skills Archives

AppWizard

October 2, 2026

How Two Android Intent Bugs Broke My App’s Red Alert Button

An Android application named CareVocal (internally referred to as CareBridge) was developed to facilitate communication for the user's mother living in a village. The app features three buttons: green for "feeling good," yellow for "something hurts," and red for "need help." Tapping the red button triggers three actions: saving an entry for her doctor, generating a pre-filled SMS to trusted contacts, and opening the phone dialer with the local emergency number pre-typed. The app requires the user to confirm sending the SMS and calling the emergency number to comply with Google Play's restrictions. During testing, issues arose where the SMS draft would not appear if the dialer was opened first, leading to adjustments in the code. A method was implemented to launch multiple intents simultaneously, ensuring that the SMS draft and dialer could be accessed without conflicts. Additionally, the recording feature was modified to start only after a second tap on the red button, separating it from the alert process to avoid distractions during emergencies. The app does not collect location data and is designed solely for logging and communication without diagnostic capabilities.

AppWizard

October 1, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers Fans Dig Up Mike Tomlin’s Record Pre & Post Minecraft World… The Results Are Shocking

Former NFL head coach Mike Tomlin has embraced a new role as an analyst and revealed a passion for the video game Minecraft, dedicating over a decade to building an elaborate city within the game to connect with his children. Following a recent interview, he streamed a tour of his Minecraft creation, which received an overwhelmingly positive response. Tomlin's coaching record shows a stark contrast before and after his Minecraft journey: in his first 7 seasons, he had 1 Super Bowl win and 2 appearances, while in the subsequent 12 seasons, he had no Super Bowl wins or appearances. His Minecraft city reveal has garnered nearly one million views on YouTube.

AppWizard

October 1, 2026

Ex-NFL Coach Mike Tomlin Reveals Massive ‘Minecraft’ City He Spent 12 Years Secretly Building

Mike Tomlin, former Steelers head coach and current NBC analyst, has created a detailed city in Minecraft over the past decade, inspired by his children's interest in the game. He began exploring Minecraft's creative mode due to his passion for architecture, despite lacking gaming skills. His city features luxury high-rises, hotels, sports stadiums, and a boutique hotel with a spa and ballroom, emphasizing lighting in his designs. A notable feature is a wall-sized fish tank that spans multiple rooms. Tomlin finds the experience therapeutic and prefers it over watching television, promising more updates on his project in future videos.

AppWizard

October 1, 2026

TIL what may or may not be the oldest board game in recorded history is also, perhaps inevitably, now a roguelike

Oh!Ware is a newly launched deckbuilder game on Steam that has received 23 reviews in its first week. The game draws inspiration from the ancient game of mancala, which dates back between 1,500 and 7,000 years. Instead of traditional cards, Oh!Ware uses marbles, leading to questions about its classification as a bagbuilder. The gameplay includes moving marbles, collecting mana, and defeating opponents, featuring a "pick three" mechanic with options like "blessing marble" and "aggro marble." Players can explore different playstyles and strategies in the game.

AppWizard

October 1, 2026

Google maps out transition plan to replace Gemini Gems with Skills

Google is replacing its Gemini Gems with a new feature called Skills, with the rollout starting on October 5, 2026, in Workspace and expected to be completed by mid-November. Skills will begin appearing in the Gemini app on October 13, 2026, and will also be fully integrated by mid-November. On November 17, 2026, Gems will be moved to the Settings panel of the Gemini app, but users will still be able to create, edit, and use them. From March 1, 2027, for business and enterprise users, the creation, editing, and usage of Gems will cease, and they will be removed from the Settings panel, with existing workflows in Workspace Studio that include Ask a Gem becoming inactive. Remaining Gems will be converted into draft Skills. For education users, on June 1, 2027, Gems will also no longer be usable or editable, and will be removed from the Gemini app, Google Classroom, and supported third-party LMS platforms, with remaining Gems transitioning to draft Skills. Skills will not synchronize between the Gemini app and Workspace, requiring independent creation for each platform. Skills will be available to all Workspace customers and personal Google account holders, allowing users to combine multiple Skills for improved task management.

AppWizard

October 1, 2026

Google outlines timeline to phase out Gemini Gems in favor of Skills

Google is phasing out its customizable Gems in favor of a new framework called Skills, which will begin rolling out in Google Workspace on October 5 and in the Gemini app on October 13. The phased departure of Gems will start in November. Skills allow for multiple modular components to work together, enabling more complex tasks. They will be accessible to both personal and Workspace accounts and are built on an open SKILL.md format using Markdown. However, Skills created in Gemini and Workspace will not synchronize automatically. Gems will be transferred to Gemini’s Settings on November 17, remaining usable for a limited time. Business and enterprise accounts will keep their Gems until March 1, 2027, while educational accounts will have until June 1. Remaining Gems will eventually be converted into draft Skills.

AppWizard

September 29, 2026

Gemini Gems are heading out: Google to replace them with ‘Skills’ in November

Google is transitioning from its Gemini Gems feature to a new functionality called "Skills," effective November 17, 2026. Users can continue to access Gems until the migration occurs. Skills are designed as "reusable custom instructions" that can be stacked and accessed more easily during Gemini chats. Gems were introduced in August 2024 to allow users to create personalized AI experiences. Skills are currently available in Gemini chats for users over 18 with personal accounts, with plans to extend to work and school accounts in the future. Gems have been integrated into Google’s Workspace suite and are accessible on both desktop and mobile platforms. Skills consist of instructions and preferences that teach Gemini how to handle specific tasks.

Tech Optimizer

September 28, 2026

Postgres Women India: Driving Diversity And Innovation In Open Source

Postgres Women India was launched in 2023 as a corporate social responsibility initiative under OpenSource DB, starting with 10 members and growing to over 2000 women across more than 70 countries. The community addresses the underrepresentation of women in open source and database conferences, aiming to empower, connect, and celebrate women in technology. Its core pillars include community building, nurturing future leaders, and advocating for education. The community organizes virtual and in-person meetups, mentorship programs, and collaborates with universities to enhance skills in database technologies. Key initiatives include a Career Connect Day, intensive upskill programs, and the Women for Data Summit. The community has recognized 18 women as ‘Postgres Women of the Month’ and highlighted emerging contributors. Partnerships with organizations like Google and YugaByteDB support its efforts, and it seeks further community involvement to establish local chapters and host events.

Winsage

September 27, 2026

I finally figured out why Windows 11’s menus feel so slow—and the fixes that take seconds

Windows 11 users experience delays in right-click menus and context options due to a combination of factors, including the MenuShowDelay registry setting, UI transition animations, and the hybrid shell architecture. The MenuShowDelay setting introduces a default pause of 400 milliseconds before submenus appear. Users can improve performance by modifying this setting to a range of 0 to 100 milliseconds, disabling animation effects and transparency, and adjusting the power mode to "Best performance." Additional tweaks include using the Performance Options panel, enabling Task Manager's Efficiency Mode, auditing startup programs, and ensuring graphics drivers are up to date. These adjustments can enhance responsiveness without requiring advanced technical skills or third-party software.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

Tim Cain: ‘Among other things that Steve Jackson Games didn’t like about Fallout was Vault Boy’

The Fallout video game was initially developed with the intention of using the GURPS (Generic Universal Role-Play System) license from Steve Jackson Games. However, misunderstandings led to the dissolution of the licensing agreement, which Steve Jackson learned about from a press member rather than Interplay directly. Jackson's objections were primarily due to creative differences, particularly regarding the violent opening cutscene, character design, and the whimsical style of the mascot, Vault Boy. After extensive discussions, Jackson threatened legal action if Interplay continued with Fallout in its current form, prompting Interplay to abandon the GURPS license. This decision significantly impacted the future direction of the Fallout franchise.