value Archives

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

I Spent a Month With the Steam Machine and it Perfectly Fills the One Gap in My Gaming Habits

The Steam Machine has been on the market for just over a month and has integrated into the user's gaming routine, particularly during a recent illness. The user connected it to their TV, disabled metrics, and explored their Steam library, finding the experience enjoyable. Despite skepticism about its high price for average consumers, the Steam Machine offers a solution for transitioning gaming from a desk to a living room without monopolizing the network. The user has historically preferred PC gaming over consoles, appreciating the flexibility of switching between devices. Previous attempts to set up living room PCs were inconvenient, but the Steam Machine simplifies this with SteamOS and the Steam Controller's trackpads. The user adjusted the output resolution to 1440p and enjoyed games like Resident Evil 4 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, valuing the ability to continue saves from their PC. The Steam Machine is priced at ,049, which may deter some, but it appeals to users with extensive Steam libraries.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Ubisoft is Currently Giving Away 13 PC Games Completely Free of Charge

Ubisoft has announced a partnership to give away 13 titles from its catalog, including popular series like Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six. This initiative follows the launch of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and aims to build goodwill in the gaming community amidst rising console prices and ongoing supply chain issues. Additionally, PlayStation plans to cease disc production by January 2028, indicating a shift towards a digital-only future.

Winsage

July 28, 2026

I’m worried that Windows 11 will slowly turn into a subscription-based OS, and AI agents will be to blame

Concerns about Microsoft's future monetization strategy for Windows suggest a potential shift from a one-time payment model to a subscription-based system. This aligns with a broader trend among tech companies favoring recurring revenue. Recent AI developments, such as the transition from the free Deep Research feature to the subscription-based Researcher, indicate a move towards monetizing AI functionalities. Additionally, features like Microsoft Whiteboard and Outlook's Meeting Insight now require paid subscriptions. Microsoft plans to introduce AI agents in Windows 11, which may also be gated behind paywalls, leading to a modular operating system with optional paid features. Speculation exists about a tiered subscription model, including a free version that could become ad-supported. However, uncertainties remain regarding user acceptance and the perceived value of AI features, which could impact the success of such a transition.

Tech Optimizer

July 28, 2026

Migrate self-managed PostgreSQL to Amazon RDS using the RDS console

Running PostgreSQL on Amazon EC2 requires users to manage operational tasks such as patching, backups, and security. Migrating to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL or Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition offers a fully managed service that automates these tasks, allowing development teams to focus on application development. The migration process uses the auto-migration feature in the Amazon RDS console, supported by AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS), which facilitates PostgreSQL-to-PostgreSQL migrations using native tools for accurate schema mapping and faster migration. The migration can be executed using various methods, including pg_dump/pg_restore, manual AWS DMS tasks, or third-party tools, with the RDS console approach being preferred for its reliability and minimal setup effort. AWS DMS supports three replication modes: full load, CDC only, and full load + CDC, with the migration duration depending on database size and network throughput. Prerequisites for migration include having a source PostgreSQL 10.4+ on Amazon EC2, a target RDS for PostgreSQL or Aurora PostgreSQL, proper IAM roles, stored credentials in Secrets Manager, and appropriate networking configurations. Considerations include unsupported objects, potential issues with sequence values, and the need to avoid schema changes during CDC. The migration involves preparing the source database, creating necessary users and permissions, and executing the migration through the RDS console. Post-migration, it is essential to verify data integrity, optimize performance by updating statistics and rebuilding indexes, and implement security best practices such as disabling the DMS user and enforcing SSL/TLS connections. Common troubleshooting errors during migration include permission issues, incorrect WAL levels, and connection refusals, each with specific resolutions. Finally, to avoid ongoing charges, it is recommended to clean up resources created during the migration process, including deleting the DMS migration task, logical replication publications, Secrets Manager secrets, and the target RDS/Aurora instance.

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

Owners of Ubisoft console games on Xbox will be able to get the PC versions for free.

Microsoft has expanded its partnership with Ubisoft to enhance the gaming experience through two main initiatives. The Xbox app for PC will include premium editions and additional content for popular titles such as Assassin's Creed Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Skull and Bones, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, among others. Additionally, gamers who own digital copies of Xbox console games will gain access to free PC versions through Ubisoft Connect, with the transfer available only from console to PC. Eligible titles for this program include Assassin's Creed Mirage, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Far Cry 6, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Riders Republic, Skull and Bones, The Crew 2, The Crew Motorfest, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, and Watch Dogs Legion. Consumables and in-game currency will not be included in the transfer.

Winsage

July 27, 2026

New Certighost PoC exploit lets attackers hijack Windows domains

A proof-of-concept exploit for the "Certighost" vulnerability (CVE-2026-54121) has been released, affecting Windows Active Directory Certificate Services. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to compromise a Windows domain by manipulating machine account attributes to obtain certificates from AD CS, enabling them to authenticate as that machine or even as a domain controller. The flaw was reported to Microsoft on May 14, 2026, and addressed in the July 2026 Patch Tuesday updates. The vulnerability exploits a fallback mechanism in AD CS during certificate enrollment requests, allowing attackers to direct the Certification Authority to their controlled systems. The researchers demonstrated that a low-privileged user could create a machine account and use it to impersonate a domain controller, leading to potential domain compromise. Microsoft has added validation to the chase process in the July updates to prevent this exploitation. For those unable to install the updates, a temporary workaround involves disabling the chase fallback, though this has not been extensively tested.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

Own These Ubisoft Games on Xbox? You Can Now Play Them on PC for Free

Ubisoft and Xbox have launched an initiative allowing players who own select Ubisoft titles on Xbox consoles to access the PC versions of those games at no extra cost. Starting today, new digital purchases will provide immediate access to both Xbox and PC versions. Existing owners will also benefit, although the availability of PC versions will be rolled out gradually, with full implementation expected by August 4. Players may need to wait for updates to access their games in Ubisoft Connect.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

Monday’s Android app deals and freebies: Friend of a Slime, Forest Golf Planner, AVARIS3, more

A selection of Android game and app deals includes titles such as Friend of a Slime: Survivors, Dungeons of Dreadrock 2, Forest Golf Planner, AVARIS3, Station Manager, Silver Screen Story, and Tropical Resort Story. There are pre-order discounts on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 devices, with up to 0 in instant trade-in deals and an additional 0 in complimentary credit. The TCL NXTPAPER 14 and NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2 Android tablets start at 9. There are savings of up to 0 on Copilot+ PCs and gaming laptops, and the Galaxy A57 phone is listed at an all-time low of 5 on Amazon.

Winsage

July 27, 2026

I tested this HyperX OMEN 15 gaming laptop and its RTX 5070 graphics inside, but the OLED display stole the show

The HP OMEN brand has rebranded to HyperX, introducing the HyperX OMEN 15 gaming laptop. It features a mid-range NVIDIA RTX 5050 GPU and a 120Hz OLED display. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and has 32GB of RAM. It weighs 5.02 lbs and is designed for stationary use with extensive cooling vents. Connectivity options include HDMI, USB-C, and USB-A ports, as well as an Ethernet port. The keyboard has a four-zone RGB backlight, and the audio experience is adequate but may benefit from external speakers. The OLED display achieves a brightness of 503 nits and scores 100% in color accuracy for both P3 and sRGB gamuts. In gaming performance, it averages 47 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings without ray tracing, and can reach up to 111 FPS with NVIDIA's DLSS technology. The specifications include a 15.3" 3K OLED display, 1 TB SSD, and a 70WHrs battery. The pricing strategy has raised questions about its value, especially with recent discounts.

BetaBeacon

July 27, 2026

Roguelike Deckbuilders: Games Like Slay the Spire and Balatro

Deckbuilding is a genre of games that combines card-based gameplay with collecting powerful cards to use in battle against other players. It started in tabletop gaming before moving to video games. Roguelike deckbuilders add procedural generation to keep gameplay fresh and unpredictable. Slay the Spire is a popular example of a tactical deckbuilding game.