audio playback Archives

AppWizard

November 28, 2025

Google could have another killer app for Samsung’s smart glasses

Samsung is collaborating with Google and eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to develop smart glasses, expected to be released in 2026. Google is enhancing its Translate app for these glasses, introducing a new 'Glasses' audio playback option in version 9.26.46.833192481.11, which will allow language translation directly on the device. The Live Translate feature will now function in the background, improving usability. A subsequent generation of Samsung's smart glasses with augmented reality (AR) is anticipated for 2027, competing with offerings from Apple and Meta.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

Google is getting Translate ready to be the killer app for smart glasses

The Google Translate app is set to receive enhancements to its Live Translate feature, which allows real-time conversations with on-screen translations and audio playback. Upcoming features include the ability to control audio playback for each language, a persistent notification for seamless use while switching apps, and integration with XR glasses. The interface will also see a drop-down audio control menu with options for mute, speaker, and headphones. Additionally, the persistent notification will enable Live Translate to function in the background, allowing users to pause or resume translations directly from the notification.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Google to flag Android apps with excessive battery use on the Play Store

Google is implementing measures to enhance battery performance on Android devices by monitoring apps in the Google Play Store for high background activity and excessive battery drain. Applications that exceed a defined "bad behavior threshold" may be flagged, affecting their visibility. Developers must adapt their apps to a new metric called "excessive partial wake locks" by March 1, 2026. This metric tracks the duration apps maintain background activity while the screen is off and will measure non-exempt wake locks over a 28-day period. An app is considered excessive if it accumulates over two hours of non-exempt wake locks in a 24-hour period, with the threshold set at 5% of user sessions. Developers exceeding this threshold will be notified. The initiative aims to improve user experience by addressing excessive resource consumption, though it is not specifically targeting malware.

AppWizard

November 12, 2025

Android phones to warn users about apps draining battery from March 2026

Google will implement a new system on 1 March 2026 to help Android users identify apps that drain battery life. Developers will be required to label apps that consume high amounts of power due to background activity. Apps categorized as heavy battery consumers will be removed from Play Store recommendations. Certain apps, such as those for audio playback or ride-hailing, may be exempt from these restrictions. Google will set metrics to define acceptable background activity levels and limit how often apps can use "wake locks." Developers exceeding this limit will be notified and may face reduced visibility or removal from the Play Store.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Google is clamping down on Android apps that cause excessive battery drain

Google has introduced a new metric for app developers to monitor battery usage, focusing on the use of "wake locks" that prevent smartphones from entering sleep mode. An app is deemed to excessively use wake locks if it accumulates more than two cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks within a 24-hour period, with exceptions for processes that provide clear user benefits. Developers who do not address wake lock issues will receive warnings in the Play Store, indicating that "this app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity." Additionally, certain offending apps may become ineligible for specific discovery sections in the Play Store starting March 1.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Google Play will warn Android users about apps that drain your battery

Google has introduced a new beta vitals metric for Android app developers that labels battery-draining applications in the Google Play Store. This metric, called "excessive partial wake locks," identifies apps that prevent smartphones from entering sleep mode, which can drain battery life. An app is considered to have excessive wake locks if it holds more than two cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks within a 24-hour period. An app crosses the bad behavior threshold when 5% of its user sessions over the past 28 days are deemed excessive. Developers will receive a warning in their Android vitals overview dashboard when this threshold is reached. Apps exceeding the threshold will display a warning label in the Play Store stating, "This app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity," and may become less visible to users as Google restricts their eligibility for certain discovery sections within the Play Store.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Google Play will soon warn about apps that cause excessive battery drain

Google has introduced a new metric for Android app developers to address excessive partial wake locks, which can lead to significant battery drain. This metric will alert users through Play Store warnings when apps contribute to battery issues. Wake locks keep devices awake for background tasks, but misuse can increase battery consumption. Google, in collaboration with Samsung, developed this metric based on user experience insights and battery consumption data. The threshold for excessive wake locks is defined as more than two cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks within a 24-hour period. A bad behavior threshold of 5% means that if over 5% of an app's user sessions in the past 28 days are excessive, the app may face consequences like exclusion from recommendations and a warning about battery usage. These changes will take effect on March 1, 2026.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Android phone users may soon get a ‘battery’ warning before downloading these apps

Android users will soon see a red warning badge on the Google Play Store indicating that an app “may use more battery than expected.” This feature, developed with Samsung, targets apps that misuse “partial wake locks,” which can lead to significant battery drain. The update introduces a metric to monitor “excessive partial wake locks,” flagging apps that maintain over two cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks in a 24-hour period. If at least 5% of an app’s user sessions exceed this threshold over 28 days, it will be marked as a battery drain culprit. Starting March 1, 2026, such apps will have reduced visibility in the Play Store and will display a red warning label about high background activity and potential battery drain. This initiative aims to improve battery performance and encourage developers to optimize their apps.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

How Google and Samsung are teaming up to fix Android battery drain, suggests report

Google has introduced a new system to identify apps that excessively drain battery life, featuring an "excessive partial wake locks" metric developed in collaboration with Samsung. Wake locks allow applications to keep a device awake for background tasks, but their misuse can lead to battery drain. The system, in beta testing since April 2025, flags a user session as "excessive" if it exceeds two hours of non-exempt wake locks in 24 hours. Poor app behavior is defined as occurring when five percent or more of an app's user sessions exceed this threshold. Apps that exceed this threshold may face consequences on the Play Store, including removal from recommendations and a warning message. The policy will be implemented starting 1 March 2026, with additional tools and documentation provided to help developers optimize their applications.

AppWizard

September 26, 2025

Borderlands 4’s latest patch triggers a flurry of performance complaints, but Gearbox says new stuttering problems ‘should resolve over time as the shaders continue to compile’

A new patch for Borderlands 4 has been released, focusing on fixes and gameplay enhancements to improve performance and stability. The game has received a "mixed" rating on Steam, largely due to performance issues. Players have reported that their gaming experience has worsened after the update, with concerns over reduced frame rates and increased stuttering. The patch includes improvements to stability and performance, addressing hitching, low FPS, and crashes, as well as updates to character animations and loading times. Weekly activities have been adjusted, including a new variant of a boss and a revamped mission that guarantees a Legendary drop. Various issues related to rewards, character skills, gameplay missions, gear, UI, visuals, and audio have been fixed. However, some players are still experiencing stability issues, and it is recommended to clear the shader cache if problems persist.