time management Archives

AppWizard

June 16, 2026

New expanded Android parental controls to support families around the world

Android is expanding its Parental Controls feature to all devices upgrading to Android 17, allowing parents to manage their children's screen time effectively. The controls include screen time management, downtime scheduling, app store filters, and app usage control, all accessible through Android Settings and secured by a PIN. The setup of Google Family Link is also facilitated through the Family Link app, which provides additional features like School Time and location alerts. Additionally, there is an increase in the U.S. digital wellbeing fund to over a million dollars to support initiatives promoting healthy technology interactions and resources to combat social isolation.

Winsage

May 13, 2026

Former Windows boss reveals why modern Windows 11 apps feel slower, says Microsoft once gave every engineer a stopwatch

Steven Sinofsky, former head of the Windows Division at Microsoft, discussed the company's engineering culture and its focus on resource management from 1980 to 2000, where every engineer was given a physical stopwatch to measure various performance metrics. This practice emphasized optimizing software for speed and efficiency, a stark contrast to modern applications that consume significant RAM due to shifts in market dynamics and hardware advancements. The current trend prioritizes rapid feature deployment over optimization, leading to performance issues in applications. Microsoft is responding to criticism by enhancing the performance of Windows 11, focusing on native desktop applications and optimizing core components, including the Start menu and File Explorer. They are also testing new CPU scheduling profiles to reduce micro-lags during user interactions.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

FF14 Evercold’s ‘Evolved Mode’ jobs aren’t a replacement, because Yoshi-P remembers what happened to Star Wars Galaxies

The upcoming expansion, FF14 Evercold, will introduce 'Evolved Mode' for a streamlined gameplay experience while retaining 'Reborn Mode' for traditional mechanics. Game director Naoki Yoshida discussed the development process, highlighting battle system planner Hikaru Tamaki's role in the initiative. A demonstration of Evolved Mode was showcased for classes like Paladin, Dragoon, White Mage, and Bard, with some classes undergoing significant changes. Yoshida emphasized the importance of preserving beloved aspects of the existing system to avoid alienating long-time players. The expansion was initially titled "Absolute Zero," and it will explore various forms of ice as thematic elements. Yoshida acknowledged Norse influences but did not provide specifics. He also expressed a desire for a sustainable future for FF14, ensuring its continuation beyond his involvement.

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

YouTube finally gives us a way to turn off Shorts, sort of

YouTube has introduced a feature allowing users to set their Shorts usage limit to zero minutes, effectively blocking access to the Shorts tab on the home feed. This setting can be found under Time management in the app's settings. Once the limit is reached, users will receive a notification when attempting to access the Shorts tab. Shorts will still be accessible through subscriptions and shared links. Initially available for parents, this feature is now being rolled out to all users.

AppWizard

March 15, 2026

Dave the Diver DLC adds a little Stardew Valley time management and relationship building to the formula when In the Jungle releases in June

Mintrocket announced that the In the Jungle DLC for the fishing RPG, Dave the Diver, will launch on June 18. This expansion introduces a new setting in the jungle village of Utara, featuring a real-time schedule that requires players to manage tasks more effectively. The DLC offers approximately 10 hours of new content and includes a new tool called the Jungle Gun, which can function as a sniper, shotgun, net gun, or standard firearm. The aquatic environment will feature various creatures, including a Plesiosaur-like creature, sharks, electric eels, crocodiles, and piranhas. The DLC was originally scheduled for a 2025 release but has been delayed to early 2026.

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

How to set up Android Parental Controls on your kid’s phone

Google has enhanced parental control features for Android users through the Family Link app, which allows parents to manage their children's device usage. A significant update in December 2025 introduced a dedicated parental controls settings page within the Settings app for Google Pixel devices running Android 16 or newer. This update streamlines the process, allowing parents to implement controls easily without using a separate app. Parents can access both Family Link and device limits from one location, with options to password-protect settings. The setup process includes selecting a supervising Google account and reviewing various control options. The integration with the Family Link app remains, allowing further management from a parent's device. The Google Pixel 10 is highlighted as a device that supports these enhanced parental controls, featuring a triple-camera setup and a powerful Tensor G5 chip.

BetaBeacon

November 20, 2025

15 free Android games to play on your phone or tablet | – The Times of India

- Free Fire MAX is a battle royale game with enhanced graphics and multiplayer mode. - Ludo King is a modern version of the classic board game Ludo, with simple controls and vibrant graphics. - Pizza Ready! is a casual simulation game where players manage a pizza restaurant. - Hunter Assassin is a stealth-based action game that requires strategic thinking and quick reflexes. - FPS Strike Ops: Modern Arena is a first-person shooter with tactical missions and realistic maps. - Among Us is a social deduction game where players work together to identify impostors. - Moba Legends: 5v5! is a mobile MOBA game with team battles and unique heroes. - Indian Bikes Driving 3D is a motorcycle simulation game with challenging routes and missions. - Subway Princess Runner is an endless runner game with colorful graphics and fast-paced gameplay. - Six Clash Cricket offers a casual cricket experience with simple controls. - Real Driving: Vehicle and Park is a driving simulator focusing on precision and control. - Carrom Pool: Disc Game brings the classic carrom board game to mobile devices with multiplayer options. - Temple Run 2 is an endless runner game with fast-paced gameplay and engaging graphics. - Truck Games - Driving School lets players operate various trucks in realistic simulation environments. - Extreme Car Driving Simulator provides an open-world experience for driving enthusiasts.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Like going to the office in Animal Crossing: my most productive work-from-home experience this year was spending all day online in this virtual co-working game

The game On-Together has emerged as a social platform for remote workers, allowing up to 16 players to create avatars and engage in mini-games while working. It incorporates the Pomodoro Technique to encourage productivity through 25-minute work sprints followed by breaks. The game fosters a sense of community by allowing friends to join in, enhancing focus and efficiency compared to traditional task management tools. Co-developer Ilgın Saçan draws inspiration from early 2000s online chatrooms and emphasizes that remote work can be fulfilling without the loneliness often associated with it. On-Together is currently available as a free demo on Steam and will launch its full version on January 19, featuring new customization options and group areas.

AppWizard

November 14, 2025

Minimal AF: This app rids your Android phone of all distractions

The Olauncher app has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars from over 60,000 reviews on the Google Play Store. It features a minimalist interface that displays applications as plain text in a vertical list, allowing users to add only eight apps to their home screen. The app minimizes distractions by showing only the date, time, and total screen time, with a daily-changing background wallpaper. Users can lock the screen with a double-tap and access a settings menu by long-pressing an empty area. Olauncher integrates with Android’s Digital Wellbeing settings, allowing users to set daily time limits for specific applications. It is open-source, ad-free, and available for free download on the Play Store and F-Droid store, with a commitment to user privacy and no data collection.

AppWizard

November 5, 2025

The Séance of Blake Manor review

The Seance of Blake Manor is a mystery game set to release on October 27, 2025, priced at £17. Developed by Spooky Doorway and published by Raw Fury, the game involves investigating the disappearance of Evelyn Deane within Blake Manor, where players interact with over 20 characters, each with unique backstories. Gameplay includes listening at doors, using stolen keys, and piecing together clues from various sources. The narrative features themes of blackmail, revenge, and addiction, with a user-friendly interface that aids in investigation. The art direction employs flat colors and bold outlines, creating an unsettling atmosphere enhanced by supernatural elements. The game offers an 18-hour experience with multiple endings, encouraging replayability and exploration.