shopping experience Archives

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

Steam Summer Sale 2026 kicks off offering weeks of PC game discounts

The Steam Summer Sale for 2026 has started and will run until July 9, 2026, offering discounts on a wide range of games and downloadable content. Users may experience server instability during the event. Notable discounts include popular titles such as Clair Obscur Expedition 33, Split Fiction, Red Dead Redemption II, Battlefield 6, Dispatch, Baldur's Gate 3, Resident Evil Requiem, Anno 117, Arc Raiders, Black Ops 7, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. The "Deep Discounts" section features games with price reductions of at least 85%, with some up to 95%, including titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Watch Dogs 2, Far Cry 4, Wreckfest, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, The Quarry, Ghostwire Tokyo, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. A feature on Weekend PC Game Deals will provide insights into the best bargains of the sale.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

Monday’s best Android app deals and freebies: Rare 30% price drop on Blasphemous, Hitman Sniper, more

Consumers can find discounts on various Android apps during the early Prime Day festivities, including notable titles such as Blasphemous, Dungeon Clawler, Hitman Sniper, Bridge Constructor Portal, Mythic Trials 2, Lara Croft GO, Dungeon Village, and Earn to Die. Best Buy is offering savings of up to 0 on the latest 2026 Copilot+ PCs, while Walmart has significant discounts on the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite and Galaxy Tab A11+, with prices starting at .

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

Valve made more than 27 million unique images for Counter-Strike listings as part of its new ‘major update’ to Steam’s Community Market

Valve has initiated a beta test for a significant update to the Steam Community Market, which now includes over 13,000 games and more than 700 with in-game items. The update features a new layout with a full-width grid display to enhance user navigation. Counter-Strike players will be the first to experience these changes, including specially generated images for individual items that showcase their characteristics. Valve has created over 27 million unique images for Counter-Strike listings. The updates are set to go live today, and all marketplace users can access the beta, with an option to opt out.

AppWizard

May 9, 2026

Lidl respond to heavy customer criticism at app ‘downgrade’

Lidl has introduced the Lidl Plus Points scheme, which has received backlash from customers who feel it has downgraded their shopping experience. Previously, customers needed to spend £10 to earn a free bakery item, but under the new system, they must spend £70. Many loyal shoppers have expressed their intention to switch to other supermarkets, citing dissatisfaction with the points system. In defense, a Lidl spokesperson stated that the company is investing more in the Lidl Plus app and personalized coupons. Customers can earn more than 1 point per £1 spent through various promotions and will receive 100 free Points upon the scheme's launch.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

Lidl respond to heavy customer criticism over popular app

Lidl has launched the Lidl Plus Points scheme to enhance customer value, but it has faced backlash from loyal customers unhappy with the changes. Customers have expressed dissatisfaction, particularly about having to spend £70 to receive a free bakery item, compared to the previous requirement of £10. Some have indicated intentions to switch to competing retailers like Tesco. In response to the criticism, a Lidl spokesperson stated that the company does not view the new points system as a downgrade and highlighted a 60 percent increase in investment towards the Lidl Plus app for personalized coupons. The spokesperson explained that customers can redeem points at their discretion, with various initiatives allowing them to earn more than one point per £1 spent, and new customers will receive 100 free points.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

Lidl shoppers get 100 free points in new app update

Lidl has launched Lidl Plus Points, a rewards system in the Lidl Plus app, allowing shoppers to earn points with every grocery purchase. New and existing app users receive 100 complimentary points that can be redeemed for select rewards. The points can be exchanged for money-off coupons, free or discounted products, and rewards on various items. From May 5 to May 22, customers earn double points on fruit purchases. Lidl has partnered with Liberty X for a marketing campaign to promote the new program.

AppWizard

May 3, 2026

Lidl announces major change to loyalty rewards app in May

Starting May 5, Lidl will replace its Coupon Plus feature with a new rewards system called Lidl Plus Points. Customers will have until May 4 to meet their April spending targets under the current program. While Coupon Plus will be discontinued, Personalised Coupons and Weekly Offers will remain unchanged. Under the previous Coupon Plus program, customers earned rewards through monthly spending milestones, while the new Lidl Plus Points system allows customers to collect points for every purchase (£1 = one point) and redeem them for rewards in the Rewards Marketplace. From May 5 to May 22, customers will earn double points on fresh fruit and 100 welcome points by opening the app until July 31. Louise Weise, chief customer officer at Lidl GB, mentioned that customer feedback inspired the transition to Lidl Plus Points, which aims to provide more flexibility in rewards. Reactions from customers have been mixed, with some expressing nostalgia for the old system. Further details can be found on Lidl's website.

Tech Optimizer

April 27, 2026

Bitdefender Total Security review: Tried and tested by an antivirus expert

Modern antivirus solutions have integrated various tools into a single interface, with Bitdefender exemplifying this trend. It features a dashboard for system scans, recommendations, and account management. The “Protection” section includes antivirus settings, online threat defense, and firewall options. Users can enable an anti-spam service for email applications like Outlook and Thunderbird. The privacy tab offers an anti-tracker browser plugin and a limited free VPN. Additional privacy features include video and audio protection to manage webcam and microphone access, and Safepay for secure online banking. Bitdefender also provides a desktop widget for protection status, secure file shredding, and remote device management options. In terms of performance, Bitdefender operates efficiently, using less than 100MB of RAM for its main interface, but can spike during full system scans. It successfully detected a trojan during a scan of a linked Google Drive account. Bitdefender effectively identified all test files in antivirus testing and enhances browser security by intervening when users ignore warnings. The application is easy to install, with a compact file size, and offers a Quick Scan feature that allows users to scan only applications after a thorough initial scan.

Tech Optimizer

April 15, 2026

Bitdefender Total Security

Bitdefender Total Security includes features such as a network security inspector, advanced ransomware defense, a hardened browser, and an active Do Not Track system. It offers a two-tier pricing model: an individual subscription for .99 per year for five licenses and a family subscription for .99 for 25 licenses, which includes parental controls. The software features an interface similar to Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, with user-configurable buttons for quick access to features. It boasts high scores from independent antivirus testing labs and excels in malware protection and antiphishing tests. Bitdefender includes a SecurePass password manager, firewall protection, spam filtering, webcam protection, and cryptomining protection. The parental control features allow parents to manage their children's online activities, but they may not be as effective as dedicated solutions. Bitdefender Total Security provides protection for macOS and Android, with high ratings for its performance on these platforms. The Android app includes malware scanning, web protection, and anti-theft features. The Bitdefender Central app allows users to manage their security settings from mobile devices.

BetaBeacon

March 28, 2026

This $74 gaming handheld runs Android and supports retro emulation

- Banggood is an e-commerce platform founded in 2006 that sells a wide variety of products from electronics to fashion and home goods. - Banggood stands out for offering high-quality products at affordable prices by working directly with manufacturers. - The company is known for its excellent customer service and fast shipping, with warehouses located around the world to ensure quick order fulfillment.