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YouTube Comes to Android Auto, but Not in the Form of an App
AppWizard
March 30, 2026

YouTube Comes to Android Auto, but Not in the Form of an App

Google has integrated YouTube into Android Auto as a media control feature, allowing users to access audio content through basic functions like play, pause, and skip from the dashboard. This feature does not enable video viewing while driving and is linked to YouTube playback on the user's mobile device. Users must subscribe to YouTube Premium or the Premium Lite option to utilize background playback. The feature is currently not widely available, and Google is exploring the potential for video playback apps on Android Auto while prioritizing user safety.
Here's why your Android Auto music controls look different this morning
AppWizard
March 25, 2026

Here’s why your Android Auto music controls look different this morning

Google has introduced a new Media Playback template for Android Auto, enhancing the user experience for music streaming applications like Spotify and YouTube Music. The update features a wavy progress bar and has repositioned the Play/Pause and track control buttons to the left side of the screen. This redesign aims to improve usability and streamline interaction with music apps. The rollout is gradual, with more users beginning to access the updated interface. The new design will be consistently applied across all music player applications using the Media Playback template. Users are encouraged to share their experiences with the new UI.
Spotify's Windows 11 app gets a new quality feature FIRST, and high-end audio fans are going to love it
Winsage
March 18, 2026

Spotify’s Windows 11 app gets a new quality feature FIRST, and high-end audio fans are going to love it

Spotify has introduced a feature called Exclusive Mode for Windows desktop users, which enhances audio quality by allowing Spotify to take full control of audio processing, ensuring Bit Perfect playback. This feature is currently exclusive to the Windows version, with plans for a Mac release in the future. To activate Exclusive Mode, users must use the latest version of the Spotify app on Windows 11 (version 1.2.84 or higher) and select a specific output device that is not set to the system default. While Exclusive Mode is enabled, no other audio applications can be used through the selected device, and it is designed solely for music playback.
Google's warning over battery-draining Android apps
AppWizard
March 11, 2026

Google’s warning over battery-draining Android apps

The Google Play Store has introduced a warning system for Android applications that exhibit excessive background activity, which can lead to battery drain. This feature alerts users to apps that may consume a high amount of battery power due to background operations and was officially launched at the beginning of this month. Google, in collaboration with Samsung, has developed a beta metric called "excessive partial wake locks" to measure how often apps wake a device from sleep mode for background tasks. Not all apps will receive warnings; those with high energy consumption for essential functions, like music playback or location services, are exempt. The rollout of this system will occur gradually over the coming weeks.
Google starts calling out Android apps that drain your battery before you download them
AppWizard
March 5, 2026

Google starts calling out Android apps that drain your battery before you download them

Google has begun rolling out a new warning system in the Play Store on March 1, 2026, to alert users about apps that may significantly drain their device's battery. The notification will state, “this app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity.” Additionally, Google is introducing a metric to help developers understand how often their apps activate background processes. Apps that exceed the “Excessive Partial Wake Lock” threshold may receive warnings on their listings and could be excluded from discovery surfaces. However, apps that provide “clear user benefits,” such as music playback or location services, will be exempt from penalties. Comprehensive documentation on these exemptions has been made available to developers.
Windows 11 Moves Closer To Android App Continuity
AppWizard
January 31, 2026

Windows 11 Moves Closer To Android App Continuity

Microsoft is enhancing Windows 11's cross-device capabilities, allowing users to transition Android app activities to their PCs. This feature enables users to resume activities like music playback, document editing, and web browsing directly on their Windows computer. Initially limited to OneDrive activities, the functionality now includes resuming Spotify playback, editing Microsoft Office documents, and restoring browsing sessions from mobile devices using Microsoft Edge. This feature has been in testing since August and is included in the latest Windows 11 Release Preview update. The approach is similar to Apple's Handoff feature. The update also includes expanded support for MIDI 2.0, improvements to voice typing, enhanced fingerprint sensor compatibility for Windows Hello, and broader language support for the new Settings Agent.
These 10 Android Apps Will Make Your Phone Smarter Than Ever
AppWizard
December 30, 2025

These 10 Android Apps Will Make Your Phone Smarter Than Ever

Your smartphone can be enhanced with various applications that improve productivity, personalization, and digital well-being. A recent video from Xtream Droid highlights ten lesser-known Android apps: 1. Gesture Suite: Allows users to create custom gestures for over 70 actions, automating tasks like turning on the flashlight or controlling music playback. 2. Transfer: Turns your phone into a local file server for quick, wireless file sharing without cables or third-party services, ensuring privacy and security. 3. Safe Space: Provides encrypted, offline storage for sensitive files, protecting data from unauthorized access without relying on cloud services. 4. LED Keyboard: Offers customizable LED effects, multilingual support, and advanced typing features while ensuring user privacy by not collecting typing data. 5. Shelf Launcher: A minimalist app that integrates gesture controls, quick search options, and note-taking features to optimize workflow and productivity. 6. Lock Me Out: Helps manage screen time by allowing users to set app blocking modes and schedule lockouts to minimize distractions. 7. Regain: Tracks app usage patterns and provides insights to maintain a balanced relationship with your device, promoting healthier digital habits. 8. Action Notch: Transforms the phone’s camera cutout into a functional control button for quick access to tasks like taking screenshots or switching apps. 9. Smart Dock Launcher: Offers a desktop-like experience with multi-window support and customizable layouts for better multitasking on Android devices. 10. NotePinr: An offline task management app that allows users to create to-do lists and reminders, with the ability to pin important notes to the notification bar.
New Runtime Standby ABI Proposed For Linux Akin To Microsoft Windows' "Modern Standby"
Winsage
December 26, 2025

New Runtime Standby ABI Proposed For Linux Akin To Microsoft Windows’ “Modern Standby”

A new runtime standby ABI has been proposed in the Linux kernel community through a post-Christmas patch series led by Antheas Kapenekakis. This initiative aims to implement a feature similar to Microsoft's "Modern Standby," allowing devices to maintain network connectivity while appearing to be in a sleep state. The patches provide a more robust solution than previous efforts, enabling user-space control over ACPI LPS0 display notifications. The series introduces a mechanism for firing Modern Standby firmware notifications without suspending the kernel, allowing the device to appear asleep while still performing basic computations. The first part of the series modifies the existing DSMs to be called at the beginning of the suspend sequence and exposes a transition function through /sys/power/standby for user-space interaction. The RFC patch series, including documentation on the proposed interface, is available for review.
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