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Friday’s Android app deals and freebies: ISLANDERS, Newtro Boxing, Planescape, more
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Friday’s Android app deals and freebies: ISLANDERS, Newtro Boxing, Planescape, more

Amazon's early fall Prime Day deals coincide with discounted offers on popular apps and games in the Google Play Store, including ISLANDERS: Mobile, Cell Clone Wars: Pro, Minabo: A Walk Through Life, Unreal Life, Planescape: Torment: Enhanced, Kero Blaster, and Newtro Boxing. Additionally, the Airfly Drive wireless Android Auto adapter from Twelve South is available, and the 45mm Pixel Watch 5 is discounted by 8.
Google confirms Android Auto updates & fixes for media apps – the squiggly line is here to stay
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Google confirms Android Auto updates & fixes for media apps – the squiggly line is here to stay

Google has announced enhancements to Android Auto, particularly for media applications. A key feature allows users to control media playback from any app, including YouTube, but does not enable browsing app content directly. A redesigned media app player has been introduced for apps like Spotify and YouTube Music, providing easier access to playback controls and optimizing for various screen sizes. Users will soon be able to swipe between active media sessions from the dashboard widget, improving multitasking while driving. Improvements have been made to the autoplay function, ensuring that media apps not recently used will not be selected for autoplay, and Android Auto will recognize user behavior patterns regarding autoplay. The new "squiggly line" design for the media player has been confirmed as a permanent addition, aimed at providing a clearer visual representation of track progress.
RCS misbehaving in Messages? Google says a fix is on the way
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

RCS misbehaving in Messages? Google says a fix is on the way

Users of Google Messages are experiencing issues with media attachments failing to send via RCS. Google has acknowledged a bug affecting some users and is rolling out a fix expected to reach all affected users in the coming weeks. Users are advised to keep the Google Messages app updated to expedite the resolution.
There's a new way to run Android apps on Mac
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

There’s a new way to run Android apps on Mac

The "Mac.apk" project allows Mac users to install Android apps directly into their Applications folder, mimicking the installation process of native Mac applications. The project is still in early stages, with some functionalities, particularly in games with anti-cheat mechanisms, potentially not operating as intended. Initial trials have shown a generally smooth user experience, indicating significant potential for the tool.
Mike Tomlin gets roasted by former Super Bowl MVP, former Steelers star and others for Minecraft City
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Mike Tomlin gets roasted by former Super Bowl MVP, former Steelers star and others for Minecraft City

Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has been building an intricately designed Minecraft City since 2014, which he began during a challenging period for the Steelers, who did not secure a playoff victory in his last nine seasons. This hobby has drawn amusement and skepticism from the NFL community, with former players like Le'Veon Bell and Julian Edelman making lighthearted comments about it. Tomlin's motivation for the project was to connect with his children, and he finds the creative process therapeutic. Despite no longer coaching the Steelers, the topic continues to be referenced humorously in relation to his coaching legacy.
Dear former NFL head coach Mike Tomlin: Your 12-year Minecraft city is beautiful
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Dear former NFL head coach Mike Tomlin: Your 12-year Minecraft city is beautiful

Mike Tomlin served as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007 to 2025, achieving a record of no losing seasons, 13 playoff appearances, eight division titles, and a Super Bowl victory. He began a Minecraft project in 2014, which took 12 years to complete, resulting in a detailed digital city. From 2014 to 2025, the Steelers' playoff win rate dropped to 25%, with only three playoff victories and nine consecutive years without a win. Tomlin's son, Mayce, humorously mentioned that his PlayStation would often be missing when he returned home, indicating Tomlin's focus on his creative project. Tomlin plans to release more content about the Minecraft city on his YouTube channel.
Mike Tomlin's 12-year-long Minecraft hobby is being questioned: “You don't see Andy Reid doing that”
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Mike Tomlin’s 12-year-long Minecraft hobby is being questioned: “You don’t see Andy Reid doing that”

Mike Tomlin has spent 12 years building a detailed virtual city in Minecraft, initially as a way to bond with his children. His city features hotels, apartments, sports venues, and an aquarium, serving as a therapeutic escape from coaching pressures. Tomlin's project developed between 2014 and 2025, coinciding with the Steelers' struggles in the NFL Playoffs despite having talented rosters. Criticism arose from fans and former player Le'Veon Bell, who questioned Tomlin's dedication to the team. The city includes a large body of water, a boutique hotel with an executive spa, glass ceilings for natural light, an aquarium-themed apartment high-rise, a CVS, and various sports facilities. Despite his commitment to this project, Tomlin led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory in 2009 and has maintained competitiveness in his coaching career.
Google clarifies Android sideloading crackdown ahead of wider rollout
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Google clarifies Android sideloading crackdown ahead of wider rollout

Google's recent clarification on the Android Developer Verifier indicates that enforcement will initially target certified Android devices and specific app distribution channels, rather than imposing restrictions on all devices. Only certified devices designed to run Google's applications will be affected, while devices with custom ROMs or uncertified versions will not be included in the current measures. App marketplaces like Samsung’s Galaxy Store and Xiaomi’s GetApps will ensure developers verify their applications, but users can still install unverified apps, albeit with a potential 24-hour waiting period for installation. This waiting period is device-level, allowing multiple unverified apps to be installed without repeating the delay for each one. Developers can bypass this waiting period using Android Debug Bridge (ADB). The initial enforcement began on September 30 in four countries, with a global expansion planned for 2027. The changes primarily impact users who download apps from outside recognized stores, while those using Google Play or participating stores may experience minimal changes.
GeForce GTX 1050 and GTX 1080 Ti now work in Windows XP thanks to a modified driver
Winsage
October 2, 2026

GeForce GTX 1050 and GTX 1080 Ti now work in Windows XP thanks to a modified driver

An enthusiast known as SupraGSX has introduced an unofficial graphics driver, Forceware 382.69, which supports NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series graphics cards on the 32-bit Windows XP operating system. This driver was created by reverse porting code from the official NVIDIA 368.81 package and enhanced with artificial intelligence tools. It is available on GitHub and allows for hardware acceleration, recognition of Pascal GPUs, and supports DisplayPort HBR3 and HDMI 2.0 standards. The driver is compatible with desktop models from GeForce GTX 1050 to GTX 1080 Ti and TITAN X, but does not support the GeForce GT 1030 or mobile graphics accelerators due to technical limitations. This development is significant as NVIDIA has not released official drivers for Pascal architecture on Windows XP, which previously only supported the Maxwell-based GeForce 900 series.
How to watch Microsoft's Windows and Surface event
Winsage
October 2, 2026

How to watch Microsoft’s Windows and Surface event

Microsoft will host a Windows and Surface event on October 7, 2026, which will be live-streamed on YouTube. The event is expected to feature the Surface Laptop Ultra and NVIDIA RTX Spark, with possible appearances of the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box. Key figures such as CEO Satya Nadella, Surface Chief Pavan Davuluri, and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang will attend. There is anticipation for future updates or changes to Windows 11 and hardware offerings. Recent polling shows strong interest in the Surface Laptop Ultra among readers from Windows Central.
The most profitable free-to-play games on consoles and PCs are gradually losing market share, study shows
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

The most profitable free-to-play games on consoles and PCs are gradually losing market share, study shows

Newzoo's study on free-to-play games in 2025 reveals that revenue from this segment is shifting, with the top five grossing titles' share of total console revenue decreasing from 79% in 2021 to 72% in 2025, and from 68% to 65% on PC. Players spent approximately 30 billion hours on free-to-play games in the previous year, a decline of 2.9% from 2021. Roblox's playtime has more than doubled to nearly 10 billion hours, increasing its share from 3.3% to 7.9%. While free-to-play playtime on PC has grown, console playtime has declined. The number of gacha games has increased from three in 2021 to 17 in 2025, leading to a 92% rise in playtime on PC. Newzoo's research covers 37 major markets, excluding China and India, focusing on revenue data from the USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.
Steam’s new Autumn Sale brings hundreds upon hundreds of PC game bargains
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Steam’s new Autumn Sale brings hundreds upon hundreds of PC game bargains

Valve has launched the Steam Autumn Sale 2026, featuring discounts on PC games, downloadable content (DLC), and various other offerings. The sale runs until October 8 at 10 AM PT. Major titles on sale include Resident Evil Requiem, Death Stranding 2, Gothic Remake, Forza Horizon 6, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, 007 First Light, Big Walk, and Halo Campaign Evolved. Discounts vary by title, with some games in the Deep Discounts section reduced by 85% to 95%, including Far Cry 6, Jagged Alliance 3, Monster Hunter Rise, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus. The Steam Awards will not be part of this sale.
Riot's absurd expectations of player counts 'in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions' doomed 2XKO from the start
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Riot’s absurd expectations of player counts ‘in the high hundreds of thousands, if not millions’ doomed 2XKO from the start

Marc Merrill discussed the development challenges of the game 2XKO, which faced difficulties in attracting a sufficient user base to support its live service model after eight years of work. The game required a monthly active user count in the high hundreds of thousands to justify its ongoing operation. The decision to shift 2XKO to a "box game" model resulted in layoffs and reflected broader industry challenges. The podcast highlighted that even with 400,000 daily players, sustaining a monthly unique player count near one million would be difficult. Merrill indicated that 2XKO would likely struggle to exceed 500,000 monthly active users, raising questions about Riot Games' market assessment and the developers' effectiveness.
Using AI to Solve Technical Problems in PC Games
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Using AI to Solve Technical Problems in PC Games

PC gaming can experience crashes after installing mods or changing settings, often requiring players to diagnose issues from complex error logs. AI tools can assist by analyzing game versions and actions taken before crashes, helping to identify problems more efficiently. Heavily modded games may face additional complications due to conflicts between mods or outdated plugins, where AI can streamline the troubleshooting process. Configuration files contain critical settings that can be adjusted to resolve issues, and AI can clarify these settings and highlight changes when transferring games. Updates can introduce new problems, making it essential to provide AI with specific details for effective analysis. While paid AI tools may not be necessary for all players, they can be beneficial for those frequently encountering technical difficulties. AI can offer valuable insights during troubleshooting, though it may not resolve every issue.
Android’s new sideloading rules are here
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Android’s new sideloading rules are here

Google has begun rolling out new Android developer verification rules starting September 30, affecting users in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. Certified Android devices running Android 7 or later will require apps from participating stores to come from verified developers. Approved platforms include Google Play, Samsung’s Galaxy Store, HONOR App Market, OPPO App Market, Xiaomi GetApps, vivo V-Appstore, and Transsion’s Palm Store. While sideloading apps from unverified developers is still possible, the process has become more complicated. Users must enable a setting through Developer Options, authenticate their identity, restart their device, and wait 24 hours before installing such apps. Once activated, users can allow installations from unverified developers for seven days or indefinitely. ADB installations are exempt from the waiting period. No immediate changes are occurring for users in the United States, and the global rollout of these requirements is planned for 2027.
Android Auto’s weather experience is broken, and a raccoon meme isn’t going to fix it
AppWizard
October 2, 2026

Android Auto’s weather experience is broken, and a raccoon meme isn’t going to fix it

The Authority Insights team at Android Authority discovered a potential feature for Android Auto that includes an animated raccoon providing weather updates. This feature raises concerns about driver distraction, as it contradicts the current design of Android Auto, which emphasizes clear and consistent UI elements for quick information absorption. Accurate weather information is crucial for safe driving, with over 260,000 injuries and approximately 3,800 fatalities occurring annually in weather-related accidents in the U.S. The article suggests that Google could enhance weather information on Android Auto by integrating a weather overlay into Google Maps or providing simple weather updates within the navigation dialog, rather than using an animated raccoon. The need for timely weather updates is emphasized, highlighting the importance of driver safety.
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