enhancement Archives

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

The Google Phone app could give you a quick way clean up Call Notes (APK teardown)

The Google Phone app, currently available only on Pixel phones in the US, features Call Notes that allow users to transcribe and summarize calls. A recent teardown revealed that Google is exploring an option for automatic deletion of Call Notes, similar to the existing feature for call recordings. Users may be able to set automatic deletions for Call Notes after seven, 14, or 30 days, and there will be an option to delete all Call Notes at once. The feature is expected to help users manage their notes more efficiently. There is potential for the Call Notes feature to expand to other markets and languages in the future.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Android Auto is Finally Getting Video Streaming Apps and Browsers

Google has announced that video and browser applications will soon be available on Android Auto, enhancing the platform for users. Video apps will initially be accessible for devices running Android 16 in select compatible vehicles, but only when the vehicle is parked. Browser applications are still in beta and details are limited, with a promise that they are "coming soon."

Winsage

May 21, 2025

Windows 11 Introduces Enhanced Administrator Protection to Strengthen Security Against Elevated Privilege Attacks

Microsoft has launched Administrator Protection for Windows 11, a feature designed to enhance cybersecurity by preventing privilege escalation attacks. This feature creates a security boundary around administrative operations, reducing the attack surface for cybercriminals. It introduces a hidden, system-managed local user account that generates isolated admin tokens, preventing user-level malware from compromising elevated processes. Administrator Protection eliminates auto-elevation functionality, requiring users to explicitly authorize administrative actions. It utilizes a System Managed Administrator Account (SMAA) that generates non-persistent admin tokens for specific tasks, which are discarded after use. The feature is currently available to Windows Insiders in the Canary channel and will expand to the Dev channel, with broader deployment expected in the 24H2 release. Compatibility challenges may arise in complex development environments, such as with Visual Studio.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

TSplus Releases Remote Support Android V4: Smarter, Broader, and Now Compatible with Android TV

TSplus has released version 4 of its Remote Support app for Android, which now fully supports Android TVs. This update enhances compatibility, performance, and usability, expanding device support to over 22,720 models, including both arm32 and x86 architectures. The app allows for innovative applications in various settings, such as home, retail, public transport, and events. Key features include Viewer mode for assisting others and casting presentations, and Sharer mode for secure screen sharing with remote technicians. The update also improves navigation for Android TV and optimizes network usage. Users can download the latest version from the Google Play Store.

Tech Optimizer

May 21, 2025

Achieve up to 1.7 times higher write throughput and 1.38 times better price performance with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL on AWS Graviton4-based R8g instances

Upgrading to Graviton4-based R8g instances with Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible 17.4 in an Aurora I/O-Optimized cluster configuration results in significant performance improvements. The new instances provide up to 1.7 times higher write throughput, 1.38 times better price-performance, and reduce commit latency by up to 46% on r8g.16xlarge instances and 38% on r8g.2xlarge instances compared to Graviton2-based R6g instances. The Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition now supports AWS Graviton4-based R8g instances and PostgreSQL 17.4, which introduces performance enhancements for I/O-Optimized configurations, optimizing write operations and batch processing. R8g instances offer up to 192 vCPUs and 1.5 TB of memory, supporting larger configurations and providing up to 50 Gbps of network bandwidth. PostgreSQL 17 includes vacuum improvements, eliminates the need to drop logical replication slots during upgrades, and expands SQL/JSON standards. Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible separates compute from storage, enabling independent scaling and maintaining six-way replication for durability, while processing changes as log records to reduce I/O operations. Performance benchmarks using HammerDB show improvements in throughput and commit latency across various workloads. For small workloads on 2xlarge instance size, throughput increased by 50.25% and commit latency improved by 33.87%. For medium workloads on 16xlarge instance size, throughput increased by 30% and commit latency improved by 17.44%. The most significant performance benefits arise from combining hardware upgrades from Graviton2 to Graviton4 with database engine upgrades from PostgreSQL 15.10 to 17.4. For small workloads, throughput increased by 70% and commit latency improved by 38.71%. For medium workloads, throughput increased by 70% and commit latency improved by 46.67%. Cost efficiency is also enhanced, with a 38% improvement in price performance and a 61.26% improvement in price-performance ratio when comparing Graviton2 and Graviton4 instances. Reserved Instances for Graviton4-based R8g instances offer additional cost-optimization opportunities.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Android Auto is getting video and browser apps for your car dashboard – and more weather apps too

Google announced new in-car app experiences for Android Auto during Google I/O 2025, including video players and browser applications, which will only be accessible when the vehicle is parked to ensure safety. These features will be compatible with Android 16 devices and select vehicles, with availability depending on hardware and dashboard systems.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Major Google Play Store update grabs your attention with ‘browse pages’ and more

Google I/O 2025 announced new features for the Play Store aimed at enhancing user engagement. The "topic browse pages" will allow users to explore apps in a more interactive way, debuting in May in the U.S. with a focus on Media & Entertainment content. The "Where to Watch" feature will expand to users in Korea, Indonesia, the U.K., and Mexico, while developers will gain access to a hero content carousel for showcasing YouTube videos. "Audio samples" will be introduced on the Apps Home, starting with Health & Wellness content. Developers will receive new overview pages for Grow and Monetize statistics and can halt app rollouts if necessary. The Asset Library will be updated for easier management of app assets. Google is also streamlining the subscription process with "multi-product checkout for subscriptions," allowing users to bundle subscriptions with related add-ons. Enhanced controls for developers regarding subscription management and improved payment setup during device initialization are also part of the updates.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Samsung Notes finally lets you use the app on any Windows device

Samsung Notes can now operate on any Windows device, allowing users to sync the app without needing a Galaxy Book. Previously, users faced limitations and had to use workarounds for compatibility with non-Galaxy devices. The update has received positive feedback, with users reporting successful operation on various Windows laptops, enhancing productivity by allowing note consolidation across multiple devices.

Winsage

May 20, 2025

Microsoft is putting AI actions into the Windows File Explorer

Microsoft is integrating AI shortcuts, called AI actions, into the File Explorer of Windows 11, allowing users to right-click on files for quick access to various AI features. Four image-related actions currently being tested include Bing visual search, background blurring, object erasure from the Photos app, and a remove background option in Paint. Microsoft plans to introduce AI actions for Office files, enabling document summarization and AI-driven list generation for Microsoft 365 commercial subscribers with a Copilot license. An "Ask Copilot" option will also be added to the right-click menu. Additionally, Microsoft is experimenting with visual updates to the widgets feature and has introduced a new power management feature that reduces energy consumption on laptops and tablets after periods of inactivity.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

Google Workspaces gets supercharged with Gemini to help you work smarter

The latest Google I/O event introduced several AI-driven features across Google's products aimed at enhancing user experience and productivity. - Gmail will receive AI-powered personalized reply suggestions, inbox cleanup, and faster appointment scheduling through the new Gemini tool. - Google Meet will offer real-time speech translation in multiple languages for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, starting with English and Spanish. - Google Vids will enable users to convert slides into videos, generate scripts, and refine recordings using AI, with features like AI avatars for video production. - Imagen 4 will enhance visual content creation in Slides, Vids, and Docs by generating richer images and accurate text rendering. - Google Docs will incorporate Gemini for source-grounded writing assistance, allowing users to link relevant data and documents directly within their writing.