insights Archives

AppWizard

August 27, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Defenchick, Rush Rally Origins, MAYATCH, more

This afternoon features Android game and app deals coinciding with pre-orders for the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is discounted by 0, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a price reduction of 0, and the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Copilot+ PC is at an all-time low with a 0 discount. Pre-ordering from the Google Store includes a free credit, with a 0 credit available for the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. There are also various discounted games and applications available.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

Is Steam down again? It may just be the regular Tuesday maintenance

Steam undergoes scheduled maintenance almost every Tuesday, typically occurring in the early morning or late afternoon Pacific Time to minimize disruptions during peak hours (noon to 11:00 PM PT). Users can track server status through Steam Charts and tools like SteamDB and Steamstat.us.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

Vicious malware found in Android apps with over 19 million installs – here’s how to stay safe

A total of 77 malicious applications have been identified in the Google Play Store, accumulating over 19 million downloads. These apps are linked to the Android banking trojan Anatsa (Tea Bot) and have been used to deliver various forms of malware, with the Joker variant being the most prevalent.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

Google To Start Verifying All Android App Developers

Google is implementing changes that will allow the installation of Android apps from sources beyond the Google Play Store due to a legal ruling from an antitrust case with Epic Games. This shift will introduce stringent measures requiring developers to meet Google's standards for app installation, potentially challenging hobbyist developers. The new regulations aim to reduce malware from non-Google Play sources, enhancing user safety, but may impact accessibility.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

Watch out, Nvidia: AMD’s FSR 4 tech offers a big leap for PC games – but there’s a catch

AMD's FSR 4 upscaling technology delivers 276 frames per second (fps) on the Radeon RX 9070 XT, a 5% decrease compared to FSR 3's 290 fps. Despite this performance dip, FSR 4 shows significant improvements in visual fidelity and has outperformed Nvidia's DLSS 3 in super-resolution quality. FSR 4 incurs a 37% increase in GPU usage but remains a small fraction of the overall frame time. Currently, FSR 4 is exclusive to RDNA 4 GPUs, and there is potential for AMD to backport it to older GPUs, which could enhance its competitiveness against Nvidia, especially in handheld gaming PCs with RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

Spotify launches in app messaging for one on one chats

Spotify has launched an in-app messaging feature that allows one-on-one chats between users, enhancing interaction around shared music and podcasts. To start a conversation, users need to connect through shared content like collaborative playlists or family plans, and chat requests must be approved by the recipient. Users can also send invite links to contacts. The feature includes emoji reactions and ensures messages are encrypted, though not end-to-end encrypted. Users can disable the feature in the Settings menu. It is currently rolling out on mobile devices for users aged 16 and older in select markets in Latin and South America, with plans to expand to other regions soon.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

PlayStation’s Hulst: We want studios to “fail early and cheapy”

Sony Interactive Entertainment is enhancing its project development processes by implementing rigorous testing protocols following the costly failure of its live-service game, Concord, which incurred 0 million in development costs before being withdrawn shortly after launch. The company has canceled several ongoing projects deemed unfit for release and is focusing on learning from past failures to ensure early and cost-effective adjustments. Herman Hulst, head of studios, emphasized the importance of diverse player experiences and vibrant gaming communities over the quantity of live-service releases. The company is now adopting a more robust testing regimen to improve future projects.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

Google to block sideloading of apps from unverified developers

Google plans to restrict the sideloading of applications from unverified developers on certified Android devices, requiring all apps to be registered by verified developers starting next year. This initiative aims to enhance security while allowing sideloading to continue. A new Android Developer Console will be created for developers distributing apps outside of Google Play, with separate accounts for student and hobbyist developers. Developers can still distribute apps directly to users or through any app store. The verification system is expected to begin in October 2023, with full availability for all developers by March 2026, and mandatory registration for apps in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand by September 2024. The goal is to implement the verification system globally by 2027.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

This week in PC games: a MGS3 remake, new Blumhouse horror and some freshly peeled spaceships

The Maw has consumed another Monday, and a recent article about a "bank holiday" was a public relations strategy to prevent a stock market downturn. Mark has been on a theoretical holiday since last Wednesday but is actually marooned in the Cretaceous period. James is in a state of limbo, neither at Gamescom nor back at his desk. New PC game releases include: 1. NG Y' STOOD L' SAND OT GN'TH: A cosmic horror experience. 2. Pizza Bandit: A shooter combining culinary creativity with alien defense. 3. Watertight: A free horror adventure set in a troubled submarine exploring the Titanic wreck. 4. good: A minigame collection about a teenager avoiding education. 5. The Supper: New Blood: A point-and-click adventure with a dinner party theme. 6. Pixel Starships 2: An MMO for designing and managing spaceships. 7. Eyes Of Hellfire: A haunted house experience published by Blumhouse. 8. Neon Village: A hybrid game blending match-3, town-building, and roguelike elements. 9. Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance: A revival of a classic Sega side-scroller. The author plans to work on an interview-driven feature and a piece on liminality, while James is expected to handle impressions articles and interviews. Mark may return to regular updates and a review if he escapes his situation.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

Spotify and YouTube Music test out their sleek new look on Android Auto (APK teardown)

At the Google I/O 2025 event, Google introduced new media app templates for the Android for Cars App Library, aimed at improving the user experience on Android Auto. Developers can utilize a new Media Playback template for a streamlined "Now Playing" view, currently in closed beta testing with early access provided through Spotify and YouTube Music. The update to Android Auto v15.1.653404 activates the Templated Media UI for these apps, featuring a redesigned seekbar that aligns with the Material 3 Expressive aesthetic. Google has not confirmed a timeline for the public release of these templated media apps, and there are mixed reactions to the new desaturated color palette. An APK teardown can provide insights into potential future features, but not all may be included in public releases.