Gmail Archives

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

Official YouTube app or alternatives? Survey reveals surprising choice.

The YouTube app is widely used on Android devices, but many users are turning to alternatives like Morphe, which modifies the official app to add features. A survey with over 6,000 responses revealed that 60.59% of participants prefer alternatives to the official YouTube app. Alternatives like Morphe and Revanced provide features such as ad-free playback and background listening for free, along with additional functionalities like SponsorBlock integration and the ability to disable Shorts. Among those surveyed, 23.39% have not tried alternatives but are open to them, while 8.15% have tried them but prefer the official app, and 7.86% are satisfied with the official app. Concerns about the safety of using alternative apps, including the risk of getting a Google account banned, were also expressed by users.

AppWizard

January 10, 2026

Slack Messenger Review: Why This Workplace Chat App Still Owns the Modern Office

Slack Messenger is a cloud-based collaboration and messaging platform owned by Salesforce Inc. It is designed to organize workplace communication through channel-based messaging, allowing separate discussions for projects, teams, or topics. Key features include powerful search capabilities, integrations with over 2,000 apps like Google Drive and Zoom, audio/video huddles, workflow automation, enterprise-grade security, and cross-organization collaboration via Slack Connect. Users generally appreciate its organization, user experience, and integration capabilities, although some express concerns about notification overload, cost at scale, and a learning curve for new users. Compared to alternatives like Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, and Discord, Slack is seen as more responsive and suitable for structured environments. It is particularly beneficial for organizations already using Salesforce due to enhanced integration with Salesforce workflows.

AppWizard

January 8, 2026

Gmail is getting a new AI inbox as Google brings Gemini front and center

Google has transformed Gmail by integrating its Gemini technology to improve user experience, making email writing, searching, and message presentation simpler. Features like personalized Suggested Replies and Help Me Write are now available to all Gmail users for free. A key addition is the AI Overviews, which generate summaries of relevant emails based on user inquiries, allowing for quick retrieval of information. This feature is currently available only to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Additionally, an "AI Inbox" will prioritize emails based on significance rather than chronological order, highlighting important tasks and key contacts. This feature is in testing for select users, with a broader rollout expected soon.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

Recap: Expressive Android, but Material ‘3.5’ apps

Both Apple and Google plan significant redesigns of their operating systems for 2025. Google's Material 3 Expressive has received positive feedback for its implementation across devices, aiming for a more unified interface across Android versions, though updates to first-party applications are seen as incremental rather than transformative. The redesign includes a taller search app bar in Google Workspace apps, but inconsistencies arise as some applications cannot utilize the new design. A transition back to a shorter bottom navigation bar in some apps does not improve content space. A floating toolbar in Google Chat raises usability concerns, and the overall interface appears more cluttered due to increased use of containers. Buttons have become larger, with mixed reactions regarding their proportions. The new motion-physics system introduces appealing animations, but the functionality of Google apps remains largely unchanged, leading to a sense of familiarity rather than a transformative experience.

AppWizard

December 24, 2025

4 Essential Android Smartwatch Apps You Should Always Install First

Google Gemini's Wear OS app is a successor to Google Assistant, offering voice control, AI-driven reasoning, and automation for tasks like checking the weather, sending messages, and managing smart home devices. It enhances fitness app management, allowing users to control workouts without touching the device. Gemini integrates with Google services for real-time health inquiries and improves email productivity by summarizing and drafting responses. Google Keep is a note-taking app that allows text and voice input for capturing ideas and creating lists on an Android smartwatch. It features quick access through watch tiles and complications but lacks full editing capabilities. Strava is a fitness tracking app that allows users to monitor activities directly from their smartwatch, using built-in GPS to log routes and metrics. It syncs data to the mobile app after workouts, though social features are limited on the watch. SleepisolBio is a sleep management app that tracks heart rate and sleep patterns, offering therapy options and personalized recommendations. It operates on a freemium model, providing many features for free, but requires smartphone setup for effective use on a smartwatch.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

More Android phones could feel the Magic Cue as this leak spots early signs

Google is planning to extend its Pixel 10-exclusive Magic Cue feature, potentially rebranded as "Contextual Suggestions," to a wider range of Android devices. This feature provides tailored recommendations based on users' activities and locations, utilizing data from apps like Gmail, Google Photos, and Calendar. It can suggest actions, such as retrieving a screenshot from Google Photos during a conversation or checking flight details from Gmail. Participation in this feature is optional, and users can control their data and delete any information they choose. Google ensures that data processing prioritizes security and privacy, using its Gemini technology.

AppWizard

December 22, 2025

Every Android User Needs To Start Using The Best Free Productivity App

Many individuals struggle with productivity tools, often abandoning them and accumulating tasks and notifications. Google Calendar, often seen as a basic scheduling tool, offers a more effective solution. It is free and integrates well with other Google services. A recent update in November 2024 improved the integration between Google Tasks and Google Calendar, allowing users to assign specific time blocks to tasks, helping to create realistic commitments and prevent overbooking. Users can also set tasks to repeat and should utilize the description box for clarity to avoid decision fatigue. Color coding in Google Calendar can provide insights into workload. By assigning different colors to tasks based on intensity, users can visually assess their schedules. For example, high-concentration tasks can be marked in red, wellness activities in green, meetings in yellow, and low-energy tasks in blue. This visual differentiation helps users identify potential burnout by revealing an overloaded schedule at a glance.

Winsage

December 14, 2025

Use Windows 3.1 Straight From Your Browser To Boot Up Pure Nostalgia

Jeff Parsons has created a fully functional emulation of Windows 3.1 accessible through modern web browsers, allowing users to explore the iconic Program Manager interface and various retro applications like File Manager, Paintbrush, and Media Player. The emulator operates seamlessly using JavaScript, requiring no installation, and offers both full-screen and windowed views with nostalgic elements like a floppy-disk dropdown. It includes classic shareware, vintage Microsoft Word versions, digitized PC Magazine issues, and games such as King's Quest and The Oregon Trail. This project highlights the slower pace of computing in the early 90s and serves as a reminder of advancements in hardware over the years. Previous attempts to run vintage operating systems on actual hardware have faced limitations, contrasting with Parsons' success in running Windows 95 in a browser.

Winsage

December 10, 2025

This Nuke Microsoft Windows 11 AI Tool Has Gone Viral

In July, rumors about a hack involving the Amazon Ring doorbell were found to be unfounded. In October, a significant leak of Gmail passwords affected 183 million accounts. A developer named zoicware created a tool called "RemoveWindowsAI" that aims to eliminate Microsoft Windows 11's AI features, including Copilot and Recall, to enhance user experience, privacy, and security. The tool disables Windows registry keys, turns off AI functionalities, and prevents the reinstallation of AI packages through a custom Windows Update package. Although the script cannot disable all features, a guide is provided for manual removal. Users are advised to exercise caution when using the script, which is open-source, and to create backups beforehand. The community on X has reacted with humor and skepticism, with some users suggesting alternative solutions. Inquiries to Microsoft regarding the script received no response.

AppWizard

December 8, 2025

I saw the future of Android XR smart glasses, and Google left me stunned at the progress

Last week, a demonstration of Android XR glasses took place at Google's Hudson River office, showcasing features such as visual assistance and gyroscopic navigation. These glasses are part of a developer kit for Android developers. Google aims to integrate these devices with Android phones and smartwatches by 2026. The strategy for AI glasses includes two types: one focusing on audio and camera features, and another incorporating a display for visual cues. Developer Preview 3 of the Android XR SDK is set to launch soon, supporting a wide range of existing third-party Android apps. The glasses can display navigation routes and driver information for Uber rides. Gemini, the assistant, provides contextual information immediately upon wearing the glasses. The Samsung Galaxy XR headset has new features like PC Connect and travel mode, while Xreal's Project Aura glasses offer a 70-degree field of view and access to Android apps. The anticipated price for Project Aura could be around ,000, with a potential late next year launch.