team Archives

AppWizard

June 19, 2026

4 security upgrades in Android 17 you didn’t know about, but will be glad to have

Google's Android 17 update is being deployed to Pixel devices, introducing new features such as multitasking bubbles, expanded dark theme controls, and a revamped screen recording interface. Key user preferences from a poll indicate that 32% favor multitasking app bubbles, while other features received varying levels of support. The update includes App Memory Limits to prevent excessive RAM usage by apps, enhancing performance. It also restricts apps from scanning local networks without explicit permission, improving user privacy. Additionally, Android 17 tightens restrictions on dynamic code loading to strengthen malware protection and implements Certificate Transparency protections by default for secure HTTPS connections. Overall, these changes aim to enhance performance, security, and user experience.

AppWizard

June 19, 2026

Minecraft’s 26.2 update just fixed a bug that’s 14 years old

Mojang released the Minecraft 26.2 update, named Chaos Cubed, on June 16, which introduced a new Sulfur Caves biome and the Sulfur Cube mob, along with various bug fixes. A significant fix in this update resolved a 14-year-old bug, designated as "MC-4," that affected item drops at the edge of blocks on online servers. This bug was first reported on October 24, 2012, and was officially marked as resolved in the recent update after 4,983 days. Mojang's Lead Designer, Jens 'Jeb' Bergensten, had previously noted attempts to fix the issue in 2016. Another unresolved bug, known as MC-14, involves minecarts occupying the same space while maintaining momentum.

Winsage

June 19, 2026

After years of forgetting Windows shortcuts, I finally found a method that makes them stick

On Windows 11, keyboard shortcuts enhance productivity, but many users are only aware of a few common ones like "Windows key + E" for File Explorer and "Ctrl + C" and "Ctrl + V" for copying and pasting. To help users discover more shortcuts, the Microsoft team behind PowerToys has released a revamped Shortcut Guide in version 0.100. This guide can be accessed through the GitHub page or the Microsoft Store and activated via PowerToys settings. Users can customize the guide's color theme, position, and exclude specific applications. The guide can be opened using the "Windows key + Shift + /" shortcut and provides organized shortcuts for Windows 11 and PowerToys. It also includes context-aware functionality, showing relevant shortcuts based on the active application. The development team has provided guidelines for developers to integrate their apps into the Shortcut Guide.

Tech Optimizer

June 19, 2026

Real-World Threats Demand Real Results

AV-Comparatives conducted a Real-World Protection Test from February to May 2026, evaluating 20 consumer security products against real-world internet threats. Seven products received the ADVANCED+ award for their effective protection and low false alarm rates. The complete test report is available for free at av-comparatives.org. The evaluated products included well-known security solutions such as Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Microsoft, Norton, and TotalAV. The test aimed to assess how well these products protect against various online threats, including malware embedded in trusted platforms.

Winsage

June 19, 2026

Microsoft and Adobe team up and make Photoshop 20% faster on Windows

Microsoft is collaborating with Adobe to enhance the performance of Photoshop, a widely used image editing software. The partnership focuses on optimizing operations within Photoshop, which is primarily developed in C++ and compiled using Microsoft’s Visual C++ (MSVC) compiler. Microsoft aims to improve performance for CPU-intensive tasks, particularly those that are latency-sensitive, such as brush responsiveness and file-opening tasks. The engineering team activated MSVC’s "peak-performance" compilation mode and explored profile-guided optimization (PGO) to refine executables. However, due to the complexity PGO introduced, they shifted to Sample-based Profile Guided Optimizations (SPGO), which uses hardware performance samples from actual release binaries. This method allows for greater flexibility in data collection and typically yields performance improvements of 5% to 15%. By combining MSVC’s peak-performance mode with SPGO, the teams achieved a 20% performance boost on x64 Windows systems and a 13% enhancement on Arm architecture. These optimizations resulted in improved responsiveness for critical tasks in Photoshop, enhancing the user experience in professional creative workflows.

Winsage

June 18, 2026

I discovered a dead‑simple way to remember Windows 11 shortcuts, and it changed how I use the OS

The Microsoft team behind PowerToys has released an updated Shortcut Guide in version 0.100 for Windows 11, which now appears as a context-sensitive flyout instead of a static reference page. This guide provides relevant keyboard shortcuts based on the application currently in use, improving user efficiency and learning. Users can access the Shortcut Guide by installing PowerToys and can customize its settings, including color theme and activation shortcut. The guide displays shortcuts for various applications and includes a list of Windows 11 and PowerToys shortcuts when no applications are focused. Developers can integrate their apps into the Shortcut Guide as well.

Tech Optimizer

June 18, 2026

Real-World Threats Demand Real Results

AV-Comparatives conducted its Real-World Protection Test from February to May 2026, assessing 20 consumer security products against real-world internet threats. Seven products received the ADVANCED+ award for their reliable protection capabilities. The complete test report is available for free at av-comparatives.org. The tested products included well-known names such as Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Microsoft, Norton, and TotalAV. The test methodology involved evaluating the products against a curated set of threats and assessing false-positive rates.

Tech Optimizer

June 18, 2026

Companies turn to EnterpriseDB for AI data control

Organizations are increasingly adopting EnterpriseDB's EDB Postgres AI platform due to a rising demand for enhanced control over data in AI systems, particularly in sectors like banking, insurance, retail, and trading. Research from MIT Technology Review Insights indicates that prioritizing AI and data sovereignty significantly predicts success in AI initiatives, with such organizations achieving five times the return on investment. In South Korea, the Industrial Bank of Korea migrated 15 core systems to EDB Postgres AI, citing significant reductions in licensing costs compared to Oracle and improved scalability for future AI services. Shinhan EZ Insurance transitioned its core system to the public cloud using EDB, overcoming challenges related to legacy database licensing and emphasizing the importance of operational stability. Beyond finance, companies like MNTN, Euronext FX, and Kyobo Book Centre have adopted the platform to reduce vendor reliance, manage data workloads, and enhance compliance control. MNTN uses EDB for large-scale analytical processing, Euronext FX has implemented it across four data centers, and Kyobo Book Centre migrated from a costly data warehouse to the EDB solution. A common trend among these deployments is the use of a single Postgres-based platform for transactional processing, analytics, and AI tasks, reflecting an industry initiative to simplify operations and reduce costs. Hensley noted the critical convergence of AI systems with operational data, as AI agents operate against live data in high-volume workflows, highlighting the drawbacks of using separate platforms for transactions and analytics. EnterpriseDB has also received industry accolades for its data management and contributions to the open-source community, reinforcing its market position.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

The chaos continues

The new Parties feature in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition allows players to invite up to 14 friends to join their party, facilitating easy transitions between worlds and realms, and includes a private chat option. This feature is currently in beta on Xbox, PlayStation, and Windows PC. Additionally, players can participate in two community challenges and a multiplayer adventure, with a Marketplace Summer Sale scheduled from June 30, 2026, to July 28, 2026. All offers and challenges require Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and an active internet connection. Free player jerseys are available for both Bedrock and Java Edition. Participation in online multiplayer and certain challenges requires a platform-specific online subscription, and a Realms Plus subscription is necessary for Realms. Rewards from community challenges must be redeemed by June 16, 2027.

Winsage

June 17, 2026

Windows and Linux users: The deadline to update Secure Boot keys is near

In 2012, a novel bootkit targeting Mac OS X systems emerged, infiltrating the EFI firmware. A basic bootkit for Windows 8 also appeared, compromising the UEFI bootkit. By 2013, a more sophisticated UEFI bootkit named Dreamboat was introduced for Windows. The first documented real-world UEFI attack occurred in 2018 with the malware LoJax, linked to a Kremlin-backed hacking group. In 2020, the second known UEFI malware, MosaicRegressor, was discovered, which verified the presence of a malicious file upon each reboot. New UEFI bootkits like ESpecter, FinSpy, and MoonBounce have since emerged. In response to the threat of UEFI bootkits, Microsoft collaborated with manufacturers to implement Secure Boot, a protocol that uses cryptographic signatures to ensure the integrity of firmware during startup.