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Winsage

February 27, 2026

Windows 11’s new Start menu is here, and the community reaction is basically “why is this worse?”

Microsoft's redesign of the Start menu in Windows 11 has received mixed reactions, with many users criticizing its excessive size, automation, and lack of customization options. Users on larger monitors find the menu to be a "colossal waste of space," while those on laptops have a more favorable view. The automatic categorization of apps has been deemed ineffective, with users frustrated by the inability to rename or adjust categories. Some users appreciate the "List" view option, but overall, the menu's size overshadows its positive aspects. Functional issues such as icons failing to render and laggy animations have also been reported, contributing to dissatisfaction. Users express a desire for more control over their interface, suggesting that options for category editing and resizing could improve the experience.

Winsage

February 26, 2026

I tested Microsoft Edge’s AI tab organizer, and it’s shockingly good

Microsoft Edge has introduced an AI-powered feature called Organize Tabs, which automatically groups open tabs based on similarity, assigning each group a unique name and color. Users can access this feature through the Search Tabs menu and the Organize Tabs icon. The AI analyzes and categorizes tabs quickly, allowing for customization of group names and colors, sorting, and moving tabs between groups. The feature integrates with Edge's vertical tabs and Collections. Testing revealed that the AI effectively organized 40 tabs into eight distinct groups in under a second, enhancing productivity and reducing search time for users. Additional functionalities include adding new tabs to groups, modifying group names and colors, and transferring groups to new windows. However, there is a noted inconsistency in the "Close grouped tabs" and "Delete group" buttons, as both result in the deletion of the group.

Winsage

January 28, 2026

People don’t like Windows 11’s automatic Start menu sorting, and Microsoft wants to know why

Microsoft has introduced categorized app sorting in the Start menu of Windows 11, which has faced criticism from users for its lack of customization options. Users cannot edit, rename, or rearrange categories, leading to frustration. Applications are automatically assigned to predefined categories like Productivity, Creativity, or Games, with many ending up in the 'Other' category. Popular apps such as Hulu, Teams, and WhatsApp have been miscategorized, prompting users to express their concerns through the Feedback Hub. Microsoft has invited users to provide feedback on miscategorized applications to improve the system.

Tech Optimizer

January 27, 2026

Expired Oracle Patent Clears Path For Faster Sorting In MySQL And PostgreSQL – Open Source For You

The expiration of Oracle's patent US7680791B2 has made the Orasort sorting algorithm, which offers a claimed 5× performance improvement, available in the public domain for open-source databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL. Developed by Mark Callaghan, Orasort enhances sorting workloads with similar keys and incorporates optimizations such as skipping repeated comparisons, adaptively switching sorting methods, caching key substrings, prefetching data, and producing partial results. The algorithm has shown to be approximately five times faster than previous sorting methods used by Oracle. The open-source community is actively exploring its integration into various database engines, with early experimentation underway using programming languages like Python, C, and C++.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

How to Properly Benchmark your PC Games Using CapFrameX

Average Frames Per Second (FPS) is a common metric in PC gaming performance, but consistency in gameplay experience is equally important, highlighted by metrics such as 1% low and 0.1% low average FPS. CapFrameX is a tool used for capturing and analyzing detailed performance data, including frametimes, which provide a more accurate assessment of gaming performance than basic FPS counters. Key metrics generated by CapFrameX include: - Average FPS: Overall framerate averaged across the capture session. - 1% low average FPS: Average of the worst 1% of framerates, indicating sustained performance. - 0.1% low average FPS: Average of the worst 0.1% of framerates, highlighting rare but significant performance dips. To ensure accurate benchmarking results with CapFrameX, users should update their UEFI BIOS, operating system, and drivers, clear unnecessary applications, configure power settings for maximum performance, monitor temperatures, and conduct multiple benchmark runs under consistent conditions. The setup process for CapFrameX includes downloading the software, configuring capture options, and verifying the setup through test captures. After capturing benchmark runs, users can analyze the data using the Analysis and Comparison tabs in CapFrameX to evaluate performance metrics and identify potential issues. Common pitfalls in benchmarking include inconsistent scenes, overlooking frametime variance, and not preparing the system properly.

TrendTechie

December 23, 2025

Торрент-платформы останутся популярными в 2025 году благодаря обширным коллекциям и активным сообществам.

In 2025, users are increasingly seeking reliable file-sharing methods via the BitTorrent protocol, with platforms like YTS, 1337x, and The Pirate Bay leading in global traffic. These sites offer millions of files, including movies, TV shows, and games, with dedicated users updating content daily. The BitTorrent protocol enables efficient transfers through active seeders, and many sites prioritize verified torrents to reduce the risk of corrupted files. Community feedback aids users in selecting quality downloads. YTS specializes in high-resolution films and compressed files, while 1337x provides an organized interface for various media. The Pirate Bay continues to operate despite legal challenges, offering a wide range of content. Other notable sites include TorrentGalaxy, Limetorrents, EZTV, NYAA, FitGirl Repacks, RuTracker, IPTorrents, and Torlock, each catering to specific content types or user needs. In Brazil, operators block popular domains due to copyright rulings, prompting users to use mirrors or DNS changes. VPNs are recommended for encrypting traffic during P2P transfers. Recommended clients include qBittorrent, Transmission, and Deluge. Users are advised to check seeders, review community comments, opt for magnet links, and prefer reputable uploaders. In 2025, platforms will cater to diverse needs, with EZTV updating television releases weekly and YTS and 1337x dominating high-resolution film searches. Compressed games and specialized sites like NYAA for anime are also highlighted. Meta-search engines like AIO Search and Torrentz2 help users find torrents across multiple platforms. The BitTorrent protocol is legitimate for distributing open-source files, but users must be responsible in their content selection. Brazilian law differentiates personal downloads from commercial distribution, and prolonged seeding of protected materials may violate rights. Users prioritize privacy and verification methods.

Tech Optimizer

December 12, 2025

Optimize and troubleshoot database performance in Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL by analyzing execution plans using CloudWatch Database Insights

Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched CloudWatch Database Insights in December 2024, a monitoring solution for Aurora (PostgreSQL and MySQL) and Amazon RDS engines, aimed at identifying and resolving database performance issues. The tool includes an Advanced mode for SQL execution plan analysis, which helps users troubleshoot query performance within Aurora PostgreSQL clusters. The PostgreSQL query optimizer generates execution plans to determine the most efficient way to execute SQL queries, which can be analyzed using the EXPLAIN command. Users can compare execution plans to identify performance degradation, such as changes in execution behavior due to dropped indexes or inefficient join strategies. For example, a comparison of execution plans for a SQL statement retrieving order details showed significant differences: one plan used an efficient index scan while another resorted to sequential scans due to missing indexes, leading to increased query costs and execution times. Additionally, analysis of execution plans can reveal performance bottlenecks, such as insufficient memory allocation for sorting operations. Adjusting the work_mem parameter allowed for in-memory sorting, improving performance significantly. CloudWatch Database Insights facilitates the identification of these issues, enabling users to optimize query performance effectively.

AppWizard

December 9, 2025

Samsung phone users may finally get a proper locked folder in the Gallery app

Samsung is introducing a built-in Private Album feature in the Gallery app as part of the One UI 8.5 update, aimed at enhancing privacy for sensitive photos. This feature simplifies the process of managing private images, allowing users to easily move photos to the Private Album without the need for the Secure Folder. Access to the Private Album is secured by fingerprint or screen lock, and screenshots are disabled within this section. Currently, the feature is in beta and has limited functionalities, such as sorting files only by date. The official rollout is pending for users to fully experience the feature.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

Android users report Reddit app won’t save their settings after latest update

Reddit's Android app is experiencing a significant bug that resets user preferences each time the app is closed and reopened, leading to widespread user complaints. Users report that their online status reverts to "active" despite attempts to change it, and the "show mature content" toggle also malfunctions. Nearly all user preferences, including theme settings, text size, and privacy settings, are being reset. The issues appear to be specific to Android devices, with users from various models reporting the problem. Standard troubleshooting methods, such as clearing the app cache and reinstalling the app, have not resolved the issue. Reddit has not officially acknowledged the bug, but it may have been introduced by a recent app update.

AppWizard

November 7, 2025

Steam’s biggest survival game warns players must “pivot or die” as transformative new update unleashes an extreme wipe

Facepunch Studios released the November Rust update, emphasizing a "Pivot or die" approach. The update revamps the progression system by introducing a comprehensive wipe of all blueprints and reducing the costs for tech tree and research unlocks: Common from 20 to 15, Uncommon from 75 to 30, Rare from 125 to 60, and Very Rare from 500 to 120. Scrap crafting costs have been removed from workbenches. The update also introduces new features such as powered Storage Adaptors, a Mini Fridge with 18 slots, expanded CCTV integration, and the return of monument puzzles. Adjustments have been made to helicopters, including the inability to repair in-flight and restrictions on using healing foods while piloting. The painting menu has been revamped, and off-ground foliage now reacts to moving objects. Regular blueprint wipes may be considered based on player feedback.