Android Archives

AppWizard

April 5, 2026

Review of ‘DoNotNotify,’ a free Android app that filters and blocks unwanted smartphone notifications.

DoNotNotify is an Android app that allows users to manage their notification settings with a high degree of customization. Key features include: - Real-time notification blocking using Android's NotificationListenerService. - Creation of deny and allow lists for specific notifications. - Support for simple partial matching and regular expression patterns to filter notifications. - Scheduling rules to be active during specific time frames. - Over 40 pre-configured rules for popular applications. - Automatic addition of relevant rules when compatible apps are installed. - Customizable notification retention and review of received alerts. - Tracking of blocked notifications through a block history feature. - Ability to import and export rules as JSON files. - Offline operation without data collection. To install the app, users can download it from the Google Play Store, enable notification access, and manage rules through the app's interface. Users can create new rules based on their notification history and customize settings, although advanced filtering may require experimentation.

BetaBeacon

April 5, 2026

PC Gaming on Android at 100 FPS, Battery Efficiency : Red Magic 11

The Red Magic 11 Golden Saga Edition features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, Adreno 840 GPU, 24 GB LPDDR5T RAM, and up to 1 TB UFS 4.1 Pro storage for high-performance gaming.

AppWizard

April 5, 2026

RIP Samsung Messages: End-of-life date officially announced

Samsung will phase out the Samsung Messages app by July 2026, encouraging users to transition to Google Messages for a more consistent messaging experience across Android devices. Samsung previously announced in July 2024 that Google Messages would become the default messaging app for Galaxy smartphones. The upcoming Galaxy S26 series will feature Google Messages exclusively, without Samsung Messages. Devices running Android 11 or older will still support Samsung Messages. Users are advised to check their app for specific shutdown details, which may vary by region.

BetaBeacon

April 5, 2026

Wine 11.6 Begins Reviving Its Android Driver

Wine 11.6 has been released with a focus on reviving its Android driver, updating the build system for Android, and enhancing the DLL loader order heuristics to better support game mods.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Netflix ordered to pay back millions of subscribers in landmark ruling

A court in Rome ruled that Netflix's price hikes from 2017 to 2024 were illegal due to a lack of justified reasons. Long-term subscribers in Italy could receive refunds of up to €500 for Premium plan users and €250 for Standard plan users. Netflix has 90 days to inform affected customers, or it may face daily fines of €700. The ruling stems from a lawsuit by consumer advocacy group Movimento Consumatori, which challenged the price increases. Current prices must revert to previous levels, and Netflix plans to appeal the decision while updating its contract terms for future price increases. The ruling currently applies only in Italy.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Android’s controversial sideloading changes pushed me to build my own app installer

Using ADB via the command line can be cumbersome, prompting the desire to create a tailored application focused on the APK installation workflow, including wireless debugging pairing, file browsing, and bundle unpacking. A recent poll indicated that 48% of respondents use ADB fairly often, while 35% have used it once or twice. The author, a moderately skilled programmer, explored AI-assisted "vibe coding" to develop an app in Go, chosen for its simplicity and cross-platform capabilities. The project began with outlining its structure and creating a basic ADB wrapper in Go, which evolved into a functional terminal application within three days of part-time effort. The app, a compact 7MB executable, manages ADB sessions, allows pairing with Android devices over USB or Wi-Fi, includes a file explorer, and supports installing and unpacking various app bundles. Despite its usefulness, the author noted a limited understanding of Go due to reliance on AI for problem-solving. The app's source code is available on the Tiny APK Installer GitHub repository.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

If you’ve got a CMF Watch, the Nothing X app is taking over: this is what you need to know

Nothing will phase out the CMF Watch app, removing it from app stores on April 3, and users are encouraged to migrate to the Nothing X app. Full functionality of the Nothing X app is expected by July 19, 2026. Users must begin transferring their data now, which will deactivate their CMF Watch app accounts. The Watch 3 Pro, launched in July 2025, features a four-channel heart rate sensor, 131 sports modes, a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, and a battery life of 13 days. CMF Watches offer budget-friendly options and have received a million investment from Optiemus to enhance their capabilities. CMF operates independently from Nothing, headquartered in India, and has created around 1,800 jobs.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Pixel users report Now Playing app is finally working as it should

The Pixel's “Now Playing” feature has become a standalone app following the March Pixel Drop, improving music discovery and allowing users to manage their song history. Users reported issues such as the missing “Tap to see what’s playing” feature on the lock screen and syncing problems with Now Playing history. Google has issued an update to address these glitches, and some users have confirmed the return of the lock screen feature, although not all have benefited from the update. Google provided a troubleshooting guide for users facing difficulties, including steps to enable necessary services, ensure song identification, and restore missing song history. The app requires a full 24 hours to set up correctly, and many issues are linked to the March software update.

BetaBeacon

April 3, 2026

Wine 11.6 Brings Android Driver Work, Game Mod Fixes

The Wine Project has released version 11.6, which includes improvements and bug fixes to enhance user experience. The update focuses on reviving the Android driver and improving VBScript compatibility. Gaming compatibility has been addressed, fixing issues in popular games like Minecraft Windows 10 Edition and Mount & Blade: Warband. For Linux gamers, the update resolves problems in Diablo IV and Cyberpunk 2077. Additionally, enhancements have been made for DLL handling in Gecko-based browsers and modded game setups. Compatibility fixes have also been provided for various applications like StarOffice 5.1 and PDF-XChange Editor. The source code for Wine 11.6 is available for download on GitLab, with binary packages for different distributions expected to be available soon.

AppWizard

April 3, 2026

Goodbye, Duolingo; I’ve found a much better language-learning app

Rita El Khoury shares her positive experience with the language-learning app Babbel, which she prefers over Duolingo and Memrise due to its focus on practical communication and real-life conversations. Babbel's curriculum emphasizes essential phrases and useful vocabulary, enhancing retention through a flashcard system that includes visual aids, text, and pronunciation. The app offers a variety of practice methods, including grammar guides and audio recaps, allowing users to tailor their learning experience. Babbel also features an AI-powered Speak function for conversation practice, helping users overcome speaking hesitations. While El Khoury notes some limitations, such as the need to switch the app's primary language for different language pairs, she is considering a long-term subscription due to Babbel's alignment with her learning style and its flexible pricing structure.