Development Archives

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

Google Play Opens the Door to Third-Party App Stores, Starting Next Week

Google will allow the installation of third-party applications directly from the Google Play Store starting July 22, following a court ruling in favor of Epic Games in a five-year antitrust lawsuit. The lawsuit accused Google of monopolistic practices regarding its Play Store. A US District Judge ruled that Google must open its Play Store to rival app stores. Google has launched a page for its Play Catalog Access Program, enabling third-party app stores to be featured on Google Play. Google's service fees will still apply, but app purchase commissions have been reduced from 30% to 10%. Developers can now offer alternative payment methods and distribute purchase links to their own websites.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

The follow-up to one of last year’s best detective games is off to an ‘overwhelmingly positive’ start on Steam after just 2 days

In early 2025, the puzzle game Blue Prince won PC Gamer's 'best design' Game of the Year award. Another notable title, The Roottrees are Dead, offered a narrative-driven mystery through a computer interface, inspiring similar projects. Developer Evil Trout released The Incident at Galley House, which received over 600 reviews on Steam with 97% approval. The game was developed by William Rous and Johnson, who enhanced the experience with design elements, coding, and game development. The team was inspired by the free mystery game Type Help, recognized for its captivating narrative. The Incident at Galley House features a visual novel-style presentation, 2D illustrations, a 3D interface for exploring memories, and voice acting. It is priced at £17.75 on Steam with a 10% launch discount until July 21.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

Modern Warfare 4 lead isn’t scared of the GTA 6 black hole: ‘It’s a little head-to-head, that’s great’

Grand Theft Auto 6's anticipated release has influenced the gaming industry, prompting publishers and developers to adjust their release strategies. Call of Duty's upcoming Modern Warfare 4 is set to launch in late October, moving away from its usual November release to avoid competition with GTA 6. Mark Grigsby from Infinity Ward stated that the team is focused on delivering a quality experience rather than feeling pressured by GTA 6. Game journalist Morgan Park, after experiencing Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer, expressed optimism about its gameplay, noting improvements over Modern Warfare 2. The competition between these titles is expected to impact the gaming industry's future.

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.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

Grand Theft Auto 6 leaker who was given an indefinite sentence in 2023 because he wouldn’t stop hacking is now out of hospital and awaiting retrial

Arion Kurtaj, previously involved in high-profile cyberattacks as part of the hacking group Lapsus$, has been transferred from a secure hospital facility to a standard prison while awaiting retrial. At 18, he was found liable by a UK court for cyber intrusions targeting major corporations, notably leaking 90 videos of Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2022. Initially held under police protection with limited technology access, he was sentenced to a secure hospital pending a medical assessment. This assessment has concluded, allowing his transfer to prison. Kurtaj's retrial is scheduled for November, coinciding with the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6.

Winsage

July 16, 2026

Microsoft blocks Windows 11 KB5101650 update for Dell PCs after reports of “unexpected shutdowns, poor performance, increased heat, and battery drain”

Microsoft has blocked the rollout of the Windows 11 July Patch Tuesday update (KB5101650) for Dell PCs due to reports of significant issues such as unexpected shutdowns, overheating, and diminished performance following a related preview update. The KB5101650 update, which started on July 14, aims to improve user experience but is currently unavailable to Dell PC users.

Winsage

July 16, 2026

Nightmare Eclipse Drops ‘LegacyHive’ Windows Zero-Day

A security researcher known as Nightmare Eclipse has revealed a new unpatched vulnerability in Windows, named LegacyHive, which is a local privilege escalation flaw in the Windows User Profile Service. This vulnerability allows attackers to access and load user hives of other accounts, including administrators. Nightmare Eclipse has provided proof-of-concept exploit code that works on systems with Microsoft's July 2026 patches. The exploit initially did not require user credentials but now necessitates them for accessing other hives. Nightmare Eclipse has previously disclosed over half a dozen zero-day vulnerabilities affecting Microsoft products. Microsoft has not yet acknowledged the LegacyHive exploit.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

Google Play Must Carry Rival App Stores Jul. 22

Google will introduce rival Android app stores within its Play Store starting July 22, following a court ruling that mandates the inclusion of competing app stores. This change allows cryptocurrency applications greater visibility while still processing downloads through Google Play, which will maintain its service fee. Competing app stores must be U.S.-based, keep malware rates below 1%, and pay an annual fee of ,000. The order is temporary, lasting until November 1, 2027, and prohibits Google from incentivizing device manufacturers to prioritize its own store.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

OnePlus will continue software updates, all devices move to ColorOS with Android 17

OnePlus will discontinue its OxygenOS interface and transition to Oppo's ColorOS, starting with the rollout of Android 17 updates across all active OnePlus devices. Users will have the option to voluntarily update to ColorOS, which aims to streamline software development and improve update delivery and quality. Older OnePlus models not eligible for the Android 17 update will still receive maintenance support for existing OxygenOS versions. Users who update to ColorOS will have the option to roll back to OxygenOS. OnePlus has assured that all existing devices will continue to receive software updates and security patches. Additionally, Realme has also confirmed its transition to ColorOS with the Android 17 update.

Winsage

July 16, 2026

Microsoft is cutting OneDrive support on older Windows 10 PCs

Support for Windows 10 version 22H1 will end on August 15, 2026. Users on this version may face challenges with OneDrive synchronization and will not receive new features, security updates, or bug fixes after the cutoff date. Users are encouraged to upgrade to Windows 10 22H2 to maintain functionality and security, with continued access to OneDrive and updates until October 10, 2028.