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AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Google is quietly giving these Pixel apps a brand-new look after Pixel 11 launch

Google has unveiled refreshed app icons following the launch of the Pixel 11, aligning them with the Material 3 Expressive design language. The Weather icon features a brighter sun and a gradient cloud on a white background, while the Recorder app has a bold red waveform design. Other apps, including Pixel Camera, Calculator, and Clock, are also set to receive updates. The Pixel Camera icon will have a refreshed blue color palette, the Calculator will adopt a minimalist design with essential symbols, and the Clock will feature playful shapes characteristic of Material 3 Expressive. These changes aim to create a more cohesive visual identity across the Pixel ecosystem.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

The best Android weather app you should be using isn’t on the Play Store

Megan Ellis transitioned from basic weather notifications to dedicated weather apps, discovering the benefits of tailored insights. Breezy Weather stands out for its customization features, allowing users to select various data blocks such as precipitation, forecasts, wind data, pollen levels, UV index, and more. The app offers customizable notifications and widgets, enhancing user experience without intrusive ads. Breezy maintains a clean interface, focusing on relevant weather data. However, its alert system has limitations compared to competitors, lacking customizable options for specific weather conditions.

AppWizard

June 29, 2026

5 Android keyboard apps you should use instead of Gboard

The keyboard is a frequently used application on Android devices, with Gboard being a popular choice, but alternatives exist for users with different preferences. Microsoft SwiftKey offers robust customization, unique layouts like split mode, and integrates an AI assistant for message refinement. It also excels in clipboard syncing with Windows when logged into the same Microsoft account. HeliBoard is a free, open-source keyboard that operates offline, prioritizing privacy and offering features like autocorrect and gesture typing. It requires downloading from GitHub or F-Droid, as it is not available on the Play Store. FUTO Keyboard is a free, open-source, offline option that includes offline voice typing but lacks cloud-synced personal dictionaries and AI writing tools. Samsung Keyboard, pre-installed on Galaxy phones, integrates with One UI and Galaxy AI’s writing tools, offering extensive customization options through the Good Lock app and KeysCafe module. Simple Keyboard is a lightweight application that provides a standard keyboard layout with minimal features, focusing on simplicity and requiring less than 1MB of storage.

AppWizard

June 7, 2026

I’m a sucker for clean UI — these are the 9 best-looking Android apps I’m using in 2026

Hacki for Hacker News is an open-source app with a sleek design, enhancing user experience for accessing Hacker News. Gradient Weather features stunning visuals with bold typography and animated headers for weather updates. PeakFinder uses augmented reality to identify mountain peaks with a minimalist aesthetic. Mako is a minimalist launcher with pastel themes and extensive customization options. Buzzkill offers vibrant notification management with a visually appealing interface. Zest is a to-do list app with an attractive design and organizational tools. Fotmob provides in-depth soccer statistics and real-time updates with customizable widgets. The Wikipedia app features an attractive interface for easy navigation of information. Txori is a time-management app with a retro-minimalist aesthetic and effective scheduling capabilities.

AppWizard

June 3, 2026

Score Razer’s Minecraft Edition Cobra gaming mouse for your battlestation while it’s just $20 (All-time low)

Woot is offering the Razer Minecraft Edition Cobra gaming mouse for .99 with Prime shipping. New customers can use the promo code RAZERWOOT to receive an additional discount, lowering the final price to .99, which is a 63% reduction from its standard retail price of .99. This is the lowest price ever recorded for this model. The mouse features a green-and-black design, Razer's Gen 3 optical switches, an 8,500 DPI optical sensor, customizable RGB lighting, 100% PTFE mouse feet, and a flexible Speedflex cable.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

I tried Gemini’s redesigned Android app. Here’s what Google got wrong

The Gemini app has been redesigned with a visually appealing interface that incorporates multimedia elements, enhancing user experience. The new design features a colorful homepage with a blue-and-white gradient, a larger greeting, and a streamlined layout. The app now radiates a gradient glow when processing requests, replacing the old spinning loading icon. Responses include richer multimedia content, but visuals must be requested by users. The Gemini Live feature allows for continuous chat without interrupting the flow, displaying responses in a compact format. However, the new Neural Expressive interface may confuse users due to the consolidation of features and the placement of essential tools under a single “+” menu. Navigation has become more complicated, with important settings less accessible. Despite aesthetic improvements, the app's functionality may feel obscured, especially for new users.

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

Gemini App Gets a New Android UI Ahead of Google I/O 2026

Google has begun rolling out a redesigned user interface for its Gemini app on Android devices, featuring a cleaner aesthetic, enhanced animations, and improved user experience. The updated app includes a simplified layout with better spacing and larger text, aligning with Google's Material You design language. Key enhancements include a reimagined prompt bar with clearer controls and more accessible voice input shortcuts. The new interface also offers a better dark mode, particularly benefiting Pixel smartphones. The rollout is gradual, with some users already experiencing the update and others expected to receive it soon. Google I/O 2026, starting on May 19, is expected to focus on Gemini, with potential announcements regarding smarter AI experiences, deeper Android integration, and expanded voice capabilities.

AppWizard

May 19, 2026

Gemini App Debuts Redesigned Android User Interface

Google is launching a redesigned user interface for its Gemini app on Android devices, debuting ahead of Google I/O 2026. The new interface features a blue-and-white gradient homepage, a sidebar for Google account and settings, a consolidated + menu for attachments and tools, and a relocated model picker. The redesign includes a cleaner layout, larger text, smoother animations, a rounded input bar for easier voice access, and enhancements to dark mode optimized for OLED Pixel displays. There has been no official statement from Google about the rollout.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

Google’s redesigned app icons are rolling out, whether you want them or not

Google is rolling out a significant redesign of its app icons, moving away from the traditional use of all four signature colors to a more minimalist approach with fewer colors and an emphasis on gradients. User reactions are mixed, with some appreciating the modern design while others express dissatisfaction. The updated icons for Google Sheets and Slides now feature a landscape orientation. The new icons are gradually appearing across Google’s apps, although some platforms still display the older icons, indicating that the rollout will take time.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

Google’s new gradient icons for Gmail, Calendar, Drive and more are finally rolling out

Google has started rolling out new gradient icons for its Workspace applications, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, and others. These icons feature a more fluid and colorful gradient aesthetic, moving away from the traditional four-color scheme. The new designs are visible in Google's web app launcher, but older versions will still appear in the applications for now. The redesign marks a significant shift towards gradients and blended colors, with the Google Drive icon showcasing shades of green, yellow, and blue, and the Google Calendar icon returning to a predominantly blue design. Gmail's logo retains its envelope shape but now includes gradients, while the Google Meet icon has adopted a yellow-centric gradient style. Keep and Tasks icons have also been simplified for a softer look. The new icons are expected to roll out more broadly during Google I/O week or shortly thereafter.