media apps Archives

AppWizard

June 15, 2025

Experts urge caution over social media apps in connection to arrest of SC Rep. RJ May

Lexington County State House Representative RJ May has been indicted on multiple federal charges related to child sex abuse material. He faces nearly a dozen charges, and federal prosecutors are seeking his detention before trial. May allegedly used four applications—Kik, Telegram, Mega, and Loki Messenger—to distribute child sexual assault material (CSAM). Investigators noted that all four apps were deleted shortly before a search warrant was executed at his home. Kik allows communication without a registered phone number, while Telegram and Mega are favored for their encryption and foreign ownership. Loki Messenger also offers end-to-end encryption. Rebecca Lorik, executive director of Pathways to Healing, highlighted the dangers of social media platforms and urged parents to engage with their children's online activities, educate themselves about potential risks, and consult experts for guidance.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Android Auto’s media apps may soon offer an upgraded UI

Google announced updates at the Google I/O 2025 event to enhance media app layouts on Android Auto, introducing two new templates: SectionedItemTemplate and MediaPlaybackTemplate. The SectionedItemTemplate allows for a more organized browsing experience with multiple sections, while the MediaPlaybackTemplate offers greater control over the Now Playing screen layout. These changes enable developers to create more personalized and innovative app experiences. Additionally, Google is working on expanding Android Auto's capabilities to support browser and video applications, as well as a new light theme for the platform.

AppWizard

May 25, 2025

Spotify will get a new Android Auto app ‘in the coming months’ with Jam support [Gallery]

Spotify is launching a revamped app for Android Auto that includes a new "Jam" feature, allowing users to connect to a friend's playlist by scanning a QR code. This feature enhances collaborative listening by enabling friends to add tracks to the queue without device pairing. The updated app will be available in the coming months, with similar updates expected for Amazon Music and YouTube Music.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Google teases media app updates for Android Auto, and they look good

Google has announced updates for Android Auto aimed at improving media applications, revealed at the I/O 2025 event. Key updates include the introduction of the “SectionedItemTemplate,” which organizes content into distinct sections for better usability, and a revamped “MediaPlaybackTemplate” that allows developers to customize the “Now Playing” screen layout. Google is also enhancing the “Car App Library” to enable richer experiences for media apps. Popular platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music will be among the first to implement these changes, although a timeline for the updates is not yet confirmed.

BetaBeacon

May 21, 2025

Google I/O 2025: Android Auto and Automotive OS Get Smarter

Google introduced major updates to Android Auto and Android Automotive OS at Google I/O 2025, signaling a push into the connected car space. Gemini AI is making its in-car debut, offering natural voice controls and contextual awareness. Navigation apps can integrate Gemini for voice-driven navigation and search. App categories are expanding across platforms, with weather apps out of beta, games entering beta, and video apps on the roadmap. Google is providing new tools and templates for developers to streamline car app development. The roadmap includes features like audio-only playback for video apps while driving and Quick Share between phone and car. The Android-powered car is becoming a standard, inviting developers to build innovative experiences beyond navigation and playlists.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

How to stop Android apps running in the background

Experiencing unexpected battery drain on Android devices can be caused by background apps. To manage these apps and alleviate battery issues, users can activate the Adaptive Battery feature by navigating to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver > Adaptive Battery and toggling it on. Regular updates for both the Android system and applications can improve battery performance. Users can check for Android updates in Settings > System > Software updates and for app updates in the Google Play Store under Manage apps & device. To monitor battery usage, users can go to Settings > Battery > Battery usage to identify which apps consume the most power. For RAM usage, enabling Developer options allows users to see which apps are using memory by going to Settings > About phone > Build number (tap seven times) > System > Developer options > Running services. Users can stop or uninstall background apps by navigating to Settings > Apps > See all apps, selecting the app, and choosing to force stop or uninstall it. To limit background activity for specific apps, users can enable "Pause app activity if unused" or toggle off "Allow background usage" in the app's battery usage settings. Some manufacturers offer built-in options for managing background apps, and third-party apps like Greenify can also help. Common battery-draining apps include social media and streaming services.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

One UI 7 brings Live Notifications for your favorite media apps, including YouTube and Spotify

Samsung's One UI version 7 has begun rolling out, introducing features that enhance media playback, including Live Notifications for real-time control over media applications from the notification shade. Users can receive ongoing media playback notifications from apps like Spotify, YouTube, and YouTube Music, although Netflix does not show notifications during local playback but does support live notifications when casting. To access these features, users must have the latest builds of One UI 7, particularly those with the April 2025 security patch. The update also hints at cross-device synchronization for media playback control without needing to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Currently, YouTube allows playback controls for connected smart devices but typically requires the same Wi-Fi network.

AppWizard

March 10, 2025

Android Auto apps hit with an annoying scrolling problem [Video]

Recent reports from Android Auto users indicate a bug affecting app scrolling functionality, particularly when navigating music libraries or podcast lists while driving. This bug restricts scrolling within apps, making it nearly impossible for users to scroll through lists when music is playing, while scrolling functions normally when playback is paused. The issue is linked to the framework used by media apps on Android Auto and emerged in early February 2025. Users have also reported problems with the “search by letter” feature in YouTube Music. There is currently no official timeline for a fix.