platform Archives

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Steam Summer Sale last chance warning – End date and time for big discount event

The Steam Summer Sale began on June 26 and runs until July 10, offering discounts on thousands of titles. Notable discounts include Tiny Tina's Wonderlands for £10.99, Robocop Rogue City for £4.49, Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy for £3.49, Riders Republic for £3.49, Blasphemous for £1.99, Crypt of the Necrodancer for £1.27, Elden Ring for £29.99, God of War Ragnarok for £39.99, and Hogwarts Legacy for £12.49. First-party Valve games like Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, Portal, and Portal 2 are priced at £1.70 each. The final shopping hour is set for 6 PM BST in the UK and 10 AM PDT in the US.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

I want to use YouTube Music for podcasts, but it keeps letting me down

Edgar Cervantes shared his experience with YouTube Music's podcast functionality, highlighting frustrations with its navigation and organization, which detracts from the user experience. He noted that YouTube Music prioritizes music and video content, making it difficult to locate podcasts, with subscriptions buried in the Library tab. The app defaults to video for podcasts, requiring users to switch to audio mode manually. Despite these issues, there is potential for improvement, and users like Cervantes continue to use the app due to its music streaming capabilities. To enhance its podcast experience, Google needs to implement a dedicated podcast tab, improve navigation, remember playback positions, and enhance search functionalities. Until these improvements are made, users may prefer dedicated podcast apps like Pocket Casts for a better experience.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Researchers Warn: This Android Animation Glitch Lets Apps Spy, Snap, and Steal… Undetected

A technique for Android devices called TapTrap allows malicious applications to intercept user taps without requiring special permissions. It uses transparent screen transitions to mislead users into triggering hidden actions. Devices running Android versions 15 and 16 are particularly vulnerable. TapTrap operates by overlaying a nearly transparent screen on top of another application, making it appear as if users are interacting with one app while their taps are registered by the hidden screen. A study of around 100,000 Android applications revealed that approximately 76 percent contained screens vulnerable to TapTrap. The researchers successfully executed the attack on a Google Pixel 8a running Android 16. Google has acknowledged the issue and plans to include a fix in a future software update, but no specific timeline has been provided. Users can enhance their security by disabling animations in their system settings.

Winsage

July 9, 2025

Windows 11 could get AI-powered dynamic wallpapers – I just hope Microsoft doesn’t kill off this idea

Microsoft is revisiting the idea of AI-driven dynamic wallpapers for Windows 11, as indicated by leaker PhantomOfEarth, who noted signs of this feature in the operating system's preview builds. The proposed system would allow backgrounds to automatically update based on user preferences. Previous attempts at dynamic wallpapers were explored but ultimately abandoned, and while elements for live wallpapers were included in Windows 11 23H2, they were removed in 24H2. The incorporation of AI into wallpaper functionality could lead to backgrounds that adapt based on time of day or user behavior. However, there are concerns about the potential impact on system resources, particularly for lower-spec machines, which would have the option to disable dynamic wallpapers.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Twitter Co-Founder Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat Aims to Kickstart the Offline Messaging Revolution

Jack Dorsey is developing Bitchat, a decentralized messaging application created over a weekend. It operates on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks, allowing devices within a 300-meter range to exchange encrypted messages without the need for internet connectivity or phone numbers. Bitchat forms a dynamic mesh network where messages can hop through nearby devices if a direct connection is unavailable. Messages are end-to-end encrypted, stored only on the sender's and receiver's devices, and disappear after a set time. Users can create group discussions, called "rooms," with hashtags and passwords, and a "Panic Mode" feature enables quick data deletion. Bitchat includes store-and-forward messaging for offline users and has plans for a Wi-Fi Direct update. The app does not collect personal information or track user activity, making it suitable for use in regions with censorship or network issues. Its beta launch on TestFlight quickly reached 10,000 users, and it features a minimalist interface for ease of use. The open-source code is available on GitHub for developer contributions.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Android malware Anatsa infiltrates Google Play to target US banks

The Anatsa banking trojan has reappeared on Google Play as a PDF viewer app, accumulating over 50,000 downloads. It activates upon installation, targeting North American banking applications by presenting an overlay that allows unauthorized access, keylogging, and transaction automation. Researchers from Threat Fabric discovered that the app displays a fake notification about banking system maintenance to mask its activities. Anatsa has a history of infiltrating Google Play through various trojanized applications, with previous campaigns resulting in 300,000 downloads in November 2021, 30,000 in June 2023, and 150,000 in February 2024. In May 2024, Zscaler reported two new Anatsa applications on Google Play, achieving 70,000 downloads. The specific app identified is ‘Document Viewer – File Reader,’ published by ‘Hybrid Cars Simulator, Drift & Racing,’ which maintains a “clean” appearance until it builds a user base, after which malicious code is introduced via an update. Anatsa connects to a command-and-control server to monitor targeted applications. Google has removed the malicious app, advising users to uninstall it, scan their devices, and reset banking credentials. Users are encouraged to download apps only from reputable publishers and be cautious with permissions and reviews. Google Play Protect automatically protects users from known malicious apps.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

channelnews : Epic Settles Samsung Antitrust Case Over Android App Store Restrictions

Epic Games has settled its antitrust lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, dismissing allegations of collusion with Google to restrict rival app marketplaces on Android devices. The lawsuit, initiated in September, accused Samsung of working with Google to maintain its market dominance, particularly through Samsung's Auto Blocker feature, which was designed to prevent malicious software but also hindered downloads from competing app stores. The settlement removes Samsung from the broader antitrust case, leaving Google as the sole defendant on remaining claims. Both companies deny wrongdoing, with Google calling the lawsuit "meritless." The settlement comes ahead of Samsung's new Galaxy phone announcements and does not disclose specific terms. Epic's ongoing challenges with its mobile app store highlight the difficulties faced by alternative marketplace operators.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Google Forces Gemini App Integration on Android, Sparking Widespread Privacy Fears

Google is rolling out an update to its Android operating system that allows its Gemini AI to access third-party applications by default, overriding users' previous privacy settings. This change, effective July 8, has led to confusion among users, as many received unclear email notifications regarding the update and how to disable the new feature. Google has stated that human reviewers may process app data, and conversations could be stored for up to 72 hours, even if users opt out of activity tracking. The update is part of Google's strategy to integrate Gemini more deeply into its ecosystem, replacing the Google Assistant with Gemini on mobile devices. The company plans to open its Gemini Nano model to third-party developers, further embedding AI into applications.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Twitter co-founder launches Bluetooth-only messaging app

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, has launched Bitchat, a peer-to-peer messaging app that operates over Bluetooth without the need for internet or phone numbers. Currently in beta testing via Apple's TestFlight, Bitchat uses local Bluetooth mesh networks to relay messages, ensuring encrypted conversations that disappear by default. Users can create password-protected group chats and future updates may include Wi-Fi Direct support. The app is designed for use in situations with compromised internet access and does not collect user data or require accounts. A whitepaper on GitHub outlines its technical framework aimed at resisting censorship. While still in early testing, the app's effectiveness at scale is yet to be evaluated, and there are no announcements for an Android version or public launch plans.

Winsage

July 9, 2025

Windows 10 KB5062554 cumulative update released with 13 changes, fixes

Microsoft has released the KB5062554 cumulative update for Windows 10 22H2 and 21H2, which includes thirteen new fixes and enhancements. This mandatory update addresses one critical zero-day vulnerability and 136 other flaws, and users can install it by checking for updates in the Windows Update settings. After installation, Windows 10 22H2 will be updated to build 19045.6093 and Windows 10 21H2 to build 19044.6093. The update features various fixes, including issues with the Start Menu, file server responsiveness, and USB-connected printers. A known issue with the update is that NOTO fonts may appear blurry at 96 DPI, particularly affecting CJK text in Chromium-based browsers, with a suggested workaround of adjusting display scaling to 125% or 150%.