text Archives

Winsage

September 29, 2026

I replaced Windows’ Snipping Tool with ShareX for screenshots, but the best part is everything else it can do

The Snipping Tool in Windows has been modernized in Windows 11 but still has bugs that can disrupt user workflow. ShareX is a free and open-source alternative that excels in screenshot capabilities and offers advanced features, including precise selection tools, real-time editing, video recording, and GIF creation. ShareX supports multiple upload targets, including Imgur and cloud services like OneDrive and Google Drive, and allows users to upload various file types, including text documents to Pastebin. It includes bonus features such as a video converter, image comparison tools, and customization options for hotkeys. However, ShareX may be overwhelming for newcomers seeking basic screenshot functions, for whom the Snipping Tool remains a valid choice.

BetaBeacon

September 28, 2026

Monday’s Android app deals and freebies: Last Game, Sands of Salzaar, Tokyo Debunker, more

Today's highlight Google Play deals include Candleman for .50, Captain's Log of Star Trek for free, Firefly Neon Icon Pack for free, Prismatic Icon Pack for free, Sands of Salzaar for .50, Tokyo Debunker: Urban Legends for free, Slime Legends - Survivor for free, The Lonely Hacker for free, Arrow Maze: Puzzle Escape for .50, Empire of the Gods for [openai_gpt model="gpt-3.5-turbo-0125" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Candleman - .50 (Reg. ) Captain’s Log of Star Trek - FREE (Reg. ) Firefly Neon Icon Pack - FREE (Reg. ) Prismatic Icon Pack - FREE (Reg. [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-3.5-turbo-0125" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Reg. $1+/FREE+ Today’s best Google Play app and game deals are ready, including The Last Game, Sands of Salzaar, Candleman, Tokyo Debunker: Urban Legends, Slime Legends – Survivor, Hero of the Kingdom II, Legacy 4 – Tomb of Secrets, Empire of the Gods, and more. Just be sure to check out today’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals at up to $530 off as well as the new all-time low on Lenovo’s latest Tab Plus Gen 2. Monday’s app deals await below. Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals: 256GB up to $440 off, 512GB over $530 off (Best Buy open-box) Lenovo’s latest Tab Plus Gen 2 with JBL Pro speakers just hit a new $270 all-time low (Reg. $400) Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Candleman$2.50 (Reg. $5) Captain’s Log of Star TrekFREE (Reg. $2) Firefly Neon Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Prismatic Icon PackFREE (Reg. $0.50) Project Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Sands of Salzaar$3.50 (Reg. $5) Tokyo Debunker: Urban LegendsFREE (Reg. $1) Slime Legends – SurvivorFREE (Reg. $0.50) The Lonely HackerFREE (Reg. $3) Arrow Maze: Puzzle Escape$1.50 (Reg. $2) Empire of the Gods$0.75 (Reg. $3) Hero of the Kingdom II$1.25 (Reg. $9) Legacy 4 – Tomb of Secrets$1 (Reg. $2) The Last Game$1.25 (Reg. $3.50) TripleFantasy PremiumFREE (Reg. $12) Mix AlchemyFREE (Reg. $0.50) Block Blast – A Retro GameFREE (Reg. $2.50) Rock – Black Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Sudus – Hexa Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1.50) FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Toys — experts digging up all the latest technology and lifestyle deals, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Toys on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out the best Apple deals, our daily podcast, and subscribe to our YouTube channel" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].50) Project Icon Pack - FREE (Reg. ) Sands of Salzaar - .50 (Reg. ) Tokyo Debunker: Urban Legends - FREE (Reg. ) Slime Legends – Survivor - FREE (Reg. [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-3.5-turbo-0125" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Reg. $1+/FREE+ Today’s best Google Play app and game deals are ready, including The Last Game, Sands of Salzaar, Candleman, Tokyo Debunker: Urban Legends, Slime Legends – Survivor, Hero of the Kingdom II, Legacy 4 – Tomb of Secrets, Empire of the Gods, and more. Just be sure to check out today’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals at up to $530 off as well as the new all-time low on Lenovo’s latest Tab Plus Gen 2. Monday’s app deals await below. Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals: 256GB up to $440 off, 512GB over $530 off (Best Buy open-box) Lenovo’s latest Tab Plus Gen 2 with JBL Pro speakers just hit a new $270 all-time low (Reg. $400) Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Candleman$2.50 (Reg. $5) Captain’s Log of Star TrekFREE (Reg. $2) Firefly Neon Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Prismatic Icon PackFREE (Reg. $0.50) Project Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Sands of Salzaar$3.50 (Reg. $5) Tokyo Debunker: Urban LegendsFREE (Reg. $1) Slime Legends – SurvivorFREE (Reg. $0.50) The Lonely HackerFREE (Reg. $3) Arrow Maze: Puzzle Escape$1.50 (Reg. $2) Empire of the Gods$0.75 (Reg. $3) Hero of the Kingdom II$1.25 (Reg. $9) Legacy 4 – Tomb of Secrets$1 (Reg. $2) The Last Game$1.25 (Reg. $3.50) TripleFantasy PremiumFREE (Reg. $12) Mix AlchemyFREE (Reg. $0.50) Block Blast – A Retro GameFREE (Reg. $2.50) Rock – Black Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Sudus – Hexa Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1.50) FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Toys — experts digging up all the latest technology and lifestyle deals, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Toys on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out the best Apple deals, our daily podcast, and subscribe to our YouTube channel" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].50) The Lonely Hacker - FREE (Reg. ) Arrow Maze: Puzzle Escape - .50 (Reg. ) Empire of the Gods - [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-3.5-turbo-0125" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Reg. $1+/FREE+ Today’s best Google Play app and game deals are ready, including The Last Game, Sands of Salzaar, Candleman, Tokyo Debunker: Urban Legends, Slime Legends – Survivor, Hero of the Kingdom II, Legacy 4 – Tomb of Secrets, Empire of the Gods, and more. Just be sure to check out today’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals at up to $530 off as well as the new all-time low on Lenovo’s latest Tab Plus Gen 2. Monday’s app deals await below. Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals: 256GB up to $440 off, 512GB over $530 off (Best Buy open-box) Lenovo’s latest Tab Plus Gen 2 with JBL Pro speakers just hit a new $270 all-time low (Reg. $400) Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Candleman$2.50 (Reg. $5) Captain’s Log of Star TrekFREE (Reg. $2) Firefly Neon Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Prismatic Icon PackFREE (Reg. $0.50) Project Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Sands of Salzaar$3.50 (Reg. $5) Tokyo Debunker: Urban LegendsFREE (Reg. $1) Slime Legends – SurvivorFREE (Reg. $0.50) The Lonely HackerFREE (Reg. $3) Arrow Maze: Puzzle Escape$1.50 (Reg. $2) Empire of the Gods$0.75 (Reg. $3) Hero of the Kingdom II$1.25 (Reg. $9) Legacy 4 – Tomb of Secrets$1 (Reg. $2) The Last Game$1.25 (Reg. $3.50) TripleFantasy PremiumFREE (Reg. $12) Mix AlchemyFREE (Reg. $0.50) Block Blast – A Retro GameFREE (Reg. $2.50) Rock – Black Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Sudus – Hexa Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1.50) FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Toys — experts digging up all the latest technology and lifestyle deals, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Toys on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out the best Apple deals, our daily podcast, and subscribe to our YouTube channel" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].75 (Reg. ) Hero of the Kingdom II - .25 (Reg. ) Legacy 4 – Tomb of Secrets - (Reg. ) The Last Game - .25 (Reg. .50) TripleFantasy Premium - FREE (Reg. ) Mix Alchemy - FREE (Reg. [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-3.5-turbo-0125" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Reg. $1+/FREE+ Today’s best Google Play app and game deals are ready, including The Last Game, Sands of Salzaar, Candleman, Tokyo Debunker: Urban Legends, Slime Legends – Survivor, Hero of the Kingdom II, Legacy 4 – Tomb of Secrets, Empire of the Gods, and more. Just be sure to check out today’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals at up to $530 off as well as the new all-time low on Lenovo’s latest Tab Plus Gen 2. Monday’s app deals await below. Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals: 256GB up to $440 off, 512GB over $530 off (Best Buy open-box) Lenovo’s latest Tab Plus Gen 2 with JBL Pro speakers just hit a new $270 all-time low (Reg. $400) Today’s highlight Google Play deals: Candleman$2.50 (Reg. $5) Captain’s Log of Star TrekFREE (Reg. $2) Firefly Neon Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Prismatic Icon PackFREE (Reg. $0.50) Project Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Sands of Salzaar$3.50 (Reg. $5) Tokyo Debunker: Urban LegendsFREE (Reg. $1) Slime Legends – SurvivorFREE (Reg. $0.50) The Lonely HackerFREE (Reg. $3) Arrow Maze: Puzzle Escape$1.50 (Reg. $2) Empire of the Gods$0.75 (Reg. $3) Hero of the Kingdom II$1.25 (Reg. $9) Legacy 4 – Tomb of Secrets$1 (Reg. $2) The Last Game$1.25 (Reg. $3.50) TripleFantasy PremiumFREE (Reg. $12) Mix AlchemyFREE (Reg. $0.50) Block Blast – A Retro GameFREE (Reg. $2.50) Rock – Black Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1) Sudus – Hexa Icon PackFREE (Reg. $1.50) FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Toys — experts digging up all the latest technology and lifestyle deals, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Toys on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out the best Apple deals, our daily podcast, and subscribe to our YouTube channel" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].50) Block Blast – A Retro Game - FREE (Reg. .50) Rock – Black Icon Pack - FREE (Reg. ) Sudus – Hexa Icon Pack - FREE (Reg. .50)" max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].75, Hero of the Kingdom II for .25, Legacy 4 - Tomb of Secrets for , The Last Game for .25, TripleFantasy Premium for free, Mix Alchemy for free, Block Blast - A Retro Game for free, Rock - Black Icon Pack for free, and Sudus - Hexa Icon Pack for free.

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

RatHat Android Malware Console Uses Gemini to Identify Higher-Value Victims

The operators behind RatHat have created an advanced Android banking trojan that allows control of infected devices through a web console. Since April 2026, nearly 100 instances of this console have been identified, indicating a malware-as-a-service model. The console collects sensitive data from compromised phones, including text messages and passwords. It uses Google's Gemini AI to assess victims' bank balances, categorizing them into high-value and mid-value segments, but does not facilitate financial transactions. The malware has remained largely unchanged since late 2025, but the console has seen significant updates, leading to three new versions: BlackCat Remote Control Management, Panda Workshop V5, and V6. These versions serve as both control interfaces and build tools for creating and distributing malware. The latest version includes templates for deceptive download pages. RatHat infiltrates devices via text messages and online ads, requesting Accessibility access to read screens and simulate user interactions. This access allows the malware to activate wireless debugging and connect to the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), giving operators elevated privileges to execute commands. A Go program can be deployed to maintain control, even after the app is uninstalled. Cleafy has tracked console deployments through web code analysis, noting that many IP addresses originate from a Singapore-registered network. The initial console version allowed operators to choose AI providers, but the latest exclusively uses Gemini. RatHat also utilizes Gemini on infected devices to determine tap locations based on screen layouts. Cleafy has compiled indicators related to the consoles' command-and-control servers, download links, and malware samples, including specific domains, IP addresses, and MD5 hashes. The consoles often use web addresses starting with "admin." and inexpensive top-level domains. Security tools are advised to monitor processes running under the shell user on affected devices.

AppWizard

September 28, 2026

Create My Widget: Google’s AI app for custom Android widgets is available on the Play Store

Google has launched a new application called "Create My Widget," available on the Play Store since September 24, 2026. This app allows users to create Android widgets using plain language instead of pre-defined templates. It is currently compatible with Pixel and recent Galaxy smartphones, with plans for broader compatibility in the future. The app uses Gemini technology to generate widgets based on user descriptions and aggregates information from various Google services. The widget creation process involves describing the desired widget, receiving suggestions from Gemini, and customizing the widget before placing it on the home screen. The app currently supports categories such as Combo, Weather Alerts, World Clock, Daily Overview, Important Appointments, and Markets, with future updates expected to include additional categories. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has been reported as incompatible, and a version for Google's upcoming Chromebook successor, "Googlebooks," is anticipated to launch in early October 2026.

AppWizard

September 27, 2026

F-Droid 2.0 Released After 10 years With Major Redesign to Transform Open-Source Android App Discovery

F-Droid has released version 2.0 of its official Android app, marking the most substantial update in a decade after over a year of development and 14 test builds. The app has been reconstructed using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose, aligning it with Android’s Material Design principles and improving maintenance and feature expansion. Navigation is simplified into three sections: Discover, Search, and My Apps. The Discover section showcases new apps, updates, and popular downloads, while categories have been refined for easier access to specific software types. The search functionality has been enhanced to allow users to filter by application names, descriptions, categories, and languages. F-Droid 2.0 now automatically checks for and installs updates, with manual controls still available. Recent changes in the Android platform enable smoother installation experiences for alternative app stores. Privacy features have been updated, but the F-Droid Privileged Extension is not supported in this version, and the app-wiping capability has not returned.

Winsage

September 26, 2026

Windows finally let me rip Bing out of my desktop. The speed boost is undeniable

Windows 11 users previously experienced a dual-search environment where local and web results were mixed, often leading to cluttered searches. Many resorted to registry edits to disable web results, but these workarounds were not fully effective. The search interface was complicated by irrelevant web links, making it difficult to find local files. With the introduction of version 26H2, Microsoft added a toggle in Settings that allows users to manage web searches independently, improving the search experience by prioritizing local files. This feature began rolling out after the September 2026 Patch Tuesday update. Disabling web results streamlines the search panel but removes the Copilot entry and may not be immediately available to all users.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

First look: This upcoming Snapseed tool could leave Google Photos in the dust

Snapseed is set to introduce a new collage-making tool in version 4.1.9, featuring a collage-creator interface that supports various aspect ratios and grid configurations. Users will be able to customize background patterns, spacing, and utilize a “Snap to grid” toggle for precision. The app will also include a Layers option for adding and managing photos, text, and stickers, with capabilities for reordering, hiding, and duplicating layers. A masking option will allow cropping into Rectangle or Radial shapes, and users can modify layer styles, including border color and opacity. A textures menu will offer preset textures that can be modified, along with a Randomize button and QR-code-based sharing for templates. Users can save, export, or delete projects, with common actions like reset and undo/redo available.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

A Google Photos bug is preventing users from sharing, editing, and deleting pictures

Pixel phone users are experiencing issues with the Google Photos editor, where functionalities such as sharing, deleting, and editing become unresponsive after photo edits, particularly after cropping or rotating images. This problem affects multiple Pixel models, including the Pixel 8, 9, 10, and 11 series. Users have reported that these options work correctly if no edits are made. Google is reportedly working on enhancing the editing capabilities in the Photos app, but addressing the current bug is a priority.

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

Google Messages gets a major gesture and menu refresh

Google Messages is introducing refined gestures to enhance user experience on Android. Long-pressing a message now opens a floating menu with shortcuts for actions like copying, starring, or replying. Users can select specific text snippets instead of copying entire messages. Swiping left reveals message timestamps and encryption statuses, while swiping right allows for instant replies. The long-press menu replaces the top toolbar, providing quick access to functions such as Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more, and Info. For images, options like Save and Remix are available. The text copying feature allows selection of portions of text, extending to images, videos, links, files, locations, and contact cards. Tapping a message reveals read receipts and timestamps briefly appear after a tap. These features are part of recent builds of Google Messages, including version 2026091003RC02, but the rollout is server-side, so not all devices will receive the updates at the same time.

AppWizard

September 25, 2026

If you can’t tell what’s real or AI-generated anymore, this Android app is here to help

Generative AI is becoming a crucial part of various services and applications, leading to a series that will highlight notable AI innovations. A challenge for users is distinguishing between authentic and AI-generated content, which has become increasingly difficult. The C2PA Verify app helps users identify image origins by reading C2PA credentials, although these credentials can be erased, limiting the app's effectiveness. C2PA Verify is open-source, free, and developed by Dark Rock Studios. Other noteworthy AI applications include: - Retirement Planner: A web app powered by Claude Opus 4.5 that assists users in financial planning for retirement by calculating future portfolio value, drawdown rates, and tax implications, tailored for US and Canadian citizens. - Memoria: An Android gallery app that uses offline AI for natural language search, ensuring user privacy by keeping data on the device. It utilizes Apple’s MobileCLIP-S0 model for processing queries and is open-source and free to use.