Development Archives

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Are your Android apps secretly sharing your location with advertisers? Some developers are accidentally leaving on this critical data-invading setting when using third-party SDKs

Developers often rely on third-party software development kits (SDKs) for mobile app monetization, which can compromise user privacy due to invasive data-collection features. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has raised concerns about these SDKs' default settings that collect sensitive location data without explicit user consent. Location data is valuable for advertisers, allowing targeted marketing, but permissions granted to apps often extend to SDKs, enabling data collection without informed consent. The EFF emphasizes that app-level location permissions do not signify meaningful consent for third-party SDKs. The location data collected has been used by intelligence agencies and law enforcement, raising ethical privacy concerns. The EFF recommends that developers prioritize user privacy, regulators hold app developers accountable for unlawful data sharing, and legislators consider enacting federal laws similar to the GDPR to protect user privacy and potentially ban behavioral advertising.

Winsage

August 5, 2026

I played DOOM inside MS Paint on Windows 11 by hijacking the clipboard, and it’s shockingly good

Mark Russinovich, the Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft Azure, has created a project called DoomPaint, which allows the classic game DOOM to be displayed within Microsoft Paint. The game operates through the ViZDoom engine, rendering frames headlessly and transferring them to Paint via the Windows clipboard. DoomPaint features full keyboard controls, sound effects, and a MIDI soundtrack, maintaining a frame rate of around 35 FPS. To run DoomPaint, users need to download the project from GitHub, ensure Python is installed, extract the folder, and run a batch file, which sets up a virtual environment and opens Microsoft Paint for gameplay. The default controls include movement with W/S or arrow keys, turning with A/D or arrow keys, strafing with Q/E, firing with Ctrl/F, and other functions assigned to different keys. The project uses the shareware DOOM1.WAD for the initial episode and additional maps from Freedoom due to licensing restrictions. DoomPaint differs from previous attempts to integrate DOOM into Paint by using Paint’s canvas as the sole display for the game. The clipboard race condition was addressed by allowing the application to own the clipboard as a reference-counted OLE data object. Sound effects come from ViZDoom through OpenAL, and music is played using a separate module that loops through the Windows MIDI sequencer. Russinovich utilized Claude Fable 5 for this project, demonstrating how AI tools can enhance software development.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Why Minecraft Bedrock Is Still the Ultimate Mobile Sandbox in 2026

Minecraft Bedrock is a mobile sandbox game that remains popular in 2026 due to its blend of survival, exploration, building, and multiplayer features. It offers regular updates, cross-platform play, and community-generated content, enhancing player engagement. Community resources like MCPE Planet help players discover new maps, add-ons, and enhancements. The game allows for quick gaming sessions or extensive projects, with cross-platform multiplayer enabling users on different devices to play together. Regular updates introduce new content that keeps old worlds relevant, while custom maps allow for diverse gameplay experiences across various genres. Players can customize their experience with add-ons that introduce new elements without switching to Java Edition. Resource packs can refresh the game's visuals, and touch controls make it accessible on mobile devices. The game serves as a creative platform, fostering community and collaboration among players.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Android users, beware: Your location data might be being inadvertently shared

Recent findings from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) indicate that many applications on Android phones may unintentionally share users' location data with advertisers without explicit user knowledge. This issue arises from certain Software Development Kits (SDKs) used by app developers, which collect location data by default when users grant permission. The EFF report emphasizes that users likely do not expect their location data to be shared with third parties. Android users can manage their location sharing preferences through the device's Settings by reviewing app permissions or disabling location sharing entirely, though the latter may impact apps that require location access.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Rockstar’s great Midnight Club racing series was killed off for one simple reason, and you can probably guess what it was

Midnight Club, an arcade street racing series from Rockstar, last released a title in 2008 with Midnight Club: Los Angeles. The series faced challenges that contributed to its decline, including missed development deadlines, conflicts between Rockstar's New York and San Diego studios, and the overshadowing focus on Grand Theft Auto. Former Rockstar designer Kris Roberts highlighted these issues in a recent interview, noting that the company's emphasis on blockbuster hits impacted the franchise's future.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Statistically, your PC probably doesn’t come close to the recommended RAM requirement for this third-person shooter’s upcoming playtest

Cinder City is an open-world cinematic third-person shooter set in a dystopian near-future Seoul. The game's Steam page initially listed a requirement of 64GB of RAM, which was later corrected to a minimum of 32GB. A pre-alpha playtest is scheduled for August 14-16, available only to participants in the United States who are at least 16 years old and agree to a non-disclosure agreement. The publisher, NC, has indicated that final system requirements may be adjusted as optimization progresses. Additional playtests will be available in the future for a broader audience.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Android Developers Unknowingly Leak User Location Data

Recent research from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has revealed that millions of Android users' location data are being inadvertently exposed to advertisers through third-party code libraries. This occurs when seemingly harmless applications, like weather services and fitness trackers, integrate third-party SDKs that collect user location information automatically upon permission approval, often without developers' awareness. Data brokers aggregate this location information to create detailed movement profiles sold to advertisers and government agencies. Despite privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA, enforcement is inconsistent, and developers may claim ignorance regarding data practices they did not implement. Google has improved Android's privacy controls, but visibility into third-party libraries accessing data remains limited. Developers face challenges in auditing third-party code due to resource constraints, leading to a complex landscape where user information traverses multiple entities without clear accountability. Privacy advocates are calling for new technical standards to require SDKs to disclose their data practices.

BetaBeacon

August 5, 2026

Palworld Online Announced For iOS And Android In 2026 By Garena

Garena has announced Palworld Online, a multiplayer survival adventure game set to launch on iOS and Android in 2026. The game is designed specifically for mobile devices, with features such as shared progression, group play, and an expansive open world. The collaboration between Garena and Pocketpair aims to deliver a new Palworld experience to players worldwide, focusing on multiplayer gameplay and mobile-friendly controls.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Tor launches Snowflake Android app to help users bypass censorship

The Tor Project has launched Snowflake Volunteer, an Android app that allows users to share their internet bandwidth to help others bypass online censorship. Snowflake functions as a Tor pluggable transport, disguising user traffic as video calls and routing it through temporary proxies managed by volunteers, making detection by censors more difficult. The app was developed by Bloco, a Portuguese studio, in collaboration with Tor’s anti-censorship team and is designed to be user-friendly while minimizing battery consumption. Users can configure the app to operate on unmetered networks and limit connections. Snowflake Volunteer is available on Google Play and F-Droid, with its source code also accessible for independent use. Volunteers are advised to consider their data limits and device impact before using the app.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Test more features from our upcoming drop

Builders can enhance projects with concrete available in 16 colors by mixing dye with sand and gravel. This mixture, combined with water, creates concrete blocks for crafting stairs or slabs, which can also be accessed from the Creative inventory. Cushions can be found in abandoned camps or crafted from three wool slabs of the same color, providing versatile seating options. Straw beds can be found in abandoned camps or crafted from three hay bales, allowing players to sleep without resetting their spawn point. The dappled forest biome features poplar trees and red shrubs, with hidden treasures like an abandoned tent. Abandoned camps include a tent, campfire, straw bed, and cushions. The wool block set now includes soft stairs and slabs in 16 colors. Poplar trees yield crafting materials, red shrubs add color, and shelf mushrooms can be used in various ways. Players can explore these features by enabling snapshots for Minecraft: Java Edition or activating previews/beta for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.