unification Archives

AppWizard

January 2, 2026

Two free games are available for PC gamers on the Epic Games Store now

The Epic Games Store is offering two free games, Total War: Three Kingdoms and Wildgate, as part of its Holiday Giveaway, available for PC gamers to claim until January 8. Total War: Three Kingdoms, released in 2019, focuses on ancient China and combines diplomacy and warfare, while Wildgate is a multiplayer shooter set in a futuristic environment with customizable spaceships. The holiday promotion will end soon, with regular weekly giveaways resuming on January 8 with Bloons TD 6.

AppWizard

December 15, 2025

Meta Shuts Down Standalone Messenger Desktop App on December 15, 2025

Meta Platforms Inc. will discontinue its standalone Messenger desktop application for Windows and macOS on December 15, 2025. Users will be directed to use browser-based access or the main Facebook platform instead. The Messenger app was introduced to compete with video communication tools but has seen a decline in usage as users prefer mobile devices and web browsers. The shutdown will affect businesses that use Messenger for customer service, impacting features like notifications and offline message queuing. Users have expressed frustration over potential loss of chat histories and concerns about increased dependency on Meta's web portal. Alternatives like Signal and Telegram may attract former users. Meta's decision reflects a broader industry trend toward prioritizing mobile experiences and could allow the company to focus resources on metaverse development and AI features.

AppWizard

November 5, 2025

Arc Raiders quests list and all rewards

Arc Raiders features a variety of quests that players can undertake to enhance their gameplay experience. The quests are available from different NPCs, each offering unique rewards. Players can complete these quests in any order, and they will appear in the player's logbook once accepted. Quests can be accessed through the menu of their respective trader, and players can view available quests by selecting the trader and clicking on the quests tab. Completing quests often yields valuable mechanical components and other rewards, making them beneficial for players, especially when tackled with friends. Here is a list of the current Arc Raiders quests along with their rewards and associated NPCs: 1. Picking Up the Pieces - Shani - Rewards: Rattler III, 80x Medium Ammo 2. Clearer Skies - Shani - Rewards: 3x Sterilized Bandage, Light Shield, Black backpack (Hiker) 3. Trash Into Treasure - Shani - Rewards: Tactical MK. 1 Augment, 3x Adrenaline Shot 4. Off the Radar - Shani - Rewards: 2x Defibrillator 5. Small But Sinister - Shani - Rewards: 2x Lure Grenade 6. Controlled Demolition - Apollo - Rewards: 2x Jump Mines 7. Fight Fire With Fire - Tian Wen - Rewards: 3x Blaze Grenades 8. Hatch Repairs - Shani - Rewards: 10x Metal parts, 5x Steel Spring, 5x Duct Tape 9. The Right Tool - Tian Wen - Rewards: Cheer Emote, Stitcher II, Extended Light Mag I 10. Safe Passage - Apollo - Rewards: 5x Lil Smoke Grenade, 3x Shrapnel Grenade, 3x Barricade Kit 11. A Better Use - Tian Wen - Rewards: Extended Light Mag I, Stable Stock I, Muzzle Brake II 12. Down to Earth - Shani - Rewards: Combat MK.1, Medium Shield 13. The Trifecta - Shani - Rewards: Orange Camo outfit, Dam Control Tower Key, Raider Hatch Key, 2x Defibrillator 14. What Goes Around - Apollo - Rewards: 3x Blaze Grenade, 2x Noisemaker, Cans backpack 15. Finders Keepers - Tian Wen - Rewards: 2x Heavy Fuse Grenade 16. Wasps and Hornets - Shani - Rewards: Wasp Driver, Hornet Driver, Mechanical Components, Electrical Components 17. From a Distance - Shani - Rewards: Photoelectric Cloak 18. Movie Night - Apollo - Rewards: 2x Show Stopper 19. Sparks Fly - Apollo - Rewards: Trigger Nade Blueprint, 4x Crude Explosives, 2x Processor 20. Greasing Her Palms - Celeste - Rewards: Lure Grenade Blueprint, 3x Speaker Component, 3x Electrical Components 21. A First Foothold - Apollo - Rewards: 3x Shrapnel Grenade, 3x Snap Blast Grenade, 3x Heavy Fuze Grenade 22. Dormant Barons - Shani - Rewards: 3x Door Blocker, 3x Li'l Smoke Grenade 23. Mixed Signals - Shani - Rewards: Photoelectric Cloak, Raider Hatch Key 24. What We Left Behind - Tian Wen - Rewards: Photoelectric Cloak, Raider Hatch Key 25. Doctor's Orders - Lance - Rewards: 3x Adrenaline Shot, 3x Sterilized Bandage, Surge Shield Recharger 26. Medical Merchandise - Lance - Rewards: Banana backpack charm, 3x Defibrillator, 2x Vita Shot 27. A Reveal in Ruins - Lance - Rewards: Tactical Mk. 3 Healing Augment, Surge Shield Recharger 28. Broken Monument - Tian Wen - Rewards: Arpeggio I, Compensator II, 80x Medium Ammo 29. Marked for Death - Tian Wen - Rewards: Shotgun Choke II, Angled Grip II 30. Straight Record - Tian Wen - Rewards: 5x Medium Gun Parts, 3x Advanced Mechanical Components 31. A Lay of the Land - Rewards: Dam Testing Annex Key, 3x Zipline, 2x Smoke Grenade 32. Market Correction - Tian Wen - Rewards: Silencer II, Extended Light Mag I, Compensator I 33. Keeping the Memory - Celeste - Rewards: 5x Simple Gun Parts, 5x Duct Tape, 5x Magnet 34. Reduced to Rubble - Rewards: Zipline, 3x Barricade Kit, 3x Doorblocker 35. With a Trace - Rewards: Medium Shield 36. Eyes on the Prize - Tian Wen - Rewards: Extended Shotgun Mag II, Extended Medium Mag II 37. Echoes of Victory Ridge - Celeste - Rewards: 6x Crude Explosives, 2x Processor, Music Box 38. Industrial Espionage - Tian Wen - Rewards: 3x Mechanical Components, 3x Simple Gun Parts 39. Unexpected Initiative - Tian Wen - Rewards: Il Toro I, Shotgun Choke II 40. A Symbol of Unification - Celeste - Rewards: 3x Mod Components, 5x Duct Tape 41. Celeste's Journals - Celeste - Rewards: Magnetic Accelerator, 3x Heavy Gun Parts, Exodus Modules 42. Back on Top - Tian Wen - Rewards: Renegade I, Stable Stock III, 80x Medium Ammo 43. The Major's Footlocker - Tian Wen - Rewards: Hullcracker Blueprint 44. Out of the Shadows - Shani - Rewards: 3x Surge Shield Recharger, 2x Wolfpack 45. Eyes in the Sky - Rewards: Vita Spray, 5x Yellow Light Stick 46. Our Presence Up There - Shani - Rewards: Buried City Town Hall Key, Raider Hatch Key, Jolt Mine 47. Communication Hideout - Shani - Rewards: Anvil III, 40x Heavy Ammo 48. After Rain Comes - Celeste - Rewards: 5x Blue Light Stick, 3x Antiseptic, 5x Durable Cloth 49. A Balanced Harvest - Celeste - Rewards: 3x Advanced Mechanical Components, 3x Medium Gun Parts, 10x Steel Spring 50. Untended Garden - Celeste - Rewards: 3x Advanced Mechanical Components, 3x Heavy Gun Parts, 5x Canister 51. The Root of the Matter - Celeste - Rewards: 3x Advanced Mechanical Components, 3x Heavy Gun Parts, 3x Canister 52. Water Troubles - Rewards: 3x Mechanical Components, 3x Simple Gun Parts, 3x Steel Spring 53. Into the Fray - Rewards: Radio Renegade outfit, Burgerboy backpack charm, Vulcano III, 40x Shotgun Ammo 54. Source of the Contamination - Rewards: 5x Steel Spring, 5x Duct Tape, Mod Components 55. Switching the Supply - Celeste - Rewards: 3x Synthesized Fuel 56. A Warm Place to Rest - Rewards: 3x Noisemaker, 5x Blue Light Stick 57. Prescriptions of the Past - Rewards: Heavy Shield, Tactical Mk. 3 Healing Augment 58. Power Out - Celeste - Rewards: 5x Wires, 5x Explosive Compound, 5x Oil 59. Lost in Transmission - Rewards: 1x Snap Hook 60. Flickering Threat - Celeste - Rewards: 5x Medium Gun Parts, 3x Advanced Mechanical Components 61. Bees! - Rewards: Advanced Electrical Components, 3x Sensors 62. Espresso - Apollo - Rewards: Coffee Pot, 3x Adrenaline Shot 63. Life of a Pharmacist - Lance - Rewards: Defibrillator, Surge Shield Recharger, 3x Sterilized Bandage 64. Tribute to Toledo - Celeste - Rewards: 5x Magnet, 2x Advanced Mechanical Components, 3x Synthesized Fuel 65. Digging Up Dirt - Celeste - Rewards: 2x Advanced Electrical Components, 4x Speaker Component 66. Turnabout - Celeste - Rewards: 2x Heavy Gun Parts, 2x Medium Gun Parts 67. Building a Library - Apollo - Rewards: 2x Heavy Gun Parts, 2x Medium Gun Parts 68. A New Type of Plant - Rewards: Vita Shot, 5x Antiseptic 69. Armored Transports - Rewards: 3x Smoke Grenade, 3x Defibrillator 70. Lance's Tea Party - Lance - Rewards: 2x Defibrillator 71. Handover - Tian Wen - Rewards: 2x Jolt Mine 72. Pied Piper - Apollo - Rewards: 3x Gas Grenades 73. Powering up the Greenhouse - Tian Wen - Rewards: Raider Augment III 74. The Bandage Run - Lance - Rewards: 3x Herbal Bandages 75. The Control Tower - Shani - Rewards: 1x Snap Hook 76. ESR Analyzer - Lance - Rewards: Tempest I 77. Raider Versus Rocketeer - Shani - Rewards: 2x WolfPack 78. Bringing Down a Bison - Shani - Rewards: Equalizer

Tech Optimizer

October 29, 2025

Inside the race to build agent-native databases

A disconnect has been identified between traditional databases and the requirements of AI agents, prompting a rethinking of database architecture. Four initiatives are redefining databases for AI: 1. **AgentDB** treats databases as lightweight, disposable artifacts, allowing agents to create and discard databases easily for single tasks, catering to simple AI applications and temporary data processing needs. It is not suitable for complex transactional systems. 2. **Postgres for Agents** enhances PostgreSQL with features like zero-copy forking, enabling secure testing and experimentation without affecting live systems. It targets developers building AI applications and offers a cloud service with a free tier. 3. **Databricks Lakebase** integrates transactional capabilities within a data lakehouse architecture, providing seamless access to real-time operational data and historical insights for AI agents. It aims to unify data workloads and reduce the complexity of maintaining separate databases. 4. **Bauplan Labs** focuses on safety and reliability, developing a "programmable lakehouse" with a "Git-for-data" model that ensures verifiable and auditable data operations for AI agents. It targets high-stakes scenarios where mistakes could have significant repercussions. These initiatives reflect a broader trend of reshaping databases to cater to machines, emphasizing ephemeral, isolated, and context-aware systems.

Tech Optimizer

October 23, 2025

Percona Releases Inaugural State of Open Source Database Management Report

Percona has released its first State of Open Source Database Management Report, which includes insights from industry executives and technical leaders. The report identifies four critical areas: the rise of polyglot database environments, the necessity for unified management approaches, the influence of AI and cloud-native computing, and the complexity of open source licensing. Key findings include: - 78% of technical professionals surveyed consider PostgreSQL crucial for AI/ML initiatives, with 25% labeling it as “mission critical.” - SaaS costs are rising at nearly five times the rate of standard inflation, prompting experts to recommend established open source solutions like PostgreSQL and MySQL to reduce total cost of ownership and avoid vendor lock-in. - Cloud-native database deployments using open source technologies like Kubernetes are essential for scalability, performance, and resilience. - The demand for unified, platformized architectures is critical for operational efficiency as organizations adopt diverse database management systems.

AppWizard

October 1, 2025

A new Google Home app, redesigned for Gemini

Google has revamped the Google Home app to enhance speed, reliability, and completeness, aligning it with the capabilities of the Gemini assistant. The app now loads over 70% faster on select Android devices, with app crashes reduced by nearly 80%. Improvements in battery consumption and memory usage have also been made. Camera features have seen a 30% increase in live view loading speed and a 40% reduction in playback failures, with frame rates for historical footage exceeding six times previous performance. The app has received over 100 feature and performance enhancements in the past year. Additionally, the app now fully integrates Nest functionalities, supporting all Nest Thermostat models since 2015, smoke and carbon monoxide alerts from Nest Protect, and passcode management for the Nest x Yale Lock, while improving the control of earlier generations of Nest cameras and doorbells.

Winsage

October 1, 2025

Microsoft reunites Windows teams for Agentic OS

Microsoft is reorganizing its Windows engineering teams into a single organization led by Pavan Davuluri, reversing a division made in 2018. This consolidation merges the Windows client and server teams to streamline development and enhance focus on priorities. The move aims to eliminate organizational silos and improve integration between core platform evolution and user experience. The reorganization is linked to Microsoft's push into artificial intelligence, with the goal of developing Windows as an "Agentic OS" that anticipates user needs. This effort follows the establishment of the CoreAI division in January 2025, which unified various AI tools and platforms.

Winsage

September 30, 2025

Microsoft is bringing its Windows engineering teams back together again

Microsoft is restructuring its Windows engineering teams into a single organization to enhance focus on critical initiatives, particularly artificial intelligence. Pavan Davuluri, the new president of Windows and devices, announced this change in an internal memo, stating it unifies Windows engineering work. Leaders from various Windows teams will now report directly to Davuluri, consolidating the majority of Windows engineering under one division leader. This marks the first major shift in Windows' structure since Davuluri took over a year ago. The reorganization follows a history of changes in Windows' organizational structure, including a split into two teams after the departure of former chief Terry Myerson in 2018. While some lower-level components will still be managed by Azure teams, most Windows operations will now be under Davuluri's leadership. He emphasized the collaboration with Azure in areas like Storage, Networking, and Security. The restructuring aims to support the integration of AI features into the operating system, with initiatives like the Windows AI Labs program and new AI functionalities being introduced in Windows 11.

Winsage

September 24, 2025

Google just teased its Android-powered PC project, Qualcomm CEO says he’s seen it

Google is collaborating with Qualcomm to unify the technical foundations of Android and PC systems, aiming to blur the distinctions between mobile and desktop computing. Rick Osterloh, Google's Senior Vice President of Devices and Services, emphasized the potential for integrating Google's AI capabilities into PCs. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon expressed enthusiasm for this convergence initiative. Additionally, Google is reportedly working on a multi-year project to merge Chrome OS and Android into a cohesive operating system for various devices. Enhancements to Android for larger screens are already being implemented, suggesting future Chromebooks and possibly a new Pixel Laptop may run on Android instead of Chrome OS.

Winsage

September 24, 2025

Qualcomm CEO: Android for PC is coming, and it’s ‘incredible’

Android is expected to extend its reach to PCs, as indicated by a conversation between Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon and Google's head of platforms and devices, Rick Osterloh, during a Qualcomm event. Osterloh mentioned a project aimed at unifying the systems for PCs and smartphones, with plans to integrate Android AI features into the PC ecosystem. Amon expressed excitement about the experimental Android OS for PCs. Google has also confirmed its intention to merge ChromeOS with Android, although specific launch details remain unclear.