is applicable to various applications beyond job search platforms, including e-commerce, real estate, content recommendation systems, travel, and healthcare provider matching.
Windows Sandbox is one of the most underrated Windows 11 tools — here's how I use it
Winsage
July 26, 2025

Windows Sandbox is one of the most underrated Windows 11 tools — here’s how I use it

Windows Sandbox is an optional feature available exclusively in the Pro editions of Windows 11 and above, allowing users to create a secure virtual environment for testing software without risks. It can be set up by searching for "Turn Windows features on or off" in the Start menu, checking the box for Windows Sandbox, and restarting the computer. The sandbox operates with the same version of Windows as the host and does not maintain its state, meaning changes made within it do not persist after closing. It provides a clean, isolated environment for testing applications, conserving storage space and preventing background tasks from affecting system performance. While it allows safe testing of potentially risky software, it is not a substitute for traditional virtual machines, which are necessary for testing different operating systems or making OS changes.
Search