Migrate SQL Server to PostgreSQL

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Many companies follow the long-term modern trend to migrate databases from commercial DBMS to free open-source equivalent in order to reduce total cost of ownership. For this purpose, PostgreSQL is the ideal choice among all free database management systems due to the following advantages:

– it is 100% compliant with SQL standard
– it supports point-in-time recovery
– it supports sophisticated locking mechanisms
– it provides advanced data types such as multi-dimensional arrays and spatial

The most straight forward way to migrate from SQL Server to PostgreSQL manually or semi-manually is known as extract-transfer-load or ETL model. It consists of the following steps:

– All SQL Server database entries (table definitions, indexes and constraints) are extracted in form of CREATE-statements
– Those items are transformed to comply with PostgreSQL syntax of CREATE-statements (with respect to types mapping and naming rules) and loaded to the target database
– SQL Server data is extracted from the source database into CSV files used as external intermediate storage
– The CSV files must be transformed to comply with PostgreSQL format when it is necessary (special attention to dates and binary data)
– The final step is to load the resulting data into the PostgreSQL database

Now, let’s explore each of those steps in details. To extract definitions of SQL Server tables, open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, right-click on the database name, then click on ‘Tasks > Generate Scripts’ menu item. Navigate to “Set scripting options” tab in the appeared window, click on Advanced link and select “data and schema” in the ‘General’ section.

The resulting script must be modified according to PostgreSQL format as follows:

– remove square brackets around types
– replace all square brackets around names of database entries by double quotes
– replace all occurrences of the default SQL Server schema “dbo” by PostgreSQL equivalent “public”
– remove SQL Server keywords that are optional and not supported by PostgreSQL (i.e. “WITH NOCHECK”, “CLUSTERED”)
– remove any specifications of filegroup, for example “ON PRIMARY”
– change SQL Server data type “INT IDENTITY(…)” to PostgreSQL “SERIAL”
– convert types that are not supported by PostgreSQL into equivalents (i.e. “DATETIME” becomes “TIMESTAMP”, “MONEY” becomes NUMERIC(19,4))
– all statements “GO” used to terminate SQL Server queries must be replaced by semicolons “;”

Next step to migrate SQL Server to PostgreSQL is processing the data, which can be accomplished with the use of the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio:

– Right-click on the database to migrate, then navigate to the Tasks > Export Data menu
– Using intuitive interface of the wizard specify “Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server” as data source and “Flat File Destination” as destination.

After the export is completed, the resulting data will appear in the specified destination file according to the comma-separated values (CSV) format.

Now it is time to load data from CSV files to PostgreSQL tables through the “COPY” command like this:

COPY <table name> FROM <path to csv file> DELIMITER ‘,’ CSV;

If you receive a “Permission denied” error, try the “\COPY” command instead.

The steps above illustrate that manual conversion is a time-consuming procedure with high risk of data loss or corruption. Fortunately, there are some special tools which can migrate SQL Server to PostgreSQL within just a couple of clicks making the entire procedure smooth and safe. One of such solutions is MS SQL to PostgreSQL converter, a program having all necessary features to handle migration of large and complicated databases between the two DBMS. It has been developed by Intelligent Converters, software company focusing on database conversion and synchronization techniques since 2001.

Basic features of the converter:

– Schemas, data, sequences, indexes, constraints and views are migrated from SQL Server to PostgreSQL
– All modern versions of on-premises and could variations of DBMS are supported
– Merging and synchronizing PostgreSQL databases with SQL Server data
– Option to script and schedule the database migration via command line version of the tool
– Store configuration of the completed migration into a profile to simplify next launch

Besides those basic features the converter offers a few powerful capabilities to make the migration even more customizable. First is filtering data to migrate via SELECT queries. SQL Server to PostgreSQL converter allows users to compose SELECT query over the source database and then migrate resulting rowset as if it would be a regular table. This option may be uses to filter data, rename columns or tables, merge data from multiple into a single one and many other tasks.

Next capability is called ‘Edit Table’. It allows to completely customize resulting table: change name, type and attributes of any column and exclude some columns from migration. It is implemented via dialog window having easy-to-use intuitive interface, so any technical skills are not required to entirely customize the database migration.

Learn more about how to migrate SQL Server to PostgreSQL and the related software solutions at the homepage of Intelligent Converters.


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Mozilla announces job cuts & product changes under new CEO

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Days after naming a new CEO, Mozilla has announced a job cut affecting about 5% of its workforce. The company, best known for the Firefox browser, is laying off around 60 employees. It is also shutting down Mozilla Hubs and scaling back investment in several other products.

Mozilla cuts around 60 jobs as part of a shake-up under the new CEO

Last week, Mozilla announced that Mitchell Baker is stepping down from the role of CEO to become the company’s Executive Chairwoman. Laura Chambers, a former Airbnb, PayPal, and eBay executive, replaced her as the interim CEO for the remainder of the year. This leadership change was part of its refined vision and product strategy for the future. The planned strategy overhaul is now underway with around 60 job cuts.

First reported by Bloomberg, Mozilla’s latest layoffs primarily affect the product development organization. In a statement, the company said that this job cut will allow it to focus on areas where it has the greatest chance of success. “We intend to re-prioritize resources against products like Firefox Mobile, where there’s a significant opportunity to grow and establish a better model for the industry,” Mozilla said.

An internal memo obtained by TechCrunch further revealed that Mozilla is shutting down Hubs, a 3D virtual platform launched in 2018. The company blamed an unfavorable shift in demand for these kinds of products since early 2023 for its closure. Additionally, it plans to scale back investment in a bunch of products, including mozilla.social, a decentralized social media platform powered by Mastodon.

Introduced in 2023 amid chaos at X (formerly Twitter), Mozilla wanted to shape the future of social media with the new platform. The firm invested big in this idea but things didn’t pan out as intended. “It was a noble idea but one we struggled to execute,” Mozilla said in the memo. It is now reducing resources dedicated to the platform. Mozilla is also scaling back investments in VPN, Relay, and Online Footprint Scrubber.

Mozilla will focus on enhancing its AI offerings

With generative AI finding its way into all sorts of tech products lately, Mozilla will focus on enhancing its AI offerings. It will bring “trustworthy AI” into its Firefox browser, while housing teams working on Pocket, Content, and AI/ML together with the Firefox Organization. The company plans to share more details on the specific organizational changes later. This strategy overhaul from Mozilla doesn’t affect MDN, Ads, or Fakespot.


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HijackLoader Malware Sophisticated Techniques to Avoid Detection

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Threat actors exploit HijackLoader because it is a powerful tool for injecting malicious code into legitimate processes, enabling stealthy execution of payloads. 

This technique helps them to evade detection by leveraging trusted applications to carry out malicious activities. 

This scenario makes it more complicated for security measures to effectively identify and mitigate the threat.

Cybersecurity researchers at Crowdsrtike recently discovered a HijackLoader (aka IDAT Loader) that employs sophisticated techniques to evade detection.

Sophisticated HijackLoader Malware

CrowdStrike researchers found HijackLoader evolving with new defense evasion tricks like process hollowing, pipe-triggered activation, and a mix of process doppelganging. 

These enhancements make it stealthier and harder to analyze, not only that even extra unhooking techniques were also spotted.

CrowdStrike uncovered a sophisticated HijackLoader sample that starts with streaming_client.exe, which obfuscates a configuration to evade static analysis. 

Using WinHTTP APIs, it tests internet connectivity by contacting https[:]//nginx[.]org. If successful, it downloads a second-stage config from a remote server.

After getting the second-stage config, the malware hunts for PNG header bytes and a magic value. It then decrypts using XOR and decompresses using RtlDecompressBuffer API. 

Next, it loads a legit Windows DLL specified in the configuration and writes the shellcode to its .text section for execution. It utilizes Heaven’s Gate to evade user mode hooks and injects more shellcodes into cmd.exe. 

HijackLoader infection chain (Source – Crowdstrike)

The third-stage shellcode injects a final payload like a Cobalt Strike beacon into logagent.exe using process hollowing.

HijackLoader evades detection with Heaven’s Gate hook bypass and unhooking DLLs watched by security tools. It also uses process hollowing variations and transacted hollowing for injection.

This merges the transacted section and process doppelgänging with DLL hollowing.

Main Evasion Techniques

Here below, we have mentioned all the main evasion techniques that the HijackLoader and Shellcode use:-

  • Hook Bypass: Heaven’s Gate and Unhooking
  • Process Hollowing Variation
  • Interactive Process Hollowing Variation: Tradecraft Analysis
  • Transacted Hollowing² (Transacted Section/Doppelgänger + Hollowing)
  • Transacted Section Hollowing
  • Process Hollowing

The exploitation of HijackLoader underscores the significance of proactive cybersecurity measures to detect and prevent such covert attacks.

Organizations should prioritize regular security audits, employ robust endpoint protection, and stay updated on emerging threats to effectively defend against the evolving tactics employed by threat actors. 

Besides this, user education and awareness training are essential in mitigating the risks associated with these sophisticated attack vectors.

Stay updated on Cybersecurity news, Whitepapers, and Infographics. Follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter.


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OnePlus Open vs HONOR Magic V2

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Some truly compelling foldable smartphones launched in the last year or so. The two that we are going to talk about in this article are considered to be some of the best. We’ll compare the OnePlus Open vs HONOR Magic V2. Both of these are available in global markets, and they are actually quite different. They are not only different design-wise, but in a number of other ways, which should make things interesting.

Do note that both of these smartphones are book-style foldable, but they have different approaches to design, cameras, software, and so on. We’ll first list their specifications, and then we’ll talk about various other aspects of these phones. Their designs will be in huge focus, and then we’ll jump over to displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. Let’s get to it, shall we?

Specs

OnePlus Open & HONOR Magic V2, respectively

– Screen size (main):
7.82-inch LTPO 3 AMOLED display (120Hz, Dolby Vision, 2,800 nits)
7.92-inch Foldable LTPO OLED (120Hz, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced, 1,600 nits)
– Screen Size (cover):
6.31-inch LTPO3 OLED (120Hz, 2,800 nits)
6.43-inch LTPO OLED (120Hz, 2,500 nits)
– Display resolution (main):
2268 x 2440
2156 x 2344
– Display resolution (cover):
2484 x 1116
2376 x 1060
– SoC:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
– RAM:
16GB (LPDDR5X)
16GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
512GB (UFS 4.0)
256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0)
– Rear cameras:
48MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, multi-directional PDAF, OIS), 48MP (ultrawide, 114-degree FoV), 64MP (periscope telephoto, 3x optical zoom, 6x “in-sensor” zoom, macro)
50MP (wide, f/1.9 aperture, PDAF, OIS, Laser AF), 50MP (ultrawide), 20MP (telephoto, 2.5x optical zoom, OIS, PDAF)
– Front cameras:
20MP (main display, f/2.2 aperture), 32MP (cover display, f/2.4 aperture)
16MP (wide, f/2.2 aperture)
– Battery:
4,805mAh
5,000mAh
– Charging:
67W wired, 5W reverse wired (charger included)
66W wired, 5W reverse wired (charger included)
– Dimensions (unfolded):
153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8mm
156.7 x 145.4 x 4.7-4.8mm
– Dimensions (folded):
153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7mm
156.7 x 74.1 x 9.9-10.1mm
– Weight:
239/245 grams
231/237 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
Side-facing fingerprint scanner
– OS:
Android 13 with ColorOS (upgradable)
Android 13 with MagicOS 7.2
– Price:
$1,699
€1,999
– Buy:
OnePlus Open (Best Buy)
HONOR Magic V2 (HONOR)

OnePlus Open vs HONOR Magic V2: Design

Both of these smartphones are book-style foldable, but they are quite different. The OnePlus Open has flat sides with chamfered edges, while the HONOR Magic V2 uses way more curves on the sides. The HONOR Magic V2 is also a bit thinner in both folded and unfolded forms, even though not by much. Those curves on the side do make it seem even thinner than it actually is, though.

The OnePlus Open is 5.8mm thick when folded, and 11.7mm when unfolded. The HONOR Magic V2 measures 4.7-4.8mm when folded, and 9.9-10.1mm when unfolded. It all depends on what variant we’re talking about, a vegan leather model, or a glass model. The vegan leather variant of the Magic V2 is a bit thinner. The OnePlus Open’s vegan leather model comes in a black color, while the glass model is green-colored. The same goes for Magic V2’s black model, while the glass variant is purple-colored.

Both smartphones have a centered display camera hole on the cover display. Both of them have a fingerprint scanner inside the power/lock key, and both have a great hinge. The opening and closing of both smartphones are very satisfying, and both offer that proper ‘click’ when they lock in place.

They have very different camera setups, in general

If we flip them around, you’ll notice that their camera setups are quite different. The OnePlus Open has a huge camera oreo on the back, which is centered. That camera island also protrudes on the back quite a bit and is a good anchor for your index finger, when you’re holding the device. The Magic V2 has a much smaller camera island, and it sits in the top-left corner of the back. Both phones include three cameras on the back. Both devices also have thin bezels around both their main and cover displays.

Do note that only the OnePlus Open offers an IPX4 rating for splash resistance. The HONOR Magic V2 does not come with such a rating. Both phones feel great to hold and use, while they are also very similar in terms of weight. They do feel different to use, though, due to different design choices. There’s no clear winner here, though, it all depends on what your preferences are.

OnePlus Open vs HONOR Magic V2: Display

The OnePlus Open features a 7.82-inch 2268 x 2440 main display. That is a foldable LTPO3 AMOLED panel that can project up to 1 billion colors. Dolby Vision is supported here, and the panel goes up to 120Hz. The peak brightness of this display is 2,800 nits. The cover display measures 6.31 inches and has a resolution of 2484 x 1116. That is an LTPO3 OLED panel that can also project up to 1 billion colors and has Dolby Vision support. Its refresh rate also goes up to 120Hz, and it has the same max brightness as the main panel. Ceramic Guard is protecting the cover panel on the OnePlus Open.

AH HONOR Magic V2 global image 14
HONOR Magic V2

The HONOR Magic V2, on the other hand, has a 7.92-inch 2156 x 2344 foldable LTPO OLED main display. That panel projects up to 1 billion colors too, and its refresh rate goes up to 120Hz. It supports HDR10+ content too, and it is ‘IMAX Enhanced’. This display has a peak brightness of 1,600 nits. The cover display, on the flip side, measures 6.43 inches, and it has a resolution of 2376 x 1060. This is an LTPO OLED display which can project up to 1 billion colors. It supports HDR10+ content, and its refresh rate also goes up to 120Hz. It has a peak brightness of 2,500 nits, and it’s protected by the Nanocrystal Glass 2.0.

In terms of actual display quality for real-life usage, all four of these panels are outstanding. They’re bright, vivid, and have great viewing angles. The blacks are deep, and neither main panel felt too plasticky during usage, not at all. The crease is also well-hidden on both main displays, and the touch response is great on all four panels. Truth be said, you’ll be good to go regardless of what phone you choose… as far as the display is concerned.

OnePlus Open vs HONOR Magic V2: Performance

The OnePlus Open is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, while it also includes 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage. The HONOR Magic V2 comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 as well, along with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage. They’re on the same playing field in terms of specifications. Does that translate to actual usage on both devices? Well, yes, it does.

Both of these phones offer great performance. We’ve enjoyed using both, though I have to say that the software on the OnePlus Open has been more enjoyable to use. It has more features for the foldable aspect of the phone, and better ones, to be quite honest. It also works better with some apps when it comes to folding/unfolding the display. MagicOS on the HONOR Magic V2 is very fluid and works great in general, but some changes are needed, and also better multitasking as a whole.

Both software iterations were very fluid, though. Multitasking was a breeze, and that goes for everything you’ll use these devices for in day-to-day use. Even when it comes to gaming both phones did a really good job, so no worries there.

OnePlus Open vs HONOR Magic V2: Battery

What about their batteries? The OnePlus Open has a 4,805mAh unit, while the HONOR Magic V2 includes a 5,000mAh battery. HONOR actually used a silicon-carbon battery for the Magic V2. Both battery capacities are good enough in theory, does that translate to actual usage, though? Well, yes, the battery life was very good on both smartphones, at least that was the case for us, for our usage.

We were able to cross the 7-7.5-hour screen-on-time mark on the OnePlus Open a number of times. Truth be said, during that usage, gaming wasn’t really a part of the equation, but we were not sparing the phone. When it comes to the HONOR Magic V2, the battery life was also very good, though not as good as on the OnePlus Open. getting to 7 hours of screen-on-time is doable, though, as the Magic V2 is not trailing far behind in the battery life department. All in all, chances are you’ll be happy with the battery life on both devices.

When it comes to charging, they can both charge really fast. The OnePlus Open supports 67W wired and 5W reverse wired charging. The HONOR Magic V2 supports 66W wired, and 5W reverse wired charging. Both phones charge well under an hour, and both of them ship with chargers in the box, unlike some other high-end smartphones these days. Neither phone supports wireless charging, though.

OnePlus Open vs HONOR Magic V2: Cameras

The OnePlus Open has a 48-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit (114-degree FoV), and a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (3x optical zoom, 6x ‘in-sensor’ zoom) on the back. The HONOR Magic V2, on the other hand, includes a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide unit, and a 20-megapixel telephoto camera (2.5x optical zoom).

OnePlus Open AM AH 21
OnePlus Open

These two smartphones provide entirely different pictures. The OnePlus Open tries to keep things closer to real life while keeping the shadows a bit darker and making images a bit more contrasty. The colors on the images the OnePlus Open provides are outstanding. The HONOR Magic V2 does tend to brighten up images in low light quite a bit, and the colors end up being more playful in general. Images from the Magic V2 also tend to look a bit more processed in comparison.

During the daytime, both smartphones do a great job. The images end up looking sharp, and detailed, and even the HDR performance is great from both smartphones. We did prefer the performance of the OnePlus Open, though, generally speaking. That goes for all three cameras on the back, though the HONOR Magic V2’s camera performance is not bad at all. It’s just a level below what the OnePlus Open has to offer.

Audio

There are stereo speakers included on both of these smartphones. The speakers on the HONOR Magic V2 ended up being a bit louder, but the difference is not that big at all. The sound coming from both smartphones was well-balanced, and the distortion was next to non-existent.

You won’t get an audio jack on either of these two smartphones, though. You can always utilize their Type-C ports for wired audio connections. If you prefer to go wireless, however, both smartphones do support Bluetooth 5.3.


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Crowd sets Waymo’s self-driving car on fire in San Francisco

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In an unusual incident that took place in San Francisco’s Chinatown, a crowd set fire to a Waymo self-driving car. The incident occurred during the Lunar New Year celebration over the weekend. A video circulating online shows that the crowd set fire to the Waymo’s car around 9 pm local time.

Crowd sets Waymo’s self-driving car on fire

This isn’t the first time people have attacked a self-driving car. But this time, it’s worse. It shows that more and more people are getting mad at self-driving cars. It came into a much brighter light when the fire department shared pictures of the burned car on social media. They said a firework inside the car caused the fire.

A Waymo spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that there were no injuries or deaths. “The vehicle was not transporting any riders and no injuries have been reported,” they told the publication.

What caused this incident remains a mystery

It’s not clear why the vandalism happened. However, according to witnesses around the incident, the road is often busy with fireworks and celebrations for the Lunar New Year. Nevertheless, it has sparked a debate that how people are reacting to advancements in technologies like self-driving cars and AI. Especially after reports say that Waymo driverless cars have outperformed humans.

While cars with human drivers could move away from the fireworks, the self-driving car couldn’t. So, people started damaging it. Eventually, someone threw a lit firework through the front passenger window, which quickly caused a fire inside the car.

San Francisco’s Mayor, London Breed, called this incident a “dangerous and destructive act of vandalism,” adding it could have impacted the surroundings. On the same note, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California shared a part of the law that talks about the punishments for destroying a vehicle with fire or explosives. If nobody gets hurt from the act, the minimum jail time mentioned in the law is five years in prison.


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Honor unveils Porsche Design Magic V2 RSR book-style foldable

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Honor has recently introduced the Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR, a premium iteration of its book-style foldable smartphone, the Honor Magic V2. The Porsche design inspired Honor Magic V2 RSR, being a 9.9mm foldable built with premium materials like titanium, emerges as a notable competitor to the likes of the OnePlus Open or the Google Pixel Fold.

Ahead of its global launch at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, reviews of the Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design have surfaced, shedding light on the hardware and software offerings.

According to an initial review by MrMobile on YouTube, the Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR sets itself apart with not only its impressive design collaboration but also an array of in-box accessories. Notably, the list of accessories that comes in the box also includes a stylus called the ‘Honor Magic-Pen’ that works on both the inner and outer display.

Honor also provides a dedicated storage box for the stylus, dual chargers catering to European and UK power outlets, and a sleek leather case all within the box. This comprehensive accessory package establishes the Magic V2 RSR as the foldable smartphone with the highest number of bundled accessories currently available on the market.

The Honor Magic V2 RSR brings a distinctive aesthetic inspired by Porsche 911

In terms of design, the Honor Magic V2 RSR introduces a distinctive aesthetic inspired by Porsche, featuring a “Porsche-style flyline” along the back panel and camera bump. These design elements evoke the iconic silhouette of the Porsche 911, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the device’s appearance.

Under the hood, the Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design boasts a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a generous 1TB of storage. The device sports a 6.43-inch LTPO OLED external display and a larger 7.92-inch LTPO OLED foldable display, both with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. Despite its impressive hardware, the phone lacks an official IP rating for water and dust resistance.

In terms of photography capabilities, the Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design excels with a versatile triple-camera setup, comprising a 50MP wide sensor, a 20MP telephoto camera with 2.5x optical zoom, a 50MP ultrawide sensor, and a 16MP front camera for selfies.

According to Sammobile, Honor is likely to unveil pricing and availability details at MWC 2024. Check out the video below for a comprehensive overview of both the hardware of this Porsche design-inspired foldable and the features of MagicOS 7.2 (based on Android 13).


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Slack is bringing cool AI features to the app, but for a price

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Slack AI features are officially here, just right on schedule. The workplace management platform, owned by Salesforce, is bringing a slew of AI features to make things easier, especially for businesses that rely on Slack for internal communication. The features include AI-powered search, channel recaps, and thread summaries. But for a price.

Slack is coming with a suite of AI features in the app

With Slack AI, if you’ve missed out on a thread where someone tagged you, you can use it to get a complete summary of the conversation, including who said what. You can also use it to catch up on the discussions happening in channels.

It first began testing Slack AI last year, and now it’s becoming available as a paid add-on for Slack Enterprise users.

If you’ve ever struggled with Slack’s current search tool, you’ll like the new AI-powered search. It has improved a lot, as teased. Instead of relying solely on keyword searches, you can now conversationally ask questions and receive succinct, generated answers based on relevant Slack messages. It is useful, especially when catching up on finding specific information.

Channel Recap and Threads steal the show

Next up is the Channel Recaps. It provides you with key highlights of what you missed while you were away. Slack assures that the algorithm generating these recaps is intelligent enough to distinguish between different topics discussed.

A similar tool is also available for threads, which are essentially one-on-one or group conversations that don’t take up an entire channel. This feature allows users to quickly catch up on any thread with just one click. It’s great when someone sends lots of messages one after another because it organizes everything neatly.

It seems promising, at least in theory. As more users and businesses start using Slack’s AI features, we’ll see how well it manages the workload.


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Sega announces new content coming to Sonic Dream Team

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Sonic Dream Team is the latest mobile entry into the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and it puts a new spin on it (no pun intended). The game received positive reviews despite the fact that you can only play it on Apple Arcade. Sega just announced some new content that’s coming to Sonic Dream Team that will make the game that much more fun.

Sonic and the team are stuck inside of one of Eggman’s twisted dreams and must recover the dream orbs in order to make it out. This is the gist of the story, and it may sound a little familiar if you’ve played Sonic Frontiers. However, 3D Prime Adventure, the team behind Sonic Dream Team, was able to create a gameplay experience that’s uniquely Sonic while still remaining unique.

It’s Exclusive to Apple Arcade, which costs $6.99/month. If you’ve yet to get Apple Arcade, you can sign up for a free trial and try it out for a month. You can play that game along with more than 200 other premium titles.

Sonic Dream Team is getting more content

This is the first of several updates that Sonic Dream Team is going to get throughout the year. In this update, you’re getting a few new modes plus some useful tweaks. First off, you’re getting Time Trials. You can’t call it a Sonic game without time trials. In this mode, you’ll run through the stages and try to complete them as quickly as possible and get the best times.

Next, they’re going to be New Boss Missions. The update will bring eight new boss missions to the game. This is for people who can’t get enough.

This new update will also bring Speedruns. This will add ranks to the missions for completionists who want to get the highest rank for each level.

Lastly, this update brings some tweaks to Dr. Crabulous, the Factory Foreman, and the Guardian Hunter. These characters have all been updated with a few new moves to keep the fighting fresh.

As of the writing of this article, the update should have already arrived. Make sure your app is fully updated.


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Apple Vision Pro now has access to over 1,000 visionOS apps

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Apple Vision Pro has never left the headlines since its release. The $3,500 mixed reality headsets keep topping the news pages for several reasons. It’s been close to two weeks since the Vision Pro hit shelves in the US. Apple has made quite a progress with visionOS so far. The company shipped the Vision Pro with over 600 visionOS apps available for the headset, other than 1.5 million iPad apps that remain compatible with the mixed-reality headset. Now, the visionOS supports over 1,000 apps, thus the Apple Vision Pro users have access to them.

Apple Vision Pro now has access to 1,000 visionOS apps

Apple’s SVP of Marketing, Greg Joswiak, announced this update on X. He gives a “big thank you” to the developers and mentions that visionOS now has 1000 “incredible spatial apps,” which are apps made especially for the Apple Vision Pro. Altogether, the visionOS App Store has over 1.5 million apps. But most of these are iPad apps that can run on visionOS in a compatibility mode.

There’s another story to the lack of visionOS apps. The visionOS App Store has sparked some controversies. Even though Apple points out that key apps like Disney+, NBA, and HBO Max offer immersive experiences on Vision Pro, there are still many important apps missing. These include Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

More importantly, YouTube has confirmed that a native visionOS app is in the pipeline. We don’t have a specific date, or timeline for when YouTube will come with an app. But it’s safe to assume that at least, in the coming weeks or months.

How different is a native visionOS app from an iPad app running on Vision Pro

A native visionOS app is designed specifically for the operating system. So, it comes with features like big targets for eye tracking, glass-like frames, and interactive menus around a central window called ornaments. On the other hand, compatible apps run in a flat 2D window that looks the same as on an iPad or iPhone.


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Google’s Weather widget icons are getting a refresh

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Google redesigned its Weather app last year in tandem with the release of the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. Although the new redesign included a clean new interface and a new set of weather icons, its corresponding widget kept the same old icons to represent the weather. This is about to change.
Spotted by the Google News channel on Telegram, it appears that Google is now supporting the new set of weather icons on both the redesigned Weather app and the At a Glance widget that can be installed on devices other than Pixels. As usual when it comes to Google releases, this seems to be a staged rollout, so results on when you will see the new icons appear for you may vary.

Image Source: Google News Channel (Telegram)

As you can see in the image above, the updated icons appear less flat and take more of a 3D aesthetic. Additionally, in the image below, you can get a clearer picture of what the new icons will look like on your home screen weather widget, based on the redesigned weather app, once the change rolls out to your device.

Old weather widget vs new icons in redesigned weather app | Source: Phone Arena

Though not everyone places important in the appearance of widgets, Google has showed a renewed interest in them since the launch of “Material You”. Additionally, since Apple introduced home screen widgets with iOS 14, users on both iPhones and Android devices have sought out ways to customize their home screens to their liking. For those users, having a cohesive look throughout the UI is important, and hopefully this small change can help with that.
It’ll be interesting to see what other widget-related improvements Google’s got in the works. It would be nice to see some new ones pop up with Android 15, along with that rumored option to replace or completely remove the At a Glance widget from Pixel phones’ home screens.

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