Personal Touch Archives

AppWizard

September 2, 2026

Sick: Ace Combat 8 has online airbase lobbies where you can bum around as your own bespoke pilotsona

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve features a blend of aerial combat and storytelling. Bandai Namco released an "Online 101" video detailing multiplayer features, including online lobbies and personalized pilot avatars. Players can engage in 4v4 deathmatches and eight-pilot free-for-alls, unlocking new aircraft and customization options as they progress. The game will include battle passes, but any aircraft DLC in the premium pass will be available for individual purchase after the season. The game is set to launch on Steam on October 1.

AppWizard

September 1, 2026

Google adds shared Keep notes and custom themes to Messages

Google Messages has received two enhancements: Custom Chat themes and Google Keep integration. Users can add a Keep note to conversations, allowing all participants to view, edit, and contribute. Individual chats can be personalized with curated wallpaper collections or by uploading personal photos.

AppWizard

August 31, 2026

Google Messages Finally Lets You Customize Chats With Others – Here’s How To Do It

Google has updated its Google Messages platform to enhance user customization options, allowing users to personalize their chat experience by changing the background and color of messaging bubbles for individual RCS chats as of late August. These new chat theme options are only visible to the user who sets them and require RCS messaging to be enabled. Users can customize their chats by accessing the "Chat theme" option in the app, which offers various color choices and background categories such as Animals, Architecture, Landscapes, Sunsets, and Space, as well as the option to select a personal photo.

AppWizard

August 26, 2026

Nothing OS 5.0 has received the Glyph app – three smartphones will not be getting Android 17

Nothing has unveiled Nothing OS 5.0, based on Android 17, which will begin open testing on August 26 for the Phone (3). Key features include a dynamic home screen theme, the Geist system font, new status bar animations, simultaneous icon and widget movement, Gooey and Micrographics watch faces, a standalone Glyph app, a Glyph Timer widget, an Away Time widget, and a Collector feature for photo curation. Essential AI tools include Essential Voice for cleaner transcriptions, Smart Collections for automatic content grouping, and the creation of Essential Apps. Android 17 enhancements feature improved Quick Share, Noto 3D emojis, an upgraded dark theme, and simplified Bluetooth connectivity. The public rollout of Nothing OS 5.0 for the Phone (3) is scheduled for mid-October, with other models to follow, while Phone (1), Phone (2), and CMF Phone 1 will not receive the update. Google released Android 17 in June, introducing universal floating windows and enhanced privacy protections.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Sony may be discontinuing video game discs — but there’s still a way to get physical copies

Sony will phase out physical discs for new PlayStation titles starting January 2028. GOG reassures gamers of ownership rights, allowing them to own and preserve purchased games on physical media. The Tomb Raider I-VI Remastered bundle is available for purchase, featuring enhanced versions of the classic series. All games on GOG are DRM-free, enabling players to download and burn titles onto discs. The process for burning games involves logging into the GOG library, downloading the offline installer, and burning the game file onto a disc. GOG also offers alternatives for game storage, such as external hard drives and cloud storage, ensuring long-term ownership without reliance on a launcher or internet connection. GOG has a selection of over 5,200 DRM-free games available for purchase.

AppWizard

August 19, 2026

Tap into the power of Gemini in Chrome on Android.

Gemini in Chrome has launched for all Android users in the U.S., offering features that enhance mobile browsing. It allows users to summarize long articles and answer inquiries about web pages, integrating with Google applications like Calendar and Keep. The Nano Banana feature enables image customization for a personalized browsing experience. Subscribers to AI Pro and AI Ultra can use the auto browse functionality to manage tasks like booking parking or organizing travel plans. Gemini in Chrome is designed with security in mind, detecting threats and requiring user confirmation for sensitive tasks. Users can access Gemini by tapping the icon or through the three-dot menu on their Android devices.

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

PC Game Pass Has Some Seriously Good Turn-Based RPGs

The text discusses various turn-based RPGs and strategy games available on Xbox Game Pass, highlighting 17 standout titles. 1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - A turn-based RPG with innovative combat mechanics and a compelling narrative centered around the Paintress. 2. Heroes of Might and Magic II & III - Classic strategy games known for exploration, resource management, and tactical battles. 3. South Park: The Fractured But Whole - An RPG with grid-based combat and tactical elements, infused with the show's humor. 4. Wasteland 3 - A CRPG set in a post-apocalyptic world, featuring intricate storytelling and strategic turn-based combat. 5. BATTLETECH - A tactical mech combat game focused on managing a mercenary company and strategic planning. 6. Death Howl - Combines grid movement with deckbuilding mechanics in a dark narrative. 7. Echo Generation 2 - Introduces deckbuilding mechanics and multiple characters with a voxel art style. 8. For The King II - A blend of tabletop RPG elements and roguelite mechanics, designed for group play. 9. Gears Tactics - A tactical turn-based game that transitions from a third-person shooter, encouraging aggressive playstyles. 10. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era - Revitalizes the classic formula with modern production values. 11. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Continues the turn-based combat from its predecessor with an expansive world. 12. Persona 5 Royal - A defining JRPG that balances everyday life with supernatural adventures and stylish turn-based combat. 13. The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut - A first-person dungeon crawler with exploration and puzzle-solving elements. 14. The Thaumaturge - Set in early 20th-century Warsaw, featuring political tension and supernatural intrigue in its narrative. 15. Wartales - Focuses on managing mercenaries in a medieval world, emphasizing survival and personal storytelling. 16. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - Offers a turn-based mode in a richly detailed world with complex narratives. 17. Phoenix Point - A tactical game that serves as a successor to XCOM, featuring a unique free-aim system and evolving enemy mechanics.

AppWizard

August 16, 2026

Chaotic Party Brawler Dino Party Out Today on PC

Dino Party, developed by Berlin-based Studio Nachtwerk, has launched on PC via Steam. It is a party brawler for 2 to 4 players, featuring a variety of minigames and fast-paced combat in a dinosaur tournament setting. Matches last approximately 15 minutes and take place in diverse arenas with dynamic challenges and random events. The game includes over 120 unlockable cosmetics for player customization and allows for custom lobbies with personalized rules. It is priced at .99 / €12.25 and supports 16 languages. Studio Nachtwerk was founded by Florian Wolf and Philipp Wagner.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

Hands-on with AltTabby, Stardock’s replacement for the Windows 11 Alt+Tab experience

Stardock has introduced AltTabby, an alternative app switcher for Windows 11 that features customizable layouts, smart grouping, application pinning, and keyboard shortcuts. It integrates with other Stardock utilities, allowing users to customize how Groupy organizes applications. AltTabby offers five distinct views, with the carousel view being highlighted for its fluid navigation and customization options. The icons view and classic icons view are noted to be compact and potentially overwhelming, though the icons view includes a search box for added functionality.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

I let two AI apps track every bite I ate for three days straight to help me count calories and get back into shape. Here’s the most accurate one

The author decided to improve their fitness by maintaining a food diary on their smartphone and explored two AI-powered calorie-tracking apps, BitePal and SnapCalorie. Both apps allow users to log meals by taking pictures and integrate Google Health data to track food intake and physical activities. BitePal features a charming design and user interface, while SnapCalorie offers a more extensive food library and projected an earlier completion date for the author's weight loss goal compared to BitePal. The author chose to trust SnapCalorie for their fitness journey.