Author: Kavish

The field of database administration is far from glamorous. Even within the uncompromisingly geeky domain of information technology, database administration would be among the last fields picked for a game of proverbial kickball. However, the future employment landscape for tech jobs remains uncertain in these changing times. Despite its somewhat unglamorous reputation, database management and administration is an industry experiencing rapid growth, persistent talent shortages, and significant changes brought by AI. This field has much potential for those willing to cash in on its viable career path. These watershed moments invariably present significant opportunities as well as challenges. Percona, an…

If I was a father, I think I’d love playing a game like The Plucky Squire with my kid–based on a few of the early chapters I played, its plotline seems straightforward and it’s mechanically simple while also offering some fun variety in its assortment of minigames. Plus, the game features a story that intriguingly deals with themes about fate and choice, and then frames that against childhood passions and interests. The Plucky Squire feels like one of those stories I so clearly remember experiencing when I was 10 or 11 years old and loving for how it broached symbolism…

With the advent of AI and rapidly changing corporate needs and performance, many companies have announced layoffs this year, and I expect we are far from done. These layoffs range in size from small, like eBay’s announcement of 1,000 layoffs, to the much larger 12,000-plus layoffs expected from Dell and Intel, among others. Regardless of the size of the layoff, employees face difficult and unexpected choices. Making the wrong decision could not only end your career but also lead to legal trouble if you act impulsively without considering the risks. Let’s discuss layoffs this week, and I’ll close with my…

Reviews are now live for Black Myth: Wukong, one of the most-anticipated games of August. A fast-paced action-RPG game inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, the game puts you in the boots of The Destined One as they navigate a dangerous world full of monsters and titanic threats. So far, reviews have been mostly positive, praising the game for its imaginative presentation and rich combat.There have been some criticisms over technical issues, and it’s worth noting that only PC review codes were provided to the press for review purposes, although the game will also launch for…

When ChatGPT exploded on the tech scene in November 2022, one of the burning questions in the minds of many technologists was how Google — which, up to that point, was known for its prowess in artificial intelligence — could be caught flat-footed when the starter’s gun sounded in the race to bring generative AI to the masses? Paul Buchheit, creator of Gmail, suggested some answers to that question in a recent edition of the Y Combinator Startup podcast. Buchheit, who left Google in 2006, maintained that after the company’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, began to reduce their…

A secret–and possibly cursed–update for Vampire Survivors has gone live, adding not only a “hellish meat-dimension” for players to conquer but also a major new gameplay mechanic in the form of Darkanas. Called the Darkasso update, players can also expect to uncover more secrets, unlock extra skins for characters, and earn new achievements. Like Arcana skills, Darkanas add new gameplay modifiers that can significantly change how you play. Developer Poncle says there’ll be five of these to experiment with, and they offer skills like generating exploding projectiles when you lose health. For the new level, Room 1665, Poncle explained in…

For the past two decades, I’ve lived in condo-style apartments in various cities, including Houston, Austin, Coral Gables, San Jose, and Las Vegas. I yearned for the day when I could have a gas grill on the patio wherever I lived, but I’ve been subject to homeowner association rules that prohibit gas grills on patios. The gas grill was a staple of my upbringing as a child and young adult in New Jersey, and the smell of grilled hamburgers and steaks with those characteristic charbroil marks that a gas grill makes still haunts my dreams. This memory faded after moving…

Fortnite teamed up with Razer earlier this year to launch a collection premium PC accessories, and now we’re getting another interesting collaboration–this time with PowerA. The PowerA Fortnite Special-Edition Xbox/PC Wireless Controller is now up for preorder ahead of its October 1 release, and it’s shaping up to be a great option for competitive players. Aside from its premium build quality, it comes bundled with a bonus in-game Fortnite item. It’s not the first PowerA x Fortnite collab–several Nintendo Switch accessories, including this Peely-themed Switch wireless controller, are available now–but it is the most premium. $100 The controller is one…

Although AI-capable PCs were introduced in the middle of the second quarter, they still captured 14% of global shipments, according to a report released Tuesday by research firm Canalys. Canalys reported that 8.8 million AI-capable PCs were shipped during the period, 40% running Microsoft Windows and 60% running macOS. Canalys defines an AI-capable PC as a desktop or notebook that includes a chipset or block for dedicated AI workloads, such as a neural processing unit (NPU). With all major processor vendors’ AI-capable PC roadmaps now well underway, the report noted, the stage is set for a significant ramp-up in device…

Monkey business is usually discouraged when it comes to Souls-like games, but Black Myth: Wukong is the rare exception to the rule. One of the big game releases of August, you can score a pretty decent 10% discount on the PC version of the game, over at Fanatical. Normally $60, you can grab the game for just $54 ahead of its August 19 release, or if you feel like unlocking some extra content, the digital deluxe edition will cost you just $63 (normally $70). The standard edition is just the base game, while the deluxe version throws in a unique…