NewApp Digest
search bot

choices

Google is Making it Harder to Sideload Apps on Google TV & Android
AppWizard
January 19, 2026

Google is Making it Harder to Sideload Apps on Google TV & Android

Google plans to modify the sideloading process for apps on Android devices to enhance user safety and address app security concerns. The new process will introduce additional steps and warnings, emphasizing the benefits of apps verified through Google Play and requiring an active internet connection for certain verification checks. Users can still sideload apps without verification, but this option will come with extra prompts to inform them of the risks. Critics worry that these changes may inconvenience power users, while supporters believe they will promote safer habits among average consumers. The rollout of this updated sideloading process is expected to begin in select markets and may coincide with the next major Android release.
Megabonk review
AppWizard
January 16, 2026

Megabonk review

Megabonk is a 3D auto-attacker game set to be released on September 18, 2025, priced at £8.50. It is developed and published by vedinand and will be available on platforms like the Asus ROG Ally and Steam Deck. The game features a skateboarding skeleton named Calcium who battles monsters while performing kickflips. Players explore procedurally generated maps filled with treasures and enemies, with a ten-minute time limit to locate and defeat a boss. The gameplay includes auto-attacking, collecting experience gems, and enhancing skills. Megabonk has a lo-fi aesthetic that allows for many enemies on screen without performance issues and offers achievements and unlocks for players. The game encourages exploration and experimentation, with challenges that provide speedrunning opportunities.
Paint: Your guide to drawing software
Winsage
January 16, 2026

Paint: Your guide to drawing software

Windows 11 includes Microsoft Paint, which is easily accessible and offers a user-friendly environment for creativity. The updated interface features a sleek layout, making tools readily available for experimentation. Paint has refined brushes and inking tools that provide a smooth, responsive drawing experience, especially with stylus use, incorporating pressure sensitivity for more authentic strokes. It also offers advanced color tools, including support for RGB, hex, and HSV color options, allowing users to maintain consistency in their projects. Users can create a mini color palette on the canvas and utilize the eyedropper tool to extract colors from references or generated images.
Hytale Feels Like Little More Than A Neat Minecraft Texture Pack
AppWizard
January 16, 2026

Hytale Feels Like Little More Than A Neat Minecraft Texture Pack

Hytale is an early access game that has been in development for a decade, facing a cancellation by Riot Games before its revival in November. The game features mechanics such as jumping two blocks high and a combat system that requires timing for attacks, which are similar to potential mods in Minecraft. Hytale includes familiar mobs like skeletons, spiders, zombies, and golems, alongside new creatures like goblins and Kweebecs, and a mysterious area known as the Void. Crafting in Hytale is more complex than in Minecraft, requiring multiple workstations, and workbenches can recognize adjacent chest contents. Despite its unique elements, Hytale often feels derivative of Minecraft, with similar sounds and inventory mechanics. Future updates, including an anticipated Adventure Mode, aim to introduce RPG-like storylines and quests. The game currently faces balancing issues but remains visually appealing, though it has not surpassed Minecraft's foundational elements.
An absolute madman has recreated the Windows 8 UI—for Linux
Winsage
January 14, 2026

An absolute madman has recreated the Windows 8 UI—for Linux

In 2012, many Windows users began seeking alternatives to the operating system following the release of Windows 8, which introduced a controversial desktop interface designed for touchscreen devices and deviated from traditional mouse and keyboard navigation. This change led to criticism from industry figures, including Gabe Newell of Valve, who labeled Windows 8 a "catastrophe for everyone in the PC space," prompting a shift towards Linux development. The project Win8DE has emerged on GitHub, appealing to former Windows 8 users who miss its fluid animations. Win8DE offers a visually reminiscent interface with vibrant squares, a horizontally scrolling desktop, and a mobile-style app drawer, although it is not as polished as established Linux environments like KDE Plasma or Gnome. The developer, er-bharat, acknowledges limitations, including the absence of the "charms menu." Installation instructions for Win8DE are available on its GitHub page.
How much RAM does your PC really need in 2026? A Windows and Mac expert's verdict
Winsage
January 14, 2026

How much RAM does your PC really need in 2026? A Windows and Mac expert’s verdict

Shopping for a new computer involves focusing on three critical components: the processor, storage drive, and RAM. For Windows machines, 16GB of RAM is the operational minimum for new consumer laptops, while 4GB is the minimum requirement for Windows 11. MacBook users can find satisfactory performance with 8GB of RAM, but Apple has set 16GB as the starting point for its new MacBook Air M4. Chromebooks can operate effectively with 8GB or less. More RAM generally improves performance, but excessive memory can lead to diminishing returns. DDR stands for "double data rate," with DDR5 being the latest standard for faster data transfer speeds. Most users find 16GB adequate, while gamers and creative professionals may need 32GB. Beyond 32GB is typically excessive unless engaged in demanding activities, where 48GB or 64GB may be warranted.
2026 Shift: Professionals Ditch Windows 11 for Linux’s Speed and Savings
Winsage
January 12, 2026

2026 Shift: Professionals Ditch Windows 11 for Linux’s Speed and Savings

Professionals are increasingly moving away from Windows 11 to various Linux distributions due to dissatisfaction with performance issues and intrusive features in Windows. A 2025 analysis showed Linux distributions outperforming Windows by an average of 19.5% in everyday tasks. Performance tests indicated that SteamOS, a Linux-based platform, often matched or exceeded Windows 11 in gaming performance. Linux's lightweight nature and superior system administration tools appeal to those managing servers and virtual environments. Security concerns regarding Windows 11, including privacy issues and forced updates, have led users to prefer Linux's open-source model, which allows for greater transparency and customization. Economic factors also play a role, as Linux is free and open-source, eliminating licensing fees associated with Windows 11. User-friendly distributions like Linux Mint facilitate the transition for new users, and community support helps address common challenges. Large organizations are increasingly adopting Linux for its stability and responsiveness, while the Linux community fosters rapid improvements and adaptability. User feedback highlights privacy, performance, and customizability as key benefits of switching to Linux.
Manor Lords' dev is experimenting with a new trading system that allows for 'deliberate economic strategies', including establishing monopolies on resources
AppWizard
January 11, 2026

Manor Lords’ dev is experimenting with a new trading system that allows for ‘deliberate economic strategies’, including establishing monopolies on resources

Manor Lords, developed by Slavic Magic, had a quiet 2025 as the team recalibrated after its successful early access launch in 2024. Activity increased in December with a significant patch that reworked core systems and castle construction mechanics. Tim Bender, CEO of publisher Hooded Horse, announced a new trade route system that connects locations to the import and export of items, allowing up to three merchants per route. Players must hire at least one merchant to engage in trade, and can attempt to buy out merchants on a route, creating contested economic territory. This system enables players to develop economic strategies, such as monopolizing Iron Slabs. Hooded Horse and Slavic Magic are seeking feedback from the Manor Lords community on these features. Additionally, Hooded Horse launched the 1.0 version of Terra Invicta, a sci-fi grand strategy game, and Bender opposed the use of AI-generated assets in their games.
Search