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BetaBeacon

October 18, 2026

AYN Thor Setup Guide: 13 Steps, 90 Minutes [2026]

- AYN's Thor is a clamshell Android handheld with two AMOLED panels: a 6-inch top display and a 3.92-inch touchscreen on the bottom. - It comes in four configurations: Lite, Base, Pro, and Max, with varying specs including RAM, storage, and GPU. - Setup of the AYN Thor takes longer than expected as it does not come with bundled games, preinstalled emulators, or a third-party launcher. - The setup process includes steps such as unboxing and inspecting the model, charging fully before the first boot, updating firmware, configuring the dual-screen display, setting up the microSD card, installing RetroArch, Winlator, and Moonlight, mapping controls, calibrating sticks, setting up cloud and PC game streaming, optimizing battery and thermal behavior, organizing storage, launchers, and backups, and running a final full-system pass.

AppWizard

October 9, 2026

WhatsApp Spotted Testing New Contacts Tab on Android

WhatsApp is testing a dedicated Contacts tab in its Android application, currently available in the beta version. This tab is integrated into the navigation bar and allows users direct access to their contact list, featuring a green dot indicator for online users. The new section includes birthday reminders with notifications and emojis, a search bar for locating contacts by name, phone number, or username, and sorting options for organizing the contact list by activity or alphabetically. Users who have disabled their "last seen/online" status will not appear as active.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

Copilot Gets Control of Windows and Your Files as Microsoft’s Recall Bill Comes Due

Microsoft is requesting Windows users to grant its Copilot feature access to their files and activities, following a previous retraction of a similar AI integration due to scrutiny. Copilot can analyze content on the device with user consent, performing tasks like organizing files and troubleshooting, using both local AI models and cloud processing. Microsoft has implemented safeguards, but its security team has raised concerns about potential risks associated with powerful features. The opt-in nature of Copilot places accountability on Microsoft, as users must actively grant access. Hybrid features are set to roll out in the coming months, with taskbar search actions already reaching Windows Insiders. Over 40 percent of new business laptops are being designed as Copilot+ PCs, with the Surface Laptop Ultra scheduled for release on October 16.

Winsage

October 8, 2026

Copilot Gets Control of Windows and Your Files as Microsoft’s Recall Bill Comes Due

Microsoft is inviting Windows users to grant its Copilot feature access to their files and activities, with user consent. The new iteration of Copilot can understand content on the device, perform tasks like organizing files, troubleshooting, and writing code, with some tasks processed in the cloud. Activation is opt-in, folder access is limited, and Copilot operates under separate accounts from users. Microsoft has implemented safeguards, including Microsoft Execution Containers to define agent access. However, internal warnings from Microsoft's security team highlight potential risks associated with agents capable of modifying environments. Features for enhancing auditability of agent activities are under development. Microsoft previously faced criticism for its Recall feature, which raised security concerns. The opt-in design places accountability on Microsoft, as users must grant access. The hybrid features require a Copilot+ PC and are set to roll out in the coming months, with taskbar search actions already reaching Windows Insiders. Over 40 percent of newly manufactured business laptops are Copilot+ PCs, with the Surface Laptop Ultra launching on October 16.

BetaBeacon

October 6, 2026

Lemuroid Setup Guide: 20 Retro Systems [2026]

Lemuroid is an open-source Android frontend built on top of the Libretro core ecosystem, maintained by developer Swordfish90. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 and has 4,371 stars, 366 forks, and 595 open issues on GitHub. Late 2026 is a good time to set it up due to its active development. It is available on Google Play, F-Droid, and GitHub, providing redundancy in case of policy changes. Lemuroid supports twenty systems, each mapped to a specific Libretro core. PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Nintendo Switch are not supported. It requires Android 6.0, 500MB of storage, 3GB of RAM for 8-bit and 16-bit systems, and legally dumped ROMs/ISOs. BIOS files are required for PS1, PSP, and DS cores. It is recommended for managing multiple systems in one library.

AppWizard

October 3, 2026

Chrome for Android has windows, and they’re better than tab groups for multitasking

Chrome for Android supports the use of windows, allowing users to open multiple windows, each with its own tabs while sharing bookmarks and settings. Users can open an unlimited number of windows, which appear distinctly in Android's Recents screen. To open a new window on slab-style phones, users activate split-screen mode, tap the three-dot menu icon, and select "New window." For foldable phones, users can skip the split-screen step. Tabs can be moved between windows using the three-dot menu icon. All open windows can be managed through the Recents multitasking screen, where users can assign names or close them. This window functionality enhances multitasking and organization, making mobile browsing more akin to a desktop experience. Other browsers like Samsung Internet and Microsoft Edge have adopted similar features, while Firefox has not.

AppWizard

October 3, 2026

These 9 Thunderbird features made me ditch Gmail for good

The author switched from Gmail to Thunderbird after 15 years, citing frustrations with Gmail's ad inundation and cluttered features. They appreciate Thunderbird's offline email access, extensive customization options, open-source nature, absence of forced AI features, free distribution without targeted ads, cross-platform compatibility, reliable notifications, effective multi-account management, customizable junk filtering, and its focus solely on email functionality. These aspects have led to a more streamlined and efficient email experience compared to Gmail.

AppWizard

October 1, 2026

Huion Note E Notebook / Android Tablet Review – Affordable e-paper-like tablet – Mighty Gadget Blog Technology News and Reviews

The iFLYTEK AINOTE Air 2 and AINote 2 are e-ink tablets with AI capabilities for voice transcription, excelling in note-taking and audio transcription but suffering from a sluggish user interface. The TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER features a matte NXTPAPER display for comfortable reading and writing but does not match the feel of e-ink, priced at £479. The Huion Note E is a budget-friendly Android tablet at £299, designed for productivity with a matte display and PenTech 3.0 EMR pen technology. It has an 8.4-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200, powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 processor, and offers approximately 6.5 hours of battery life. The tablet includes a handwriting recognition feature but lacks integrated voice transcription. It is designed to resemble a hardback book, with a PU leather folio case and a fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button. The display has a brightness of 300 nits and a refresh rate of 60 Hz, and while it supports a Reading Mode for a greyscale experience, it does not fully replicate an e-ink reading experience. The device has no expandable storage and limited USB 2.0 speeds for file transfers.

AppWizard

September 30, 2026

Your guide to Google Messages’ new hidden gestures

Google Messages has introduced several new features for Android devices, including the ability to reply to messages with context by quoting earlier messages, a conversation info screen for managing interactions, a future scheduling feature for planning messages, and customizable swipe gestures for navigation. The long-press functionality provides quick access to various options, improving efficiency and user experience.

AppWizard

September 29, 2026

Google quietly made Find Hub an Android app I can’t live without

Google has enhanced the Find Hub app by introducing a feature called the Remembered tab, which allows users to track items that cannot accommodate a physical tracker. Users can tag items, record notes, and attach pictures to help remember where they are stored. Instead of using a physical tracker, users can inform Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, about an item's location verbally or through manual entry. This feature is particularly useful for organizing items that are not frequently moved, such as passports or other essential belongings. Users can quickly add items by stating their location and taking a photo, making it easier to retrieve them later. The Remembered tab enhances the utility of the Find Hub app without requiring additional subscriptions or gadgets.