attention Archives

AppWizard

July 21, 2026

X launches ground-up rebuilt Android app after year-long development

The digital entertainment landscape is rapidly evolving, particularly in India, where mobile-first consumption and value for money are critical. Insights from Amazon MX Player's leadership reveal that the integration of MX Player into Amazon's ecosystem has advanced technology, data utilization, and content distribution. Karan Bedi noted the swift integration process and highlighted the benefits in monetization through Amazon's ad technology, including the “Personas” feature for targeted advertising. MX Player has expanded its distribution across various Amazon platforms, transitioning to a multi-device approach. The platform emphasizes brand safety and has increased its content diversity, focusing on advertiser-friendly shows. Bedi introduced the concept of “micro-genres” with the upcoming MX Fatafat product, featuring short episodes to cater to varying viewer time constraints. MX Player utilizes a robust analytics framework to create content that resonates with diverse audiences, including regional offerings in multiple languages. Girish Prabhu discussed innovative advertising opportunities, emphasizing the integration of brands into content narratives and interactive formats for immediate consumer engagement. MX Player is positioned on major connected TV platforms, aligning with the trend for high-quality, free entertainment. The platform enables direct-to-consumer brands to access larger video formats, leveraging Amazon's consumer insights for personalized advertising and focusing on outcomes rather than impressions. Advertisers are increasingly seeking targeted messages that drive brand growth, highlighting the importance of platforms like MX Player.

AppWizard

July 21, 2026

Get Borderlands 3, Risk of Rain 2 and 13 other great PC games for $15

The "2K Megahits 2026 Bundle" from Humble includes 15 Steam games for a limited time, featuring popular titles from the 2010s such as BioShock Infinite, Risk of Rain 2, Borderlands 3, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The bundle is available until August 7th and is experiencing high demand, leading to a depletion of keys for certain games. Notable games include Risk of Rain 2, which offers engaging roguelike gameplay, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a well-regarded turn-based strategy game. The bundle also features three Borderlands titles: Borderlands 3 Special Edition, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, and Tales from the Borderlands. Other included games are BioShock Infinite, Duke Nukem 3D, Bulletstorm, and Hidden and Dangerous. A portion of the proceeds will support Covenant House, assisting young individuals facing homelessness, and buyers can customize their donation allocation during checkout. The full list of games in the bundle includes: - Risk of Rain 2 - Borderlands 3 Standard Edition - Mafia II: Definitive Edition - BioShock Infinite - Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands - The Quarry - Tribes of Midgard Deluxe Edition - Homeworld Remastered Collection - Tales from the Borderlands - Bulletstorm Full Clip Edition - Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour - Hidden and Dangerous Bundle - The Darkness II - X-COM: UFO Defense - XCOM Enemy Unknown

AppWizard

July 20, 2026

15 years before Dishonored, Thief devs considered letting Garrett shrink himself rat-sized so he could scurry through drains and mouse holes

Corvo Attano, the protagonist of Dishonored, possesses the unique ability to inhabit various creatures, including rats, allowing him to access otherwise unreachable areas. This concept was considered for Thief: The Dark Project over a decade earlier. Both Thief and Dishonored feature stealthy protagonists embroiled in political intrigues, but Garrett from Thief lacks supernatural powers and relies solely on stealth. Thief emphasizes navigating environments without detection, while Dishonored allows for combat if stealth fails. Thief's focus on stealth mechanics has significantly influenced the genre. Recently, Thief has gained attention due to the announcement of a remaster, Thief: The Dark Project Remastered, by Nightdive Studios, which will include additional missions and enhancements. Original artist Daniel Thron is involved in revitalizing the game's cutscenes. A release date for the remaster has not been announced, but excitement within the gaming community is high.

AppWizard

July 20, 2026

Android Auto is finally getting the Google Maps feature drivers have wanted

Google Maps is introducing a live speedometer feature to Android Auto, which has been a long-awaited addition for users. This feature is currently available to a limited number of beta users on version 26.29.02.946673643. The speedometer will be displayed next to the speed limit indicator and will change color if the driver exceeds the posted limit. The rollout is server-side, meaning updating the app does not guarantee access to the feature. Google advises that the speedometer should be used as a reference tool rather than a replacement for the vehicle's built-in speedometer.

Winsage

July 20, 2026

Windows 11 trades noisy Bing ads for the clean Search experience it always needed

Microsoft has announced a comprehensive upgrade to the Search feature in Windows 11, eliminating ads and promotional materials to enhance user experience. The July 2026 Patch Tuesday update introduces new features, including Point-in-time Restore and addresses 570 vulnerabilities, with AI aiding in vulnerability discovery. The rollout of the KB5101650 update faced challenges for Dell users, leading Microsoft to pause it for affected devices. Additionally, Microsoft is testing a slightly larger search box to improve design consistency.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

‘The mid-2000s was the golden era of first-person shooters’: David Syzmankski, creator of Dusk and Iron Lung, discusses the games on his PC

David Szymanski is the creator of the game Dusk, which was released in 2018 and is inspired by classic first-person shooters like Doom and Quake. He initially developed short horror games before achieving success with Dusk. Szymanski has also created a submarine horror game called Iron Lung, which gained recognition after being adapted into a film by YouTuber Markiplier. He categorizes the history of first-person shooters into distinct eras, labeling the '90s as the silver age and the late '90s to mid-2000s as the golden age. He enjoys survival crafting games like The Forest and Subnautica but has not finished them. The oldest game installed on his PC is Doom, which he considers nearly the best FPS ever made. His most-played game on Steam is Counter-Strike 2, with 324 hours, and he has spent 186 hours on Elden Ring. Szymanski would never uninstall Infra, which he describes as his comfort game. He uses GIMP as an essential non-gaming software tool and has a relatively tidy desktop with nine icons.

Winsage

July 19, 2026

Windows 11 gets quieter, smarter, and more stable — here’s everything Microsoft changed this week (and a few deals worth grabbing)

Microsoft has announced a substantial upgrade to the Search functionality in Windows 11, moving away from an ad-heavy approach to prioritize local results. Users can customize their search settings to include or exclude web and Microsoft Store suggestions. The new Search feature will also be more forgiving of typographical errors. This change comes in response to user feedback advocating for a cleaner search experience, particularly for Windows 11 Pro users who expected an ad-free environment.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

Weekend PC Game Deals: Satisfactory, Space Marine 2, Assassin’s Creed, and more

The Epic Games Store is offering two free PC games: Echo Generation and Luto, available until July 23, when Foretales will be the next free game. Humble has released three new game bundles: the Liminal Spaces bundle featuring titles related to the Backrooms genre, the Humble Handhelds Bundle including Children of Morta and Amid Evil, and the 2K Megahits Bundle with popular games like BioShock Infinite and Borderlands 3. The GOG store is also providing DRM-free discounts. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

RTS IS BACK! The Best Upcoming Real-Time Strategy (RTS) Games of 2026-2027

The real-time strategy (RTS) genre, which thrived in the late 90s and early 2000s, experienced a decline from the late 2000s until around 2015 but is expected to make a comeback in 2026 and 2027. Anticipated titles include Stronghold 4, ZeroSpace, D.O.R.F., Dawn of War IV, and Total War: Warhammer 40,000. Bergfried, developed by Quid Pro Games, is a medieval strategy game that combines castle-building mechanics, town management, and real-time combat, with a unique grid reflecting European castle shapes. Panzer Strike, by ISAK Team, aims to recapture the essence of late 90s RTS games and is set for release in Q3 2026. Falling Frontier, a procedurally generated space RTS, is highly wishlisted on Steam and promises detailed ship combat. Chronicles: Medieval, releasing in 2026, offers a sandbox strategy experience during the Hundred Years’ War, blending free-roaming gameplay with large-scale battles. Dinolords, developed by Northplay, features a medieval world with armored dinosaurs and allows players to control dinosaur-riding Lords, presenting a unique twist on traditional RTS gameplay.

Winsage

July 18, 2026

I tried this Linux distro that looks like Windows, is made by a Microsoft engineer, and is based on Ubuntu

AnduinOS is a new Linux distribution created by a Microsoft engineer, based on Ubuntu, designed to provide a user experience similar to Windows 11. It offers both Long-Term Support (LTS) and short-term releases, with the latter featuring enhancements over its predecessor. Unlike Ubuntu, which uses Snap packages, AnduinOS utilizes Flatpak for software management, allowing access to a wider range of applications. The desktop environment closely resembles Windows 11, featuring a taskbar, Start menu, and other familiar elements, enhanced by GNOME extensions. Users can customize the taskbar and Start menu extensively, surpassing the customization options available in Windows. The integration of GNOME extensions, such as Clipboard History and Tiling Shell, further enhances productivity and user experience.