WINS Archives

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

There’s a dog that can play League of Legends better than you

Pea, a small, brown, long-haired sausage dog, is a streamer and aspiring professional League of Legends player under the guidance of her owner, PooperNoodle. Pea has been learning to support in the game using programmed buttons to activate her in-game abilities, currently mastering the champion Yuumi. During her initial stream, she transitioned from a spectator to an active participant, successfully using her abilities with surprising finesse. Pea's current record in Swiftplay is two wins and three losses. The response to her gameplay has been positive, with the official League of Legends TikTok account humorously acknowledging her presence. Pea's journey highlights the joy and camaraderie that gaming can offer.

AppWizard

April 12, 2026

Fan World of Warcraft servers face shut down as Blizzard wins Turtle WoW case

Activision Blizzard won a copyright infringement lawsuit against the private gaming server Turtle WoW, which was filed in August 2025. The court ordered Turtle WoW to cease all activities related to private servers and modded client software. The ruling prohibits the defendants from transferring any Turtle WoW client software, source code, or promotional materials to third parties. A settlement has been reached between Blizzard and the Turtle WoW defendants, with plans for Blizzard to file for a dismissal of the case by June 8, 2026. Donations on the Turtle WoW website have been suspended, and the community is reacting to the court's decision.

Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2026

Overcoming barriers to database modernisation in the AI age

Enterprises in Malaysia are transitioning from legacy systems to modern infrastructure to facilitate AI deployment. A roundtable discussion highlighted the challenges of AI integration, emphasizing the need to reduce costs associated with outdated systems. Organizations are adopting hybrid cloud approaches and utilizing various databases to manage extensive data across multiple applications. The push for AI is driven by management and customer expectations, but employee willingness to upskill remains a challenge. Not all challenges require AI solutions, and starting with smaller use cases can lead to successful scaling. The adoption of open-source database systems like Postgres is increasing, necessitating reliable support to address issues and ensure application availability. Data sovereignty is a concern for enterprises operating in mixed environments, and EDB Postgres AI offers a platform that combines security with cloud agility. Reducing infrastructure costs is essential for freeing up resources for new initiatives.

Tech Optimizer

April 11, 2026

Google Cloud Highlights Ongoing Work on PostgreSQL Core Capabilities

Google Cloud has made technical contributions to PostgreSQL, focusing on advancements in logical replication, upgrade processes, and system stability. Key developments include the evolution of logical replication towards active-active configurations with automatic conflict detection to identify row-level conflicts during replication. This progress has sparked discussions about consistency models in database systems. Enhancements have also expanded logical replication to include sequences, reducing manual synchronization needs. Improvements to pg_upgrade have streamlined large object management and reduced upgrade times, while ensuring WAL data retention and schema constraint preservation. Bug fixes have addressed issues with index pages, extension loading, and WAL flush logic. Future features under development include a structured conflict log for replication and enhancements to parallel data export in pg_dump.

Winsage

April 8, 2026

CachyOS is dethroning Windows at the one thing it owned for decades

Windows has historically been the dominant operating system for PC gaming, with Linux being less appealing due to a lack of developer support and compatibility issues. The introduction of Valve's Proton in 2018 transformed the Linux gaming experience by allowing Windows games to run on Linux without requiring developers to create separate versions. CachyOS, a Linux distribution, has emerged as a strong competitor to Windows 11, often outperforming it in gaming performance due to its specialized schedulers. However, certain games with specific anti-cheat mechanisms remain inaccessible on Linux, keeping Windows as the preferred choice for many popular titles. Despite this, the growing popularity of Linux distributions like CachyOS may lead to increased demand for Linux-compatible games and potential solutions for anti-cheat issues in the future.

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

One of the Best Games of the 2010s Is Now Free for Millions of PC Gamers

XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a turn-based tactics game developed by 2K Games and Firaxis Games, is available for free to Amazon Prime members with a GOG account until July 1. The game, originally released in 2012, is a reimagining of the 1994 classic UFO: Enemy Unknown and has a Metacritic score of 91. Players can expect around 30 hours to complete the main storyline, with completionists potentially investing up to 70 hours. The offer includes the “Complete Pack” version, which features the XCOM: Enemy Within expansion and all previously released add-on content.

BetaBeacon

April 2, 2026

Mobile Blackjack Apps 2026

Blackjack apps allow players to enjoy the classic card game on their mobile devices using virtual currencies like Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Players can play anytime and anywhere without risking real money, and still have the chance to win real prizes. The apps are designed for convenience and entertainment, providing a smooth gaming experience on both iOS and Android platforms. Key features of a top blackjack app include a clear interface, game variety, easy tracking of virtual currencies, responsive touch controls, and additional features like strategy charts and flexible betting sizes.

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

This messaging app wins on every front, except the one that matters

WhatsApp has approximately three billion monthly users, while Viber has over 200 million. In a recent poll, user preferences for messaging apps were as follows: WhatsApp (31%), Signal (40%), Viber (3%), Facebook Messenger (4%), Telegram (11%), and something else (11%). Signal has an estimated user base of 40 to 100 million monthly active users. Signal offers end-to-end encryption and minimal data collection, unlike WhatsApp and Viber, which track user interactions and device information. WhatsApp uses Signal's encryption protocol.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

How multiplayer works in Slay the Spire 2

In Slay the Spire 2, co-op gameplay allows one player to host a multiplayer save, with up to three additional players joining as long as they are Steam friends. There are no password-protected lobbies or matchmaking queues. Players must select a save profile with an unlocked character and choose 'Multiplayer' from the main menu. Each player has three profiles, can only host one campaign at a time, and must be present from the beginning of the game. Multiplayer campaigns feature individual inventories, and enemy stats scale with party size. Energy is not shared among players, and loot is distributed individually. Ascension progression in multiplayer is separate from single-player achievements, and players must complete all three acts as a team to earn Ascension levels, which apply to all characters in multiplayer.

BetaBeacon

March 21, 2026

10 Best Offline Mobile Games for Android: No Wi-Fi Needed on Long Trips

Offline Android games are perfect for travel as they run smoothly on most devices, do not require internet, save battery life, and offer a variety of gameplay options. Developers optimize these games for touchscreens, ensuring intuitive controls without the need for controllers. These games provide escapism and are typically under 1GB in size, making them easy to store alongside travel apps and maps.