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4 Android Auto Apps Every EV Owner Needs To Install
AppWizard
September 6, 2026

4 Android Auto Apps Every EV Owner Needs To Install

Android Auto provides a range of applications designed to enhance the driving experience for electric vehicle (EV) owners. Key apps include: - A Better Routeplanner (ABRP): A navigation app specifically for EV owners that helps plan road trips by generating trip plans with charging stops, estimated charging times, and projected battery levels. It supports over 1,000 EV models and offers a free version with basic features and a premium version with additional functionalities. - Waze: A versatile navigation app that offers real-time traffic updates, estimated arrival times, and turn-by-turn directions. It can display charging stations along routes and is useful for both long and short trips. - PlugShare: An app that provides a detailed overview of charging stations, allowing users to search for locations compatible with their specific EV. It includes community-driven features for reviews and connections among EV owners. - Electrify America: An app for users of the Electrify America charging network that integrates with Android Auto, enabling drivers to find charging stations and access details directly from their vehicle's display. These apps address common challenges faced by EV owners, such as locating charging stations and planning routes effectively.
Pterodactyl Multi-Game Cloud Server: 13 Steps [2026]
AppWizard
September 6, 2026

Pterodactyl Multi-Game Cloud Server: 13 Steps [2026]

In 2026, hosting game servers has become more efficient, allowing multiple game servers to run on a single cloud VPS using Pterodactyl Panel, which utilizes Docker containers for isolation. Pterodactyl is a free, open-source game server management panel that gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface and robust architecture. The latest stable release, v1.12.0, was launched in January 2026, with newer deployment templates available as of August 2026. To set up Pterodactyl, prerequisites include a cloud VPS with specific CPU and RAM requirements, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, PHP 8.3, MariaDB 11.8.8 or newer, Redis 8.10.0 or newer, Docker Engine, a registered domain for SSL, SteamCMD dependencies, and at least 80 GB SSD storage. The installation process involves provisioning the VPS, installing necessary software, configuring Pterodactyl, setting up Nginx with SSL, and deploying game servers. Common pitfalls include under-provisioning RAM for resource-intensive games, neglecting firewall settings, and allowing backup retention to grow uncontrollably. Troubleshooting may involve addressing PHP-FPM issues, connection problems, and ensuring proper resource allocation. Advanced scaling may require multiple VPS nodes, and security measures like two-factor authentication can help protect the server. Pterodactyl is free to use commercially and can run multiple game containers on a single node.
I gave Windows 11 an old-school makeover by restoring its classic icons
Winsage
September 6, 2026

I gave Windows 11 an old-school makeover by restoring its classic icons

Users can customize icons in Windows 11 by following different methods depending on the type of icon. For folders and shortcuts, right-clicking the item and selecting Properties allows users to change icons easily. Taskbar items require pressing Shift while right-clicking the closed app. Desktop icons like "This PC" and the Recycle Bin can be modified through Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings. More complex changes, such as altering icons for file types or drives, involve editing the Windows registry. Windows retains a selection of classic icons within DLL files, including moricons.dll, pifmgr.dll, and netshell.dll. Users can also access the Windows Icon Archive project for a repository of icons from various Windows versions, though .png files need conversion to .ico format for use. Limitations include the inability to change icons for new folders automatically, modifications not reflecting in Quick Access for special folders, and restrictions on altering application icons. Programs like OpenShell can help modify taskbar and Start menu icons, but achieving a perfect replica of older versions is not possible.
NordVPN's Next-Gen Antivirus scores 94% in independent phishing and malware testing
Tech Optimizer
September 4, 2026

NordVPN’s Next-Gen Antivirus scores 94% in independent phishing and malware testing

NordVPN's next-generation antivirus achieved a 94% phishing detection rate in an anti-phishing test by AV-Comparatives, ranking third among nine products, behind Avast One Free Antivirus and Norton Antivirus Plus, both at 96%. The evaluation tested 250 live phishing URLs and recorded zero false positives for NordVPN, unlike competitors such as Malwarebytes Premium and Webroot SecureAnywhere. The two-percentage-point difference between NordVPN and the leaders corresponds to five URLs. Other products like Dr. Web Security Space and K7 Total Security had lower detection rates of 57% and 70%, respectively. Previously, NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro had an 83.42% detection rate across 3,209 links, outperforming IPVanish. In June 2024, NordVPN became the first VPN provider to earn AV-Comparatives' anti-phishing protection badge, requiring a minimum detection rate of 85% with zero false alarms. The antivirus feature is available on Plus plans and higher, previously known as Threat Protection Pro, and is included in Plus, Complete, and Prime tiers.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword PC Performance Analysis
AppWizard
September 4, 2026

Onimusha: Way of the Sword PC Performance Analysis

Tomorrow marks the official release of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Capcom has provided a PC benchmark tool for gamers. Benchmark tests were conducted using an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM at 6000MHz, and various graphics cards including AMD’s Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, RX 9070XT, and NVIDIA’s RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090, on Windows 10 64-bit with specific drivers. The game includes customizable graphics settings such as Textures, Meshes, Sky, Foliage, Shadows, Ray Tracing, NVIDIA’s DLSS 4.5, and AMD’s FSR 3.1. At 1080p with Max Settings, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 showed a bottleneck but achieved an average framerate exceeding 220FPS, with all tested GPUs maintaining over 60FPS. At 1440p with Max Settings, the top five GPUs also performed well, with the NVIDIA RTX 3080 providing a smooth experience, and the AMD Radeon RX 6900XT averaging 68FPS. At Native 4K with Max Settings, the NVIDIA RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 maintained framerates above 60FPS, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070XT and RX 7900XTX offered satisfactory performance. The game's graphical fidelity does not match the latest Resident Evil titles, with noticeable visual shortcomings despite being powered by the RE Engine. The Ray Tracing feature does not significantly enhance visuals. The PC demo and benchmarking process showed no stutters or performance issues, even with Denuvo anti-tamper technology in use. Overall, Onimusha: Way of the Sword runs well on PC without requiring high-end specifications, although its visuals may not impress players.
silver Android smartphone
Tech Optimizer
September 3, 2026

Bitdefender vs Norton 2026: Which Antivirus Wins?

Norton and Bitdefender both have a malware detection rate of 99.8%. Norton excels in phishing protection, blocking 95% of phishing attempts compared to Bitdefender's 89%. In terms of system impact, Bitdefender uses 11% CPU and 183 MB RAM during scans, while Norton uses 23% CPU and 384 MB RAM. Norton offers features such as cloud backup, parental controls, and unlimited VPN, whereas Bitdefender lacks cloud backup and has a limited VPN. Pricing for both is competitive, but Bitdefender generally has cheaper renewal costs. Norton provides faster customer support response times. In a comparison of nine categories, Norton won five and Bitdefender won three. For users needing backup and parental controls, Norton is preferred; for those with older laptops, Bitdefender is recommended.
I spent a month with YouTube Premium Lite, and I'm already canceling my subscription
AppWizard
September 3, 2026

I spent a month with YouTube Premium Lite, and I’m already canceling my subscription

YouTube Premium Lite was launched in South Africa as a budget-friendly option at R49.99 per month, approximately 39% cheaper than the full YouTube Premium subscription. Users were disappointed to find that ads still appeared in various areas of the app, including recommended feeds and search results, despite the promise of an ad-free experience. The service lacks features such as offline video downloads, leading to a perception that users are not getting their money's worth. A survey indicated that many users opt out of YouTube Premium, often using ad blockers or tolerating ads instead. The demand for a more affordable ad-free experience remains unmet, and users feel that their subscriptions do not adequately support creators, especially as Alphabet reports record profits.
I'm slowly escaping Google's ecosystem, and it's easier than I thought
AppWizard
September 3, 2026

I’m slowly escaping Google’s ecosystem, and it’s easier than I thought

In recent months, users are reconsidering their reliance on Google, leading to a movement towards "deGoogling." A poll indicated that 6% of respondents have completely stopped using Google's products, 58% have reduced their usage, 21% have considered the idea but haven't acted, and 15% remain committed to Google. Some users are replacing Google services with alternatives like Kagi for search, Proton for email and cloud services, and Firefox for browsing. Despite these changes, many still use certain Google products, such as the Pixel phone, Google smart speakers, and services like YouTube and Google Maps, due to their effectiveness and integration. Transitioning away from Google has been reported as less daunting than expected for many users.
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