NewApp Digest
search bot

structure

Mike Tomlin's 12-year-long Minecraft hobby is being questioned: “You don't see Andy Reid doing that”
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Mike Tomlin’s 12-year-long Minecraft hobby is being questioned: “You don’t see Andy Reid doing that”

Mike Tomlin has spent 12 years building a detailed virtual city in Minecraft, initially as a way to bond with his children. His city features hotels, apartments, sports venues, and an aquarium, serving as a therapeutic escape from coaching pressures. Tomlin's project developed between 2014 and 2025, coinciding with the Steelers' struggles in the NFL Playoffs despite having talented rosters. Criticism arose from fans and former player Le'Veon Bell, who questioned Tomlin's dedication to the team. The city includes a large body of water, a boutique hotel with an executive spa, glass ceilings for natural light, an aquarium-themed apartment high-rise, a CVS, and various sports facilities. Despite his commitment to this project, Tomlin led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory in 2009 and has maintained competitiveness in his coaching career.
Riot's absurd expectations of player counts 'in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions' doomed 2XKO from the start
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Riot’s absurd expectations of player counts ‘in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions’ doomed 2XKO from the start

Marc Merrill discussed the development challenges of the game 2XKO, which faced difficulties in attracting a sufficient user base to support its live service model after eight years of work. The game required a monthly active user count in the high hundreds of thousands to justify its ongoing operation. The decision to shift 2XKO to a "box game" model resulted in layoffs and reflected broader industry challenges. The podcast highlighted that even with 400,000 daily players, sustaining a monthly unique player count near one million would be difficult. Merrill indicated that 2XKO would likely struggle to exceed 500,000 monthly active users, raising questions about Riot Games' market assessment and the developers' effectiveness.
TIL what may or may not be the oldest board game in recorded history is also, perhaps inevitably, now a roguelike
AppWizard
October 1, 2026

TIL what may or may not be the oldest board game in recorded history is also, perhaps inevitably, now a roguelike

Oh!Ware is a newly launched deckbuilder game on Steam that has received 23 reviews in its first week. The game draws inspiration from the ancient game of mancala, which dates back between 1,500 and 7,000 years. Instead of traditional cards, Oh!Ware uses marbles, leading to questions about its classification as a bagbuilder. The gameplay includes moving marbles, collecting mana, and defeating opponents, featuring a "pick three" mechanic with options like "blessing marble" and "aggro marble." Players can explore different playstyles and strategies in the game.
This new Android app fixes everything wrong with Google Clock
AppWizard
September 30, 2026

This new Android app fixes everything wrong with Google Clock

The Google Clock app has faced criticism for its alarm functionality and reliability, prompting users to seek alternatives. Pixel Clock has emerged as a new contender, offering a user-friendly design and features such as a Wake-up mission that requires users to solve math problems to dismiss alarms. It includes alarm presets for napping, a sophisticated timer feature called Pixel Timer for time-blocking, and Smart Presets for various time management needs. The app also tracks timer analytics on a Stats page. Despite minor bugs, Pixel Clock has made a strong impression and is seen as a more reliable option compared to Google Clock.
Google Play Cuts Game Fee to 15%, Day-One Rule [2026]
AppWizard
September 30, 2026

Google Play Cuts Game Fee to 15%, Day-One Rule [2026]

Starting September 30, 2026, Google will implement changes to the Android game distribution economics through the Google Play Games Level Up program, reducing the commission on game revenue exceeding million annually from 20% to 15%. Developers must launch their games on Android simultaneously with other platforms to qualify for this discount; otherwise, they will be ineligible for six months. The new fee structure includes a baseline rate cut to 10% on the first million and 20% on earnings above that, while the Level Up program allows qualifying titles to pay 15% on revenue beyond the first million. The rollout of the Level Up program will begin in Australia, the European Economic Area, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States on September 30, 2026, followed by South Korea on December 31, 2026, and the rest of the world on September 30, 2027. If a game launches on a non-Android platform first, it will face a six-month waiting period before qualifying for Level Up pricing. Existing games launched before September 30, 2026, are exempt from this penalty.
One of my all-time favorite games just announced an expansion, yet all I feel is fear
AppWizard
September 30, 2026

One of my all-time favorite games just announced an expansion, yet all I feel is fear

Satisfactory has won the 2024 Best Sandbox Award, highlighting its enduring appeal and innovative gameplay. Player Wes Fenlon, who has logged over 400 hours in the game, expressed excitement about the award and his unfinished project involving a central tower for a train network. He noted the game's addictive nature and the challenge of optimizing production chains, which keeps players engaged.
Spinnaker launches PostgreSQL support & migration services
Tech Optimizer
September 28, 2026

Spinnaker launches PostgreSQL support & migration services

Spinnaker Support has launched a suite of PostgreSQL support and migration services to help organizations reduce their reliance on Oracle databases. The services include enterprise software support for PostgreSQL and migration services facilitated by HexaCluster, allowing customers to maintain their Oracle environments while transitioning workloads to PostgreSQL. Spinnaker is also developing an enterprise distribution for PostgreSQL, built around standard PostgreSQL and open-source components. The support package includes break-fix support, troubleshooting, security guidance, performance and configuration support, and lifecycle guidance. The migration service analyzes Oracle database dependencies, automates parts of the conversion process, validates production readiness, and facilitates controlled cutovers. The HexaRocket platform from HexaCluster aids in migration, data movement, and replication. The launch aligns with a trend of organizations reassessing database expenditures, with 55.6% of developers using PostgreSQL according to the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey. Spinnaker aims to enhance its role in enterprise infrastructure decisions by supporting both Oracle and PostgreSQL environments. Martin Biggs has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of the PostgreSQL Practice, overseeing PostgreSQL support and migration services. Spinnaker's PostgreSQL offerings are part of its Run, Optimize, Transform framework, designed to help customers manage current systems and plan for long-term changes.
Search