feature Archives

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Google’s Android boss talks Android 17, sideloading drama, and why he hates phone cases

MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona is a significant event for the tech industry, where companies unveil new hardware and showcase emerging ideas. At MWC 2026, Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem, discussed the evolution of Android, particularly focusing on Android 17, which aims to transition from an operating system to an intelligent system. This version will integrate AI capabilities through Gemini, allowing for more intuitive task management. Android 17 will introduce early agentic capabilities, initially available in a beta feature for select devices, enabling users to automate multi-step tasks. Samat confirmed that Google has no plans to remove sideloading, despite concerns about app security. Upcoming changes to sideloading will focus on verifying app identities to protect users from malicious apps while still allowing power users to install unverified software. He emphasized the importance of balancing openness and safety in the Android platform. Samat expressed excitement about current Android phones, highlighting trends in foldable devices and praising models from brands like Motorola and Nothing for their appeal to younger consumers. He mentioned using a Galaxy Z Fold 7 for work and a Pixel 10 Pro for personal use, noting the beauty of the devices and his preference not to use cases.

Winsage

March 13, 2026

Microsoft DirectX Gears Up For ML Era On Windows, Advanced Shader Delivery Solves Game Stutter & Load Times, DXR 2.0 Teased

At GDC 2026, Microsoft announced the introduction of ML-Powered DirectX and Advanced Shader Delivery. The ML-enhanced DirectX includes Cooperative Vectors within Shader Model 6.9, facilitating neural rendering techniques such as Neural Texture Compression and Neural Radiance Caching. DirectX Linear Algebra is introduced to support matrix-based ML workflows, and the DirectX Compute Graph Compiler enables full model graphs to run with native GPU performance. Advanced Shader Delivery allows game developers to provide precompiled shaders to reduce load times and stuttering. New APIs, App Identity API and Stats API, have been introduced to support this feature. NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm have expressed their support for these advancements. Additionally, Microsoft is developing DXR 2.0, which will support Shader Model 6.10 and is expected to roll out in late summer 2026.

Tech Optimizer

March 13, 2026

New infosec products of the week: March 13, 2026

Singulr AI has launched Agent Pulse, providing runtime governance and visibility for AI agents. Terra Security introduced Terra Portal, a desktop application that accelerates vulnerability discovery in live production environments. Mend.io released System Prompt Hardening to address weaknesses in AI system prompts. OPSWAT rolled out MetaDefender Aether, an AI-driven decision engine for rapid zero-day detection at the perimeter level. Vicarius announced vIntelligence, integrating agentic intelligence and continuous validation into its security offerings. Binary Defense launched NightBeacon, an AI-enhanced security operations platform for SOCs. SOC Prime introduced DetectFlow Enterprise, shifting threat detection to the data ingestion layer for real-time identification.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Your Pixel just lost a handy Recents trick in the March update

Google introduced the stable Android 16 QPR3 update, known as the March 2026 Pixel update, for Pixel devices. A change in the Recent apps screen has caused discontent among users, as the ability to easily save images directly from the Recents screen has been removed. Previously, users could long-press or use the Select tool to save images directly to Photos, but now they only have options to Copy, Share, and Edit. A workaround to save images involves using the share sheet to select “Upload to Photos,” but this is less intuitive and more time-consuming. Additionally, alternatives for Google Lens functionality are available, but they lack the convenience of the previous interface.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Android 17 Beta 2 starts clamping down on apps that misuse accessibility services

Google has enhanced its Advanced Protection Mode with the rollout of Android 17 Beta 2, introducing stricter security measures that restrict non-accessibility applications from accessing the AccessibilityService API. This update prevents non-accessibility apps from obtaining accessibility permissions, revoking them from apps that already have them while the mode is active. Users cannot grant these permissions when Advanced Protection Mode is enabled. For example, the dynamicSpot app cannot receive necessary accessibility permissions under this mode. In contrast, the stable Android 16 QPR3 build allows dynamicSpot to function with Advanced Protection Mode activated. Applications that identify as accessibility tools, like screen readers, remain unaffected by this restriction. This change may cause compatibility issues for users who enable Advanced Protection Mode, offering a choice between enhanced security and access to certain applications.

BetaBeacon

March 13, 2026

Samsung’s new tool wants to fix Android gaming’s biggest headache

Mobile graphics have become more complex with advanced lighting, high-resolution textures, and complicated rendering methods. Performance issues often appear over several frames, making them difficult to detect with standard profiling tools. Developers can edit shaders and replay workloads on the device to quickly optimize graphics code and test small changes without rebuilding the entire app. Sokatoa offers detailed data visualizations and a modern interface to help developers understand complex GPU metrics.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus Satellite Messenger Review (Tested)

In 2018, during a thru-hike of the Continental Divide, the accidental activation of the SOS feature on an outdated Delorme GPS led to an extensive search and rescue operation in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. This incident sparked an interest in satellite communication and GPS devices. The author has since tested and reviewed various devices, ranging from personal locator beacons to advanced handheld units like the Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus. Dean Krakel is a three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist with over four decades of experience, known for his work in numerous prestigious publications. He has authored three books and transitioned from the Denver Post in 2015 to undertake a 500-mile journey along the Colorado Trail, inspiring the award-winning film The Long Haul. His fine art prints are collected and exhibited in galleries, with permanent displays in the Denver Justice Center. Dean currently resides in Crested Butte, Colorado.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Google Play Levels Up On PC With Game Trials And Android Cross-Platform Purchases

Google has announced plans to extend its mobile gaming catalog to PC users by introducing a dedicated PC section within the Play Store Games tab for Android games optimized for Windows PCs. This initiative includes select paid games such as Dungeon Crawler, Dredge, and Reigns, with purchases made on Android granting access to the PC version. Certain paid titles will receive free game trials on Android, with similar offerings planned for PC. Google Play will also introduce Community Posts for popular games, allowing player engagement, and the Play Games Sidekick will provide AI-generated tips for select paid games.

Tech Optimizer

March 12, 2026

Score! One of our favorite antivirus apps is up to 58% off right now

Norton is currently offering a 58% discount on its Norton 360 Deluxe plan, which covers up to five devices for a reduced price of .99 per year. The plan includes features such as file backup, a rescue disk for system restoration, and scam protection. Norton 360 Deluxe provides various types of scans, including a quick antivirus scan, a full system scan, and a deep scan. Its ransomware protection feature backs up crucial files, including those in UEFI. The promotional pricing is limited-time, encouraging prompt action for those interested in enhancing their digital security.

AppWizard

March 12, 2026

Gemini can now order your lunch as Android app control rolls out on Galaxy S26 [Gallery]

Gemini has introduced agentic task automation on the Galaxy S26 series, allowing AI to operate certain apps on behalf of users. This feature, also known as "screen automation," is currently being rolled out and was initially previewed during the announcement of Samsung's latest smartphones. During testing, Gemini was able to add items to a cart on Uber Eats without direct user input but required user confirmation to complete the checkout process. The automation supports several popular Android apps, including Lyft, Uber, Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Starbucks, with plans to integrate more apps like Instacart in the future. Google intends to extend this feature to the Pixel 10 series, though it is not yet available on those devices. Users can check for "screen automation" in the Gemini app's settings to confirm availability.