You can collect real cats from the world around you by taking pictures and turning them into collectible cards in the game Cat Collector: Catch Real Cats.
Two new platforms have launched on the PC scene: the Googlebook and the Nvidia RTX Spark platform. The Acer Googlebook 14 was reviewed by Ashley Biancuzzo, while the reviewer is currently focusing on Lenovo’s Googlebook 15, which has a subpar keyboard but features Google’s new Aluminium OS aimed at enhancing the Chromebook experience with AI-powered productivity. To fully utilize the Googlebook, an Android phone running Android 17 is required, although some Samsung phones have been allowed to connect. In contrast, Windows offers Phone Link, which connects an Android phone to a Windows PC and only requires Android 10, allowing for photo transfers, calls, messages, and running Android apps within PC windows. Phone Link is seen as a strong competitor to Googlebook’s offerings, except for app streaming.
Field sales applications, recruitment tools, and property management systems can integrate with messaging platforms on Android devices, addressing the need for users to view conversations directly within the app. A unified messaging API simplifies the integration process for developers, as each messaging channel has distinct authentication methods and message formats. The Android application should only communicate with a backend that interacts with the messaging API for security, event handling, and policy enforcement.
Users can link their accounts through a hosted authentication link, reducing coding efforts. The unified API supports various platforms, including WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Telegram, Instagram, Gmail, and Outlook. When a message arrives, the messaging API triggers a webhook, and the relay service verifies the request, stores the message, identifies users, and sends push notifications via Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM).
To ensure functionality in offline scenarios, the app should render conversation lists from local storage and manage outgoing messages with a WorkManager. Attachments should be handled efficiently by listing them as metadata and downloading them on demand, while uploads should involve client-side compression and resumable requests. By following this approach, developers maintain a single conversation model and sync engine, abstracting complexities associated with multiple messaging providers.
LineageOS has released version 24, transitioning to Android 17, which includes numerous security patches. The update features a new image editor called Canvas, enhancements to the Android TV launcher Catapult with a battery indicator, and improvements to the music application Twelve for faster loading times. It also expands support to 24 additional devices. A comprehensive list of supported hardware and a downloads page are available in Changelog 32. LineageOS aims to provide a version of Android free from Google's ecosystem, allowing users to reduce bloatware and unwanted services, although some Google-dependent applications may face issues.
PLUI, or Premium Launcher TV UI, is an Android TV launcher that offers a feature-rich experience without premium fees. It features a vibrant interface with an app list, colorful widgets, and a sidebar menu, but can appear cluttered and overwhelming. The performance on devices like the Chromecast with Google TV can be sluggish compared to lighter alternatives. PLUI provides extensive customization options, including over 80 weather-related widgets, photo slideshows, and security camera feeds. Users can select backgrounds from sources like Reddit and NASA, and apply a blur effect. It supports multiple user profiles, accommodating up to ten accounts, and includes parental controls such as screen time limits. However, its performance and user experience may not surpass lighter launchers like Monet, which offers similar features in a more streamlined manner.
Amazon Web Services Inc. has enhanced its Aurora PostgreSQL database management system to allow users to query the Apache Iceberg data lake directly. This feature integrates the DuckDB analytical engine, enabling seamless access to live transactions and historical records without data duplication or complex ETL processes. Customers can use existing PostgreSQL applications to query data in Amazon S3, including S3 Tables. The integration aims to reduce the engineering workload associated with data pipelines and supports real-time applications.
DuckDB processes analytical scans within Aurora, eliminating extra network hops and allowing single queries to access both live and archived data. The feature supports external catalogs compliant with the Iceberg REST Catalog specification and can create foreign tables referencing data across multiple catalogs. Aurora optimizes query performance by filtering records and caching frequently accessed data.
Customers can combine recent transactions in Aurora with historical data from S3 without manual schema definitions. For low-latency workloads, selected data can be copied into native Aurora tables using standard SQL. This capability requires the aurora_analytics extension and an AWS IAM role for S3 and Glue access, and is compatible with Aurora PostgreSQL versions 17.11 and 18.6. The feature is available across all AWS regions at no additional charge, with costs incurred only for Aurora computing resources and S3 requests.
Users are increasingly seeking control over their digital privacy, leading to the rise of open-source Android applications that provide ad-free experiences and offline functionalities. A selection of 14 vetted applications includes:
- Essentials: Unlocks system-level customization without rooting, allowing tweaks like custom notifications and app management.
- PhotoU: Uses swipe-based sorting to organize photo galleries offline, enhancing user control over images.
- PDF ToolKit: Manages PDF documents locally, enabling merging, splitting, and password protection without cloud uploads.
- DNSNet: Acts as a local VPN to block malicious sites and ads before they load, enhancing browsing privacy.
- Traffic Light: Monitors network usage in real-time, helping users identify data-draining apps.
- CareSleep: Provides offline soundscapes for focus, free from ads and subscriptions.
- Weather Master: Customizes weather displays with themes and layouts while respecting user privacy.
- Block Ads: Filters ads system-wide without disrupting essential apps through smart split routing.
- Nora: A privacy-focused browser that optimizes social media use while blocking trackers.
- AB Download Manager: Enhances large file downloads through multi-threading and scheduling.
- PixelPlayer: A local music player that adapts to wallpaper and operates ad-free.
- MPV EX Video Player: Delivers high-quality video playback without ads, utilizing gesture controls.
- CaptureCap: A lightweight screen recorder that captures internal audio without rooting.
- Deep De-Noiser: Uses offline AI to remove background noise from recordings, ensuring clear audio quality.
Microsoft has a history of creating and commissioning unique wallpapers for its product launches, with each version of Windows featuring its own official wallpaper collection. At a recent Windows and Surface event, a new wallpaper was seen on RTX Spark laptops, but Microsoft has not yet released it publicly. An X user recreated this wallpaper using ChatGPT, while AI has been previously used to enhance Windows wallpapers. The RTX Spark laptops are available for preorder, with shipments starting on October 16, 2026, and the official wallpaper is expected to be released soon.
Microsoft has showcased a new wallpaper at a recent Windows and Surface event, specifically on new RTX Spark laptops, but has not yet released the image to the public. In response, a user recreated the wallpaper using ChatGPT, while others have previously used AI tools like Adobe Photoshop to generate or modify Windows wallpapers. The RTX Spark laptops are available for preorder and are set to ship on October 16, 2026.
Google is updating its photo-editing app, Google Photos, to introduce new speed options for GIF animations, allowing users to select playback speeds of 0.25x, 0.5x, 1x, 1.5x, and 2x. The latest version of the app (v7.96.0.99) will enable users to preview their animations before saving them and will allow direct saving of GIFs to the camera roll with automatic backups to Google Photos. Strings in the app’s code indicate improvements in functionality, including error messages for saving and sharing GIFs. These features are not yet available to the public, and while they are anticipated, there is no guarantee that all predicted features will be included in the final release.
