travel Archives

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Google’s latest fraud advisory update keeps users keen on emerging threats

Google has released an updated fraud and scam advisory in anticipation of its inaugural Scams Summit, highlighting prevalent scam tactics such as customer support, package tracking, and toll road scams. The company has enhanced its Phone and Messages app with advanced scam protection features for Android users, integrating Gemini technology to detect and block potential scams. Google’s updated advisory also addresses risks from malvertising and counterfeit travel websites, while Chrome has received an update featuring AI-driven warnings for potential scams. Additionally, new scam protection features for calls and texts have been introduced, focusing on blocking actions when potential call scams are detected and identifying various scams related to toll roads, billing, cryptocurrency, and financial impersonation.

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

This new Android launcher is my new must-have app for foldable phones

Foldable smartphones often face software limitations, particularly with launchers, leading users to choose between restrictive first-party options and inadequate third-party alternatives. Octopi Launcher has emerged as a promising solution, recently launching in beta on the Play Store. It offers unique configurations tailored to both the smaller cover screen and the larger display of foldable devices, allowing users to customize layouts for different orientations and purposes. Users can create up to four distinct layouts, with options for portrait and landscape modes, and can easily set up new layouts with intuitive prompts. Octopi excels in widget management, allowing independent sizing of widgets and app icons without compromising icon size. It supports overlapping and stacked widgets, enhancing visual appeal. The app drawer offers customizable options, including traditional icon shapes or tiles that display app names. While Octopi is impressive, it is still in development, with limitations in its gesture library and basic search functionality. It is best suited for foldable phones, although it can still benefit traditional devices. Overall, Octopi Launcher is tailored for heavy customizers and shows promise for future updates.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Minecraft Is Getting A D&D-Style Tabletop RPG – Preorder The Adventure Book

Minecraft is expanding into tabletop gaming with the release of "Minecraft: Roll for Adventure - The Temple of the Charged Creeper" on July 8. The gamebook, priced with a 20% preorder discount, features a 224-page adventure where players track down Illagers in the Overworld. It includes rules, a bestiary, a removable character sheet, and four dice. The author, Matt Forbeck, has experience with titles like Dungeons & Dragons and Halo. The game is recommended for ages 10 and up. Additionally, a Junior edition of "Minecraft: Builders and Biomes" will be released on August 1 for players aged 5 and up. Other Minecraft-themed games include "Portal Dash," the Mattel Minecraft Card Game, and the Minecraft Explorers card game. Various Minecraft book box sets, graphic novels, and novels are also available, including "The Island" by Max Brooks. Upcoming releases include "A Minecraft Movie: From Block to Big Screen" and the "Minecraft Official Blocks Guide," with the film adaptation set to release on June 24 in multiple formats.

Winsage

May 23, 2025

Microsoft to Make Windows Agentic for New Web Experience

Microsoft is transforming Windows into an agentic AI platform, a significant evolution in its operating system history. At the Microsoft Build 2025 event, CEO Satya Nadella discussed the need to update legacy internet systems for the rise of AI agents, likening this phase of generative AI to past technological revolutions. Microsoft is developing an ‘agentic web’ to allow intelligent agents to interact with data and users. To support this, the Model Context Protocol (MCP), developed by Anthropic, will be embedded in Windows, enabling AI agents like GitHub Copilot to perform tasks beyond code generation, such as installing software and modifying system settings with user consent. Microsoft introduced Foundry Local, a tool that allows AI features to run offline on PCs, enhancing response times and privacy. The company also launched Copilot Tuning, enabling enterprises to customize AI agents using their own data and workflows. Additionally, Microsoft announced NLWeb, an open standard to convert any website into an agentic platform, facilitating AI agents' understanding and interaction with web content. Microsoft is collaborating with companies like Tripadvisor to implement NLWeb for autonomous travel arrangements.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft says 394,000 Windows computers infected by Lumma malware

Microsoft announced the dismantling of the Lumma Stealer malware project in collaboration with global law enforcement. Over 394,000 Windows computers were identified as infected by Lumma between March 16 and May 16. The malware is known for stealing sensitive information such as passwords and credit card details. Microsoft, with a court order, dismantled the web domains supporting Lumma's infrastructure, while the U.S. Department of Justice took control of its central command structure. More than 1,300 domains were seized or transferred to Microsoft, with 300 acted upon by law enforcement and Europol. Other tech firms like Cloudflare and Lumen assisted in this effort. Since 2022, hackers have been acquiring Lumma through underground forums, and it has been used in phishing campaigns and attacks on various sectors, including gaming, education, and critical infrastructure.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

I tested Gemini’s driving experience at Google I/O

Google is set to launch the Gemini update for Android Auto, enhancing hands-free functionality for drivers. The update will feature different experiences based on vehicle compatibility, with around 250 million cars supporting Android Auto and about 50 models equipped with Google built-in. Gemini allows for voice control independent of an Android smartphone, enabling tasks like adjusting climate settings through natural language commands. Vehicles with Google built-in will have access to the Google Play Store and integrated car manuals. Gemini will also include offline capabilities and streamline trip planning via voice commands. Most features will be available across all vehicles with Android Auto, with a rollout expected in the coming months. The pre-release version showed improved reliability over the previous Google Assistant.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Google Play adds topic pages, audio previews, and new subscription tools for developers

Google is enhancing its Play Store with upgrades for Android app developers, including a robust toolset for managing subscription-based applications, allowing developers to pause live app releases. New "topic browse" pages will help users discover apps related to over 100,000 media and entertainment titles, and the "Where to Watch" feature will expand to the U.K., Korea, Indonesia, and Mexico. Developers can integrate new visual content options, such as a hero content carousel and audio samples, which have increased app installs for Health & Wellness developers. Curated spaces for user interests will expand, particularly in Japan. The Play Console will feature a new asset library for organizing visual assets and provide new metrics for app listing performance. Subscription management tools will allow multi-product checkout and enhanced reminders about subscription benefits, reducing voluntary churn by 3%. Developers can offer a grace period of up to 30 days or a 60-day account hold for declined payments. The Engage SDK will support additional categories and markets, while the Play Integrity API will improve security with enhanced abuse detection and device security update checks.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

AI Mode levels up with new AI features, stealing Google Search’s spotlight

Google's advancements in AI Mode and Search include the rollout of a custom version of the Gemini 2.5 model, enabling users to pose complex queries. Project Astra introduces multimodal capabilities, allowing real-time conversations with Gemini using device cameras. The AI can process website elements and perform tasks like adding items to shopping carts or creating travel itineraries. Users can ask AI Mode to find specific tickets or activities tailored to their interests, with curated suggestions provided. AI Mode will enhance online shopping by integrating with the Shopping Graph, offering visually engaging product listings and a virtual "try-on" feature. Users can upload photos to experiment with outfits and track prices for products. The virtual try-on experience is being rolled out in Search Labs for U.S. users, with full availability of AI Mode in the U.S. starting today.

AppWizard

May 16, 2025

Minecraft Will Soon Let You Craft Saddles 15 Years After They Were Added To The Game

Minecraft was publicly released in May 2009 and gained popularity with frequent updates. In 2010, saddles were added, allowing players to ride pigs and later horses, but they could not be crafted and had to be found in chests or dungeons. After 15 years, Mojang announced an update that allows players to craft saddles using 3 leather and 1 iron ingot. This change addresses the long-standing frustration of players who could not create saddles despite the game's crafting focus.

AppWizard

May 15, 2025

Going contactless? Here’s how to set up Google Wallet on Android

Google Wallet is a digital wallet application for Android users that stores payment cards, boarding passes, loyalty cards, and more in a secure interface. Setting it up involves downloading the app, adding payment cards, and enabling contactless payments, with a smooth transition for existing Google Pay users. The app also allows users to check battery health and manage personal data visibility in Google searches. For Pixel users, it integrates with the Google Pixel 9's Reimagine AI feature for enhanced photo editing.