million downloads Archives

AppWizard

February 11, 2026

UK-based pair behind messaging app accused of giving data to Iranian regime

Hadi and Mahdi Anjidani, co-founders of TS Information Technology, operate a messaging app called Gap Messenger, which is associated with the Iranian regime. Their company is based in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, and is linked to the Iranian software corporation Towse’e Saman Information Technology (TSIT). Despite claims of encryption and user privacy, experts have raised concerns about Gap Messenger's role in government censorship in Iran. Mahdi Anjidani has expressed pro-regime views in Iranian media and has connections to the Iranian government through his ventures. Gap Messenger has over 1 million downloads on Google Play and is part of Iran's domestic internet network aimed at controlling citizen access to information. Reports suggest that the app may have shared user data with Iranian authorities. The Anjidani brothers have ties to various business ventures in Iran, including a social network and a payment platform.

AppWizard

February 11, 2026

BBC Sport has finally gained a dark mode on Android

The BBC Sport app has introduced a dedicated dark mode for Android users, allowing the app to automatically adjust to the device's system theme. This update began rolling out on January 29 and reached a broader audience on February 2. The app does not have a toggle for dark mode; it relies on the phone's settings to switch between light and dark themes. The BBC Sport app has over 5 million downloads on the Google Play Store.

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

5 Of The Best Android Apps You Won’t Find On Windows

Microsoft's acknowledgment of challenges with Windows 11 has led users to explore alternative platforms, particularly Android, which offers applications not available on the Microsoft Store. Textra SMS is a messaging app with over 10 million downloads and a 4.3-star rating, allowing extensive customization and features like message scheduling. BuzzKill Notification Manager, recognized by Time Magazine, has a 4.6-star rating and offers detailed notification management for .99. Podcast Republic, a podcast app with over 1 million downloads and a 4.6-star rating, supports various listening formats and can be upgraded for an ad-free experience. Hermit - Lite Apps Browser allows users to create lightweight web apps, has over 1 million downloads, and a 4.6-star rating, with premium features available for .99. Web Video Cast – Browser to TV has over 50 million downloads and a 4.6-star rating, enabling media streaming from Android devices to TVs. The selection process for these apps involved user experience and functionality, ensuring high ratings and extensive reviews, with a minimum threshold of 3.5 stars and 1,000 user reviews.

BetaBeacon

January 16, 2026

Cooperative Puzzle Pepelo 2: Around the World Now Available on iOS and Android

Tafusoft studio has launched Pepelo 2: Around the World, an adventure puzzle game available for iOS and Android users. The game offers the first ten levels for free, with the full version priced at 199 rubles. Players can solve logic puzzles in real-world locations like Quebec, New York, Thailand, India, and Australia. There are 50 unique levels with skins inspired by traditional costumes. The developers aim to surpass the success of the original Pepelo game released in 2021.

Winsage

January 14, 2026

Zorin OS 18 has reached 2 million downloads, with 1M+ Windows defections fueling one of Linux’s biggest growth stories in 2026

Zorin OS, a Linux distribution, has gained significant popularity among Windows users, particularly following the end of support for Windows 10. Zorin OS 18 was released on the same day Microsoft ceased support for Windows 10 and has achieved over 2 million downloads in less than three months, with around 75% of downloads from users transitioning from Windows 10 and 11. The rise in interest in Zorin OS is attributed to dissatisfaction with Microsoft’s bloatware and the need for alternatives for hardware that cannot meet Windows 11's requirements. Linux installations now account for 3.58% of total usage, while Windows holds a 94.23% share.

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

VG Insights: Souls-like games on PC and Consoles

The Souls-like genre saw a release of 371 titles in 2024, marking a 41% year-over-year growth, with 207 games tagged as Souls-like by October 2025. Best-selling titles include Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (41.3 million copies), Elden Ring (40.6 million), and Monster Hunter: World (35 million). AAA developers generated approximately 75% of Souls-like revenue on Steam by 2024. Souls-like games represent about 4-5% of all titles on Steam. The APAC region accounts for 80% of all Souls-like projects and 97% of total revenue as of 2025. Chinese players make up 47% of the audience for top Souls-like games on Steam, followed by the US at 23%. Most AAA titles in the genre are priced between .99 and .99.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

5 Essential Productivity Apps Every Android User Should Start Using

Focus Friend is an app developed by Hank Green that helps users maintain concentration by temporarily locking distracting applications during focus sessions, which can last from five minutes to two hours. Users earn in-app currency by focusing, which can be used to purchase furnishings for their virtual Bean Friend's space. If a session is ended prematurely, the user's earnings are lost. Files by Google is a file management app that allows users to back up files directly to Google Drive, declutter storage by suggesting deletions, and includes a document scanner. However, it lacks advanced organization tools like tagging and color-coding. Adobe Scan is an app that transforms physical documents into PDFs by capturing them with a phone's camera. Users can edit, rotate, and annotate scanned images, but some features require a subscription. Notein is a note-taking app that allows users to create plain notes and checklists, with formatting options and calendar integration for reminders. It currently lacks support for images or drawings. Todoist is a task management app that combines tasks with calendar functionality, allowing users to prioritize tasks, set due dates, and add sub-tasks. Some features require a Pro subscription. All featured apps have over a million downloads and a minimum 4.5-star rating on the Google Play Store, ensuring they are user-friendly and effective for productivity.

Winsage

January 5, 2026

A popular debloating tool now has fresh powers to strip out Windows 11’s AI features – but I’d proceed with caution

A new version of the FlyOOBE tool for Windows 11, version 2.4, has been released, featuring enhancements for customizing the operating system, including refined capabilities for detecting and removing unnecessary AI features. The update allows users to perform a "deep cleanup" using external tools like RemoveWindowsAI. The tool promotes user choice regarding AI technology rather than rejecting it outright. 'OOBE' stands for 'out of box experience,' and the new AI debloating controls are called 'Slopilot.' The AI removal features are powered by RemoveWindowsAI, which has received positive feedback for disabling AI functionalities. FlyOOBE has over 2.5 million downloads, but users are advised to be cautious with third-party software, as disabling certain components may lead to complications with future Microsoft updates.

TrendTechie

January 2, 2026

Легальный сборник Моби обогнал по популярности на торрентах пиратские альбомы

Moby's latest album was the most downloaded file among torrent users in 2013, with nearly 9 million downloads. The album was made available for free in collaboration with BitTorrent. It surpassed downloads of albums by popular artists like Bruno Mars, Rihanna, and Justin Timberlake, with Bruno Mars' tracks being illegally downloaded over 5.7 million times. Moby's album also nearly doubled the download count of the final season of "Game of Thrones," which was illegally downloaded around 5 million times.

AppWizard

December 23, 2025

5 Underrated Google Apps You Need To Try On Your Android Phone

Photomath allows users to scan math questions and provides answers with step-by-step solutions, catering to all educational levels. It includes a built-in calculator for additional support. Lookout assists visually impaired users by reading text aloud, identifying objects, and interpreting currency, with various modes for different contexts. Read Along by Google helps children develop reading skills through stories that adapt to their reading level, featuring a reading assistant named Diya that provides feedback and encouragement. Chrome Remote Desktop enables users to access their computers remotely from Android devices, allowing for task management across devices. Google Arts & Culture offers a platform to explore art and history through virtual museum tours, interactive games, and various cultural content. These apps were selected based on their performance in the Play Store, each having fewer than 100 million downloads and a minimum rating of 4.0 stars.