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Tech Optimizer

August 17, 2026

Norton’s back-to-school deal ends August 27: $3.33/month for full family protection

Norton 360 Deluxe is a comprehensive subscription service that includes real-time threat protection, a secure VPN, a password manager, dark web monitoring, cloud backup, and parental controls. It supports up to five devices across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, all managed from a single dashboard. The service is available for .99 for the first year during a Back to School promotion from August 17 to August 27, which is a 68% discount from the standard rate. After the first year, the subscription renews at .99 annually. Norton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee for its subscriptions.

AppWizard

August 16, 2026

Messenger: Chesterfield man uses AI skills for medical app to help his wife and others

In e-commerce, enhancing user experience during the entry of shipping information is crucial. Businesses focus on intuitive design, using effective labels for state and zip code inputs to improve clarity. The zip code field is designed for a maximum length of seven characters with placeholder text to guide users. A clearly labeled country selection field is important for international transactions, simplifying the checkout process. These design elements aim to increase user satisfaction and improve conversion rates.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Google Maps just added a feature that lets you order food without leaving the app

Google Maps is launching the Ask Maps initiative, which includes a food ordering feature allowing users to order meals directly from the app while navigating. This feature will initially be available in the U.S. and partners include Square, Toast, and Uber Eats, with DoorDash also involved. Users can ask for specific dishes, and the app will find nearby restaurants along their route. Additionally, Google Maps will introduce a Personal Intelligence feature that connects with Gmail and Calendar for personalized recommendations based on users' plans. The live Transit widget will provide real-time updates on transportation delays, and users can contribute information to Maps through a conversational interface. The food ordering feature and hotel/event discovery will debut in the U.S. and expand to other countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, and Mexico, while being available in English across over 150 countries and territories.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

Steam just MASSIVELY improved gifting, and I hope Xbox copies it

Valve has updated its Steam digital storefront to enhance the gifting process for PC gamers. The guest checkout system now allows users to purchase and gift any game on Steam without needing a Steam account, expanding beyond just digital gift cards and hardware. Users can share wishlists with friends or family, who can then select and purchase gifts directly from those lists. Additionally, guest users can send games to any email address. This update contrasts with Xbox's limitations, where gifting is restricted to recipients in the same region.

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 23, 2026

Steam Adds Handy Gifting And Wishlist Updates

Valve has updated Steam's gifting and wishlist functionalities. Users can now gift games via email without requiring the recipient to have a Steam account, provided both are in the same country, and gifts not accepted within 30 days will be refunded. For international gifting, users must be friends on Steam, and the game price will be automatically adjusted for the recipient's region. The wishlist feature has been enhanced to allow users to categorize saved games with custom names, filter by categories, and manage notifications for sales on individual categories. Additional features include generating shareable links to categories, checking for available demos, and previewing trailers by hovering over wishlist titles.

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 16, 2026

Google Search’s AI Mode can now handle tasks beyond the search bar

Google Search has introduced AI Mode, allowing users in the United States to connect with third-party applications like Canva, YouTube Music, and Instacart. This feature enables users to streamline tasks such as designing invitations, compiling music playlists, and populating shopping carts by simply providing prompts. AI Mode processes requests and delivers results quickly, enhancing user convenience. Currently, the integration is limited to a few applications, but Google plans to expand partnerships to increase functionality.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

Instacart, YouTube Music join a Connected Apps expansion in Google’s AI Mode

Google has expanded its Connected Apps feature in AI Mode for U.S. users, integrating services like Instacart, YouTube Music, and Canva. Users can streamline grocery shopping with Instacart by selecting their preferred store, while YouTube Music integration allows for AI-assisted playlist creation. The feature enables users to incorporate Gemini into applications such as Gmail and Google Drive, enhancing functionality through direct app connections via Search. The introduction of Personal Intelligence in January allowed users to connect personal data across multiple applications, improving tasks like finding important dates or products. This expansion broadens the range of services available and enhances user engagement and satisfaction.

Tech Optimizer

July 11, 2026

Norton 360 Deluxe by Gen Digital Inc. – multi-device security with VPN bundled

Norton 360 Deluxe is a subscription service from Gen Digital that combines antivirus, firewall, VPN, and password management tools, covering up to five devices across various platforms. It includes features such as Norton Secure VPN, cloud backup for Windows PCs (up to 50 GB), Norton Password Manager, a smart firewall, and real-time malware scanning. The service is priced at €34.99 for the first year in Germany and around .99 in the U.S., with higher renewal prices. It is designed for households and small offices, providing multi-device coverage and ease of use. Norton 360 Deluxe is available through Norton’s website and retailers like Amazon, and it is recommended by review platforms for its comprehensive security features.