recording Archives

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

5 habit trackers on Android that can reveal your patterns – and motivate you to change

Habits can influence productivity and well-being, and habit trackers help visualize progress and foster accountability. 1. Loop Habit Tracker is a free, open-source app with a user-friendly interface, habit scores, detailed charts, flexible scheduling, reminders, and offline operation. It is ad-free and available on the Google Play Store. 2. Daylio is a journaling app that integrates habit and mood tracking, allowing users to monitor fitness activities and daily routines. It is free and available on the Google Play Store. 3. Fabulous Daily Routine Planner features an engaging interface with audio and animations, promoting healthy habits and routines. It offers a seven-day free trial, with an annual subscription priced at .99, and is available on the Google Play Store. 4. Clockify is primarily a time tracker that also provides habit tracking capabilities, allowing users to generate reports and integrate with Google Calendar. It is free and available on the Google Play Store, with a desktop version. 5. Habitify allows users to input habits, plan routines, set reminders, and visualize progress. It emphasizes consistency and offers a free version with limitations and an in-app subscription priced at .99 per month for unlimited features. It is available on the Google Play Store.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Updating Instagram Might Stop Your Android Battery From Draining

Instagram has rolled out an update (version 382.0.0.49.84) to address a significant battery drain issue affecting Android users. Google confirmed this development in a post on its Help Community blog, indicating the problem was considerable. Users can check for updates on the Play Store to potentially resolve battery performance issues related to the app.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

The Google Phone app could give you a quick way clean up Call Notes (APK teardown)

The Google Phone app, currently available only on Pixel phones in the US, features Call Notes that allow users to transcribe and summarize calls. A recent teardown revealed that Google is exploring an option for automatic deletion of Call Notes, similar to the existing feature for call recordings. Users may be able to set automatic deletions for Call Notes after seven, 14, or 30 days, and there will be an option to delete all Call Notes at once. The feature is expected to help users manage their notes more efficiently. There is potential for the Call Notes feature to expand to other markets and languages in the future.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 starts rolling out with Material 3 Expressive

Google has begun the rollout of Android 16's first Beta, known as Android 16 QPR1 (BP31.250502.008), for enrolled users of the Pixel 6 series and newer devices, including Pixel tablets. This update features the new Material 3 Expressive UI, which enhances user experience with a focus on color, shape, size, motion, and containment. Notable features include Gemini's live notifications, improved screen recording, and a redesigned Settings app with color-coded icons. The update also includes bug fixes, performance optimizations, and August 2025 security patches. Users who have previously enrolled in the Android 16 Beta will receive this update automatically.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

Preventing App-Based Threats on Android Devices

By 2025, the Android platform faces increasingly sophisticated app-based threats, including ransomware, fake apps, social engineering, and remote access attacks. Cybercriminals exploit Android's open architecture, prompting the need for advanced security measures. Android's security architecture includes: 1. Google Play Protect: Scans applications before installation using real-time machine learning to detect emerging malware and deceptive tactics. 2. Application Sandboxing: Isolates apps to prevent data access between them, utilizing Linux permissions and SELinux policies. 3. App Signing and Code Integrity: Requires cryptographic signatures for apps, complicating the introduction of rogue certificates and runtime modifications. Advanced protections include Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) for high-security apps, which monitors behavior in real time, and secure coding practices that encourage regular code reviews, strong authentication, and data encryption. User vigilance is crucial, emphasizing responsible downloading, limiting permissions, keeping software updated, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious with public Wi-Fi. Google continuously updates security measures, ensuring older devices receive new protections, while collaboration with the security community aids in identifying and countering emerging threats.

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Microsoft Copilot+ Recall: who should disable it, and how

Microsoft's Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs was initially announced a year ago but delayed due to privacy concerns raised by cybersecurity experts. The updated version was released in April 2025 for Windows Insider Preview builds and rolled out more broadly in May. Key updates include requiring user permission for activation, encrypting database files with hardware-based Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and implementing a filter to prevent saving sensitive information. Recall is enabled on a per-user basis, can be uninstalled, does not require a Microsoft account, and processes data locally. However, it still has vulnerabilities, such as allowing access with a regular Windows PIN after initial biometric authentication and failing to consistently filter sensitive data. Recall can log interactions during calls and capture self-destructing messages, posing privacy risks. It can impact performance and battery life, especially during gaming. Users handling sensitive data or frequently using video conferencing may want to disable or remove Recall. Instructions for disabling or removing Recall are provided, along with precautions for those who choose to use it.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

Google’s May 2025 Pixel update is here with bug fixes and a critical security patch

The May 2025 security update for Google Pixel devices began deployment on May 6, addressing a critical zero-day security vulnerability (CVE-2025-27363) and including three bug fixes along with 28 security patches. The rollout may take about one week to reach all devices, depending on models and carriers. The update prevents devices from reverting to older, vulnerable versions of the bootloader. It also resolves specific issues for Google Pixel 6 and newer devices, including improvements in microphone recording quality, resolution of Bluetooth pairing issues with certain smartwatches, and correction of secondary language display issues in quick settings. Users are advised to check for the update in the Settings app under System > Software update.

Winsage

May 3, 2025

Best Windows apps this week

This week, the optional update for Windows 11 introduces the Recall AI feature for Copilot+ PCs, set to roll out to all Copilot+ devices next month alongside a cumulative security update. New apps include: - Crapfixer: An open-source Windows tweaker that simplifies system settings analysis and application of recommended tweaks. - PhotoDemon: A free, open-source photo editor with over 200 tools, supporting various image formats and offering features like macro recording and batch processing. - Winhance 4: A system optimization software for Windows 10 and 11 that enhances performance by removing unwanted apps and providing customization options, with the ability to save configurations for multiple PCs.

Tech Optimizer

May 3, 2025

Understanding transaction visibility in PostgreSQL clusters with read replicas

On April 29, 2025, Jepsen released a report on transaction visibility behavior in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL and its Multi-AZ clusters, which has been acknowledged since at least 2013. The report identifies a Long Fork anomaly affecting the visibility order of transactions between primary and replica nodes in cluster configurations, which does not lead to data loss or corruption and is absent in Single-AZ deployments. This anomaly allows two readers to see transactions in different sequences, breaching Snapshot Isolation. It affects all isolation levels in community PostgreSQL and can also occur in self-managed deployments. The issue has been discussed extensively in the PostgreSQL community, and potential solutions, including synchronizing visibility with commit order using Commit Sequence Numbers, have been proposed. AWS has established the PostgreSQL Contributors Team to address this anomaly and enhance PostgreSQL's capabilities.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

AI Inside the Messenger: How Gem Space Helps with Everyday Tasks

Gem Space is a multifunctional super app that integrates messaging, news feeds, AI tools, and various features to enhance productivity. It allows users to manage tasks from a single platform, utilizing AI for tasks like drafting emails, translating messages in real-time, and transcribing voice messages. Users can create content quickly within the app and receive curated news tailored to their interests. Additionally, it offers gift suggestions through its built-in AI and is testing a marketplace for delivery across Russia. The app aims to simplify daily tasks and improve work-life balance.