Live Updates Archives

AppWizard

July 22, 2025

Nifty Chrome add-on shows which Steam games are already on Game Pass

Michael has a decade of experience in technology journalism, specializing in keyboard technology at PCWorld. He has contributed to publications like Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and has covered major industry events such as CES and Mobile World Congress. He lives in Pennsylvania and enjoys outdoor activities, including kayaking.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

One UI 8 will let any app show a Live Notification in Samsung’s Now Bar

Samsung is enhancing its One UI 8 experience by integrating the Live Notifications feature with Android 16's "Live Updates" API, allowing broader third-party app support for live notifications. This upgrade will enable real-time updates from various compatible applications, moving beyond the previous limitation of primarily supporting Samsung's own apps. The feature was initially introduced with One UI 7 and is set to expand significantly in One UI 8. The One UI 8 beta has shown a developer option for "Live notifications for all apps," which allows Live Updates to appear in the status bar and Now Bar. Currently, no public apps support Live Updates, and testing requires Google's sample app. It is expected that users will not need to toggle a developer option for the feature in the final release of One UI 8.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Steam Summer Sale winners: 25 unbeatable deals on top-notch games

Michael has a decade of experience in technology journalism, covering a range of topics from Apple to ZTE. He is known as a keyboard enthusiast at PCWorld, where he tests and reviews new models and builds custom mechanical keyboards. His portfolio includes contributions to publications like Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he has covered major tech events such as CES and Mobile World Congress. He resides in Pennsylvania and enjoys outdoor activities, including kayaking.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Steam is down — live updates on outage

Reports of an outage on the Steam platform began around 9:50 a.m. Pacific Time, peaking at approximately 3,000 reports by 10:30 a.m. The Steam Store was marked as offline, while other services were functioning normally. The Steam Charts page was also experiencing issues, despite over 32 million users being online. The Steam Summer Sale was ongoing, with significant discounts, which may have contributed to the server overload. Down Detector reported over 4,400 outage reports, with users unable to purchase games or access their wishlists. Users encountered problems loading their carts and wishlists, and the outage continued for several hours, with reports climbing to nearly 5,000. After a couple of hours, users noticed improvements, and reports on Down Detector decreased to around 1,200, indicating that the platform was returning to normal.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

Mobile apps to continue your birding

Deb Nofzinger and Dave Wilkins recommend several mobile applications for birding enthusiasts, including eBird and Merlin Bird ID, both associated with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. eBird operates on a donation model and allows users to maintain detailed bird lists, track sightings, and utilize a Hotspot function for prime birding locations. It has recorded 149 species at Earth Heart Farms since its addition, with 78 species identified this year. Wilkins has completed 239 checklists at Creek Bend Farm Park and observed 137 species there. The Merlin Bird ID app offers a sound identification feature for 1,382 bird species and is noted for its accuracy in familiar environments. Other suggested apps include BirdCast for migration updates and the Sibley Birds v2 app, priced at .99.

AppWizard

May 17, 2025

News Weekly: Android Show’s I/O edition, Google teases smart glasses, Nothing Phone 3 is on the way, and more

Google I/O is set to begin on May 20th at the Shoreline Amphitheater in California, with live updates from Android Central. Google has revealed advancements including Gemini, Material 3 Expressive, and enhanced safety tools. Gemini will integrate across the Android ecosystem for a hands-free AI experience. Material 3 Expressive will enhance the user interface in Android 16, focusing on five design components. Wear OS 6 will receive a visual refresh. New warning systems in Android's caller and Google Messages will combat fraud, while the Find My Device feature will evolve into Find Hub with improved tracking capabilities. Warner Bros. Discovery will rebrand Max back to HBO Max this summer, marking the second rebranding in three years. Nothing's Phone 3 is set to launch this summer, priced around £800. Samsung introduced a limited-edition Galaxy Ring in South Korea, featuring a new colorway.

BetaBeacon

May 13, 2025

Android 16: 4 game-changing features coming to your phone

- Android 16 has a new look called Material 3 Expressive, with customizable options for color, font, and visual components. - Live updates feature helps users stay on task by surfacing important updates from apps. - Gemini AI integration is expanded to be available everywhere on Android 16, with Gemini Live allowing users to share their screen and camera. - Find Hub is introduced as an app for tracking people, devices, tags, and more, with upcoming satellite connectivity for locating items in remote areas.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

Google debuts Material Three Expressive, Android’s most vibrant design yet

The latest iteration of Android 16 features an evolved design language and a revamped Live Updates function that provides real-time notifications for food delivery, navigation, and rideshare applications. Notifications appear on the lock screen, always-on display, status bar, and notification shade, ensuring users stay informed without disruption.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

Google Wallet brings real-time train status alerts to Android, and teases I/O 2025

Google Wallet has introduced real-time train status alerts for users in India and Canada, allowing them to receive notifications about their train's status, such as "On Time" or "Delayed." Additionally, parents and guardians in select countries can now permit their children to add event tickets and generic passes to their Wallet accounts, with the rollout starting in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Spain, and Poland. Google will host its I/O 2025 event on May 20 at 10 am PT, where updates for Wallet and Pay will be discussed, along with developments related to Android 16, Android XR, and Wear OS 6. Android 16 will feature Live Updates and has reached Platform Stability, allowing developers to refine applications. The Android 16 Beta includes Auracast support for hearing aids to enhance accessibility.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Google Maps might predict more than just the traffic for you soon

Google Maps is testing new features that will enhance user experience by providing real-time updates on parking availability, fuel-efficient routes, and estimated time of arrival (ETA) directly from the initial overview screen after entering a destination. Currently, users can only see traffic conditions, distance, and travel time. The new features will allow users to view parking availability marked by a "P" icon, fuel-efficient route options, and precise ETA. These enhancements aim to improve trip planning and are expected to be included in future app updates. Additionally, some users have reported issues with their Timeline history disappearing from the web version, possibly due to a shift in how Google stores location history.