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Google rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 7 for Pixel
AppWizard
October 9, 2026

Google rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 7 for Pixel

Android 17 QPR2 Beta 7 has been released for Pixel devices, addressing issues such as excessive battery drain during idle states and failures of HTTPS downloads through the system DownloadManager. The update is available for a variety of Pixel devices, including Pixel 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a, 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 10 Pro Fold, 10a, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold. Users can report issues via the Android Beta Feedback app or the Android Beta community on Reddit. Sideloading is an option for those on Beta 6.1 to transition to Beta 7.
Threads takes 'Gems' to new places with badges for users who spur conversation
AppWizard
October 9, 2026

Threads takes ‘Gems’ to new places with badges for users who spur conversation

Threads, a social media platform under Meta, is launching a new initiative in the U.S. called "Gems," which will award a distinctive purple badge to public posts and replies that contribute to meaningful discussions. This feature aims to foster engaging discourse among users. Additionally, Threads has introduced "ghost posts," which disappear after 24 hours, allowing users to share temporary thoughts and receive replies in direct messages. Another feature, "Dear Algo," lets users customize their content feed for up to three days and share their preferences with others.
WhatsApp Spotted Testing New Contacts Tab on Android
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.
Android YouTube App Testing Automatic Shorts Playback on Startup
AppWizard
October 9, 2026

Android YouTube App Testing Automatic Shorts Playback on Startup

Google is experimenting with the Android version of its YouTube app by introducing an autoplay feature for "YouTube Shorts," which begins playing automatically upon launching the app. This behavior has been observed on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, where the autoplay persists even after the app is force-stopped. There is currently no setting available to disable this feature, leading to user frustration. Not all Android users are experiencing this issue, as it has not been universally confirmed across all devices.
Jensen Huang remembers Windows early days, crediting Microsoft, says that 'Nvidia was founded because of Windows'; CEO Satya Nadella jokes: If you could just do a little transfer of...
Winsage
October 9, 2026

Jensen Huang remembers Windows early days, crediting Microsoft, says that ‘Nvidia was founded because of Windows’; CEO Satya Nadella jokes: If you could just do a little transfer of…

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stated that Nvidia was founded due to the introduction of Windows 3.1 in 1992, which laid the groundwork for GPUs. He highlighted that Windows 95 and DirectX allowed for the integration of GPUs into PCs, with DirectX 8 enabling the creation of the first programmable GPU featuring programmable shaders, leading to CUDA. Huang emphasized that without Windows, there would be no GeForce, and consequently, AI researchers might not have had the necessary computational resources for deep learning. The conversation also touched on a four-year collaboration between Nvidia and Microsoft that resulted in the RTX Spark project, which required over 4,000 engineering years and extensive testing across more than 1,200 applications. Laptops featuring RTX Spark are available for preorder, with shipments starting on October 16.
"Really not bad at all" — Surface Laptop Ultra prices have landed, and the Windows community has something to say
Winsage
October 9, 2026

“Really not bad at all” — Surface Laptop Ultra prices have landed, and the Windows community has something to say

Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Ultra on October 7, with shipping starting on October 16 and preorders available at a starting price of ,599. It is the most affordable high-performance laptop featuring the RTX Spark technology, with many expecting a higher starting price of ,999. The device offers two configurations: one with an 18-core CPU and 5120-core GPU, and a higher-end model with a 20-core CPU and 6144-core GPU, with a price difference of approximately ,100 between them. The Surface Laptop Ultra includes a breakaway USB-C port that detaches if tripped over, which has received positive feedback, although some critics view it as a late adaptation of existing technology.
Microsoft admits one bad driver can crash all of Windows, and Intel’s Windows 11 26H2-ready GPU drivers are next to get its fix
Winsage
October 9, 2026

Microsoft admits one bad driver can crash all of Windows, and Intel’s Windows 11 26H2-ready GPU drivers are next to get its fix

Microsoft is collaborating with Intel, AMD, and Nvidia to improve driver quality for Windows 11, addressing issues that can lead to system failures. Intel has confirmed that its GPU drivers are compatible with Windows 11 26H2, and recent updates have integrated support for this version. The Driver Quality Initiative (DQI) aims to enhance driver stability and quality across the ecosystem. Microsoft emphasizes that high-quality drivers are essential for reliable Windows performance and that a collective effort from all stakeholders is necessary. The DQI focuses on four principles: Architecture, Trust, Lifecycle, and Quality Measures, promoting user-mode drivers, stricter certification, removal of outdated drivers, and assessments based on stability, functionality, performance, power consumption, battery life, and thermal performance.
Microsoft Stocks Rise as Windows Pulls AI Off the Cloud
Winsage
October 8, 2026

Microsoft Stocks Rise as Windows Pulls AI Off the Cloud

Microsoft is distributing artificial intelligence (AI) workloads between local Windows PCs and the cloud, with shares rising approximately 0.3% to 1.39 as of October 8. The strategy involves executing tasks on devices while using cloud resources for additional computing power. Microsoft has announced the general availability of Execution Containers to enhance security for AI agents. The upcoming Surface Laptop Ultra will support models with over 120 billion parameters, available on October 16, and Microsoft is introducing a 137-billion-parameter MAI Code model utilizing compression techniques. Microsoft shares are trading at 10.1% below the GF Value estimate of 1.09, indicating a valuation cushion. The company aims to reduce reliance on cloud services while enhancing Windows and developer offerings to create new revenue streams.
Dynamic Nvidia DLSS upscaling in Gears of War: E-Day is ace, and I wish more PC games took this approach
AppWizard
October 8, 2026

Dynamic Nvidia DLSS upscaling in Gears of War: E-Day is ace, and I wish more PC games took this approach

Nvidia DLSS upscaling is favored by the author, but the release of Gears of War: E-Day has changed their perspective on its use. The game features a dynamic upscaling option that works with a customizable frame rate target, enhancing image quality and performance management. Dynamic resolution scaling is common in console games but less so on PC, where options often lack customization for specific performance metrics. Gears of War: E-Day allows players to switch between upscalers like Nvidia DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR 4.1, and Intel XeSS 2, with the author typically using DLSS in Performance mode on a 4K setup. Testing on a system with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and GeForce RTX 5090, the game averages 77fps at maximum settings, being 97.8% GPU bound. Transitioning to dynamic DLSS with a target of 60fps results in an average of 64fps and an average resolution scale of 61%, with an 11% increase in pixel count but an 18.4% decrease in performance. VRAM usage increases by nearly 3GB. The author prefers prioritizing sharpness and visual enhancements over smoothness, ensuring consistent 60fps gameplay and allowing users with less powerful graphics cards to enable frame generation without latency concerns. The author hopes more games will adopt similar configurability in the future.
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