spam Archives

AppWizard

October 13, 2026

5 Android Apps to Declutter & Secure Your Phone

Taps, swipes, and endless scrolling characterize the smartphone experience, often overwhelming users with notifications and personal data exposure. Innovative Android utilities are available to help users organize their digital environment and enhance privacy. 1. DBMB (Unknown Call Silencer): Silences unknown calls while keeping them logged. Operates offline for enhanced privacy and allows exceptions for trusted contacts in the Pro version. 2. Cork (Website/App Organizer): Creates a personalized, tile-based dashboard for frequently visited sites and essential applications. Users can customize tiles and pin them to the home screen for easy access. 3. Hidebox (Privacy Vault): Provides an encrypted vault for sensitive files, secured by PIN, fingerprint, or face-unlock. Features include a disguised app icon, a decoy vault, intruder selfies, and encrypted Google Drive backups. 4. Infinite Walls (Wallpaper App): Offers a vast catalog of curated 4K artwork and AI-generated wallpapers. Users can explore various categories and automate wallpaper changes with Pro features. 5. Floatkit (Floating Sidebar): Provides a floating sidebar for quick access to essential tools without leaving the current app. Includes features like global search, quick notes, and controls for volume and brightness.

AppWizard

October 12, 2026

5 Android Apps to Declutter & Secure Your Phone

DBMB is an app that silences unknown calls while keeping a log of all calls, operating offline without relying on online databases. Cork organizes links and apps into visual boards, allowing users to create personalized dashboards for easy access. Hidebox provides an encrypted vault for sensitive files, secured by PIN or biometric access, with features like a disguised app icon and intruder selfies. Infinite Walls offers curated 4K artwork and AI-generated wallpapers for phone backgrounds, with options for automated changes. Floatkit provides a floating sidebar for quick access to essential tools and functions without leaving the current app, facilitating seamless multitasking.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

Minecraft Dungeons 2 Review

Minecraft Dungeons 2 is developed by Mojang and Double Eleven, published by Xbox Game Studios and Mojang. It is available on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5, with a release date of September 29, 2026, priced at £24.99. The game serves as an accessible introduction to the action RPG genre, targeting younger audiences, particularly Minecraft fans. It features a semi-open-world structure, allowing exploration of various areas, but the main quest line and side quests can be completed in approximately seven to ten hours. Combat mechanics are straightforward, with rapid loot acquisition and a system that can frustrate players due to hidden stats. The narrative involves ill-intentioned Illagers and lacks variety in quests. The game includes a co-op mode for up to four players and cross-platform online play, but players cannot transfer offline characters online. The Deluxe Edition includes additional content such as a Soul Cape, hero skins, and access to DLC packs.

Winsage

September 24, 2026

Microsoft tried to ban “Microslop,” and six months later it has given up

Microsoft has lifted its ban on the term "Microslop" in its official Copilot Discord server, which was initially blocked due to its use as a critical nickname for the company in response to its AI features. The term gained popularity around late 2025, leading to significant user frustration and the development of a browser extension to replace "Microsoft" with "Microslop." By March 2026, messages containing the term were being filtered in the Discord, prompting users to find ways around the restrictions. Microsoft later clarified that the filtering was a temporary anti-spam measure. Discontent with Copilot had been growing prior to this, with backlash against Windows chief Pavan Davuluri's comments about AI integration. In March, Davuluri announced a more intentional integration of Copilot, leading to changes such as the removal of the Copilot button from the Snipping Tool and the rebranding of features in Notepad. Microsoft also ceased the auto-installation of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app and promised a less cluttered user interface. The Copilot key has become customizable, although some users are frustrated by changes to the Copilot logo. Despite improvements, user backlash persists, with some expressing a desire for the "old Copilot." Microsoft is shifting from overt branding of AI features to a more integrated approach in user experience.

AppWizard

September 19, 2026

How to block and unblock a number on your Android phone

To block a number on a Samsung Android phone, open the Contacts app, select the contact, tap More, choose Block contact, and confirm. Alternatively, in the Phone app, copy the number, tap More, select Settings, tap Block numbers, add the number, and tap the plus sign. To block a number from the Recents section, navigate to the number, tap Details, More Options, and Block number. For Pixel phones or stock Android, open the Phone app, tap More, select Call history, choose the call, and tap Block/report spam. To unblock a number on a Samsung device, open the Contacts app, select the contact, tap More options, and select Unblock contact. In the Phone app, tap More, select Settings, tap Block numbers, and tap the (-) next to the number. For Google Pixel and stock Android, open the Phone app, tap More, select Settings, tap Blocked numbers, and tap Clear (x) next to the number. Calls made during the blocking period will not appear in call logs.

AppWizard

September 16, 2026

Android Advanced Protection to Roll Out Granular “Expert Features”: App Teardown

A new feature called "expert mode" is being introduced to enhance the "Advanced Protection" framework for Android users, allowing them to toggle specific security features individually. Users will be able to manage six distinct items within the Advanced Protection suite: Intrusion logging, USB protection, Block auto-connection to unsecured Wi-Fi, Unknown apps, Spam filter, and Suspicious links in Google Messages. The "expert features" will not replace "Advanced Protection" but will provide users with the option to enable all protections at once or selectively activate specific features. While "Block auto-connection to unsecured Wi-Fi" will debut with "expert features," the inclusion of "Unknown apps," "Spam filter," and "Suspicious links in Google Messages" in the final version remains uncertain. The relevant resource for updates is the "Google Play services" app, version v26.36, released on September 15, 2026.

Winsage

September 13, 2026

KTVB

Cookies and data, including IP addresses, are used to deliver and maintain Google services, monitor outages, protect against spam and fraud, and measure audience engagement. When users accept all cookies, additional uses include developing new services, placing and measuring advertisements, and displaying personalized content. If users decline all cookies, only non-personalized content and ads will be shown, influenced by current content and general location. Personalized content may include tailored video recommendations and customized homepages based on user activity. Further information on managing privacy settings is available at g.co/privacytools.

AppWizard

September 7, 2026

Xbox Cloud Gaming Caps Hours: 15 for Ultimate [2026]

On September 3, 2026, Microsoft announced that Xbox Game Pass subscribers will see a shift in cloud gaming access. Starting November 2026, unlimited cloud streaming will be replaced by a tiered hour bank system: 15 hours for Ultimate, 10 for Premium, and 5 for Essential subscribers. Once a subscriber exhausts their allotted hours, they must wait for the next billing cycle or purchase additional time. This change is the most significant since the beta launch of Xbox Cloud Gaming in 2019. The announcement was made on Xbox Wire, and the new structure is reflected on Xbox’s product pages. The new tiered system introduces a scarcity model, with every paid tier now having its own cloud gaming quota. Essential subscribers, who previously had no cloud access, will now receive 5 hours per month. The pricing for the Game Pass tiers is as follows: Ultimate at .99 for 15 hours, Premium at .99 for 10 hours, and Essential at .99 for 5 hours. The free ad-supported tier remains unchanged at 5 hours per month. Microsoft's rationale for the change is based on usage data indicating that most subscribers do not heavily utilize cloud streaming, coupled with the rising costs of operating cloud gaming services. The company has stated that additional hours can be purchased once a subscriber's monthly allotment is used up, although pricing details for these add-ons have not yet been disclosed. The new hour caps will take effect in November 2026, following a shorter notice period compared to NVIDIA's GeForce NOW service, which implemented a 100-hour monthly cap earlier in 2026. The response from gaming communities has been largely negative, with concerns about the limits falling short of typical usage patterns and conflicting with the marketing of Game Pass as offering unlimited access. The introduction of hour caps could impact Game Pass's subscriber base, particularly among those who rely on cloud gaming as their primary access point. Microsoft's internal usage data will determine the extent of this impact, as the company aims to control costs without raising subscription prices.

AppWizard

September 6, 2026

Google’s Scam Detection Doesn’t Support Your Android Phone? Try These 5 Apps

Google has introduced AI-powered scam call detection for Pixel phone users, analyzing incoming calls to alert users of potential scams. Not all Android devices support this feature. Various spam call prevention tools are available for Android users, including: - Truecaller: A leading app with a user-generated database for identifying spam calls, offering Caller ID in its free version. It may produce false positives. - Malwarebytes Scam Guard: Analyzes content like messages and links for scams, requiring manual submission for analysis and part of a premium package. - YouMail: Blocks known scam numbers for free, includes Caller ID, and uses AI for text message fraud detection. Some features require a paid plan. - Hiya Spam Blocker: Identifies suspicious calls with Caller ID and allows users to report dubious numbers. Paid plans offer automatic blocking and Call Screener features. - Should I Answer?: A free app that checks unknown numbers against a community-maintained database, providing reputation assessments based on user reviews. The methodology for compiling these apps focused on compatibility with various Android devices and essential features like Caller ID and automatic blocking, while also considering additional functionalities and accessibility.

AppWizard

August 31, 2026

This feature keeps distracting spam calls away while using Android Auto

Google's Call Screen feature allows users to manage unknown calls by delegating the initial interaction to Call Assist, which identifies the caller and provides context. This feature is now integrated with Android Auto, although the screening process itself remains a function of the phone. Call Screen operates in two modes: manual, where users can choose to screen calls, and automatic, which silently screens certain unknown calls and hangs up on spam. Call Screen works directly on the device without needing Wi-Fi or mobile data, and call audio and transcripts are not stored in the user's Google Account. To set up Call Screen, users must do so through the Phone by Google app. Compatibility with Android Auto and Call Screen varies by phone model and geographical location, with automatic screening primarily available on Pixel phones in the U.S. Manual screening is accessible in several countries, and some selected Android devices may also support it. Not all call screening features are the same across different brands, and practical limitations exist for automatic Call Screen, such as functionality issues when connected via Bluetooth or while roaming.