friction Archives

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

I’m testing Android 17’s app bubbles, and I’ve already found a big problem

The author transitioned from a Samsung device to the Pixel 10 Pro and appreciates the new app bubbles feature introduced in Android 17 Beta 3, which allows users to launch apps in a movable and collapsible window. This feature is particularly useful for multitasking, such as accessing notes or media while using other apps. However, the author notes that app bubbles have limitations, including a cumbersome process to open them, lack of resizing options, and issues with returning to full-screen mode. In contrast, Samsung's pop-up windows offer more flexibility and convenience. Despite these drawbacks, the author remains hopeful for improvements to app bubbles in future updates.

Tech Optimizer

April 1, 2026

EDB Postgres® AI Delivers Superior Predictability vs. Cloud Data Warehouses in High-Concurrency Benchmark, Unveils Q1 Platform Updates to Power the Agentic AI Era

Independent benchmarking by McKnight Consulting Group shows that EDB Postgres AI for WarehousePG provides significant cost efficiency and performance consistency, with organizations potentially saving up to 58% in total cost of ownership compared to leading cloud data warehouse solutions. The evaluation compared EDB PG AI against competitors like Snowflake, Databricks, Amazon Redshift, and Hive on Apache Iceberg using a 10TB extended TPC-DS dataset, focusing on high-concurrency mixed workloads. Key findings include: - EDB PG AI demonstrated unmatched cost efficiency, with an annual cost of ,886 compared to Snowflake’s ,953 for a multi-cluster setup. - It exhibited superior concurrency handling, with the lowest performance slowdown of 2.7x when scaling from one to five concurrent users, outperforming Snowflake (3.9x), Redshift (4.0x), and Databricks (4.1x). - EDB PG AI's core-based, capacity-pricing model eliminates unpredictable pricing fluctuations associated with consumption-based models. EDB announced Q1 2026 platform updates, including: - GPU-Accelerated Analytics for 50–100x faster analytics on large datasets. - Enhanced Agent Studio for quicker AI agent development and deployment. - Upgraded Vector Engine for improved indexing speed and efficiency. - WarehousePG Enterprise Manager for simplified management of MPP workloads. - Agentic Database Management with a native chatbot for natural language database management. - Certification as a mission-critical data layer for the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform.

BetaBeacon

March 31, 2026

Decentraland Launches on Epic Games Store; Android Mobile App Now Live, iOS Coming Soon

Decentraland is now available on the Epic Games Store for desktop users, offering an exclusive wearable for a limited time. The mobile app is currently available on Android with iOS coming soon, catering to the growing mobile gaming market. The mobile experience is designed for shorter, more frequent visits and seamless transition between desktop and mobile devices. Decentraland is a community-driven virtual space where users can engage in various activities and events.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

Sintopia Release Date Confirmed for PC on Steam

Sintopia, a management simulation game set in a hellish realm, will be released on PC via Steam on April 16. Players manage a settlement of creatures called "humus," overseeing their transition from the living world to Hell, where they establish operations to process souls. The game features dual-layered gameplay, with an overworld that impacts the flow of souls and an underground segment focused on construction and logistics. The release coincides with Peter Molyneux's final game, Masters of Albion, marking a revival of the god game genre.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Google Tests Unified Gemini Interface On Android

Google is experimenting with a streamlined interface for its Gemini assistant on Android devices, aiming to reduce clutter and enhance consistency. The redesigned sidebar includes a dedicated Settings & Help section, organizes key items like Scheduled Actions and Notebooks, and features collapsible sections for tidiness. The header has been compacted to create a more spacious typing area. The app now prominently displays the last-used extension, enhancing transparency about the tools utilized for user queries. The model switcher has been relocated to the app header, decluttering the input area and defaulting to the “Fast” model for most queries. These changes are part of a broader effort to unify the Gemini experience across app and web platforms, with the Google app version 17.11.54 beta indicating a phased rollout of these features.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

From F-Droid to emulators, here’s who’s hit hardest by Android’s new verification rules

Android has implemented new sideloading rules that affect app installations outside the Play Store, complicating access for developers and users. F-Droid, a third-party app store, is particularly critical of the new verification requirements, which may force alternative stores to comply with Google's standards, potentially confusing users. Retro gaming emulators, often hosted on platforms like GitHub, may face barriers due to these rules, impacting user access to innovative tools. Smaller, privacy-focused encrypted messaging apps could struggle with the new verification process, complicating installation for users in high-risk environments. The modding community may see a decline in available tools as hobbyist developers resist compliance. Practical applications like Termux and Bromite may also face barriers, affecting user experience. While the changes may not be overly restrictive for average users, they introduce complexity that could deter power users and slow the adoption of non-Play Store applications.

Winsage

March 24, 2026

Microsoft Hints at End to Windows 11 Setup Account Requirement

Microsoft is exploring the removal of the requirement to sign in with a Microsoft account during the initial setup of Windows 11, a change that has been frequently requested by users. Currently, Windows 11 Home and most consumer Pro installations require a Microsoft account for setup, although local accounts are available but not easily accessible. This requirement has faced backlash, leading to the development of workarounds by users. Microsoft has defended the necessity of the cloud account for benefits like password recovery and settings synchronization. A potential change could introduce a clearly labeled option for setting up with a local account during the out-of-box experience, while still allowing the option to sign in with a Microsoft account. Windows 11 currently accounts for about one-third of active Windows PCs, trailing behind Windows 10. The proposed changes aim to enhance user satisfaction and address privacy concerns.

Winsage

March 24, 2026

Microsoft VP Wants to End Windows 11 Microsoft Account Mandate

Microsoft Vice President Scott Hanselman expressed a desire to eliminate the mandatory Microsoft account requirement for Windows 11 users during setup, acknowledging user frustration. A coalition of employees and senior engineers at Microsoft is advocating for this change to create a more user-friendly experience that does not require an internet connection or a Microsoft account. Despite growing support for the removal of the account requirement, internal resistance exists due to the interests of business units that benefit from mandatory sign-ins. The technical feasibility of removing the requirement is acknowledged, but organizational politics complicate the process. The Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) setup process has faced criticism for being promotional and coercive. Other improvements to Windows 11 are being implemented in response to user feedback, but they do not directly address the account requirement issue.

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

Google adds ‘Advanced Flow’ for safe APK sideloading on Android

Google has introduced a new mechanism called Advanced Flow within Android to facilitate the sideloading of APKs from unverified developers for power users while enhancing security. This system will launch in August and aims to balance user flexibility with protection against malware and scams, which caused losses of approximately billion last year. To install APKs from unverified developers, users must complete a one-time process that includes activating Developer Mode, confirming they are not influenced by threat actors, restarting the device, and verifying the legitimacy of modifications after a day. Once completed, users can install applications from unverified developers and choose to enable them for a week or indefinitely, with Android providing a warning about the unverified source. The Advanced Flow process is designed to prevent users from being coerced into installing malicious software during scam attempts. Google emphasizes that this system is a compromise between Android's openness and necessary user protections, leading to upcoming developer verification requirements. All Android app publishers will need to undergo identity verification by Google, with non-compliance resulting in blocked software installations on certified Android devices. This verification initiative is now set for rollout in August 2026.

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Google Adds 24-Hour Wait for Unverified App Sideloading to Reduce Malware and Scams

Google has introduced a new "advanced flow" for Android sideloading, which includes a mandatory 24-hour waiting period for users installing applications from unverified developers. This follows a developer verification mandate requiring all Android applications to be registered by verified developers to help identify malicious actors and reduce malware distribution. The new sideloading protocol aims to mitigate risks from cybercriminals who may deceive users into disabling Play Protect, Google's anti-malware feature. Over 50 app developers and marketplaces, including F-Droid and Brave, have expressed concerns about the registration requirements, arguing they could create barriers and raise privacy issues. Google has outlined a one-time process for sideloading apps, which includes enabling developer mode, confirming voluntary sideloading, restarting the device, waiting 24 hours, and using biometric authentication or a PIN to install apps. Google plans to introduce free "limited distribution accounts" for hobbyist developers and students to share apps with up to 20 devices without needing government-issued IDs or registration fees. This process will not apply to installations via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and is set to be available in August 2026, ahead of new developer verification requirements. This announcement comes as a new Android malware, Perseus, targets users in Turkey and Italy, with at least 17 distinct Android malware families identified in the past four months.