Users can now create apps directly in Google AI Studio by providing a written prompt to Gemini, which generates the app. Once completed, the app can be sent directly to Google Play for installation on devices using a standard Google account, without needing a paid developer account. These personal apps are stored in a "personal library" section within the Play Store, remain hidden from search results, and are accessible only to the creator. This feature is currently available in the United States for users aged 18 and older, with plans to expand to other markets. Apps must adhere to Google Play’s policies, and a review will occur only if the app is made public. Future enhancements will allow sharing of personal apps with a small group and an onboarding process for creating a professional developer profile. Google Play is also introducing an AI assistant for app recommendations, a Game Finder tool, and additional gaming features, while optimizing the Play Store layout for vehicles and Android XR. An age-range feature will allow parents to share their child's age range with developers for tailored app experiences.
Google is updating the Google Play Store to allow users to create and deploy their own applications using Google AI Studio without needing a developer account. This feature is currently available in the U.S. for users aged 18 and older and ensures that personal applications remain private and separate from the public catalog. The Play Store is also enhancing content discovery with optimizations for larger screens, new features like "Ask Play" for app comparisons, and "Play in Gemini" for recommendations. In gaming, a new Game Finder feature will create personalized profiles for users, while "Sprints" will offer 48-hour challenges. Major games are being introduced with cross-save support between mobile and PC, and a new Family Link feature will help parents manage age-appropriate app experiences. These updates are rolling out now.
Fakku has launched the Steam page for Dead of the Brain, following their acquisition of the publishing rights to FairyTale's catalog. The game originally debuted on NEC’s PC-98 platform and marks FairyTale’s first foray into the horror genre after a shift from adult-only erotic games. Dead of the Brain features character designs by Ryuichi Makino and pays homage to 1980s American splatter films. The narrative follows Cole, who witnesses a serum experiment gone wrong, leading to a zombie apocalypse. Gameplay includes visual novel-style dialogue and interactive segments with quick time events. The game will maintain its original pixel art aesthetic, with enhancements for HD displays and some quality-of-life improvements. Dead of the Brain is set to launch on PC via Steam on October 30, with plans for future English releases, including a sequel.
Infold has released a dating gacha game called Love and Deepspace, featuring whimsical cocktail recipes inspired by its male suitors, each paired with a signature flower. The characters include Caleb with the crabapple blossom, Xavier with the forget-me-not, Zayne with jasmine, Rafayel with the fire lily, and Sylus with datura. The inclusion of the toxic fire lily and psychoactive datura in the cocktail recipes has sparked concern within the gaming community. Infold clarified that the drinks are fictional and meant for in-game enjoyment only, urging players not to recreate them in real life.
A bundle is available that includes Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for .99, reduced from a regular price of 9. The bundle provides lifetime licenses for both software, designed for a single Windows PC, and does not require a recurring Microsoft 365 subscription. Windows 11 Pro includes features like BitLocker, Hyper-V, and Windows Sandbox, while Office Professional Plus 2019 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, and Publisher. Office 2019 will no longer receive support after October 2025, and Publisher will lose support by October 2026. Windows 11 Pro requires specific hardware compatibility, including TPM 2.0, which can be checked using Microsoft's PC Health Check tool.
- Implementing car support for your game involves configuring your app manifest and ensuring it respects the vehicle parked state.
- To distribute your app in the games category, mark it as a game by adding the android:appCategory="game" attribute.
- Cars have a parked state where certain apps, like games, are not allowed to run while the vehicle is in motion to avoid driver distraction.
- Declare game controller support by including the android.hardware.gamepad feature in your manifest.
- Make your game fully adaptive to different screen sizes and aspect ratios for a great user experience on car displays.
- Test your game against car app quality guidelines before publishing it for Android Auto and Android Automotive OS form factors.
Android Auto games are now generally available for parked use, allowing developers to publish games through Google Play without limited approval processes. These games are specifically designed for stationary moments in the vehicle and are not playable while driving. Developers must declare game category and car support in the app manifest, and support for one platform does not automatically mean support for the other.
A new tool named BigDiskBuster has been released on GitHub, which disrupts Microsoft Defender Antivirus by preventing it from installing updates. It does this by consuming available disk space during the update process, causing Defender to remain on its current version and unable to receive new platform or signature updates. BigDiskBuster operates as a local denial-of-service technique and requires prior access to the target machine to execute. The tool was created by researcher Abdelhamid Naceri, known as Nightmare Eclipse, who has previously worked on similar projects. As of now, there is no CVE identifier, patch, or advisory from Microsoft regarding this issue.
