synchronization Archives

Winsage

March 29, 2026

Fedora 44 will automatically make your Windows games run faster, no tweaks required

Gaming on Linux has seen advancements, particularly with the introduction of NTSYNC, which replicates the Windows NT synchronization system in the Linux kernel. This integration aims to improve synchronization for games ported from Windows, reducing CPU burden and enhancing performance. Fedora 44, set to release around April 14th, will automatically implement NTSYNC, benefiting users of Wine and Proton without the need for manual activation. This development is expected to improve frame rates and compatibility for Linux gamers.

Winsage

March 26, 2026

Wine 11 might be the tipping point that finally pushes gamers from Windows to Linux

The latest release of Wine, version 11, introduces a feature called NTSYNC, a kernel driver that enhances performance for Windows games running on Linux, achieving performance gains of up to 678%. This is accomplished through a new device, /dev/ntsync, which allows the Linux kernel to handle thread synchronization natively, replacing the previous Remote Procedure Call method. Wine 11 also completes the WoW64 implementation, enabling seamless running of both 32- and 64-bit games without multilib libraries. Other enhancements include improvements to the Wayland driver, EGL as the default backend for OpenGL rendering, initial support for hardware-accelerated H.264 decoding, improved force feedback support, a new Bluetooth driver, support for Zip64 compression, Unicode 17.0.0 support, TWAIN 2.0 scanning for 64-bit apps, and IPv6 ping functionality. Wine 11 is available in most Linux distributions' default repositories, except for Ubuntu 24.04, which lacks the necessary kernel support.

Winsage

March 24, 2026

Microsoft Hints at End to Windows 11 Setup Account Requirement

Microsoft is exploring the removal of the requirement to sign in with a Microsoft account during the initial setup of Windows 11, a change that has been frequently requested by users. Currently, Windows 11 Home and most consumer Pro installations require a Microsoft account for setup, although local accounts are available but not easily accessible. This requirement has faced backlash, leading to the development of workarounds by users. Microsoft has defended the necessity of the cloud account for benefits like password recovery and settings synchronization. A potential change could introduce a clearly labeled option for setting up with a local account during the out-of-box experience, while still allowing the option to sign in with a Microsoft account. Windows 11 currently accounts for about one-third of active Windows PCs, trailing behind Windows 10. The proposed changes aim to enhance user satisfaction and address privacy concerns.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

Evernote is getting even more expensive, so I’m ditching it and moving to this note-taking app

The author experienced frustration with Evernote due to unnecessary AI features, stability issues, and unreliable syncing after over a decade of use. A price hike in 2026 prompted a search for alternatives. The author found Notesnook to be a suitable replacement after resolving a previous issue with its search function, allowing for seamless data transfer from Evernote. Notesnook offers automatic syncing across devices, a user-friendly interface, robust security, and an open-source foundation. It has a free tier with limitations, an Essential tier at .99 monthly or .99 annually, and a Pro tier at .99 monthly or .99 annually, all featuring end-to-end encryption. Notesnook's pricing is considered reasonable compared to Evernote's higher fees.

AppWizard

March 18, 2026

Verum Messenger Introduces macOS Application Version

On March 18, 2026, Verum Messenger launched its macOS application, enhancing access to its ecosystem. The app allows seamless data synchronization and offers a user-friendly desktop interface, efficient message and file management, enhanced chat functionality, and unrestricted access to core features. It supports secure communication, financial tools, digital asset operations, and investment solutions. This launch is part of Verum Messenger's strategy to create a universal digital platform accessible across major devices, ensuring continuous and secure access to communication and financial tools.

AppWizard

March 12, 2026

Google Play is adding new paid and PC games, game trials, community posts, and more

Google announced updates at GDC 2026 to enhance the gaming experience on Google Play, including plans to expand its game catalog with new paid and indie PC games. Upcoming titles include Moonlight Peaks, Sledding Game, 9 Kings, Potion Craft, and Low-Budget Repairs, accessible on mobile and PC with synchronized progress. Google is introducing game trials for select paid games on mobile, allowing players to sample games before purchasing, with plans to extend this to PC. A new “buy once, play anywhere” pricing model will let users buy both mobile and PC versions of select games with one purchase. The Play Store’s Games tab will feature a dedicated section for Windows-optimized titles, and users can create wishlists to receive notifications on sales. Community posts will enable users to ask questions and share answers about games, initially available in English for select titles, with plans for expansion. An AI-powered in-game overlay called Play Games Sidekick will provide real-time assistance for select paid games. Google also redesigned the Play Games experience and launched Play Games Leagues for competitive play.

Winsage

March 11, 2026

Windows Hello gets passkey support for Entra accounts

Microsoft is enhancing the sign-in process for Microsoft Entra on Windows devices by introducing support for passkeys that integrate with Windows Hello, reducing reliance on traditional passwords. This feature aims to improve resistance against phishing attacks and will begin its optional public preview between mid-March and the end of April 2026 for organizations globally. Government cloud environments will have a separate preview from mid-April to mid-May. Administrators must activate this functionality for users. Employees will be able to access Entra-secured services using Windows Hello through biometric recognition or a PIN code, with cryptographic keys securely stored on the device. This method protects against phishing and account abuse since the keys remain on the device and are not vulnerable to interception. Passkeys will also work on Windows systems not linked to Entra, allowing access to company resources without passwords on personal or shared devices. Each Entra account generates a unique passkey per device, and synchronization between devices is not supported. Administrators need to enable the FIDO2 passkey method within Entra’s authentication policy to activate this feature. Microsoft aims to gradually eliminate passwords, providing stronger defenses against phishing and account compromise.

Winsage

March 11, 2026

5 Windows 11 Features That Are Slowing Down Your Computer

OneDrive automatically backs up essential folders and personalized settings for Windows users, allowing seamless data synchronization upon signing into a Microsoft account. However, uploading data can strain computer resources, particularly RAM and CPU, and consume significant bandwidth. Users can pause syncing by clicking the OneDrive icon, selecting the gear icon, choosing "Pause syncing," and selecting a duration of 2, 8, or 24 hours. Windows 11 features modern transparency effects and smooth animations that enhance user experience but can impact system performance, especially on older hardware with less than 8 GB of RAM. Users can disable these effects by navigating to Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects and toggling off Transparency effects and Animation effects. The startup apps feature allows essential applications to load automatically at boot, but too many startup apps can prolong boot time and strain resources. Users can manage startup apps by right-clicking the Start button, selecting Task Manager, navigating to the Startup app tab, and disabling unnecessary apps. Windows allows certain applications to run in the background for tasks like notifications and updates, but excessive background apps can hinder performance. Users can prevent specific apps from running in the background by going to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, clicking the three-dot icon next to the app, selecting Advanced options, and setting Background app permissions to "Never." Windows Update can cause temporary slowdowns, and while blocking updates is not advisable, users can pause updates for one to five weeks by going to Settings > Windows Update and selecting the desired pause duration.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

I wish more people knew about this free, open-source note-taking app

Megan Ellis from Android Authority explored productivity apps, highlighting the challenge of balancing features and user privacy. Notesnook emerged as a notable option, offering a free plan with multi-device syncing and user privacy. It includes features like a rich-text editor, reminders, and organizational tags without relying on third-party cloud services. Users can self-host if desired, and the app is open-source and compatible with major platforms. The free plan has limitations, such as compressed images, a cap on colors, tags, notebooks, and reminders, while paid plans offer additional features and higher limits. Notably, Notesnook has shown increased permissiveness in its offerings over time, contrasting with trends in the app market.

Tech Optimizer

March 11, 2026

Netflix Automates RDS PostgreSQL to Aurora PostgreSQL Migration Across 400 Production Clusters

Netflix has developed an internal automation platform to migrate Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL databases to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, reducing operational risks and downtime for nearly 400 production clusters. The platform allows service teams to perform migrations through a self-service workflow while ensuring processes like replication validation and rollback safeguards are maintained. Database access is managed through a platform-managed layer using Envoy, which standardizes mutual TLS and abstracts database endpoints, enhancing security and efficiency. The migration process starts with creating an Aurora PostgreSQL cluster as a read replica of the source RDS instance, initialized from a storage snapshot and continuously replaying write-ahead log (WAL) records. Validation checks are performed to ensure the replica can handle peak write throughput before cutover. For change data capture workloads, the system coordinates the state of replication slots and pauses CDC consumers to prevent excessive WAL retention. The Enablement Applications team at Netflix successfully migrated databases for device certification and partner billing workflows, addressing issues like elevated replication lag due to inactive logical replication slots. As replication lag decreases, the system enters a controlled quiescence phase, adjusts security rules, and reboots the source RDS instance. Once all transactions are processed and the Aurora replica is ready, it is promoted to a writable cluster, and traffic is rerouted. Rollback capabilities are prioritized, allowing redirection back to the original RDS instance if validation checks fail or anomalies are detected post-promotion. This setup enables seamless restoration without redeployment, and CDC consumers can resume from recorded slot positions if needed.