Android Archives

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

Emerging online scams are making users more vigilant, says Google

Over 60% of U.S. consumers have encountered scams, indicating a growing awareness of digital threats. More than 60% of Gen X and Baby Boomers still use traditional passwords, while younger generations prefer passkeys. Google has enhanced scam detection capabilities on Android devices, introducing features to identify potential scams in calls and texts. Over 60% of consumers perceive an increase in scams over the past year, with one-third reporting personal data breaches. Google promotes passwordless sign-in options like passkeys and "Sign in with Google" to improve security. Recent updates include enhanced scam detection in Google Messages and Chrome, and the Safety Check feature in Chrome now monitors for malicious notifications. Google has also released findings on prevalent scams, such as customer support fraud and package tracking schemes.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

Google Drive introduces new Gemini-powered ‘Catch Me Up’ feature

Google Workspace has introduced a feature called "Catch Me Up" in Google Drive, powered by Gemini AI, to inform users about recent edits and comments in their documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Accessible through the "Ask Gemini" section, it provides a summary of significant changes since the last access. The feature is being rolled out to Google Workspace and Google One AI Premium users, initially supporting the English language. A "catch me up" icon will appear next to frequently updated files for quick access to the overview of changes. The rollout began on June 3, targeting both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Data Defense, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, Maglev Metro, more

This afternoon, Google Play is offering significant deals on hardware and apps. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is available at a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Exciting Deals on Google Play This Afternoon This afternoon brings a wealth of enticing offers on Google Play, catering to both hardware enthusiasts and app aficionados alike. Among the standout hardware deals, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is available at an impressive 0 off, making it a prime choice for those seeking a premium smartwatch experience. Additionally, the unlocked Galaxy Z Fold 6 is seeing a remarkable 0 price drop, presenting a unique opportunity for consumers interested in cutting-edge foldable technology. For those in the market for a smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra can now be acquired at a notable 0 discount, ensuring that top-tier features are more accessible than ever. Rounding out the hardware offerings is a new low on Microsoft’s Surface Pro featuring the Snapdragon X Plus Copilot+ PC, which promises to enhance productivity with its versatile capabilities. On the software front, a selection of engaging apps is also up for grabs. Titles such as Data Defense, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, and Maglev Metro are among the highlights, offering entertainment and utility for users looking to enrich their digital experience. With such a diverse array of deals available, this afternoon presents a perfect opportunity for savvy shoppers to explore and take advantage of these limited-time offers." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] discount, the unlocked Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Exciting Deals on Google Play This Afternoon This afternoon brings a wealth of enticing offers on Google Play, catering to both hardware enthusiasts and app aficionados alike. Among the standout hardware deals, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is available at an impressive 0 off, making it a prime choice for those seeking a premium smartwatch experience. Additionally, the unlocked Galaxy Z Fold 6 is seeing a remarkable 0 price drop, presenting a unique opportunity for consumers interested in cutting-edge foldable technology. For those in the market for a smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra can now be acquired at a notable 0 discount, ensuring that top-tier features are more accessible than ever. Rounding out the hardware offerings is a new low on Microsoft’s Surface Pro featuring the Snapdragon X Plus Copilot+ PC, which promises to enhance productivity with its versatile capabilities. On the software front, a selection of engaging apps is also up for grabs. Titles such as Data Defense, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, and Maglev Metro are among the highlights, offering entertainment and utility for users looking to enrich their digital experience. With such a diverse array of deals available, this afternoon presents a perfect opportunity for savvy shoppers to explore and take advantage of these limited-time offers." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] price drop, and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra can be purchased at a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Exciting Deals on Google Play This Afternoon This afternoon brings a wealth of enticing offers on Google Play, catering to both hardware enthusiasts and app aficionados alike. Among the standout hardware deals, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is available at an impressive 0 off, making it a prime choice for those seeking a premium smartwatch experience. Additionally, the unlocked Galaxy Z Fold 6 is seeing a remarkable 0 price drop, presenting a unique opportunity for consumers interested in cutting-edge foldable technology. For those in the market for a smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra can now be acquired at a notable 0 discount, ensuring that top-tier features are more accessible than ever. Rounding out the hardware offerings is a new low on Microsoft’s Surface Pro featuring the Snapdragon X Plus Copilot+ PC, which promises to enhance productivity with its versatile capabilities. On the software front, a selection of engaging apps is also up for grabs. Titles such as Data Defense, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, and Maglev Metro are among the highlights, offering entertainment and utility for users looking to enrich their digital experience. With such a diverse array of deals available, this afternoon presents a perfect opportunity for savvy shoppers to explore and take advantage of these limited-time offers." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] discount. Additionally, Microsoft’s Surface Pro with Snapdragon X Plus Copilot+ PC is at a new low price. On the software side, apps like Data Defense, Castles of Mad King Ludwig, and Maglev Metro are featured in the promotions.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Google Translate might shake up its design to make room for big upgrades

Google Translate is set to undergo significant updates on Android devices, including a revised results page that prominently displays the initial word and its translation, along with a "More Translations" section. New features such as "Ask a question" and "Regional variants" will enhance user interaction. The app will also include a "list of possible translations" for better context and an "Insights" button to help users understand word nuances. These updates are part of Google's broader efforts to improve its applications, including a redesign for Google Photos and Gmail. Additionally, the integration of Gemini 2.5 into AI Mode aims to streamline user queries for more efficient language translation. The timeline for these updates is currently uncertain.

BetaBeacon

June 4, 2025

Dolphin emulator hits a milestone as the full Wii catalog is now playable

Dolphin emulator release 2506 includes improvements to address audio stuttering on lower-end machines, fixes for frame pacing issues, new anisotropic filtering options for graphics, ability to emulate games beyond 60fps, full compatibility with GameCube and Wii catalogs, and new features for Android users.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Meta found ‘covertly tracking’ Android users through Instagram and Facebook

Experts at Radboud University and IMDEA Networks found that Meta and Yandex have been covertly tracking Android users by monitoring browser activity without consent. This tracking was first identified in January and involves apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Yandex Maps operating in the background and loading scripts that transmit data back to their respective apps. These scripts bypass Android's security measures, allowing the companies to track users' web browsing activities. The tracking affects all major Android browsers, including incognito mode. Google confirmed that Meta and Yandex exploited Android's capabilities in violation of security and privacy principles. Meta is investigating the issue and has paused the feature, while Yandex claims to adhere to data protection standards. Meta's tracking has been ongoing for about eight months, while Yandex's practices date back to 2017. Facebook tracked users on around 16,000 websites in the EU, and Yandex was active on 1,300 sites. Google has begun implementing changes to address these tracking techniques and is conducting its own investigation. Browsers like Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and DuckDuckGo are also affected, with efforts underway to prevent future incidents.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

EXCLUSIVE: Ads From Verizon, Shell, and Others Ran Next to Explicit Videos on Top Android App

Major brands such as Verizon, Amazon, and Popeyes found their advertisements appearing alongside inappropriate content on the short-form video platform XShorts, which has over a million downloads and promotes itself as a hub for "short and hot videos." Despite its 'Teen' rating, the app has been criticized for hosting sexually suggestive and racially offensive material. Google assessed that XShorts breached its advertising policies, resulting in the suspension of the app's monetization capabilities. Advertisements from brands like Shell, Walgreens, Microsoft, and others were observed alongside explicit content. In response, brands like Roblox and Puck have taken measures to ensure brand safety, while Meta has removed XShorts from their Audience Network for policy violations. The incident highlights the challenges advertisers face in maintaining brand safety on emerging platforms.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Google Unveils Gemini Nano for On-Device AI in Android Apps

Google has updated the Gemini Nano APIs through the ML Kit, introducing new GenAI APIs that allow developers to perform on-device inference for generative AI capabilities in Android applications. These APIs enhance user privacy by executing all operations locally, eliminating cloud processing costs. Features include summarization of articles up to 3,000 words, proofreading for grammatical accuracy, rewriting text in various tones, and generating image descriptions. The GenAI APIs are optimized for Android devices using MediaTek Dimensity, Qualcomm Snapdragon, and Google Tensor platforms, including the Pixel 9 series and Samsung Galaxy S25. They operate without internet connectivity, ensuring rapid response times and improved performance for tasks like summarization and proofreading. The local processing also enhances privacy and security, protecting sensitive user information with safety protocols.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Adobe Photoshop for Android Is Now Available for Free: Here’s Why It Is Better

Adobe has launched the main Photoshop app for Android, currently available for free on the Google Play Store. The app is in beta testing and includes familiar desktop features, premium tools, and generative AI technology such as Generative Fill and smart subject selection. This is the first authentic Adobe Photoshop app for Android, aiming to provide a comprehensive mobile editing experience that bridges the gap with desktop capabilities and supports Creative Cloud.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Meta Pixel halts Android localhost tracking after disclosure

Security researchers have found that Meta and Yandex used native Android applications to access localhost ports, allowing them to link web browsing data with user identities and bypass privacy protections. Following these findings, Meta stopped its data transmission to localhost and removed much of the tracking code to comply with Google Play policies. A report from researchers at IMDEA Networks, Radboud University, and KU Leuven detailed how apps like Facebook and Instagram collected web cookie data via the loopback interface. This method allowed the companies to associate browsing sessions with user identities, undermining privacy measures. Meta's tracking process involved the Meta Pixel script, which transmitted cookies to native apps through various protocols. Meta began using this technique in September 2024 but ceased these practices by June 3rd, 2025. Yandex's localhost tracking dates back to 2017, and while they did not respond to inquiries, browser vendors have implemented mitigations against these practices. Proposed solutions include a new permission for local network access to prevent such tracking in the future.