smartphone Archives

AppWizard

June 14, 2025

I tried Canva’s photo editor to see if it could replace my favorite free app

Megan Ellis explored Canva's new photo editing tool, comparing it to her preferred app, Snapseed. In a poll, 60% of users favored generative AI tools in photo editors, while 20% valued desktop and mobile availability and sliders for adjusting contrast and saturation. Ellis highlighted Canva's automatic background selection and removal feature, which Snapseed lacks, as a significant advantage. She noted that while Canva offers various image adjustments, it does not have advanced features like color curve adjustments but includes a brush editor for selective fine-tuning. However, she identified usability issues with the mobile app, including bugs and unnecessary steps in the editing process. Ultimately, she plans to use Canva for PC editing while continuing to rely on Snapseed for mobile photo editing.

BetaBeacon

June 13, 2025

The Best Mobile Gaming Controllers for iPhone and Android

There are two main types of mobile gaming controllers: grip and standard. Grip controllers are designed to be more portable while providing a familiar gaming experience with physical buttons, joysticks, and triggers. Standard gaming controllers, like those used with Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo consoles, can also be used with mobile devices.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Slayaway Camp, The Quest, SOULVARS, more

A new wave of Android game and app deals has emerged, including significant savings on Samsung Galaxy Book5 Copilot+ PCs, Sony’s XM6 ANC headphones with a complimentary Amazon gift card, and discounts on Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Google Pixel 9. Notable app deals include Slayaway Camp, The Quest, SOULVARS, and LIMBO. SOULVARS features strategic gameplay with vertically held smartphone controls, allowing for battles, dungeon exploration, and collection of enchanted items, where protagonists use a device called the Soul Driver to convert souls into data and eliminate deformities threatening people.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

5 apps I install on every new phone

Unboxing a new smartphone is an exciting experience that includes setting up essential apps. Spotify provides access to millions of tracks and integrates with Android Auto for music and podcasts. Avast Antivirus offers robust protection and features like threat scanning and a network scanner, ensuring digital security without excessive ads or subscriptions. FitOn is a fitness app that sets realistic goals, tracks activity levels, and offers tailored workouts, including features like celebrity trainers and meal plans. Brave is a browser app that blocks ads and trackers, providing a distraction-free browsing experience with customizable settings. Microsoft 365 allows access to Word and Excel files on the go, with OneDrive for document storage and backup, although some features remain underutilized. These five applications enhance daily smartphone use by serving unique purposes.

Winsage

June 13, 2025

Make the most of Windows 11: Tips and tools to improve focus, multitasking, and daily productivity

Windows 11 is the most widely used desktop operating system globally, offering features to enhance productivity. Focus Sessions allow users to work in intervals, with session lengths ranging from 30 minutes to four hours, including breaks. Users can access this feature through the Clock app and can quickly start a 30-minute focus block using Win + N. The Do Not Disturb (DND) feature silences alerts from apps and notifications, helping users concentrate. DND can be activated by clicking the clock in the taskbar or using Win + N, and users can customize which notifications are allowed through the settings. Windows 11 provides three power modes: Best Performance, Balanced, and Best Power Efficiency. Users can modify these settings in the Power & Battery section of the settings, and Energy Saver can be activated quickly from the Quick Settings panel when the battery is low.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Pixel Camera update may have killed this handy sharing feature

Google's recent update to the Pixel Camera app (version 9.9.106.767010485.16) has removed the Social Share shortcut, a feature present since the Pixel 4 series in 2019. This shortcut allowed users to quickly share photos via a menu after capturing an image. Reports confirm its absence in the new update, and personal testing on a Pixel 7 Pro supports this finding. While the feature aimed to streamline sharing, some users found it unrefined and lacking support for popular platforms like WhatsApp. Additionally, a new educational hub within the camera app was expected but has not yet been implemented. User feedback on the removal of the Social Share shortcut has been mixed, with a poll showing that while some users relied on it, many did not find it useful.

AppWizard

June 12, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Little Big Workshop, Don’t Starve Shipwrecked, more

Thursday features new deals for Android users, coinciding with a price reduction on the Google TV Streamer 4K. Highlights include Lenovo’s Snapdragon X Elite Copilot+ PC, Samsung’s budget-friendly Galaxy A16 smartphone, TCL’s 2025 QM6K 144Hz Google Smart TVs at all-time low prices, and discounts of up to 50% on Samsung’s Galaxy Ring. A curated selection of top Android games and applications is also available to enhance the mobile experience.

Tech Optimizer

June 11, 2025

Malwarebytes Plus antivirus review

Malwarebytes Plus is a straightforward antivirus software priced at approximately .99 per year, offering protection for three devices across Mac, Windows, iOS, or Android platforms. It also has a family plan for up to ten devices at .99 per year and a Teams package for businesses protecting 20 devices or more at 9.99 per year. The subscription includes a VPN with no data transfer limits but lacks a password manager. Users can schedule quick scans and access advanced settings for specific vulnerabilities. The application runs efficiently in the background, with quick scans taking around 26 seconds. It features real-time protection against ransomware and exploits, but offers limited privacy options and identity threat protection primarily as an incentive to upgrade. The interface is clean but may be less user-friendly compared to competitors. Malwarebytes Plus provides 24/7 support via email, chat, and phone, including remediation guidance for specific viruses.

Winsage

June 10, 2025

Windows 11 is getting a nifty trick for quickly mirroring your Android phone right from the Start menu

Microsoft is testing a new feature in the Phone Link app for Windows 11 that allows users to mirror their Android smartphone screens onto their Windows desktops with a single click. This feature is currently being tested with a select group of users and is integrated within the Phone Link panel in the Start menu. It works particularly well with Samsung Galaxy smartphones and is compatible with specific Android devices, including Samsung Galaxy models, Asus (ROG-branded), Honor, OnePlus, Oppo, Surface Duo, Vivo, and Xiaomi. The rollout is expected to coincide with a cumulative update for Windows 11 on June 10, although initial availability may be limited. The Phone Link panel began rolling out in April for Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 24H2, with wider access becoming available in May.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

Don’t have any AI apps? These are the 5 you need to install right now

AI is increasingly integrated into daily life, with many people preferring chatbot interactions over traditional Google searches due to the nuanced responses provided by AI. ChatGPT from OpenAI has evolved significantly, with a recent Android app update that includes image generation and an interactive audio mode, making interactions feel more conversational. Gemini from Google processes information across various Google applications, offering users control over memory retention from previous interactions, although it may have privacy concerns. Claude from Anthropic has introduced the Claude 4 models in its mobile app, enhancing its coding capabilities and including voice features for all users. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI, offers free access and low-cost options, excelling in web search and deep reasoning, with an open-source version available for private use. PocketPal is a downloadable Android app that operates independently of the cloud, allowing users to access open-source AI models, with smaller models like Qwen3 designed for older devices. The landscape of smartphone AI chatbots is evolving, with major Android manufacturers investing in enhancing device capabilities.