value Archives

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake to Acquire Crunchy Data for AI-Ready Postgres

Snowflake intends to acquire Crunchy Data, a provider of open-source PostgreSQL technology, to enhance its AI Data Cloud by integrating Crunchy Data's enterprise-grade Postgres offerings. The new product, "Snowflake Postgres," will be a developer-friendly, AI-ready database for mission-critical applications. Snowflake plans to invest approximately 0 million in this acquisition, which aims to support complex AI applications at scale and bring a team experienced in Postgres. This move comes amid a competitive cloud data market, with Snowflake's stock trading near its 52-week high. The acquisition is expected to influence how enterprises approach AI and data integration, potentially setting a new benchmark for cloud platforms.

Winsage

June 4, 2025

Why pay recurring fees for 365 when Microsoft Office is only $50?

Microsoft Office 2021 is currently available for a one-time purchase of .97, reduced from its regular price of 9.99. This version includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version), OneNote, Publisher, and Access. Users receive instant download codes for immediate installation on a single computer, ensuring uninterrupted access without recurring fees. Microsoft 365, in contrast, operates on a subscription model that has recently seen a price increase, making Office 2021 a more economical choice for individuals and businesses. The offer is time-limited, and prices on StackSocial may change.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake digs out $250M to buy Crunchy to plug Postgres gap

Snowflake has acquired Crunchy Data to enhance its Postgres strategy, addressing a gap in its offerings as Postgres remains popular among developers. The acquisition is valued at 0 million and will result in Crunchy Data's technology being rebranded as Snowflake Postgres, aimed at supporting AI and transactional systems at an enterprise scale. The new product will maintain the flexibility of open source Postgres while providing enhanced governance and security. Organizations can migrate existing Postgres applications to Snowflake without code rewrites. This move is expected to promote Postgres adoption and complement Snowflake's Unistore solution, which integrates transactional and analytical data.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake Buying Crunchy Data To Help Enterprises Deploy Compliant AI Agents

Snowflake plans to acquire Crunchy Data, a provider of open-source Postgres technology, to integrate Snowflake Postgres into its AI Data Cloud. This acquisition aims to offer an enterprise-grade, AI-ready PostgreSQL database with strong governance and security for mission-critical AI applications. Snowflake Postgres will be fully compatible with production applications, enhancing capabilities within the AI Data Cloud by leveraging Crunchy Data’s reputation for enterprise readiness in FedRAMP-compliant environments. PostgreSQL is favored by 49% of developers, and Snowflake Postgres will simplify building, deploying, and scaling production-ready AI applications. Customers like Blue Yonder and LandingAI will benefit from accelerated operations and enhanced efficiency through this integration. Snowflake aims to support the Postgres community and existing Crunchy Data customers, unifying transactional and analytical data within a single database. Key stakeholders from both companies express confidence in the acquisition's potential to enhance security and operational capabilities for enterprise organizations.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Meta Pixel halts Android localhost tracking after disclosure

Security researchers have found that Meta and Yandex used native Android applications to access localhost ports, allowing them to link web browsing data with user identities and bypass privacy protections. Following these findings, Meta stopped its data transmission to localhost and removed much of the tracking code to comply with Google Play policies. A report from researchers at IMDEA Networks, Radboud University, and KU Leuven detailed how apps like Facebook and Instagram collected web cookie data via the loopback interface. This method allowed the companies to associate browsing sessions with user identities, undermining privacy measures. Meta's tracking process involved the Meta Pixel script, which transmitted cookies to native apps through various protocols. Meta began using this technique in September 2024 but ceased these practices by June 3rd, 2025. Yandex's localhost tracking dates back to 2017, and while they did not respond to inquiries, browser vendors have implemented mitigations against these practices. Proposed solutions include a new permission for local network access to prevent such tracking in the future.

Tech Optimizer

June 3, 2025

I tested Bitdefender and McAfee in an antivirus software showdown, and here’s what I found

Bitdefender and McAfee are two leading antivirus software options known for robust malware protection and additional security features. Bitdefender achieves 98% effectiveness in real-time threat detection, while McAfee uses machine learning for threat identification but may produce false positives. Bitdefender offers a basic firewall, not available for macOS, whereas McAfee provides a more advanced firewall with device monitoring. Bitdefender has a standalone Digital Identity Protection service, while McAfee offers comprehensive identity theft protections in its Premium subscription. Bitdefender includes a VPN with a 200MB daily data cap, while McAfee provides unlimited VPN access but with fewer countries and features. Both offer password managers, but Bitdefender lacks two-factor authentication, while McAfee's True Key includes multi-factor authentication. Bitdefender’s parental controls are basic, while McAfee’s Safe Family includes location tracking. Bitdefender is known for lightweight performance, but recent tests suggest McAfee may have better system optimization. Both have user-friendly interfaces, with Bitdefender organizing features into tabs and McAfee offering a simpler design. In terms of protection, Bitdefender has a 98.7% detection rate, while McAfee excels online with 99.6% but struggles offline. Bitdefender's pricing starts at .99 for the first year, while McAfee's Basic plan starts at .99. Overall, Bitdefender is more budget-friendly, while McAfee offers advanced identity theft protection.

Tech Optimizer

June 3, 2025

Malwarebytes Premium Security review

Malwarebytes, founded in 2004 by Marcin Kleczynski, is an independent cybersecurity company that provides effective malware protection globally. The Malwarebytes Premium Security suite includes antivirus, phishing and identity protection, and an unlimited VPN powered by Mullvad. Pricing for the one-year license for a single device is .99, while a five-device license costs .99, and a two-year plan is priced at .98. The Premium Security Ultimate plan offers full identity protection and credit monitoring for .99 for the first year, with renewal at 9.99. A limited free version is available that detects and removes existing threats but lacks real-time protection. The app features a straightforward design with a clear dashboard, prioritizing user experience. Malwarebytes focuses on efficient scanning of commonly infected areas, completing test scans in 13 minutes. However, it does not automatically scan removable drives and lacks a warning system for password-protected files. Independent lab testing is infrequent, but Malwarebytes has received an AVLab 'Product of the Year' award and demonstrated strong performance in MRG Effitas assessments. In practical tests, Malwarebytes effectively detected known malware but struggled with behavioral detection against custom ransomware. It includes anti-phishing features, initially blocking 16% of phishing sites, which improved to 62% with the BrowserGuard extension. The unlimited VPN offers encryption and privacy but has limitations in unblocking streaming services. The identity protection feature scans for breaches associated with user email addresses and Social Security Numbers for U.S. users.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Undergrave, Rotaeno, Dungeon Tracer, more

A new wave of deals on Android apps has emerged on Google Play. The summer Discover Samsung sale offers significant discounts on Galaxy S25 devices, with savings up to 0, and includes a complimentary 32-inch 4K M7 smart monitor. Amazon has reduced the price of the Galaxy Watch Ultra by 0 and also lowered the price of the 256GB Google Pixel 9. Featured apps on Google Play include Undergrave, Rotaeno, and Dungeon Tracer.

Winsage

June 2, 2025

Notepad gets formatting options

Microsoft has updated Notepad to include new text formatting options, such as bold and italic styles, hyperlinks, and the ability to format lists and headings. This update began rolling out at the end of last month and is currently being tested with Windows Insiders in the Dev and Canary channels. The new features support Markdown-style input, allowing users to toggle between formatted Markdown and syntax views. Users can disable formatting entirely in the app settings to maintain the traditional Notepad experience. The update has raised concerns among users who relied on Notepad for stripping formatting from pasted text, as the new options may complicate this process. Microsoft has not yet responded to inquiries about user demand for these changes or the possibility of reverting to the original Notepad experience. The decision to enhance Notepad comes after the removal of WordPad from Windows in 2024.

AppWizard

June 2, 2025

8 Free Open Source Android Apps: Hidden Gems for a Better Phone

Enoch Boateng highlights eight standout open source Android apps that prioritize privacy, transparency, and functionality: 1. Mindful: A journaling app for mental well-being that supports text, voice, or photo entries, includes gratitude journaling, guided meditations, mood tracking, and security features like pin locks. 2. YTDL: A media downloader for videos and audio from over 1,000 websites, featuring batch downloads, metadata embedding, and privacy options like incognito mode. 3. ML Manager: An APK management app that allows extraction, backup, and sharing of apps, with batch extraction and integration with APK Mirror. 4. Loop Habit Tracker: A habit-building app with a forgiving scoring system, progress graphs, offline functionality, and an ad-free experience. 5. Shop Sync: A task management app for shopping lists with cloud syncing, offline access, and CSV export capabilities. 6. Snapsafe: A privacy-focused camera app that removes metadata, blurs faces, and offers customizable location tagging. 7. Booming Music: An offline music player with gapless playback, lyrics syncing, equalizer presets, and Android Auto compatibility. 8. Image Craft: An image editing toolkit that compresses, resizes, and converts images, offers batch operations, and creates password-protected archives.