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BetaBeacon

June 29, 2026

Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 leak reveals trio of game-changing upgrades

- Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 this year with significant hardware and software improvements. - The leak reveals that the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will have a brightness of 5,000 nits, an 800mAh battery, and an IP69K water and dust resistance rating. - Samsung's upcoming foldable devices, including the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra, are expected to support 45W charging and have improved peak brightness.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

Razer gaming gear up to 76% off for Prime Day at Woot: Minecraft Edition accessories, mice, headsets, more from just $13

Woot has launched a sale for Prime Day featuring discounts on Razer peripherals, with savings up to 76% and prices starting at .99 for Prime members. Customers can use the promo code RAZERWOOT for additional discounts, particularly for new customers. The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog Gaming Keyboard is highlighted in the sale, priced at .99 with Prime shipping, and can be reduced to .99 with the promo code. This keyboard typically retails for 0 on Amazon, representing a significant savings opportunity. It includes features such as rapid trigger mode, doubleshot PBT keycaps, Razer Chroma RGB lighting, and an ergonomic magnetic wrist rest.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

Google Photos may have a new trick to make your pictures look dramatically different

Google Photos is set to introduce a new feature called Moods in version 7.81 of the app, which utilizes artificial intelligence for photo editing. Moods offers eight distinct templates: Airy Minimalist, Crisp 35mm, 2000’s Cinema, Rich Textures, Pink Digicam, Retro Contrast, Night Lights, and 2000’s Night, each designed to evoke specific visual styles. The feature aims to provide a more personalized editing experience by analyzing images individually rather than applying uniform filters. Although Moods is not yet operational, it represents a shift towards a more AI-driven editing experience in Google Photos. An APK teardown indicates potential features, but there is no guarantee they will be publicly released.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

Minecraft Releases New Chaos Cubed Update

Minecraft has released its Chaos Cubed update, which has been in development since March 2026, now available for both Bedrock and Java editions. Mojang announced plans for an official port of Minecraft for the upcoming Switch 2, featuring advanced lighting effects, volumetric fog, and performance at 60 frames per second, although a specific release date is not yet available.

Tech Optimizer

June 18, 2026

I tested Norton’s Deepfake Protection — and it finally convinced me my next laptop needs an NPU

The landscape of online security has evolved significantly, with deepfake technology introducing new challenges. Users must be vigilant against both traditional malware and convincing fake images and videos. Antivirus software developers are enhancing their products by integrating cloud-based AI for better threat detection. For users with computers featuring neural processing units (NPUs), local solutions are available, such as Norton’s Deepfake Protection, which analyzes synthetic voices and images to flag potential threats. This feature operates in the background, providing peace of mind during online interactions. Norton 360 includes options for Deepfake Protection, Safe Web, and Safe SMS, but requires sufficient system resources to function effectively. Running this protection on older laptops may hinder performance, making NPUs a worthwhile investment for enhanced security against deepfakes and other online threats.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

‘[It] is going to change a lot about how games are made’: Epic merges Unreal Engine 5 with Unreal Engine for Fortnite to give game devs around the world Unreal Engine 6

Epic Games unveiled developments for Unreal Engine 6 at the State of Unreal event in Chicago, highlighting its evolution from Unreal Engine 5. The new engine will incorporate features from Fortnite and UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite), which allows users to create game levels easily. Unreal Engine 6 will adopt open standards for tools, code, and APIs to simplify development across industries. The anticipated release is set for 2027, with early access expected by the end of that year. Verse, a new scripting language, will be central to the gameplay programming model, while C++ will remain foundational. The Scene Graph will replace the existing gameplay framework, and artificial intelligence will play a larger role, with the UE5.8 release introducing the MCP server plugin for deploying large language models.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

PlayerUnknown’s survival game becomes free-to-own and offers Steam refunds ‘without restrictions on playtime or how long ago you bought the game’

Prologue: Go Wayback! has exited early access on Steam, but is considered incomplete with no further development plans. Launched in early access in 2025 by PlayerUnknown Productions, the game faced significant challenges, including staff layoffs, leading to a halt in development. The studio, founded by Brendan Greene, aimed to use the game as a testing ground for its Melba game engine, designed for creating large procedural worlds. A free tech demo, Preface: Undiscovered World, is available in early access. The final version of Prologue includes new features such as enhanced paths, mobile weather monitors, and improvements in cooking, lighting, clouds, and fog.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

Google releases Android 17 update with foldable improvements, app bubbles, and more

Google has released the stable version of Android 17 for all supported Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6 series, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet. Key features include: - App Bubbles for multitasking, allowing users to launch apps in floating windows. - Enhanced Picture-in-Picture mode for full interactivity in desktop environments. - Encouragement for developers to optimize apps for various screen orientations and sizes. - Implementation of app memory limits to improve performance and battery life. - A 50:50 split-screen mode for gaming on foldable phones and native controller remapping. - The Continue On feature for seamless task transitions between devices. - Improved privacy features, including temporary access to location data and a Mark As Lost feature. - Support for Eclipsa Video HDR format and enhanced audio quality through the Extended HE-AAC encoder. - Introduction of the RAW14 image format for better camera capabilities. - Enhanced support for Bluetooth Low Energy Audio, particularly for hearing aids.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

Minecraft 26.2 Chaos Cubed Drops Tomorrow: Hardcore Exploit Closed, Vulkan Renderer Ships

Minecraft Java Edition 26.2, titled Chaos Cubed, will be released on June 16, 2026, featuring a new underground biome called sulfur caves, a unique mob named sulfur cube, and an experimental Vulkan graphics renderer. The sulfur caves introduce pale-yellow sulfur blocks and deep-red cinnabar, along with geysers that erupt every 50 seconds and sulfur spikes that can inflict damage. The sulfur cube is a passive mob that absorbs blocks, altering its behavior, and can transform into a mobile explosive when it absorbs TNT. The Vulkan renderer allows players to switch between OpenGL and Vulkan for improved performance, utilizing multiple CPU cores. A friends list feature will be added, enabling players to send friend requests and check online statuses, but peer-to-peer world hosting will not be included. Hardcore mode will now enforce permadeath by disabling certain options in the Open to LAN menu. The update also includes six new music tracks and the /unpublish command.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

How to Use Meta AI on Meta Apps

Meta AI is integrated into WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, providing functionalities like chat, search, image generation, and automated customer support through the Meta Business Agent. Its availability varies by country, account type, app version, and language. Users should be aware that seeing a colleague's blue Meta AI ring in WhatsApp while they do not may indicate a rollout flag on Meta's end rather than an app malfunction. Meta AI can answer queries, suggest ideas, generate images from prompts, clarify messages, assist with searches, and support customer interactions for business accounts. It is linked to the Llama model family, including Llama 2 and Llama 3. To use Meta AI on WhatsApp, users need to update the app and can start a chat by locating the Meta AI button or circle. They can ask practical questions, request image generation, and utilize it in group chats. On Instagram, it enhances DMs and search functions, allowing users to create AI chats for content ideas and captions. In Messenger, there is an "Ask Meta AI" bar for direct interactions. Users can also utilize Meta AI on Facebook for search and content discovery. The Meta Business Agent is a version of Meta AI for businesses, providing 24/7 responses to customer inquiries. It can be set up in Meta Business Suite or WhatsApp Business. Privacy measures should be considered, as users cannot entirely disable Meta AI and should avoid sharing sensitive information in chats. For better responses, users should provide context and constraints in their prompts and consider training in prompt design and AI risk management for professional use.