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These 10 Android Apps Will Make Your Phone Smarter Than Ever
AppWizard
December 30, 2025

These 10 Android Apps Will Make Your Phone Smarter Than Ever

Your smartphone can be enhanced with various applications that improve productivity, personalization, and digital well-being. A recent video from Xtream Droid highlights ten lesser-known Android apps: 1. Gesture Suite: Allows users to create custom gestures for over 70 actions, automating tasks like turning on the flashlight or controlling music playback. 2. Transfer: Turns your phone into a local file server for quick, wireless file sharing without cables or third-party services, ensuring privacy and security. 3. Safe Space: Provides encrypted, offline storage for sensitive files, protecting data from unauthorized access without relying on cloud services. 4. LED Keyboard: Offers customizable LED effects, multilingual support, and advanced typing features while ensuring user privacy by not collecting typing data. 5. Shelf Launcher: A minimalist app that integrates gesture controls, quick search options, and note-taking features to optimize workflow and productivity. 6. Lock Me Out: Helps manage screen time by allowing users to set app blocking modes and schedule lockouts to minimize distractions. 7. Regain: Tracks app usage patterns and provides insights to maintain a balanced relationship with your device, promoting healthier digital habits. 8. Action Notch: Transforms the phone’s camera cutout into a functional control button for quick access to tasks like taking screenshots or switching apps. 9. Smart Dock Launcher: Offers a desktop-like experience with multi-window support and customizable layouts for better multitasking on Android devices. 10. NotePinr: An offline task management app that allows users to create to-do lists and reminders, with the ability to pin important notes to the notification bar.
Running Android apps on your Windows 11 PC is about to feel slightly better
AppWizard
December 13, 2025

Running Android apps on your Windows 11 PC is about to feel slightly better

Microsoft has released an update for Phone Link, version 1.25112.33.0, which introduces an expanded view option for streaming Android apps on Windows 11. This feature allows users to stretch Android applications beyond the phone-sized window, improving usability on larger monitors. The expanded view includes a small icon next to the window controls that enables users to widen the app. While some apps like VLC and Amazon adapt well to this feature, others like Uber remain limited in functionality. The expanded view does not improve font resolution, which may result in blurry text, and the window cannot be maximized, defaulting to snap to the left edge. Additionally, Microsoft is implementing other upgrades for Windows 11, including streamlined app updates, new privacy safeguards, and a new Themes section for personalization.
Russia mandates use of new state-controlled messaging app
AppWizard
August 6, 2025

Russia mandates use of new state-controlled messaging app

The Kremlin is launching Max, a state-controlled messaging application for government officials, with a full implementation deadline of September 2025. Developed by VK Company, Max integrates various government services and financial transactions, raising privacy concerns. The Russian government plans to phase out foreign apps like WhatsApp, which currently has a 70% user base. Max will be pre-installed on all new devices sold in Russia starting September 2025. As of July 2025, over 2 million users have registered on the app, which has been labeled a "digital gulag" by cybersecurity experts due to its potential for state-sponsored surveillance. Human rights organizations are concerned about its impact on digital freedoms amid increasing government suppression of dissent.
Millions of Android apps have disappeared from the Play Store this year, and for good reason
AppWizard
April 30, 2025

Millions of Android apps have disappeared from the Play Store this year, and for good reason

The Google Play Store's app count has decreased from approximately 3.4 million in early 2024 to around 1.8 million today, a 47% decline. This reduction is attributed to stricter quality control measures implemented by Google in July 2024, which targeted malfunctioning apps and those with limited functionality. Google reported blocking 2.36 million apps for policy violations and banning over 158,000 developer accounts linked to harmful activities. In contrast, the Apple App Store's app count rose from 1.6 million to 1.64 million during the same period. Additionally, a new EU regulation requires developers to disclose their names and addresses in app listings, with non-compliance risking delisting from EU markets. Despite the decline, 10,400 new applications were launched on the Play Store this year, indicating a 7.1% increase compared to last year.
Microsoft has some thoughts about Windows Recall security
Winsage
September 28, 2024

Microsoft has some thoughts about Windows Recall security

Microsoft has revised its Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs, focusing on security. Recall captures snapshots of the Windows desktop, documenting application usage for future retrieval. Initially announced at Microsoft Build 2024, it faced criticism for privacy concerns, leading to a postponed rollout. By August, Microsoft announced adjustments and planned to release it to Windows Insiders in October. Recall is an opt-in feature, allowing users to enable or disable it, and it encrypts data stored locally on the device. Access requires Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security, and users can delete snapshots or pause the feature anytime. Recall does not record private browsing sessions and allows users to exclude specific apps and websites. A sensitive content filter prevents capturing of passwords and sensitive information. Users can control content retention duration and storage allocation.
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