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Intego's 'super strong' antivirus has a World Cup price cut – and it's one of the best Mac security suites we've tested
Tech Optimizer
June 18, 2026

Intego’s ‘super strong’ antivirus has a World Cup price cut – and it’s one of the best Mac security suites we’ve tested

Intego's antivirus solution is recommended for Mac protection and is currently offering a 50% discount on all Intego One plans, allowing users to access the comprehensive package for £2.50 per month for the first two years. It ranks second in the best Mac antivirus solutions and caters to various user needs, from basic protection to extensive security features. The Intego Mac Security X9 suite has received high praise for its antivirus capabilities, with a perfect score of 6 out of 6 from AV-Test for protection, performance, and usability in March 2026. The limited-time offer is available until July 2nd, 2026.
SQL Server may be too lucrative for Microsoft to ditch, but too legacy to love
Tech Optimizer
June 18, 2026

SQL Server may be too lucrative for Microsoft to ditch, but too legacy to love

Microsoft's Build event highlighted its new AI agent, Scout, while SQL Server received limited attention, raising concerns about its future following Rohan Kumar's departure. Arun Ulag now oversees SQL Server, but analysts note a shift in priorities with SQL Server seemingly less emphasized. The 2022 SQL Server release was viewed as more of a marketing effort than a response to customer needs. Despite the introduction of vector search in SQL Server 2025, competitors had already offered similar features. Microsoft is shifting towards open-source solutions and PostgreSQL, although it reassured users of its commitment to SQL Server. SQL Server, launched in 1989, remains popular, ranking behind Oracle and MySQL. The on-premises database market is lucrative, generating significant revenue, and SQL Server holds a substantial share. Microsoft is unlikely to abandon this profitable segment, aiming to transition users to Azure SQL and SQL database within Fabric. However, migration compatibility issues may arise. Microsoft is also investing in PostgreSQL offerings to compete in the cloud database market, which is evolving rapidly. AWS currently leads in cloud DBMS revenue, posing a challenge for Microsoft. Despite uncertainties, support for SQL Server 2025 is guaranteed until 2036.
Stellaris' Nomads expansion finally lets me live out my Battlestar Galactica fantasies, though its Wayline system could definitely use some work
AppWizard
June 18, 2026

Stellaris’ Nomads expansion finally lets me live out my Battlestar Galactica fantasies, though its Wayline system could definitely use some work

Players in Stellaris experience an enchanting initial phase of exploration, discovering alien species, mega structures, and black holes. They must balance exploration with territory claiming, as resource management is crucial. Resources can be transported back to the Arkship or harvested directly from planets, though the latter incurs penalties. Nomadic players need to forge alliances and establish Wayline treaties to survive and thrive, while new resources like Operational Reserves add complexity. Upgrading the Arkship is rewarding, and the game features a vibrant post-Nomads era with new music and events enhancing gameplay.
5 phone plans you should sign up for instead of Cash App Mobile
AppWizard
June 16, 2026

5 phone plans you should sign up for instead of Cash App Mobile

Last year, AT&T expanded its partnerships with app-based services, launching Cash App Mobile, which offers unlimited talk, text, and 5G priority data, along with 10GB of hotspot access and international usage in Canada and Mexico. However, the monthly fee has raised concerns due to AT&T's inconsistent coverage in some areas. Cricket Wireless, a premium prepaid carrier owned by AT&T, offers limited support and discounted phones, with pricing that includes taxes and fees and multi-line discounts. US Mobile supports all three major networks, providing plans with unlimited data and international calling, with competitive pricing and double the hotspot data compared to Cash App Mobile. Visible offers plans backed by Verizon's network, with high-priority data and unlimited hotspot capabilities. Metro by T-Mobile provides competitive pricing for unlimited data and hotspot access, especially for customers with unlocked devices. Google Fi offers a plan with a promotional rate, including 50GB of hotspot tethering and international data in over 200 countries, operating on the T-Mobile network. Each carrier presents unique advantages that may better serve potential customers compared to Cash App Mobile.
Malaysia's AI agent-powered messaging app Respond.io raises $62.5M, eyes acquisitions
AppWizard
June 16, 2026

Malaysia’s AI agent-powered messaging app Respond.io raises $62.5M, eyes acquisitions

In 2017, Respond.io was founded to help businesses adapt to customer shifts towards messaging applications. It is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur and recently raised million in a Series B funding round, following a million Series A round in 2022. The company reported an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of million, a 169% year-over-year increase, with a 30% profit margin. Co-founders include Gerardo Salandra (CEO), Hassan Ahmed (CTO), and Yaroslav Kudritskiy (COO), who initially started the company in Hong Kong before relocating to Malaysia. Respond.io's platform caters to mid- to large-sized B2C enterprises, facilitating customer interactions across various messaging channels and utilizing AI for efficiency. The target market consists of "high-consideration" businesses, with an ideal customer profile of companies having 200 to 10,000 employees. Respond processes 2 billion messages quarterly and has a unique pricing model based on conversation volume rather than per user. The company emphasizes a data flywheel effect that enhances AI capabilities through increased message volume. Plans for growth include hiring, organic expansion, and strategic acquisitions, particularly in Europe and North America, which are projected to become larger revenue segments. Currently, revenue is distributed with 30% from APAC, 30% from Latin America, and 20% from the Middle East and Africa, with the remaining 20% from North America and Western Europe. Salandra expressed a cautious approach to growth and aspirations for a future public offering on Nasdaq.
Microsoft released the Windows 11 Secure Boot update for all PCs, how to verify yours
Winsage
June 15, 2026

Microsoft released the Windows 11 Secure Boot update for all PCs, how to verify yours

Microsoft has expanded the rollout of the Secure Boot 2023 certificate update to more Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices with the June 2026 Patch Tuesday update (KB5094126). This update aims to ensure that most supported consumer PCs are classified as high confidence, meaning necessary certificates are either installed or will be applied automatically. Secure Boot is a firmware security feature that verifies the software attempting to load during the startup process, blocking unauthorized software. The certificates supporting Secure Boot, issued in 2011, are expiring in stages starting June 24, 2026, prompting Microsoft to deploy replacement certificates. Most home users do not need to take manual action as the updates will occur automatically via Windows Update. Users can check their Secure Boot certificate status in the Windows Security app. A yellow warning indicates pending compatibility data, while a red alert suggests a firmware incompatibility requiring a BIOS update. Multiple reboots during the update process are normal, and a new SecureBoot folder in Windows is for staging cryptographic files. Older PCs may experience longer update times, and some may not receive updates due to firmware issues. HP users should check for BIOS updates if encountering BitLocker recovery loops. IT administrators should monitor device classifications and manually initiate updates for devices not in the high confidence category. Devices with Secure Boot disabled cannot receive updates, leaving them vulnerable. The expiration of the Microsoft Corporation KEK CA 2011 certificate on June 24 does not immediately affect device functionality, but it limits Microsoft's ability to sign new bootkit blacklist updates.
Sony pulling back from PC also means it's pulling back from China
AppWizard
June 14, 2026

Sony pulling back from PC also means it’s pulling back from China

Sony has shifted away from porting singleplayer PlayStation titles to PC, raising concerns about competition with Valve. Alinea Insights reported that 42% of Death Stranding 2's PC sales came from China, its largest market on Steam. Approximately 39.48% of Steam users have their language set to English, while 21.85% prefer Simplified Chinese, representing over 30 million players. Shift Up, developer of Stellar Blade, announced they will not partner with Sony for the sequel, focusing on a global market strategy. Alinea's analysis shows that releasing games on PC does not harm PlayStation sales; Death Stranding 2 saw increased PS sales following its PC launch, and Stellar Blade also experienced a rise in PS5 sales despite not being discounted. Launching games on PC broadens the player base and enhances marketing opportunities.
AMD taunts Apple's MacBook Neo for failing to run 75% of top PC games — Only 5 out of the 20 top PC games work on the Neo, while all run on AMD's budget offerings
AppWizard
June 14, 2026

AMD taunts Apple’s MacBook Neo for failing to run 75% of top PC games — Only 5 out of the 20 top PC games work on the Neo, while all run on AMD’s budget offerings

The MacBook Neo has received positive reviews, redefining expectations for budget laptops and raising concerns among Windows manufacturers. AMD has launched a marketing campaign comparing its Ryzen 200 series systems to the MacBook Neo, highlighting that 15 of the top 20 PC games are incompatible with the Neo, which can only run five natively. AMD's systems provide access to extensive gaming libraries without requiring workarounds. AMD's selected comparison device, the HP OmniBook X Flip with a Ryzen 5 220 chip, can run older games but struggles with modern titles. While AMD claims its systems can run all top PC games, performance may not meet gamers' expectations. Apple's Silicon is powerful, but gaming demand on Mac remains limited, and users can only emulate x86 code, not achieve native compatibility. The MacBook Neo is recognized as a strong budget option, while Intel's Wildcat Lake laptops and Qualcomm's Snapdragon C-series chips are emerging alternatives in the market.
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