Routines Archives

BetaBeacon

May 13, 2025

Android 16: 4 game-changing features coming to your phone

- Android 16 has a new look called Material 3 Expressive, with customizable options for color, font, and visual components. - Live updates feature helps users stay on task by surfacing important updates from apps. - Gemini AI integration is expanded to be available everywhere on Android 16, with Gemini Live allowing users to share their screen and camera. - Find Hub is introduced as an app for tracking people, devices, tags, and more, with upcoming satellite connectivity for locating items in remote areas.

AppWizard

May 5, 2025

Here’s a First Look at the Redesigned Clock App Coming with Material Design 3

Google is redesigning its Clock app to adopt the Material Design 3 Expressive theme, featuring a new font for improved readability, elongated time selectors for better interaction, and a larger squircle-shaped floating action button repositioned for easier access. The Clock tab will be renamed "World Clock," and the Alarms page will see a comprehensive redesign with a modern elongated time selector and additional options for alarm name, sound, vibration, weather forecast, and Google Assistant routines. The Timers section will change the play icon to a rectangular “Start” button, while the Stopwatch tab will shift to a cubical layout. The Bedtime mode will largely retain its existing design. User reactions to the redesign have been mixed, with some expressing concerns about the transition from rounded to boxy elements and the overall consistency of the design. The redesign is still in early stages, and user feedback will influence its final form.

AppWizard

May 4, 2025

The 15 Hottest Android Apps You Need This May 2025

Android maintains its leading position in the mobile operating system market with a diverse ecosystem of applications. A selection of 15 notable Android apps for May 2025 includes: 1. Gesture Control: Edge Seek allows users to create customizable gestures for tasks like volume adjustments and app launches. 2. Device Mirroring: Screen Copy for Android enables users to mirror and control one Android device from another. 3. Customization: Everything Widgets offers over 100 customizable widgets, while Anting Icons provides a unified icon pack. Creative App combines widgets, wallpapers, and icon packs, and Fluffy KWGT features 3D-style widgets. 4. Cross-Device Integration: Sapphira syncs Android with Windows for messaging and file sharing, while Our Quick Share extends functionality for Mac and Linux users. 5. AI Tools: Adma is a free AI image upscaler that enhances image resolution offline. 6. Gaming and Entertainment: Swick is a platform for discovering and playing mini-games. 7. Lightweight Alternatives: Notebook is an ad-free alternative to the Facebook app with a minimalistic design. 8. Rooted Device Tools: Pixel Launcher Enhanced and Android 16 Expressive Theme provide advanced customization for rooted devices. 9. Productivity and Organization: Pixel Shot organizes screenshots, and Digipause tracks time spent on video apps. 10. Utility Tools: Curome combines over 25 features, including a QR code generator and Pomodoro timer. These apps enhance functionality, creativity, and efficiency for Android users.

Winsage

April 29, 2025

Windows isn’t an OS, it’s a bad habit bordering on addiction

Microsoft's Windows operating system has approximately 1.5 billion users globally, but faces stagnation as many users find Windows 10 satisfactory and are reluctant to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft is pushing Windows 11 aggressively, incorporating AI features and nudging users toward paid services, which raises concerns about user experience. The company is uncertain about its future direction, with Project Hudson Valley fading away and the potential for a subscription-based licensing model. In corporate environments, IT departments often prioritize compliance over user needs, leaving employees with limited choices. Some users are exploring alternatives like macOS or Linux, seeking better alignment with their values. Resources are available to help users transition gradually from Windows 10 to alternatives, and maintaining a dual-system approach can ease this process.

Tech Optimizer

April 24, 2025

Meet Xata Agent: An Open Source Agent for Proactive PostgreSQL Monitoring, Automated Troubleshooting, and Seamless DevOps Integration

Xata Agent is an open-source AI assistant designed for PostgreSQL database site reliability engineering. It monitors logs and performance metrics to identify issues like slow queries and unusual connection counts, helping to maintain database integrity and performance. The tool automates tasks such as vacuuming and indexing and provides actionable recommendations through diagnostic playbooks and read-only SQL routines. The architecture is built as a Next.js application using TypeScript, organized in a monorepo structure. Developers can set up their environment using Node, install dependencies, and configure a local PostgreSQL instance with Docker Compose. Production deployment involves using Docker images and configuring environment variables in a production file. Key functionalities include proactive monitoring, configuration tuning, performance troubleshooting, safe diagnostics, cloud integration, alerting, LLM flexibility, and playbook customization. Developers can create new tools and integrate them into playbooks for cohesive workflows. Future plans include custom playbooks, support for Model Context Protocol, evaluation harnesses, approval workflows, and a managed cloud edition. The architecture promotes extensibility and community contributions, standardizing incident response and reducing human error in database management.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

New Windows 11 setting lets users kill stubborn apps instantly from taskbar

Microsoft has introduced a new "End Task" option in Windows that allows users to close unresponsive applications directly from the taskbar by right-clicking on the app. This feature simplifies the process compared to the traditional method of using Task Manager. To activate it, users must go to Settings > System > For Developers and toggle on the "End Task" setting. The "End Task" command forcefully terminates an application and its related processes, unlike the "Close Window" command, which may leave background processes running. However, it cannot terminate system processes like File Explorer, and using it may result in the loss of unsaved data. This feature is located in the "For Developers" section of Settings and does not require Developer Mode. It has recently been included in the final Windows 11 24H2 build.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

Change these 4 Windows settings for a more minimalist look

The text discusses ways to enhance the Windows user experience to make it more aesthetically pleasing and organized, similar to a Mac. Key modifications include: - Using the application TranslucentTB to make the taskbar transparent or hiding it in desktop mode. - Decluttering the taskbar by removing unnecessary icons through the right-click menu. - Shrinking desktop icons by selecting "Small icons" or hiding all icons for a cleaner look. - Pinning frequently used applications to the Start Menu for easier access and unpinning less essential apps to reduce clutter. - Emphasizing that a cleaner desktop can improve focus and productivity by minimizing distractions.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

Google Removes Assistant Settings from Android App: Here’s What’s Changing

Google is removing direct access to Assistant settings from the Google app on Android devices as part of a strategy to transition users to its AI-powered platform, Gemini. Users will now need to use the Google Home app or system settings to manage Assistant preferences. This change was implemented in Google App version 16.12, where the Google Assistant option was removed from the profile menu settings. Features previously accessible through the Google app, such as routines and voice settings, will now require navigation through the new methods. The rollout of Gemini is occurring in phases, starting with Pixel smartphones.

AppWizard

April 13, 2025

Google app removing Assistant settings on Android

The Google app version 16.12+ has removed the link to "Google Assistant" from the profile menu under Settings, affecting how users access Assistant settings. Users can still manage Assistant settings through the Google Home app or by navigating through System Settings on their mobile device. Some users have also noted that "Gemini" is not present in the Google app settings, which primarily focuses on Google Search functionalities.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

How an app about a cartoon bird is helping me be a better person

Three weeks ago, the author began using the Finch app, which serves as a habit tracker and routine builder. Users go through an onboarding process to create a personalized starter plan based on their responses to questions about sleep patterns and routines. Finch allows users to set and customize their goals, with reminders for daily habits. A unique feature is the ability to hatch and care for a virtual bird, which grows and embarks on adventures as users complete their goals. Finch also encourages self-care by prompting users to check in on their mood and offering suggestions for uplifting activities. The app has helped the author form positive habits, such as journaling and flossing, and it is available for free download on Android.