factory Archives

AppWizard

October 13, 2026

Huion Kamvas Pad 12 review: a budget Android drawing tablet that gets the small things right

Creative Bloq's review highlights the Huion Kamvas Pad 12 as a compact, entry-level Android art tablet priced at 9 / £449. It features the new PenTech 4.0 stylus with 16,384 pressure levels, a sturdy design resembling an iPad, and an etched glass surface for a paper-like feel. The tablet runs on Android 16, supports various drawing apps, and has a battery life of up to eight hours. While it offers good color accuracy covering 99% of sRGB, it may not match the precision of higher-end models like the iPad Pro or Wacom tablets. Palm rejection could be improved, and users may need a drawing glove to prevent unintended screen interactions.

AppWizard

October 13, 2026

LineageOS 24 nightly build for Google Pixel 10

LineageOS has released a new nightly build, LineageOS 24.0, for the Google Pixel 10 (codenamed frankel), dated October 11, 2026, with a size of 1.61 GiB and an October 2026 security patch level. The build is named lineage-24.0-20261011-nightly-frankel-signed.zip and is based on the Android 17 framework. Installation requires the latest Android 17 firmware, a computer with adb and fastboot, USB debugging enabled, and prior booting into the stock operating system. Users should check essential features like SMS and calls, and remove Google accounts to avoid Factory Reset Protection issues. Apps requiring device-integrity checks may not function correctly. Nightly builds for the Pixel 10 Pro were reported available on October 12, 2026, while builds for other models like the Pixel 10a, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold have not yet been released.

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

Your Android phone could be infected before you turn it on

Bitdefender researchers have identified a malware campaign called Midnight Mimosa that can be embedded in the software of low-cost Android devices before sale. This malware operates stealthily, allowing it to install and remove applications without user knowledge, generate fraudulent advertising activity, and convert devices into residential-proxy relay nodes for a botnet. It has been found on MediaTek-based, white-label devices marketed under misleading names. Users should be cautious of suspiciously cheap devices and look for signs of infection, such as unexplained ads, unfamiliar apps, sudden battery drain, and discrepancies in model names. Standard uninstallation or factory resets may not remove this malware, and users are advised to update their devices, review app lists, and contact sellers for refunds or replacements if they suspect infection. Mobile protection solutions can help monitor app behavior and alert users to potential threats.

BetaBeacon

October 6, 2026

Lemuroid Setup Guide: 20 Retro Systems [2026]

Lemuroid is an open-source Android frontend built on top of the Libretro core ecosystem, maintained by developer Swordfish90. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 and has 4,371 stars, 366 forks, and 595 open issues on GitHub. Late 2026 is a good time to set it up due to its active development. It is available on Google Play, F-Droid, and GitHub, providing redundancy in case of policy changes. Lemuroid supports twenty systems, each mapped to a specific Libretro core. PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Nintendo Switch are not supported. It requires Android 6.0, 500MB of storage, 3GB of RAM for 8-bit and 16-bit systems, and legally dumped ROMs/ISOs. BIOS files are required for PS1, PSP, and DS cores. It is recommended for managing multiple systems in one library.

BetaBeacon

September 30, 2026

Lime3DS Setup Guide: Play Pokémon on Android [2026]

- Nintendo’s 2024 legal action against Tropic Haze, the team behind the Yuzu Switch emulator, ended with a $**.4 million settlement** and the shutdown of Yuzu. - Lime3DS rose out of the shutdown of Yuzu and Citra as a community-maintained Citra fork, but development stopped in April 2025, leading to the creation of Azahar. - Azahar is the successor project to Lime3DS, but the Android package name was not updated, causing confusion. - Azahar is the default recommendation for 3DS emulation, consolidating the scattered forks that emerged after the shutdown of Yuzu and Citra. - Azahar requires specific system files from a real Nintendo 3DS console, and users must dump their own game files legally.

BetaBeacon

September 28, 2026

PKForge Is A New Android Pokémon Bank Built For Retro Handhelds & ROM Hacks

Main features of version 3.0 include managing Pokémon by editing various aspects, legalizing Pokémon offline, moving Pokémon between games, storing collections in a Bank, tracking the Pokédex, browsing and injecting events, editing the bag and trainer, using RNG tools, batch editing, breeding and hatching Pokémon, completing the Pokédex, playing with Pokémon in the Poképark, sharing teams, using game-specific editors, keeping saves safe, and supporting dual-screen devices. The software supports various generations of Pokémon games and emulators.

AppWizard

September 24, 2026

Tesla Optimus Gen 3 design possibly revealed in Android app

Tesla's next-generation Optimus humanoid robot, referred to as Optimus Gen 3, has been previewed through new 3D design assets found in the Android version of Tesla’s mobile app. These assets, which include renders labeled “gen3” and images comparing Optimus Gen 2.5 and Gen 3, indicate significant design changes. The robot features a cleaner aesthetic with enclosed joints, a unified torso shell, thicker forearms, slimmer wrists, and redesigned legs that resemble integrated boots. The assets began appearing in app builds around August 27, 2026, with higher-resolution versions on September 5. Tesla initially planned to unveil Optimus Gen 3 by the end of Q1 2026, but this timeline was missed. Elon Musk later indicated that the reveal was postponed to mid-year for strategic reasons. Tesla has also started auditing suppliers in China for Gen 3 production, suggesting a potential reveal is approaching.

AppWizard

September 23, 2026

5 Unique Android Apps Worth Your Time

More than 70% of the world’s smartphones operate on the Android platform. Users often struggle to find apps that address specific issues, leading to a time-consuming search through numerous options. A curated list presents five applications that provide practical solutions to common mobile frustrations. 1. AppsFree: Monitors Google Play for premium apps, games, and wallpapers that temporarily drop to free, allowing users to snag deals that would otherwise be missed. Developed by ts-apps GmbH, it enables users to blacklist developers and filter low-quality offers. 2. Monocles Browser: Prioritizes user privacy by disabling JavaScript and cookies by default, reducing tracking. It has an APK size of approximately 13–14 MB and integrates ad blocking and supports Tor/Orbot proxy networks. Created by Arne-Brün Vogelsang, it offers a clean browsing experience. 3. Amarok: Allows users to instantly hide files and applications without resource-intensive encryption by obfuscating filenames and signatures. It supports multiple hiding modes and includes a “panic button” feature for quick data concealment. 4. Buckwheat: Budget manager: Requires manual input of total budget and days to cover, promoting financial reflection. It calculates daily spending allowances and provides detailed analytics. Developed by Danil Zakhvatkin, it has a user rating of around 4.6–4.7/5. 5. Chill Live Wallpaper: Offers minimalist landscapes that sync with local time and weather, providing a visually soothing experience. Compatible with Android 7.1+, it is ad-free and has a compact APK size of 5–6 MB.

AppWizard

September 22, 2026

RatHat is a new Android malware that records your screen touches to steal passwords

Cybersecurity researchers at Zimperium have identified a new strain of malware called RatHat, targeting Android devices and linked to threat actors from China. RatHat uses generative AI to maintain persistence and control over infected devices. The malware is typically spread through social engineering, tricking users into downloading counterfeit applications that appear legitimate. Once installed, RatHat requests accessibility permissions, activates Wireless Debugging, and can capture text messages, create overlays, and steal passwords and multi-factor authentication codes. Its AI capabilities allow it to navigate the device interface in real-time, making detection by security software more difficult. To protect against RatHat, users should avoid downloading apps from untrustworthy sources, and removal requires a factory reset of the device.

Tech Optimizer

September 20, 2026

How to Remove a Keylogger: 12 Steps, 60 Min [2026]

A keylogger captures every keystroke made on a device and sends that information to an external source. In 2025, infostealer malware, including keyloggers, resulted in the theft of 642.4 million credentials from 13.2 million infections globally. In Australia, approximately 30,000 banking passwords were compromised between 2021 and 2025 due to this malware. The Australian Cyber Security Centre reported over 42,500 calls related to credential theft in one year, a 16% increase. Four main malware families dominate the landscape, with LummaC2 accounting for nearly 60% of credentials linked to infostealers in 2026. Keyloggers can be detected through signs such as typing lag, unexpected antivirus notifications, new browser extensions, and unexplained spikes in outbound data usage. Detection and removal steps include checking running processes, auditing startup programs, reviewing installed programs, running antivirus scans, and resetting passwords from a clean device. Keyloggers can infiltrate systems via phishing emails, malicious attachments, or compromised software downloads. Mobile devices can also be targeted by keyloggers disguised as legitimate apps.