browsing experience Archives

AppWizard

July 23, 2026

Smoother scrolling: How we halved scroll jank in Chrome on Android

In Chrome's multi-process pipeline, delays can disrupt visual fluidity, leading to missed deadlines and stuttering scrolls. The complexity of the input-rendering pipeline makes it challenging to identify the causes of scroll jank. Comprehensive instrumentation has been implemented to analyze the pipeline from input generation to GPU buffer presentation. Perfetto trace events are used to visually analyze each stage during scroll updates to identify irregularities contributing to scroll jank, with the goal of enhancing performance and reliability for a seamless browsing experience.

AppWizard

July 23, 2026

Google has quietly been rebuilding Chrome on Android for years, and it’s now nearly 50% smoother because of it

Google has improved Chrome on Android, resulting in 48% fewer scroll stutters compared to 2023. This enhancement is the result of nearly three years of engineering efforts and a comprehensive redesign of Chrome's rendering pipeline, leading to a smoother scrolling experience and reduced "scroll jank."

AppWizard

July 23, 2026

Steam wishlists and gifting games just got a whole lot more useful

Valve has introduced enhancements to the Steam wishlist and gifting features. Users can now create customizable wishlist categories with personalized tags, improving organization and management of game preferences. The search functionality has been upgraded with autocomplete features, and titles with demos are clearly marked. Users can generate custom URLs to share specific wishlist categories, and a guest checkout feature allows gifting without a Steam account. Email gifting options enable users to send gifts directly to an email address, with limitations on acceptance and scheduling. Cross-region gifting has been introduced, allowing users to send gifts to friends in different locations, with costs adjusted based on the recipient's region.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Minecraft But Every Drop Is Random

Google has introduced a new feature on YouTube that allows users to engage with the platform without the immediate need to log in, providing a more fluid browsing experience. This passive sign-in option aims to reduce friction and encourage exploration of content. The update features a simplified interface that enhances accessibility for casual viewers and aligns with Google's strategy to increase user engagement. The initiative is expected to lower barriers to entry, potentially increasing content consumption and benefiting creators and advertisers.

AppWizard

July 14, 2026

Gemini is officially rolling out to Google Chrome users in the UK

Google's Gemini in Chrome initiative is now available to desktop users in the UK, expanding its AI-powered browsing assistant. The assistant operates within Chrome, allowing users to summarize articles, compare information across tabs, and complete tasks without switching apps. Upcoming features include conversation memory for personalized responses and Nano Banana 2-powered image editing from text prompts. Gemini integrates with Google's ecosystem, enabling users to schedule meetings via Google Calendar, search on Maps, draft emails in Gmail, and inquire about YouTube videos without leaving the page. It remembers details from previous interactions for tailored responses and aims to enhance productivity without cluttering the browsing experience.

Winsage

July 13, 2026

Force any site into dark mode with Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is set to introduce a feature that allows users to enforce dark mode on any website as part of the "Web Remix" initiative. This feature enables users to customize web pages, including simplifying articles, providing summaries, organizing recipes into shopping lists, converting prices to local currencies, and updating webpage appearances. It operates locally and can be toggled on or off via a button in the address bar. Users can access Web Remix by enabling specific flags in Edge Canary. While it effectively applies dark mode to websites lacking native support, results may vary, and some elements may be altered in ways that are not ideal. Premium extensions like Dark Reader offer more nuanced dark mode customization compared to Web Remix.

AppWizard

July 10, 2026

Proton VPN on Android: features, requirements, how to install

Proton VPN is a prominent VPN provider known for its speed and security, with its headquarters in Switzerland, which has strong privacy laws. The Android app features include Secure Core for enhanced anonymity, NetShield Ad-blocker to block ads and trackers, a kill switch to protect data during connection drops, alternative routing for bypassing restrictions, split tunneling for selective app usage, a VPN Accelerator for increased speeds, and P2P support for secure file sharing. The app requires Android 8 or later for installation, which can be done via the Play Store. Users can connect as guests to access limited features of Proton VPN Free.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

Google Play Store will look a little different the next time you open it

Google is rolling out a redesigned user interface for its Play Store, specifically for the Games and Apps sections. The update features a new aesthetic with pill-shaped containers for navigation tabs and a streamlined layout. The "For you" tab has been removed and integrated as the default landing page for both sections. Users will now navigate to dedicated pages for "Top charts" or "Categories," requiring a return to the home screen via an arrow in the top left corner. The presentation of Google Play Points has changed, now appearing without a blue container, and users have noted a new design for notification badges.

AppWizard

July 3, 2026

This ChatGPT-powered utility is my favorite new AI joke-writing tool

MagickPen is an AI-powered writing assistant that simplifies content creation with various templates, including a settlement generator, joke creator, habit planner, Dockerfile creator, and email templates. Users can access 10 free credits daily without account creation, but additional features require an account and Advanced credits. MagickPen does not have a dedicated app but can be accessed on Android through Hermit. Neo Browser is an AI-driven Android browser by Norton that focuses on user security and offers a unique browsing experience with a central input field for prompts. It is currently available for free and will receive enhancements soon. Milanote is a versatile AI tool available for macOS and Windows, functioning as a pinboard for planning, creative projects, and project management. Users can easily add elements to a blank canvas after a brief onboarding process, with a free plan allowing for 100 items. Plantrip is a travel planning tool that generates itineraries based on user-inputted destinations, travel dates, and duration. It is effective for simple itineraries but may not accommodate complex travel plans.

AppWizard

June 29, 2026

YouTube Shorts just borrowed more of TikTok’s best tricks

YouTube is enhancing its Shorts platform with several new features: - Introduction of 2x playback speed, allowing users to accelerate through content by holding either side of the screen. - A "clear screen" mode that hides on-screen elements for a cleaner viewing experience. - Replacement of the thumbs-up icon with a heart for expressing approval. - Elimination of the dislike button, with users now able to select "Not interested" or "Don’t recommend this channel" for feedback. - Current dislike counts will remain accessible in YouTube Studio, but new dislike counts for Shorts will not be collected starting at the end of June. - Users can mute Shorts directly from the player for a quieter browsing experience.