course Archives

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

Google wants Gemini to take over how you browse in Chrome

Google will integrate its Gemini 3.1 AI into the Chrome toolbar for Android starting in June, allowing users to summarize articles, ask questions about content, and extract details without switching apps. Users can enable the "Personal Intelligence" feature for tailored responses based on personal preferences. The Nano Banana feature will let users create or modify visuals from web pages. The auto browse function will allow Chrome to perform tasks like reserving parking or updating orders automatically. These features will include security protections, but sensitive actions will still require user confirmation. Gemini in Chrome will require devices with at least 4GB of RAM, running Android 12 or newer, and set to English-U.S. The rollout will begin for select Android devices in the U.S. at the end of June, with the auto browse feature available initially only to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

AppWizard

May 11, 2026

This week in PC games: Subnautica 2 early access, a Battlestar Galactica roguelite, and Directive 8020 disproving the old saying about space and screaming

Edwin, the news editor, has chosen to spend his morning away from work, avoiding the usual adventure involving the Maw. Upcoming PC game releases include: - Outbound: A crafting-centric van life simulator. - Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes: A roguelite strategy game. - Greenhearth Necromancer: A semi-idle sim combining urban farming and magic. - Don't Panic! It is Just Turbulence: A co-op experience navigating a cockpit. Notable horror and adventure titles set to release are: - Directive 8020: A horror game set in a sci-fi space colony. - Call of the Elder Gods: A Lovecraftian-themed sequel to Call of the Sea. - Elfie: A Sand Plan: A creative game about building sandcastles. Significant developments in gaming include: - Subnautica 2: Launching in early access after legal challenges. - Hotel Architect: Officially launching after a successful early access period. - RoadOut: A pixel art action-RPG combining shooting mechanics with driving. - American Truck Simulator – Illinois: An expansion completing Route 66. - The Caribou Trail: A narrative-driven game about World War I soldiers. Julian is looking forward to transitioning away from Trello, the guides team is focused on Subnautica 2, and Mark is engaged with a racing title under embargo.

BetaBeacon

May 11, 2026

How to play Steam PC games on Android phones and tablets (for real)

Valve released Proton in 2018, a fork of Wine that improves Linux compatibility with Windows games. By 2024, it became possible to run full-blown PC games from 1997 to 2005 on phones with Snapdragon processors. In 2025, GameSir released GameHub, allowing users to play Steam games on Android devices. Other open-source projects like GameNative and GameHub Lite have since improved the gaming experience on Android devices.

AppWizard

May 10, 2026

Riot clarifies Trainwreck’s Valorant ban: “This wasn’t just a five-stack with friends on their own accounts”

Riot Games imposed a month-long ban on Tyler Faraz Nikam, known as 'Trainwreck,' due to his association with an Immortal player who was using smurf accounts, which raised concerns about the integrity of five-stack play in Valorant. Riot's anti-cheat team clarified that the ban resulted from a specific player's actions during Trainwreck's gaming session, which violated the Terms of Service. Trainwreck played with several streamers, including Jay 'Sinatraa' Won and Michael 'Dapr' Gulino, and expressed confusion over the ban, suggesting it was targeted. Riot emphasized that the issue was not with Trainwreck's high-ranking companions but with a player who had a history of infractions and was using multiple lower-ranked smurf accounts, achieving an 80% win rate over 50 games. This behavior contravened Riot's terms regarding account boosting. Trainwreck defended himself, stating that most players in his stacks were on their main accounts and questioned the legitimacy verification of his teammates' accounts. Riot clarified that the violation stemmed from a repeat offender manipulating matchmaking by borrowing accounts to achieve a lower rank, skewing the competitive environment.

BetaBeacon

May 9, 2026

Top 5 Must-Play Roguelite Games You Can’t Miss in 2023

- The Roguelite genre of gaming is thriving with games that have randomly generated maps, grid-based movement, and permadeath. - Modern game designers often add twists to the classic roguelite tropes, such as upgradable characters, weapon changes, and diverse gameplay. - Balatro is a game where players collect cash to purchase new cards with special effects, encouraging cheating to win. - The Binding of Isaac is a classic roguelite game where players control a young boy using strange weapons like tears to escape his abusive mother. - Skul: The Hero Slayer follows a skeleton named Skul who can switch out his skull for different powers and abilities, making him stronger. - Vampire Survivors is a game where players face a monstrous horde of enemies and upgrade their character with stronger weapons and armor. - Hades is a roguelite game where players control Zagreus, the son of Hades, trying to escape the underworld to meet his mother in the world of the living.

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

Valorant’s Neon is going to Riot jail due to a bug, and she’s coming back next patch a changed agent

Riot Games is addressing issues with the character Neon in Valorant, particularly her Fast Lane ability, which has a game-breaking graphics exploit affecting PC players. Neon has been temporarily removed from play, and adjustments to her kit are planned for her reintroduction on May 8. The current meta favors aggressive Duelists, with Neon remaining popular despite not being the top choice in ranked matches. Her gameplay style combines aggression and strategy, but concerns about balance and her high slide accuracy have been raised. Potential adjustments may include increasing the time it takes for her to ready her weapon after using High Gear to encourage more strategic play.

Tech Optimizer

May 7, 2026

MongoDB Cost Us $180K. PostgreSQL Saved Us. Here’s the Migration Story.

In 2022, the monthly AWS bill for a MongoDB setup reached ,000, resulting in an annual cost of 0,000. The decision was made to migrate to PostgreSQL, which reduced monthly expenses to ,200 and led to annual savings of 5,000. The migration process took four months and involved challenges such as data consistency issues and achieving eventual consistency.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

UTD Pre-Med Students Are Treating Virtual Patients in a Minecraft World

The University of Texas at Dallas has introduced a class for pre-med students called “Experiential Medical Reasoning,” which uses the video game Minecraft to create a virtual hospital environment for patient care. Students engage with a playbook within the game to make decisions about tests, patient examinations, and diagnoses. The virtual hospital is a digital replica of Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, developed by IvyBee, a startup founded by Dr. Walter Voit. The initiative is part of a trend of using Minecraft for educational purposes, with positive feedback from students who appreciate the gamified learning approach.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Class uses Minecraft as building blocks for MCAT

A new course at the University of Texas at Dallas, titled Experiential Medical Reasoning, immerses premed students in a virtual hospital environment using Minecraft. The course, developed by IvyBee, Inc., allows students to engage with fictional patients and make medical decisions based on symptoms and charts. The digital replica of Parkland Memorial Hospital enables students to experience various medical roles while preparing for the MCAT. Students have reported improvements in their MCAT practice scores and gained insights into hospital operations. The course is part of a broader initiative led by Dr. Walter Voit, who aims to enhance student engagement through innovative educational tools.

AppWizard

May 3, 2026

My favorite dice roguelike just left early access, and it’s finally broken my Slay the Spire 2 streak

Die in the Dungeon has released its 1.0 update, marking a significant milestone since its early access debut in 2023. The game features a unique dice-centric combat system where players collect and strategically place dice on a board to perform actions. Different colored dice serve specific functions: red for damage, blue for defense, and green for healing, with additional modifier dice introducing further complexity. The update adds a new character, Nera, who uses the Broken Memento relic for counterplay. Players can now earn experience on every run, unlocking new dice, relics, and lore fragments. The codex has been expanded with detailed enemy information, and a new secret quest offers a chance to uncover the game's true ending. A new 'D8 difficulty' mode challenges players with a degrading dice mechanic. Die in the Dungeon 1.0 is available on Steam with a 35% launch discount until May 15. The development team expresses gratitude for community support and plans to continue updates based on player feedback.