jetpack Archives

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

xAI Hires Android Engineers to Build Mobile Apps for Grok AI Chatbot

Elon Musk's xAI is hiring Android engineers in London, New York, Palo Alto, and San Francisco to enhance mobile experiences for its Grok AI chatbot and the X platform. Candidates should have expertise in Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, and reactive programming. Applications can be submitted by messaging Attila on X or visiting xAI's jobs portal, with a focus on practical experience. The hiring process includes a 15-minute phone interview, two technical rounds involving live coding and hands-on exercises, and a final meeting with the xAI team. The positions offer competitive salaries, equity compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package. Musk aims for xAI to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI) within two years, with Grok 5 expected in early 2026 having a 10 percent chance of reaching AGI. The roles aim to integrate AI capabilities into mobile devices for widespread use.

AppWizard

December 15, 2025

Google Unveils New Tools and Libraries for Building AI Glasses Apps

Google has released Android XR SDK Developer Preview 3, which enhances AI Glasses development with two new libraries: Jetpack Projected and Jetpack Compose Glimmer, and expands ARCore for Jetpack XR to include motion tracking and geospatial capabilities. Jetpack Projected allows apps to project XR experiences from host devices to AI Glasses, enabling interaction with the glasses' hardware. Jetpack Compose Glimmer provides UI components for creating augmented experiences, utilizing optical see-through technology. An AI Glasses emulator is also available in Android Studio for developers to preview UI designs. The expanded ARCore capabilities include retrieving planar data, anchoring content, motion tracking, and geospatial pose support. Developers can access these features through Android Studio Canary with the latest emulator version.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Google to penalize battery-draining apps in new Play Store policy

The Android Developers Blog has announced new features aimed at enhancing app development, including updates to Jetpack Compose for intuitive UI development, improved performance metrics for better app insights, and expanded libraries for increased resources. The blog also highlights the importance of community engagement, encouraging developers to share feedback and participate in webinars and Q&A sessions with the Android team.

AppWizard

October 27, 2025

AppContext To Keep Apps Alive In Android

Google is set to enhance tablet multitasking in the upcoming Android Q release by introducing a new gesture that allows users to create a compact floating "bubble" window for any app. This feature will enable users to drag an app icon from the taskbar to the screen's bottom corners, facilitating a more seamless app-switching experience. The floating windows will allow various applications, such as browsers and note-taking tools, to float above the main workspace, enabling users to engage with multiple applications simultaneously, particularly on larger devices. This enhancement aims to improve the user experience on Android tablets and foldable devices by providing a more intuitive multitasking environment. The feature will utilize the Bubbles API and is expected to be rolled out for user testing as part of Google's quarterly platform release schedule.

AppWizard

September 20, 2025

With the action of Helldivers 2 and No Man’s Sky’s planet hopping, one of Steam’s most-anticipated indies is finally here

Jump Space, developed by Keepsake Games, is a cooperative space exploration game that allows players to command a spaceship on interstellar missions, either solo or with up to three friends. The gameplay involves landing on various celestial bodies, engaging in fast-paced first-person shooter mechanics, and gathering resources while navigating enemy forces. The game features no fixed classes, allowing players to switch roles easily. It has attracted over 530,000 players during its demo phase and is now available in early access for .99 / £16.75. An ambitious roadmap for future updates includes new missions, enemy types, and gameplay mechanics.

AppWizard

September 3, 2025

Google’s beloved Androidify app is back with new features for making your own Android Bot

Google has reintroduced the Androidify app, enhanced with AI to create personalized Android Bot avatars using user photos or text prompts. The app utilizes Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash and Imagen AI models for tailored avatar creation. Originally launched in 2011, it was removed from the Play Store in 2020 and announced for revival at Google I/O earlier this year. Users can create a custom Android Bot by uploading a photo or entering a text prompt, with an option for AI-generated suggestions. The app analyzes images and validates text prompts to generate avatars that reflect user likeness while adhering to brand safety protocols. Users can further customize their Bots with various backgrounds and formats, and the app is available for free on the Google Play Store and web. Additionally, users can create an 8-second video of their Bot every Friday. The app employs modern development tools and its source code is available on GitHub.

BetaBeacon

August 10, 2025

8 forgotten Android classics I still play today

Dead Trigger is a single-player, story-driven first-person zombie shooter game that offers a fairly pure experience without pushing micro-transactions for upgrades. The game was optimized for Tegra chipsets and had stunning graphics for its time. It remains playable despite looking a bit dated and offers bite-sized missions for players.

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

15 incredible DOS classics you can play in your browser

Between the late '80s and early '90s, DOS became the foundation of PC gaming, fostering innovation with advancements in 2.5D and 3D environments, first-person shooters, city-building simulations, and point-and-click adventures. DOS games are lightweight, allowing them to run on modern devices easily. Dangerous Dave (1988) is a nostalgic platformer that remains enjoyable today. Sid Meier's Civilization (1991) is considered one of the greatest DOS games, allowing players to build empires through various strategies. Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992) is credited with shaping the real-time strategy genre, introducing base-building and resource management. Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons (1990) set the standard for PC platformers with its vibrant gameplay. Carmageddon (1997) is an iconic car combat game known for its humor and chaos. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992) is a hallmark of the point-and-click genre with engaging puzzles. The Oregon Trail (1990) started as an educational tool and became a classic game blending survival strategy with humor. Command and Conquer (1995) revolutionized the RTS genre with engaging gameplay. X-COM: UFO Defense (1994) is known for its strategic gameplay where every decision matters. Wolfenstein 3D (1992) is a pioneer of the FPS genre, influencing many subsequent titles.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Mycopunk review

Mycopunk is a cooperative PvE shooter developed by Pigeons at Play and published by Devolver Digital, set to release on July 10, 2025. Players combat fungal adversaries and gather resources for a mega-corporation while navigating various environments. The game allows customization of mission difficulty with three swarm intensities and six difficulty levels. Players encounter mycological robots and can choose characters with unique movement abilities, enhancing teamwork. The game features a vibrant home base with minigames and character upgrades, and offers different mission types. Progression may feel slow, and some glitches are present, but developers are addressing these issues.

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

How to change character in Mecha Break

In Mecha Break, players can customize their characters with basic options like face, hair, makeup, and body type for free, but more elaborate features such as outfits and tattoos require real money. Changing to a new opposite-sex pilot also incurs a cost. Players can earn cosmetic items for free through the Ace Conquest welcome event by completing specific objectives. To edit their character or purchase a new opposite-sex character, players can access the Pilots menu. Unlocking a new preset slot costs 2,000 Mission Tokens, while acquiring a new opposite-sex pilot costs 680 Corite.