stable release Archives

Winsage

June 11, 2026

ReactOS Runs Half-Life Natively: Open-Source Windows NT Clone Clears 3D Graphics Bar

ReactOS has successfully executed Valve's original Half-Life on consumer hardware, marking a significant milestone in open-source software development. This achievement was announced on June 10, 2026, after three decades of effort to reimplement Microsoft Windows. The game was run on a Dell OptiPlex desktop with an Intel Core i5 2400 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS graphics card, demonstrating ReactOS's capability to handle real-time 3D applications without compatibility shims. ReactOS operates independently from Microsoft, sharing no code, and can execute a real-time 3D graphics workload natively. It has achieved approximately 90 percent GPU driver compatibility for Windows XP and Server 2003-era hardware through the implementation of the Kernel-Mode Driver Framework and Windows Display Driver Model subsystems. ReactOS is still in alpha stage, with limitations in application support and driver gaps for modern hardware. The project is working towards a new release, version 0.4.16, to enhance user experience.

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 Traditional ETL pipelines can introduce significant delays, leading to outdated data and missed opportunities.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.

TrendTechie

June 6, 2026

Торрент-стриминг без вреда для SSD: переносим TorrServer в Proxmox LXC и интегрируем с Lampa

Modern budget Smart TVs, like the Xiaomi Mi TV, often have limited processing power and memory (1 to 1.5 GB of RAM), which can lead to performance issues when running applications like TorrServer. Users may experience network overloads due to extensive communication with the torrent network, resulting in dropped streams and network failures. Additionally, the RAM shortage can cause the Android system to terminate background services or crash due to Out of Memory errors. CPU throttling occurs as the CPU struggles with torrent processing, leading to overheating and poor playback quality. To address these issues, it is recommended to run TorrServer on a dedicated home server instead of the TV. A lightweight Debian 12 LXC container can be deployed on a Proxmox VE host for this purpose, with the following specifications: VMID 212, hostname torrserver, 2 CPU cores, 2 GB RAM, 512 MB swap, and 8 GB disk space. The container can be created using a specific command on the Proxmox host, and after creation, the TorrServer application can be installed and configured to start automatically.

AppWizard

June 2, 2026

Google’s got a quick Android 17 Beta 4.1 rolling out to address issues before launch

Google has rolled out Android 17 Beta 4.1, focusing on issues related to hearing aids and the status bar. The update is available for devices from Pixel 6 to Pixel 10 and the Pixel Tablet, with two firmware numbers for different models. The beta aims to resolve issues before the official Android 17 launch, expected in mid-2026. Key features include app memory limits to reduce RAM usage and improvements in performance and battery life. Google is also testing the first quarterly patch release for Android 17, following Beta 3, which focused on bug fixes and interface enhancements.

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

One UI 9 makes it easier to spot sideloaded apps on your Galaxy phone

Samsung has begun the rollout of the One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 series, featuring enhanced security measures. Key additions include the Auto Blocker with a security report feature and the reinstatement of USB connection blocking in Maximum restrictions mode. The beta version allows monitoring of "unknown" apps, alerting users to high-risk applications and blocking their execution and installation. Users can access the Manage unknown apps section in Settings to view and uninstall sideloaded applications from non-approved sources. This feature aims to improve user experience and security oversight, with expectations for inclusion in the stable release.

BetaBeacon

April 15, 2026

This powerful PC game emulator for Android just got a big update

Winlator v11.0 update enhances Windows-on-Android emulation experience with improved hardware and software compatibility. The update includes Mesa Turnip drivers v26.1.0 for better Vulkan performance on Adreno 8-series GPUs, an experimental OpenGL wrapper called Gladio for MediaTek and Exynos chips, Wine 10.10 and Box64 v0.4.0 for improved stability, a new HUD mode for performance monitoring, Light/Dark theme engine, and enhanced input controls. The update is available for download on GitHub, aiming to make Windows-on-Android emulation more accessible and enjoyable for users.

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

Google’s new Windows app speeds up search on desktop

Google has launched a new app for Windows users that enhances the search experience by allowing web, Google account, and local file searches through a keyboard shortcut (Alt + Space). The app features a floating search bar with options to upload files, share screens, and use Google Lens for visual searches. It defaults to AI Mode but allows users to switch to traditional search methods. The app is available globally, but only for Windows 10 and newer systems, and currently supports only the English language.

BetaBeacon

April 10, 2026

Android 17 Adds System-Level Controller Remapping for Mobile Gaming

Android 17 introduces a new Game Controller settings menu that allows players to reassign face buttons, triggers, and thumbsticks at the OS level. This feature is only available in Android 17 Beta 2 and later and is aimed at improving accessibility for players with limited hand mobility. The remapping news is not only a convenience feature but also has significant accessibility implications. The menu is split into two sections: Button inputs and Directional controls. The feature is still in Beta 2, so there are some rough edges, but Google is expected to address them before the stable release. This update is a long-overdue addition for Android, which has been focusing more on mobile gaming in recent years.

BetaBeacon

April 8, 2026

Google enables system-wide gamepad customization in Android 17

Google has introduced native controller remapping for its Android 17 Beta, allowing users to customize gamepad buttons, sticks, and triggers uniformly across games.