tools

AppWizard
June 22, 2025
Google has introduced the Linux Terminal app with the Android 15 update, allowing users to run a Debian virtual machine on their smartphones. This feature utilizes the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) to execute complex commands, run scripts, and manage storage, enhancing smartphone functionality. Activation is simple through developer options, making it accessible to all users. The Linux Terminal serves as a valuable tool for professionals and developers, enabling them to work efficiently on the go. Casual users can also benefit by running Linux-based applications directly on their devices. The upcoming Android 16 is expected to further enhance this experience with better support for external displays, positioning Android phones as central components of users' tech ecosystems.
AppWizard
June 21, 2025
Indie game developer Dustwind Studios, in collaboration with publisher Z-Software, has released Dustwind: Resistance, a tactical squad game available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. Players lead a tactical squad with a canine companion named Diesel in real-time combat against raider forces. The game features a new single-player campaign, enhanced mechanics, a rebalanced arsenal, and various combat strategies such as stealth and heavy weaponry. It includes a refined user interface, improved gameplay experience, and significant updates to skills, character systems, environments, and weapon systems. Players can utilize tactical pauses to strategize and issue commands during gameplay.
Winsage
June 21, 2025
JaxCore is an open-source suite designed to enhance the Windows 11 experience through customization. It operates as a collection of plugins and tools built on the Rainmeter platform, providing users with various widgets for their desktops. JaxCore simplifies the customization process with pre-made tools and allows for deeper customization for those familiar with coding. The suite includes modules like YourFlyouts, YourMixer, ValliStart, Keylaunch, and IdleStyle, as well as widgets such as ModularVisualizer, ModularClocks, ModularPlayers, and Plainext. Although JaxCore is no longer under active development, users can still utilize it, though they may encounter bugs. The author successfully customized their desktop with a media player, clock, and revamped start menu, enhancing their workflow and aesthetic experience. They express a desire to further explore JaxCore and other customization tools.
Tech Optimizer
June 21, 2025
Reynold Xin, co-founder of Databricks, highlighted the outdated nature of online transaction processing (OLTP) databases, which have not evolved significantly since the 1990s and face issues like over-provisioning and performance challenges. Databricks is introducing Lakebase, a product that separates compute from storage to enhance the efficiency of transactional databases, particularly for AI applications. Lakebase allows for instantaneous branching of databases, significantly improving workflow efficiency. Built on open-source Postgres, it supports various open storage formats and offers a copy-on-write capability to reduce costs. The separation of compute and storage is essential as streaming data becomes more integral to enterprises, enabling scalability and timely insights. Databricks aims to manage the entire data lifecycle, ensuring data remains within its ecosystem for rapid reporting and analytics. The integration of Lakebase with existing infrastructure enhances developer experience and operational maturity. The architecture supports extensive experimentation at minimal cost, fostering innovation. As AI agents become more prevalent, the focus on data evaluation and reliability will grow, necessitating a deeper examination of model accuracy.
AppWizard
June 21, 2025
Google Drive for Android has been updated with a redesigned video player and an improved mobile upload process, now available to all Google Workspace and personal Drive users. The new video player features relocated playback controls for better visibility, quick access to captions, playback speed adjustments, and full-screen mode. The mobile upload process allows users to rename files and select destination folders during uploads, includes a progress bar for upload status, and features an Upload tab for tracking pending and completed uploads.
Tech Optimizer
June 21, 2025
EDB has enhanced its data platform, EDB Postgres AI, to integrate transactional, analytical, and AI workloads. The new engine for PostgreSQL offers independent scalability from cloud storage and is optimized for columnar formats like Iceberg and Delta Lake. It utilizes Apache DataFusion for efficient query execution, achieving speeds up to 30 times faster than traditional PostgreSQL and providing 18 times greater cost efficiency for cold transactional data storage. The analytics accelerator allows analytical queries to be processed by Apache DataFusion within PostgreSQL. EDB claims a total cost of ownership that is six times more favorable and transactional performance that is 30 percent faster than SQL Server. PostgreSQL is evolving to support analytics alongside its traditional transactional capabilities, with EDB's goal being to provide tools for seamless analytics within the PostgreSQL framework without redefining it as an analytics database.
AppWizard
June 20, 2025
Grounded 2 is a sequel to the original game, announced at the Xbox Games Showcase, and is set to expand the gameplay beyond the backyard. The game takes place in 1992, two years after the first game, where four teenage protagonists have disappeared while shrunken down to the size of ants. Players will navigate dangers in the park and work to regain their original size. The game hints at the identity of a fifth child, whose fate is uncertain and may play a significant role in the story. Grounded 2 features a map three times larger than its predecessor, introduces insect mounts called buggies for faster travel and exploration, and includes a new Omni-tool that combines multiple tools into one for easier inventory management.
Winsage
June 20, 2025
Microsoft plans to block outdated protocols, including FrontPage Remote Procedure Call, as part of its "Secure by Default" initiative to enhance cybersecurity within its Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This decision aims to phase out legacy technologies that pose security risks, reflecting a broader industry trend toward prioritizing robust cybersecurity over maintaining older systems. The impact will be significant in enterprise environments, where legacy systems are often critical, requiring IT teams to identify dependencies on these protocols. While Microsoft provides guidance for migration, the responsibility lies with customers, which may strain relationships with long-time clients.
Winsage
June 20, 2025
Microsoft is removing outdated drivers from Windows Update to enhance system reliability and reduce security vulnerabilities. This initiative may disrupt users who rely on legacy hardware, as many older devices lack updated driver support from manufacturers. IT administrators face challenges in finding alternative drivers or workarounds for critical systems, as not all hardware vendors provide timely updates. The move reflects a broader trend of prioritizing security and efficiency over backward compatibility, raising concerns about the implications for users with integrated legacy systems. Critics suggest that Microsoft should offer clearer guidance and transitional support for affected users.
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