Android Archives

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

14 Open-Source Android Apps for Privacy & Control

Users are increasingly seeking control over their digital privacy, leading to the rise of open-source Android applications that provide ad-free experiences and offline functionalities. A selection of 14 vetted applications includes: - Essentials: Unlocks system-level customization without rooting, allowing tweaks like custom notifications and app management. - PhotoU: Uses swipe-based sorting to organize photo galleries offline, enhancing user control over images. - PDF ToolKit: Manages PDF documents locally, enabling merging, splitting, and password protection without cloud uploads. - DNSNet: Acts as a local VPN to block malicious sites and ads before they load, enhancing browsing privacy. - Traffic Light: Monitors network usage in real-time, helping users identify data-draining apps. - CareSleep: Provides offline soundscapes for focus, free from ads and subscriptions. - Weather Master: Customizes weather displays with themes and layouts while respecting user privacy. - Block Ads: Filters ads system-wide without disrupting essential apps through smart split routing. - Nora: A privacy-focused browser that optimizes social media use while blocking trackers. - AB Download Manager: Enhances large file downloads through multi-threading and scheduling. - PixelPlayer: A local music player that adapts to wallpaper and operates ad-free. - MPV EX Video Player: Delivers high-quality video playback without ads, utilizing gesture controls. - CaptureCap: A lightweight screen recorder that captures internal audio without rooting. - Deep De-Noiser: Uses offline AI to remove background noise from recordings, ensuring clear audio quality.

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

Friday’s Android app deals and freebies: Hyper Light Drifter, Summer Catchers, Dragon Ruins

Friday features significant discounts on Google Play apps and games, including: - Chameleon Run - (Reg. ) - Blackthorn Castle - FREE (Reg. ) - Dragon Ruins - (Reg. ) - Hero Z TPS - .50 (Reg. ) - Hyper Light Drifter – S.E. - .75 (Reg. .50) - Summer Catchers - (Reg. ) - QuickPin – Fast Notes Reminder - FREE (Reg. ) - 1944 Burning Bridges Premium - (Reg. ) - Knots Live Wallpaper - FREE (Reg. .50) - Twilight Pro Unlock - (Reg. ) - White Room - FREE (Reg. [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: In a vibrant display of savings, Friday brings an array of enticing deals on Google Play apps and games, alongside significant discounts on popular smartphone models. Among the highlights are titles such as Hyper Light Drifter – S.E., Summer Catchers, and Dragon Ruins, each offering a unique gaming experience at reduced prices. The tech-savvy consumer will also find noteworthy discounts on the latest Galaxy models, with the Galaxy S26/Ultra available for over 0 off and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 slashed by up to 8. Additionally, Prime Day deals on the Pixel 11 continue to impress, with savings nearing 0. Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Chameleon Run - (Reg. ) Blackthorn Castle - FREE (Reg. ) Dragon Ruins - (Reg. ) Hero Z TPS - .50 (Reg. ) Hyper Light Drifter – S.E. - .75 (Reg. .50) Summer Catchers - (Reg. ) QuickPin – Fast Notes Reminder - FREE (Reg. ) 1944 Burning Bridges Premium - (Reg. ) Knots Live Wallpaper - FREE (Reg. .50) Twilight Pro Unlock - (Reg. ) White Room - FREE (Reg. [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Reg. $1+/FREE+ Friday’s best Google Play app and game deals are ready, including Hyper Light Drifter – S.E., Summer Catchers, Dragon Ruins, The Quest, White Room, Chameleon Run, and more. We also have Galaxy S26/Ultra models up to $500+ off, Galaxy Z Fold 8 up to $628 off, and Day Pixel 11 deals up to nearly $400 off. Scope out the apps below. Galaxy S26/Ultra models are up to $500+ off at Amazon today, deals from $560 Massive deals hit Galaxy Z Fold 8 today: Best Buy open-box units now up to $628 off Prime Day Pixel 11 deals still live, but these Best Buy open-box listings are up to nearly $400 off Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Chameleon Run$1 (Reg. $2) Blackthorn CastleFREE (Reg. $3) Dragon Ruins$1 (Reg. $7) Hero Z TPS$2.50 (Reg. $4) Hyper Light Drifter – S.E.$1.75 (Reg. $5.50) Summer Catchers$1 (Reg. $4) QuickPin – Fast Notes ReminderFREE (Reg. $1) 1944 Burning Bridges Premium$1 (Reg. $3) Knots Live WallpaperFREE (Reg. $5.50) Twilight Pro Unlock$5 (Reg. $10) White RoomFREE (Reg. $0.50) Circle Jump$0 (Reg. $8) The Quest$4 (Reg. $8) The Quest-Isles of Ice & Fire$2 (Reg. $4) FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Toys — experts digging up all the latest technology and lifestyle deals, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Toys on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out the best Apple deals, our daily podcast, and subscribe to our YouTube channel" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].50) Circle Jump - [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Reg. $1+/FREE+ Friday’s best Google Play app and game deals are ready, including Hyper Light Drifter – S.E., Summer Catchers, Dragon Ruins, The Quest, White Room, Chameleon Run, and more. We also have Galaxy S26/Ultra models up to $500+ off, Galaxy Z Fold 8 up to $628 off, and Day Pixel 11 deals up to nearly $400 off. Scope out the apps below. Galaxy S26/Ultra models are up to $500+ off at Amazon today, deals from $560 Massive deals hit Galaxy Z Fold 8 today: Best Buy open-box units now up to $628 off Prime Day Pixel 11 deals still live, but these Best Buy open-box listings are up to nearly $400 off Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Chameleon Run$1 (Reg. $2) Blackthorn CastleFREE (Reg. $3) Dragon Ruins$1 (Reg. $7) Hero Z TPS$2.50 (Reg. $4) Hyper Light Drifter – S.E.$1.75 (Reg. $5.50) Summer Catchers$1 (Reg. $4) QuickPin – Fast Notes ReminderFREE (Reg. $1) 1944 Burning Bridges Premium$1 (Reg. $3) Knots Live WallpaperFREE (Reg. $5.50) Twilight Pro Unlock$5 (Reg. $10) White RoomFREE (Reg. $0.50) Circle Jump$0 (Reg. $8) The Quest$4 (Reg. $8) The Quest-Isles of Ice & Fire$2 (Reg. $4) FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Toys — experts digging up all the latest technology and lifestyle deals, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Toys on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out the best Apple deals, our daily podcast, and subscribe to our YouTube channel" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ] (Reg. ) The Quest - (Reg. ) The Quest-Isles of Ice & Fire - (Reg. ) These offers not only cater to gamers looking for new adventures but also to those in the market for cutting-edge technology. With such compelling deals available, consumers are encouraged to explore these options while they last." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].50) - Circle Jump - [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: In a vibrant display of savings, Friday brings an array of enticing deals on Google Play apps and games, alongside significant discounts on popular smartphone models. Among the highlights are titles such as Hyper Light Drifter – S.E., Summer Catchers, and Dragon Ruins, each offering a unique gaming experience at reduced prices. The tech-savvy consumer will also find noteworthy discounts on the latest Galaxy models, with the Galaxy S26/Ultra available for over 0 off and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 slashed by up to 8. Additionally, Prime Day deals on the Pixel 11 continue to impress, with savings nearing 0. Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Chameleon Run - (Reg. ) Blackthorn Castle - FREE (Reg. ) Dragon Ruins - (Reg. ) Hero Z TPS - .50 (Reg. ) Hyper Light Drifter – S.E. - .75 (Reg. .50) Summer Catchers - (Reg. ) QuickPin – Fast Notes Reminder - FREE (Reg. ) 1944 Burning Bridges Premium - (Reg. ) Knots Live Wallpaper - FREE (Reg. .50) Twilight Pro Unlock - (Reg. ) White Room - FREE (Reg. [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Reg. $1+/FREE+ Friday’s best Google Play app and game deals are ready, including Hyper Light Drifter – S.E., Summer Catchers, Dragon Ruins, The Quest, White Room, Chameleon Run, and more. We also have Galaxy S26/Ultra models up to $500+ off, Galaxy Z Fold 8 up to $628 off, and Day Pixel 11 deals up to nearly $400 off. Scope out the apps below. Galaxy S26/Ultra models are up to $500+ off at Amazon today, deals from $560 Massive deals hit Galaxy Z Fold 8 today: Best Buy open-box units now up to $628 off Prime Day Pixel 11 deals still live, but these Best Buy open-box listings are up to nearly $400 off Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Chameleon Run$1 (Reg. $2) Blackthorn CastleFREE (Reg. $3) Dragon Ruins$1 (Reg. $7) Hero Z TPS$2.50 (Reg. $4) Hyper Light Drifter – S.E.$1.75 (Reg. $5.50) Summer Catchers$1 (Reg. $4) QuickPin – Fast Notes ReminderFREE (Reg. $1) 1944 Burning Bridges Premium$1 (Reg. $3) Knots Live WallpaperFREE (Reg. $5.50) Twilight Pro Unlock$5 (Reg. $10) White RoomFREE (Reg. $0.50) Circle Jump$0 (Reg. $8) The Quest$4 (Reg. $8) The Quest-Isles of Ice & Fire$2 (Reg. $4) FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Toys — experts digging up all the latest technology and lifestyle deals, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Toys on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out the best Apple deals, our daily podcast, and subscribe to our YouTube channel" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].50) Circle Jump - [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Reg. $1+/FREE+ Friday’s best Google Play app and game deals are ready, including Hyper Light Drifter – S.E., Summer Catchers, Dragon Ruins, The Quest, White Room, Chameleon Run, and more. We also have Galaxy S26/Ultra models up to $500+ off, Galaxy Z Fold 8 up to $628 off, and Day Pixel 11 deals up to nearly $400 off. Scope out the apps below. Galaxy S26/Ultra models are up to $500+ off at Amazon today, deals from $560 Massive deals hit Galaxy Z Fold 8 today: Best Buy open-box units now up to $628 off Prime Day Pixel 11 deals still live, but these Best Buy open-box listings are up to nearly $400 off Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Chameleon Run$1 (Reg. $2) Blackthorn CastleFREE (Reg. $3) Dragon Ruins$1 (Reg. $7) Hero Z TPS$2.50 (Reg. $4) Hyper Light Drifter – S.E.$1.75 (Reg. $5.50) Summer Catchers$1 (Reg. $4) QuickPin – Fast Notes ReminderFREE (Reg. $1) 1944 Burning Bridges Premium$1 (Reg. $3) Knots Live WallpaperFREE (Reg. $5.50) Twilight Pro Unlock$5 (Reg. $10) White RoomFREE (Reg. $0.50) Circle Jump$0 (Reg. $8) The Quest$4 (Reg. $8) The Quest-Isles of Ice & Fire$2 (Reg. $4) FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Toys — experts digging up all the latest technology and lifestyle deals, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Toys on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out the best Apple deals, our daily podcast, and subscribe to our YouTube channel" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ] (Reg. ) The Quest - (Reg. ) The Quest-Isles of Ice & Fire - (Reg. ) These offers not only cater to gamers looking for new adventures but also to those in the market for cutting-edge technology. With such compelling deals available, consumers are encouraged to explore these options while they last." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] (Reg. ) - The Quest - (Reg. ) - The Quest-Isles of Ice & Fire - (Reg. ) Additionally, smartphone discounts include: - Galaxy S26/Ultra models up to 0+ off - Galaxy Z Fold 8 up to 8 off - Pixel 11 deals up to nearly 0 off

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

WhatsApp Spotted Testing New Contacts Tab on Android

WhatsApp is testing a dedicated Contacts tab in its Android application, currently available in the beta version. This tab is integrated into the navigation bar and allows users direct access to their contact list, featuring a green dot indicator for online users. The new section includes birthday reminders with notifications and emojis, a search bar for locating contacts by name, phone number, or username, and sorting options for organizing the contact list by activity or alphabetically. Users who have disabled their "last seen/online" status will not appear as active.

BetaBeacon

October 9, 2026

Citra Emulator: A Simple Guide to Playing Nintendo 3DS Games on PC and Android

Citra is an open-source program designed to run compatible Nintendo 3DS games on other devices by recreating parts of the original console's behavior.

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

Android YouTube App Testing Automatic Shorts Playback on Startup

Google is experimenting with the Android version of its YouTube app by introducing an autoplay feature for "YouTube Shorts," which begins playing automatically upon launching the app. This behavior has been observed on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, where the autoplay persists even after the app is force-stopped. There is currently no setting available to disable this feature, leading to user frustration. Not all Android users are experiencing this issue, as it has not been universally confirmed across all devices.

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

WhatsApp is creating a new Contacts tab in its app

WhatsApp is rolling out a dedicated Contacts tab in its Android app, currently in beta testing. The tab features a streamlined view of contacts, indicating online status with a green dot. It includes birthday reminders with notifications, an option to invite new users, a search bar for locating contacts, and sorting options by online activity or alphabetically. Contacts who have disabled their last seen status will not appear as online.

BetaBeacon

October 9, 2026

Monster Hunter Rise Releasing on iOS and Android Through Netflix

Monster Hunter Rise has new mobile-only features and improvements, including reconstructed touch controls, a new Recovery feature, and unlocked Challenge and Event quests through game progression.

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

Thousands of cheap Android phones shipped with ad-fraud malware

Researchers from Bitdefender have discovered that thousands of inexpensive Android devices are preloaded with malware called "Midnight Mimosa," which generates fraudulent advertising revenue. This malware is embedded in the device firmware before the first power-up, making it impossible for users to uninstall. It operates with system-level privileges, allowing it to install or remove applications without user consent and to download additional code. The malware primarily aims for financial gain through advertising and click fraud, while also gathering information about devices. Bitdefender has detected this malware on thousands of devices across over 150 countries, with the highest concentrations in Mexico, France, and Italy, followed by the United States, Germany, Brazil, and Spain. Many affected devices are low-cost, white-label, or counterfeit models, often sold online. The malware stealthily installs legitimate-looking applications that display ads in invisible windows, generating ad impressions without user awareness. Bitdefender identified at least 32 disguised applications and found 13 apps in the Google Play Store with similar ad-fraud code. The source of the malware remains unidentified, but some affected firmware was signed with certificates from Shenzhen Zediel, a Chinese company. The researchers suggest that the malware could have been introduced at various stages of the supply chain, potentially by manufacturers or intermediaries.

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

Amazon is gradually phasing out the Fire Tablet after 15 years: Why the return to Android?

Amazon has announced that it will cease the development of new Fire Tablets and will focus on the Alexa Tablet line, which runs on Android and supports the full Google Play store. The Fire Tablet line, which began with the original Kindle Fire in 2011, will no longer produce new generations, although existing devices will continue to receive security updates. The new Alexa Tablet series includes three models: the Alexa Tablet 8, Alexa Tablet 11, and Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, with prices starting at .99. The Alexa Tablets offer access to popular applications and features that cater to reading enthusiasts, as well as integration with Amazon's Alexa AI assistant. Additionally, Amazon is launching the Alexa Kids Tablet, which includes Google Play and parental controls. The transition reflects Amazon's strategy to enhance its tablet offerings and improve the overall user experience.

BetaBeacon

October 9, 2026

Best 6 Android Games for Fans of Classic Table Games

- Online casinos with lower deposit limits allow players to try out games without committing a large sum of money. - Balatro is a solo card game that involves changing rules and strategy. - 7 Wonders is a strategy game where players must plan their moves and predict their opponents' actions. - MONOPOLY by Marmalade Game Studio allows for property trading and rent collection in a digital format. - Chess - Play and Learn is a digital version of the classic game with a puzzle section for practice. - UNO! Mobile offers events and rule variations for a quicker version of the classic card game.