appeal Archives

AppWizard

September 20, 2026

I was wrong about Pokémon Sleep, and the Fitbit Air is the perfect companion

Pokémon Sleep has been integrated with the Fitbit Air, a lightweight and elegantly designed device that tracks sleep. The Fitbit Air weighs 12 grams and features a special edition strap with a deep blue color and a sleeping Pikachu design. It provides accurate metrics on sleep duration and cycles and has a battery life of about a week. Setting up the Fitbit Air for Pokémon Sleep involves designating Google Health as the sleep source. The device is available on the Google Store for .

AppWizard

September 18, 2026

No RCS, no problem: Chat themes in Messages are now available for standard texts

Google Messages has expanded its customization capabilities to include standard SMS conversations, allowing users to set custom chat themes. This feature, which was previously available only for RCS chats, has been quietly rolled out, enabling users to access chat themes in non-RCS chats. Users can find the chat themes option in the three-dot menu or by navigating to the contact info page. The customization applies only to the individual who sets it, rather than affecting all participants in a chat. This update enhances the visual appeal of SMS conversations without imposing changes on others.

AppWizard

September 16, 2026

These New ‘Minecraft’ Tubbz Are Anything but Square

Tubbz is expanding its Minecraft lineup with three new collectible rubber ducks: Alex, an Enderman, and a Zombified Piglin. The Enderman features a slack-jawed expression and purple eyes, the Zombified Piglin has a half-decayed look and a golden sword, and Alex is equipped with a diamond pickaxe. Each comes in a themed bathtub display with a sticker and an exclusive print. They are available for purchase at select retailers and on tubbzus.com, with a suggested retail price of .99 - .99.

AppWizard

September 16, 2026

Android Advanced Protection to Roll Out Granular “Expert Features”: App Teardown

A new feature called "expert mode" is being introduced to enhance the "Advanced Protection" framework for Android users, allowing them to toggle specific security features individually. Users will be able to manage six distinct items within the Advanced Protection suite: Intrusion logging, USB protection, Block auto-connection to unsecured Wi-Fi, Unknown apps, Spam filter, and Suspicious links in Google Messages. The "expert features" will not replace "Advanced Protection" but will provide users with the option to enable all protections at once or selectively activate specific features. While "Block auto-connection to unsecured Wi-Fi" will debut with "expert features," the inclusion of "Unknown apps," "Spam filter," and "Suspicious links in Google Messages" in the final version remains uncertain. The relevant resource for updates is the "Google Play services" app, version v26.36, released on September 15, 2026.

AppWizard

September 15, 2026

Every single new feature in Android 17 QPR1 [Video]

Android 17 QPR1 has launched, compatible with devices from Pixel 6 to the latest models. The update includes several user interface changes such as improved lockscreen animation for media controls, access to Pixel Search settings in App list settings for older Pixel models, and a stashed media player in Quick Settings. Usability enhancements feature a predictive back gesture in Quick Settings, a new Keyboard tile for quick switching between keyboards, an option to dismiss the mobile data pop-up, and adjustments to the screen recording menu. Cosmetic changes include a new Quick Settings edit tile icon, a Gemini Intelligence boot logo for newer models, refreshed default app icons, improved animations in Quick Settings, enhanced system blur effects, and a visual update for app notification dots.

AppWizard

September 15, 2026

Steam Price-Fixing Lawsuit: Valve, 10 Publishers Sued [2026]

On August 27, 2026, a class action lawsuit was filed in San Mateo County Superior Court by three California gamers—Alexander Shimota, Ricardo Camargo, and John Elliott—against Valve Corporation and ten video game publishers, accusing them of colluding to maintain uniform pricing for PC games across digital storefronts. The lawsuit alleges that Valve requires publishers on its Steam platform to agree to a most-favored-nation clause, preventing them from offering lower prices on competing platforms, which stifles competition and limits consumer choice. The ten implicated publishers include Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The lawsuit is filed under California's Cartwright Act and claims that the coordinated pricing strategy harms consumers by reducing product diversity and inflating prices. Valve's commission structure, which has largely remained unchanged, is central to the plaintiffs' argument. Valve's co-founder, Gabe Newell, has previously denied dictating prices to third-party developers. The lawsuit is distinct from a prior case, Wolfire Games v. Valve, which focuses on monopoly abuse against developers rather than consumer pricing. Additionally, Valve faces a parallel £2 billion class action in the UK regarding similar pricing allegations. The outcome of these cases could significantly impact the pricing landscape for PC games and the practices of digital storefronts.

Winsage

September 15, 2026

This open-source Windows launcher does what Microsoft’s new Start menu should have done

Microsoft is set to introduce a significant overhaul of the Windows Start menu in its upcoming 26H2 update, responding to user feedback about limited customization options. Flow Launcher is a keyboard-centric app launcher that offers superior functionality compared to the traditional Start menu. The installation of Flow Launcher is straightforward, with options for portable versions and package managers. It features a sleek search bar and allows users to quickly search for apps and files, enhancing productivity. Flow Launcher is highly customizable, with settings for behavior and appearance, including nearly 20 themes and various visual options. Its plugin ecosystem expands its capabilities, allowing users to install and manage plugins for added functionality. Notable plugins include Speed Test and Google Translate. Flow Launcher provides a more customizable and efficient experience compared to Microsoft’s current offerings.

AppWizard

September 14, 2026

This keyboard app brings Pixel 11’s best feature to all Android phones

SwiftKey is introducing a new AI-driven voice typing feature in its beta version, inspired by Google's Rambler feature. This tool cleans up and formats speech but does not provide live transcription. The AI model is about 163MB and allows offline functionality on Android devices. Unlike Google's Rambler, which is exclusive to Pixel devices, SwiftKey's feature is available on a wider range of Android smartphones. Testing on a Galaxy Z Fold 8 showed efficient offline processing and transcription. However, it lacks features like tone adjustments, advanced text formatting, and emoji insertion through voice commands. The SwiftKey Beta app can be installed on any Android device and is available for download on the Google Play Store.

Winsage

September 13, 2026

NVIDIA CUDA 13.4 Adds Windows on Arm Support [2026]

NVIDIA released CUDA Toolkit 13.4 on September 9, 2026, introducing native CUDA support for Windows on Arm. This update allows developers to compile and run CUDA applications on Windows Arm64 systems, closing a gap that existed since CUDA's inception in 2007. The toolkit offers two workflows: native compilation on Windows Arm64 machines and cross-compilation from x86-64 systems. Developers must install an R616-series Developer Driver to utilize the new features. The release aligns with the upcoming launch of NVIDIA's RTX Spark laptops, built on the N1X Arm platform. The toolkit is designed for RTX Spark devices, which leverage NVIDIA’s Blackwell GPU architecture. Current Windows on Arm devices can also begin using the toolkit in preparation for the hardware launch. The initial feature set for Windows Arm64 is narrower compared to x86-64, but developers are encouraged to adapt their applications for the new environment.

AppWizard

September 11, 2026

Dragon Age: Origins Fans Are Fixing The Game Themselves Because The Official PC Version Is Busted

Dragon Age: Origins on PC faces technical issues such as game crashes, memory leaks, and corrupted save files, which hinder player experience. Although fan-made fixes exist, they can be difficult to install and are not always effective, especially with larger save files. There is a growing need for comprehensive updates to improve the game's functionality and appeal.