dark theme Archives

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

Steam Week in Review: Here are the 32 Steam games brave enough to release on GTA 6 day

Lord of Undead is a third-person RPG where players build an army of zombies to destroy villages, scheduled for release on November 19. It is the second most anticipated game of the day, with 2,649 follows on Steam, surpassing Parry Survivor's 2,062 follows. Unlike GTA 6, Lord of Undead will be available on PC. Parry Survivor features an anime character defending against foes and has received positive reviews. Other games generating interest include Cute Country with 736 follows, Phantom Vice Auto with 123 follows, and Man Simulator with 9 follows. Over 30 new titles are set to debut in the gaming industry.

Winsage

August 10, 2026

Notchify brings macOS-style “Dynamic Island” flair to Windows 11 — and it’s surprisingly useful if you can get by the ick factor

Notchify is an application that simulates a "fake" notch or "island" at the top of the screen on Windows PCs, displaying information such as notifications, media playback controls, weather updates, battery status, timers, and microphone indicators. It features a user-friendly interface with options to toggle between Island and Notch modes, select display monitors, and customize themes and effects. Users can combine small and large widgets for information display, and the notch remains "always on top," expanding to show details when hovered over. The app centralizes information, enhancing workflow, especially for users with large monitors. It is priced at .99 after a free trial and emphasizes updates based on user feedback. The developer engages with the community for performance improvements, reflecting the spirit of indie development.

BetaBeacon

July 30, 2026

Google Maps’ “hidden” battery-saving mode: Why isn’t this game-changer available on all Android phones?

Google Maps' full dark mode offers a more comfortable look for users, replacing bright maps with a darker, soothing appearance. This feature is available on almost every Android phone and can help reduce power usage on OLED devices. Users can choose between "Always dark theme" or "Same theme as device" settings. While not as significant as the Pixel 10's exclusive feature, dark mode enhances day-to-day visual comfort during navigation.

AppWizard

June 19, 2026

4 security upgrades in Android 17 you didn’t know about, but will be glad to have

Google's Android 17 update is being deployed to Pixel devices, introducing new features such as multitasking bubbles, expanded dark theme controls, and a revamped screen recording interface. Key user preferences from a poll indicate that 32% favor multitasking app bubbles, while other features received varying levels of support. The update includes App Memory Limits to prevent excessive RAM usage by apps, enhancing performance. It also restricts apps from scanning local networks without explicit permission, improving user privacy. Additionally, Android 17 tightens restrictions on dynamic code loading to strengthen malware protection and implements Certificate Transparency protections by default for secure HTTPS connections. Overall, these changes aim to enhance performance, security, and user experience.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

Android 17 review: Bubbling with excitement

Recent updates in Android, particularly with Android 17, focus on refining existing functionalities rather than introducing numerous new features. Key highlights include: - Revamped multitasking capabilities with expanded chat bubbles, allowing interaction with multiple apps simultaneously. - A bubble bar for foldable devices that displays all active floating windows for easy access, though launching apps as bubbles from the recents menu is not supported. - Tailored updates for foldable devices, including a dedicated gaming mode and native controller remapping for customization. - New customization options, such as hiding app labels on home screens and per-app adjustments for the dark theme. - Enhanced background blur effects and the ability to disable them through accessibility settings. - Security updates including Theft Detection Lock and Remote Lock enabled by default, and a new Contact Picker feature for sharing specific contacts. - Improved parental controls allowing for daily limits, downtime schedules, and individual app restrictions. - A consistent user experience across devices, with applications adapting to different screen sizes and the introduction of features like Continue On for cross-device continuity. - Anticipated future enhancements related to Gemini Intelligence.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

Android 17 launched for Pixel smartphones: Key features and what is new in Google’s latest software

Google has rolled out Android 17, with Pixel smartphones being the first to receive the update, while other eligible devices will gain access throughout 2026. The update emphasizes productivity, entertainment, and enhanced security. Key features include: - A revamped “Bubbles” feature for multitasking, allowing apps to be transformed into floating windows. - A dedicated “bubble bar” for larger devices to switch between apps easily. - An upgraded screen recording functionality with a “Screen Reactions” feature that captures video from the front-facing camera. - A “foldable gaming mode” optimizing performance for foldable phones, featuring a 50/50 split view for games and a dynamic gamepad. - Native controller remapping for external controllers and improved system memory cleanup to reduce frame drops during gaming. - A new “Mark as lost” feature in Find Hub for locking missing phones with biometric authentication. - Targeted privacy options for temporary app access to location and contacts. - Enhanced security features including limited PIN guesses and upgraded Live Threat Detection. - A built-in home screen setting to hide app names, dedicated volume controls for virtual assistants, expanded dark theme customization, and extended Parental Controls. - Strict app memory limits to enhance speed and battery life.

Tech Optimizer

June 9, 2026

Fake ChatGPT download site infects Windows and Mac users with malware

A counterfeit website, openew[.]app, is impersonating OpenAI's official ChatGPT download page and distributing malware. Windows users who download from this site receive a credential-stealing malware loader, while macOS users are infected with Odyssey Stealer, a variant associated with cryptocurrency theft. The fake site mimics the legitimate ChatGPT interface and uses HTTPS to appear trustworthy. The Windows malware, Chat_GPT.exe, creates a back channel to an attacker-controlled server, while the macOS malware captures sensitive data and attempts to replace legitimate cryptocurrency wallet applications with compromised versions. Users who download from official sources remain safe, but those who click on ads or unfamiliar links risk compromising their online accounts and sensitive information. Malwarebytes offers protection against this malware. Indicators of compromise include specific file hashes and network indicators associated with the malicious site.

Winsage

June 3, 2026

Building the next generation of devices for developers: Surface RTX Spark Dev Box

Microsoft has introduced the Surface Laptop Ultra and the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, specifically designed for software developers and technical professionals. The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box features the NVIDIA RTX Spark superchip, providing up to 1 petaflop of AI compute and 128 GB of unified memory, enabling local execution of complex AI models. It comes pre-configured with Windows 11 Pro and essential development tools, ensuring a focused environment for developers. The device incorporates security features aligned with Microsoft’s Zero Trust principles, including secured-core PC architecture and BitLocker encryption. It will be available later this year in the U.S. exclusively through Microsoft.com.

Winsage

May 31, 2026

Microsoft is killing every ancient Windows 11 dialog box with a modern rewrite, and file copy is already done

Microsoft is redesigning legacy dialog boxes in Windows 11, moving towards modern WinUI 3 interfaces. The company has begun implementing dark mode for some legacy dialogs, starting with file operation dialogs. A WinUI 3-based redesign of the Windows Run dialog is planned as an optional feature. March Rogers, Partner Director of Design at Microsoft, confirmed that a comprehensive redesign is underway, with the file copy dialog already completed and the common file dialog in progress. Users have expressed the need for more extensive updates to various legacy dialogs, and Microsoft is considering releasing these modern versions as optional features.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Samsung Messages is dying — here’s the open-source alternative I’m replacing it with

Samsung Messages will be discontinued in July 2026. The author switched from Samsung Messages to Google Messages but found it lacking in customization options and preferred a simpler experience. They discovered Fossify Messages, a free and open-source messaging app that offers essential features without distractions, and found it to be a suitable replacement. Fossify Messages allows selective text copying, offers security options like PIN or biometric authentication, and supports local backups. While the author appreciates Fossify Messages, they still recognize the strengths of Samsung Messages, such as chat organization and integration with Galaxy devices.