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AppWizard

October 13, 2026

Nothing OS 5.0 and Android 17 Arrive on Phone (3)

Nothing OS 5.0 and Android 17 updates for the Phone (3) have begun rolling out after a beta testing phase that started in August 2026. The rollout will be staged and vary by region. Users can check for updates by navigating to Settings > System > System update. Key features of the updates include: - Introduction of the Geist typeface for improved visual clarity. - Enhancements for faster app launches and smoother multitasking. - Redesigned home screen with transparent widgets and color-tinted icons. - Batch editing capability for home screen items. - New Away Time widget for tracking phone usage. - Lock screen personalization with new clock designs. - Revamped settings interface for better navigation. - Cleaner status bar with custom icons and animations. - Updated camera interface and enhanced QR code scanning. - Dedicated Glyph app for the Glyph Interface lighting system. - Glyph Timer widget for setting timers from the home screen. - Redesigned Bluetooth controls for quicker access. - Option to separate notifications and Quick Settings. - Live Updates feature displaying ongoing notifications in the status bar. - Introduction of Noto 3D emoji for messaging. - Expanded dark theme on an app-by-app basis.

BetaBeacon

October 12, 2026

DroidDeck Runs Steam Games on Android Phones Without a PC

DroidDeck differs from Steam Link, GameNative, and Winlator by running games on the phone itself, using FEX to translate x86 PC code for ARM-based Snapdragon chips. DroidDeck also supports GOG, Epic Games, and Amazon Games, installs a Linux desktop mode, Linux apps, emulators, Decky plugins, and LSFG frame generation. DroidDeck is compatible with phones with Adreno 730 or newer GPUs, excluding most Google and Samsung models. To set up DroidDeck, download the APK, install the Linux runtime, adjust developer options, and sign in to Steam.

AppWizard

October 12, 2026

Steam Week in Review: The curious case of Wonder Boy in Monster Land’s dubious PC debut

Wonder Boy in Monster Land, originally released in Japanese arcades in 1987 and later on the Sega Master System, has been listed on Steam by Retro Maniac, a developer with a limited portfolio. The title is misspelled as "Wonderboy," raising concerns about the legitimacy of the release. The ownership of the Wonder Boy franchise is split between LAT Corp, which holds the intellectual property rights, and Sega, which retains the trademark. This dual ownership complicates any re-release under the Wonder Boy name, as seen with previous titles that successfully navigated licensing agreements. The original arcade version was released as Adventure Island in the U.S., leading to confusion about the game's lineage. Concerns about the Retro Maniac port were raised by the Wonder Boy Universe fan account and composer Shinichi Sakamoto, who noted it is not available in Japan and may be unauthorized. The port appears to be a ROM running within the MAME arcade emulator. The listing is reportedly facing a DMCA takedown process initiated by Sega or LAT Corp.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

A week with Googlebooks: four notes from our testing so far

Google has launched five new Googlebook laptops featuring the Googlebook OS, which has received mixed reviews. While the hardware is praised, the software is criticized for being problematic and not a significant upgrade from ChromeOS. Users report issues such as the inability to run Chrome with separate Google accounts, clunky Android apps, and awkward command requirements for messaging apps. The app ecosystem is struggling, with many applications failing to adapt to the Googlebook's interface, resulting in a frustrating user experience. Linux applications face integration challenges, complicating multitasking. Despite some successful features like file transfer and notification responses between Googlebook and Android devices, users experience frequent connectivity issues and sluggish performance.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

I have to settle for this AI recreation because Microsoft won’t share its gorgeous new Windows 11 wallpaper

Microsoft has a history of creating and commissioning unique wallpapers for its product launches, with each version of Windows featuring its own official wallpaper collection. At a recent Windows and Surface event, a new wallpaper was seen on RTX Spark laptops, but Microsoft has not yet released it publicly. An X user recreated this wallpaper using ChatGPT, while AI has been previously used to enhance Windows wallpapers. The RTX Spark laptops are available for preorder, with shipments starting on October 16, 2026, and the official wallpaper is expected to be released soon.

BetaBeacon

October 8, 2026

Among Us Story: On Guard launches February 17, 2027 for Switch 2, PC, iOS, and Android

Among Us Story: On Guard is a new standalone adventure game set in the Among Us universe that will be launched on February 17, 2027 for Switch 2, PC via Steam, iOS, and Android. The game allows players to become Guards responsible for shipwide security and preventing Impostors from murdering Crewmates.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

I have to settle for this AI recreation because Microsoft won’t share its gorgeous new Windows 11 wallpaper

Microsoft has showcased a new wallpaper at a recent Windows and Surface event, specifically on new RTX Spark laptops, but has not yet released the image to the public. In response, a user recreated the wallpaper using ChatGPT, while others have previously used AI tools like Adobe Photoshop to generate or modify Windows wallpapers. The RTX Spark laptops are available for preorder and are set to ship on October 16, 2026.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

Microsoft revamps Windows for agentic AI

The Fortune Brainstorm AI event is scheduled for December 7 to 8 at the St. Regis in San Francisco, featuring notable attendees such as Fei-Fei Li, Aaron Levie, Richard Socher, Trae Stephens, and Pedro Franceschi. Microsoft is introducing updates to its Windows operating system to integrate AI agents and tools, with CEO Satya Nadella describing it as evolving into a "hybrid intelligence" system. The reimagined Copilot AI app will be integrated into Windows, allowing it to perform tasks autonomously. Microsoft is also launching the Surface Laptop Ultra, priced at ,599, starting October 16. Anthropic has debuted Claude Haiku 5.5, OpenAI introduced GPT-6 to ChatGPT, and Google launched Playground for creating games with AI. Amazon's Ring has unveiled its first smart lock.

BetaBeacon

October 8, 2026

The Traitors: Interactive Game Launches on iOS and Android

The Traitors: Interactive Game is a choice-driven narrative game where players navigate a 12-day journey in Traitors Castle, making alliances, completing missions, and avoiding banishment. Players must choose a defining trait and make strategic decisions to survive and win the game.

AppWizard

October 7, 2026

No, GTA 6 won’t be playable on PC via Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Microsoft doesn’t have exclusive streaming rights either, exec clarifies

Matthew Ball, chief strategy officer at Xbox, clarified that GTA 6 will not be available for streaming on PC and will not be an exclusive offering for Xbox. He stated that while the game will launch on Xbox on November 19, it will not be streamed exclusively or to PC. The Xbox Cloud Streaming app for PC will not include GTA 6, and the decision to exclude PC from streaming options is notable given Rockstar Games' history of favoring console releases. Additionally, Xbox's new streaming limitations will restrict players to 15 hours of gameplay under the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, with extra hours available for purchase, coinciding with the release of GTA 6.