companies Archives

AppWizard

July 20, 2025

Messaging app Telegram reportedly plans Russian office to satisfy regulatory demands

Telegram is considering establishing a representative office in Russia to comply with the country's "landing" regulations for foreign IT companies, which require a local presence and adherence to government requests. The process of opening the office is currently in the coordination stage, according to Roskomnadzor. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has expressed skepticism about the regulator's claims regarding the office's development. Despite uncertainties, Telegram has taken steps to comply with some Russian regulations, including registering on Roskomnadzor’s website, but has not yet met all requirements of the "landing" law enacted in summer 2020.

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

These New Minecraft Skins Cost Over $300 Each

Microtransactions in gaming, particularly in titles like Fortnite and Minecraft, have become common, with some in-game items, such as a new diamond-studded skin in Minecraft, attracting attention for their high costs. Collaborations between gaming brands and luxury companies are also on the rise, with examples including Pokémon Go's partnership with Fendi and Disney Dreamlight Valley's collaboration with Loungefly. The latest collaboration features Minecraft and Swarovski, introducing collectible figures of characters like Alex, Steve, The Pig, and The Creeper, with prices ranging from to 0. Purchasing these figurines grants access to a new in-game skin, the Crystal Suit, which is only available through the purchase of the figurine.

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

Valve confirms pressure from banks and card companies is to blame for the storefront axing adult Steam games: “Loss of payment methods would prevent customers from being able to purchase other titles”

Valve has clarified that certain games on its Steam platform have been removed due to potential violations of rules and standards set by payment processors and their related card networks and banks. Over 100 games marked as "retired" from Valve's storefront in two days, many of which contain adult content. The removals are part of a broader initiative to ensure compliance with banking standards. The impact on developers remains unclear, but the rapid pace of removals suggests many creators may be affected.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Russia Moves to Ban WhatsApp and Launch State Messenger.

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is widely used in Russia, but the government has raised concerns about its compliance with local data localization laws due to its servers being outside the country. As a result, state-owned employees are prohibited from using WhatsApp for official communications starting in 2025, and a complete ban could be imposed if Meta does not comply with regulations. The Russian government is developing a domestic messaging service, informally called “Vlad’s App,” expected to launch by the end of 2025, to enhance control over information and ensure compliance with local laws. While the current ban affects only government and state employees, broader restrictions on WhatsApp may occur, potentially impacting private users. The government's push for digital sovereignty aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology and promote domestic alternatives, raising concerns about freedom of expression and the isolation of Russia's internet from the global community.

Tech Optimizer

July 18, 2025

ESET vs Avast: Which antivirus is better in 2025?

ESET and Avast are leading antivirus software providers, each offering solutions for individual and business users. ESET features real-time threat detection with a multi-layered engine that includes advanced heuristics and machine learning, achieving high marks in independent tests for catching new threats. Its firewall allows granular control over network traffic and includes a Learning Mode for initial configuration. Identity theft protection is available only in its Ultimate tier, focusing on proactive monitoring. ESET includes a VPN in its highest-tier solution and provides a password manager compatible with multiple platforms. Parental controls include content filtering and activity logging. ESET is recognized for minimal impact on system performance, scoring 5.5 out of 6 in performance tests. Avast offers strong malware detection with a vast threat intelligence network, achieving near-perfect detection rates. Its firewall protects against network attacks and is integrated into the Avast One suite. Identity theft protection is included across all plans, with advanced features in higher tiers. Avast bundles its VPN across all offerings and does not provide a traditional password manager but alerts users about compromised credentials. It lacks built-in parental controls but offers supplementary features. Avast scored a perfect 6 in performance tests. Both ESET and Avast scored highly in protection and usability during AV-Test trials, with Avast achieving a 97.7% offline and 99.3% online detection rate, while ESET recorded 96.5% offline and 97.2% online detection rates. ESET's pricing is customizable, starting at .99 for a single device, while Avast offers a free Basic tier and starts its premium plans at .88 for three devices.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Valve confirms credit card companies pressured it to delist certain adult games from Steam

Valve has confirmed the removal of several adult-themed games from its Steam storefront due to concerns from payment processors about potential violations of their rules and standards. This decision aligns with new regulations in Steam's documentation that prohibit content likely to upset payment processors. While some adult-themed games remain available, recent removals indicate Valve's cautious approach. The game Trials of Innocence was also delisted but its developers clarified that this was due to a DMCA claim, not the new regulations. Payment processors have historically been cautious about adult content due to associations with scams and chargebacks, influenced by past controversies. This situation highlights the ongoing tension between content creators, platforms, and payment processors in digital commerce.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Telegram Begins Legal Process to Open Office in Russia

The developer of the Telegram messaging app has begun the legal process to establish a representative office in Russia, nearly four years after a law requiring foreign tech companies to have a physical presence in the country was enacted. Telegram Messenger, Inc. is in the approval process for office registration with Roskomnadzor, though the application date is undisclosed. Previously, Telegram has taken minimal steps to comply with Russian localization laws. The platform remains popular in Russia, attracting a varied user base. Speculation exists about the timing of this move, especially with new regulations mandating that personal devices sold in Russia come pre-installed with a state-sponsored messenger, which is expected to be filled by a new app called Max. Roskomnadzor has not confirmed Telegram's plans and has directed inquiries to the company. Telegram has not publicly commented on the office registration.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Crypto Messaging App Ephemera Bags $20M Series B at $300M Valuation

Ephemera, a blockchain-based messaging platform, secured million in a Series B funding round, co-led by Union Square Ventures, A16z Crypto, and Lightspeed Faction, achieving a valuation of 0 million. The round included participation from Coinbase, Sound Ventures, and actor Ashton Kutcher. The funding was structured as equity with token warrants, and Fred Wilson from Union Square Ventures joined Ephemera’s board. The platform is developed by the creators of XMTP, a decentralized messaging network utilizing IETF-standard Messaging Layer Security, which is trusted by companies like Mozilla, Google, Wire, and Cisco. XMTP aims to allow users to transfer conversations between different messaging apps, addressing concerns about centralization and user ownership of messages.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

Java for mobile app development: How to create Android apps in 2025 – London Business News

Java is a key programming language in mobile application development, particularly for Android, and is expected to remain relevant in 2025. It is officially supported in Android development, with a significant portion of Android applications built using Java. Java continues to be integrated into Android Studio and is favored for its comprehensive documentation, backward compatibility, and strong community support. Java's ecosystem is characterized by its mature tools and best practices, making it suitable for both simple and enterprise-level applications. Core components of Android apps built with Java include Activities, Services, Broadcast Receivers, and Content Providers. The development process involves setting up the environment with Android Studio, designing user interfaces with XML, implementing app logic in Java, testing the application, and deploying it via the Google Play Store. Best practices in 2025 include modular architecture, dependency management with libraries like Dagger and Hilt, asynchronous programming techniques, and the use of version control systems like Git. Java remains a viable option alongside Kotlin, especially for legacy codebases and its perceived accessibility for new programmers. Modern tools supporting Java development include Room for data storage, Retrofit for API calls, Glide for image loading, Firebase for cloud services, and Crashlytics for crash monitoring. Outsourcing Java development is a common strategy for companies looking to scale their mobile projects efficiently. Java continues to evolve, accommodating advancements in machine learning, IoT, and edge computing.

BetaBeacon

July 17, 2025

Is it safe to buy retro gaming handhelds with pre-loaded games? Here’s my expert advice

Downloading or sharing pirated games, even if they are old or out of print, is illegal according to copyright law. Handhelds that come with pre-loaded ROMs are also legally questionable. Cheap microSD cards that come with these devices have high fail rates and may not last long. Companies that use pirated ROMs as a selling point may not offer good customer support. It is recommended to buy from companies that do not ship their devices with games for a more legitimate and sustainable future for emulation handhelds.