foldable phones Archives

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

This new Android launcher is my new must-have app for foldable phones

Foldable smartphones often face software limitations, particularly with launchers, leading users to choose between restrictive first-party options and inadequate third-party alternatives. Octopi Launcher has emerged as a promising solution, recently launching in beta on the Play Store. It offers unique configurations tailored to both the smaller cover screen and the larger display of foldable devices, allowing users to customize layouts for different orientations and purposes. Users can create up to four distinct layouts, with options for portrait and landscape modes, and can easily set up new layouts with intuitive prompts. Octopi excels in widget management, allowing independent sizing of widgets and app icons without compromising icon size. It supports overlapping and stacked widgets, enhancing visual appeal. The app drawer offers customizable options, including traditional icon shapes or tiles that display app names. While Octopi is impressive, it is still in development, with limitations in its gesture library and basic search functionality. It is best suited for foldable phones, although it can still benefit traditional devices. Overall, Octopi Launcher is tailored for heavy customizers and shows promise for future updates.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

The best use for AI: You can now turn yourself into an Android Bot by uploading a photo

Google has launched the Androidify app, allowing users to create personalized Android Bots by uploading a photo and selecting a color scheme. The app utilizes the Gemini API and is designed with Google’s Material 3 aesthetic, ensuring compatibility with various devices. Unlike its previous version, which was limited to a website, the new app offers a more refined experience with plans for a specialized image generator version. Users must compile the app themselves to access its features, which may limit its reach. There are hopes for the app's availability on the Play Store in the future.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Apple TV is now on Android, so your friends can now watch ‘Severance’ and talk about it

Apple has launched the Apple TV app for Android devices, available on the Google Play Store, allowing Android users to access Apple TV+ content, including series like Severance and the MLS Season Pass. The app offers a monthly subscription for Apple TV+ at .99/£9.99 and includes features such as a themeable app icon, picture-in-picture support, offline downloads, and optimization for foldable phones. However, users cannot access the store directly through the app, and there are concerns about viewing previously purchased content. The app lacks casting support.

AppWizard

November 18, 2024

These are the 10 best Android apps of 2024

Google has selected the best apps of 2024, highlighting various Android applications in the Play Store. - Best Event Planning App: Partiful allows users to create and manage events, facilitating RSVP, guest interaction, polls, and group messaging. - Best Multi-device App: Max is recognized for its versatility across smartphones, tablets, and Google TV, offering a rich selection of shows and movies. - Best for Personal Growth: UpStudy – Camera Math Solver provides step-by-step explanations for math problems and quizzes in various subjects. - Best for Fun: Mila by Camilla Lorentzen offers enjoyable workout routines tailored to users' moods and fitness levels, with a subscription model after a 7-day free trial. - Best Everyday Essential: MacroFactor – Macro Tracker simplifies food intake tracking with food scanning and personalized coaching algorithms, transitioning to a paid model after a trial period. - Best Hidden Gem: Timeleft organizes users into small groups for weekly dinners based on personality compatibility, though it has limitations regarding restaurant selection and city availability. - Best for Large Screens: Infinite Painter is a drawing tool designed for tablets and foldable phones, offering both free and paid options. - Best for Watches: Baby Daybook – Newborn Tracker helps new parents monitor their baby's activities with a free version and premium features for enhanced usability. - Best for Google TV: Peacock TV: Stream TV & Movies features a variety of content from NBCUniversal. - Best for Cars: PBS KIDS Video provides a safe and educational platform for children, currently available only in the United States due to licensing restrictions.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

How to Supercharge Gemini App Usage on Foldables and Tablets

The Gemini app has been enhanced since its launch on Android, with updates improving its functionality for foldable phones and tablets. The app supports both cover and main screens, allowing users to switch view modes and minimize it. On the main screen, users can initiate Gemini with voice commands or gestures, reposition it, and use split-screen mode. The cover screen offers similar functionality, though split-screen support is limited. Gemini is compatible with various Android foldable devices, and there is potential for future support on standard smartphones.

AppWizard

October 19, 2024

I just updated to Android 15: Here are 9 features you should check out

Android 15 was launched alongside Google's latest flagship smartphones, introducing several new features. Key enhancements include: - One-tap Passkey: Simplifies login to Passkey-enabled accounts with a single tap. - Manually Enable Astrophotography: Users can now manually activate Astrophotography mode for better night sky photography. - Home Controls on the Lock Screen: Provides easy access to Google Home toggles and customizable smart home management. - Pin the Taskbar: Allows users of tablets and foldable phones to pin the Taskbar for improved multitasking. - Go from the Big Screen to the Small Screen: Enables seamless transitions between the inner and cover screens of foldable devices. - Keeping Apps Together: Introduces App Pairs for running two apps side-by-side and saving app combinations. - More Gemini Improvements: Enhances integration between apps, allowing questions about items in the Pixel Screenshots app. - Quickly Switch Between Bluetooth Devices: Updates Quick Settings for easier selection of Bluetooth devices.

AppWizard

October 16, 2024

Android 15 is now available for Pixels

Android 15 has started rolling out to Pixel devices, featuring new privacy options, security improvements, and enhancements for foldable phones and tablets. The update includes a "private space" functionality for discreet app usage, allowing apps to remain hidden from recent apps, notifications, and settings, with additional authentication required for access. For foldable devices and tablets, users can pin and unpin the taskbar and create app pairings for easier access. A Theft Detection Lock feature uses AI to lock the device if theft is suspected, and a Remote Lock option allows users to secure their phones from another Android device. These features are expected to be available on devices running Android 10 and newer. Additionally, a new Pixel feature drop for October will enhance Night Sight for Instagram and introduce media transfer capabilities between Pixel devices.

AppWizard

October 2, 2024

I’ve tried plenty of wallpaper apps for Android, but this is the best one

Tapet is a wallpaper app that allows users to create custom patterns rather than just selecting pre-made wallpapers. It has been featured on numerous best app lists but has faded from recent discussions. The app includes a tutorial to guide users through its features, and while the initial interface may seem complex, it encourages exploration. Users can create custom color palettes and choose from various patterns, with a free version offering sufficient variety and a Premium plan providing an additional 93 patterns. Tapet is optimized for OLED displays and generates images tailored to specific screen resolutions, making it suitable for foldable phones. However, some users may find the offerings repetitive over time, and the app's design may feel complicated due to a recent UI overhaul. Alternatives to Tapet include Backdrops, Wall You, Wallpaper Changer, AmoledBackgrounds, and WalP.

BetaBeacon

September 17, 2024

The best Android emulators for playing your favorite classic games [Video]

Emulators are legal, but the distribution of copyrighted ROM files is illegal. Users are responsible for obtaining ROM files legally, such as by purchasing physical copies of games or through legal digital distribution platforms.

AppWizard

August 7, 2024

Google offers developers a way to remotely test apps on Samsung phones

During the Google I/O 2024 event, Google introduced early access to its Android Device Streaming service, allowing developers to remotely test applications on Samsung, OPPO, and Xiaomi smartphones. The tool enables secure access to various Android devices for app testing before launch on the Play Store. Supported Samsung devices include the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S9, and Galaxy Tab S9+, with capabilities for testing on foldable phones in different orientations. After testing, Google performs a data wipe and factory reset on the devices. The process is integrated within Android Studio, and Google plans to add more physical devices for testing. Developers can sign up for the Early Access Program to participate.