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AppWizard
August 12, 2026
Transforming an old tablet into an Android Auto head unit involves activating developer mode and enabling "Unknown Sources" to sideload applications. Alternatively, third-party tools like Android Auto Apps Downloader (AAAD) can be used to integrate unofficial apps. Sideloading carries risks, as these apps are not officially vetted and may malfunction after system updates. CarStream is a sideloaded app that allows users to access YouTube on their car display without rooting their phone, making it useful during parked moments. Fermata Auto is an open-source media player that plays local media files from a phone or hard drive, ideal for offline use. Screen2Auto mirrors a phone's display onto the car screen, allowing access to any app, but should be used with caution while driving.
AppWizard
August 10, 2026
A trend in the gaming industry has emerged, focusing on cleaning and organizing games, with titles like House Flipper, Power Wash Simulator, and Unpacking gaining popularity. This micro-genre traces back to the 1980s with the arcade game Bubbles. Recent games include Toy Shop Tidy Up, which debuted on August 7, and Cellar Keeper, also released on August 7, where players must sort 2,448 wine bottles. Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library! has become the most successful sorting game, achieving a peak player count of 29,469 and over 17,000 positive reviews. Upcoming titles include Never Sort By Color, TV Archive: Tidy Up Together, and Cleaning Up The Puzzle Gallery. The rapid production of sorting simulators reflects the commercial success of games like Librarian.
AppWizard
August 9, 2026
Devora Wilde is a video game voice actress known for her role as Lae'zel in Baldur's Gate 3. Her resume includes roles in Solasta 2, Clair Obscur, Crimson Desert, Split Fiction, and Red Solstice 2. Recently, she discovered her participation in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 after receiving fan comments and recognizing her voice in an audio log. Wilde often remains unaware of her projects until close to release, a common practice to prevent leaks. In Space Marine 2, she voiced multiple characters, including a servo-skull and a Cadian soldier. She has also voiced Tzarina Katarin Bokha in Total War: Warhammer 3, the female Arbitrator in Darktide, and a Sister of Battle in the Adepta Sororitas animation, Penitence, on Warhammer TV.
AppWizard
August 8, 2026
Many users of Google Photos have reported that the drag-to-select feature, which allowed for easy selection of multiple photos by dragging a finger across the screen, has seemingly vanished. Users can still initiate multi-select by tapping and holding a photo, but dragging now only scrolls the screen, requiring individual selection of images. This issue affects various devices, including Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and OnePlus models, with some users noting that the feature still works on certain devices like the Pixel 6 Pro. The situation appears to be a bug rather than a deliberate change, and users are awaiting a resolution from Google.
AppWizard
August 5, 2026
The Google Assistant will be discontinued on Android and Wear OS devices effective September 4, with users receiving notifications about this change. The Gemini chatbot is set to replace the legacy Assistant, which was initially planned for last year but faced delays. Dedicated versions of Gemini are available for connected speakers and Google TV. Google has assured users of a seamless transition to Gemini, which will become the sole assistant on Android devices after the legacy Assistant is phased out. The retirement process may take several weeks, during which users will gradually lose access to the old Assistant. The legacy Assistant will also be discontinued on Wear OS smartwatches, headphones, and Android Auto after the September deadline, but will remain available in vehicles with Google built-in until September 4, 2026.
AppWizard
August 5, 2026
Google will discontinue Google Assistant on Android devices effective September 4, 2026, replacing it with Gemini, a new AI-powered assistant. The phased removal of Google Assistant will take several weeks to implement across all devices, including mobile phones, tablets, Wear OS watches, headphones, and vehicles using Android Auto. However, Google Assistant will continue to function in vehicles equipped with Google built-in beyond the September 2026 deadline. Gemini will also be available on Google TV devices, Google Home speakers, and smart displays, though the rollout timeline for the Pixel Tablet is uncertain. The decision to phase out Google Assistant was initially planned for the end of 2025 but has been extended to 2026. Users currently have the option to switch to Google Assistant within the Gemini app, but this will soon become obsolete.
AppWizard
August 4, 2026
A game titled "This Game Costs 200 Dollars" was released on Steam priced at [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" 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: In an intriguing twist within the gaming industry, a title known as This Game Costs 200 Dollars has emerged on Steam, quite literally priced at 0. The game, described as a "psychological 'comedic' experience," boldly claims to be worth "every single cent" of its inflated cost. While skepticism might be a natural response, the allure of this unconventional offering briefly transformed its developer, 18-year-old Michael Major of Stolen Valor Studios, into a millionaire. The Backstory Major shared his unexpected journey with WMUR-TV, as reported by GamesRadar. Released on January 30, this game serves as a sequel to This Game Costs 10 Dollars, which debuted just days earlier. Initially conceived as a joke, Major never anticipated that anyone would actually purchase it. However, a few months down the line, he discovered that sales had soared to nearly .4 million. Despite the absurdity of the situation, Major maintains a light-hearted approach. He seems unfazed by the potential scrutiny that might come from critics, including any hypothetical backlash from a "Pyongyang button man." His nonchalant attitude extends to the game itself, which boasts a description of "200 dollars worth of pure joy, amazement, and awkward conversations." In a cheeky nod to its nature, the "about this game" section refers to it as "the swindle to end all swindles." A Unique Offering Throughout the game's store page, Major insists that This Game Costs 200 Dollars is indeed a legitimate game. He describes it as "a real mind-bending experience unlike anything that has ever been done before." While these claims may hold a grain of truth, the overall presentation is so absurd that anyone willing to part with 0 for it might find themselves questioning their decision. For context, the gaming landscape is not without its own peculiar pricing structures. Titles like Congratulations On Your Purchase and The Leverage Game carry ,000 price tags, while True Love is listed at 0. Even Beach Volleyball Competition, which offers a demo, comes in at 0. In any case, while Major may not have become an instant millionaire, he certainly made a notable profit, with documentation indicating that his net earnings from this venture exceed ,000—a commendable outcome for a teenage endeavor." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"], described as a "psychological 'comedic' experience." Its developer, 18-year-old Michael Major of Stolen Valor Studios, initially conceived it as a joke and did not expect any sales. However, within a few months, sales reached nearly .4 million. The game is a sequel to "This Game Costs 10 Dollars," which was released shortly before it. Major claims the game offers "200 dollars worth of pure joy, amazement, and awkward conversations," and insists it is a legitimate game despite its absurd premise. His net earnings from this venture exceed 0,000.
AppWizard
August 4, 2026
Security researchers found that several Samsung Smart TV applications, including Pac-Man, were embedding residential proxy SDKs from data brokers like Bright Data. In response, Samsung has banned the inclusion of residential proxy functionality in new app submissions and is working to remove existing apps with such software. The investigation by Norwegian cybersecurity firm Mnemonic revealed that the Bright Data SDK was integrated into various gaming applications, some promoted by Samsung. While Samsung TVs were not automatically sharing internet connections, the SDK could be activated remotely by developers, requiring user consent. Once consent was granted, the proxy service could operate in the background. Many Samsung TV applications were found to download most of their code from remote servers, complicating verification processes. The issue of residential proxy software is not limited to Samsung, as it has also been identified in various Android apps and devices. Following these findings, LG and Google have also taken measures to address the risks associated with residential proxy networks.
AppWizard
August 2, 2026
A Chromebook can be used for productivity, gaming, and entertainment, and users can sideload Android apps when they are not available on the Google Play Store. Sideloading involves installing Android Package Kits (APKs) directly onto the device, but caution is advised as these apps have not been verified by Google. Users should research APKs to ensure they are legitimate and free from malware. To sideload an app, users can enable Linux on their Chromebook and use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This requires enabling ADB debugging in the Linux development environment and using the Terminal to install the APK. Alternatively, users can run APKs using an emulator in Android Studio, which involves setting up Android Studio and creating an Android Virtual Device to install the APK.
AppWizard
July 31, 2026
Bitsight's investigation revealed that inexpensive Android TV boxes are being shipped with applications that can change their hardware identity, allowing them to impersonate popular smartphone brands like Samsung and Huawei. This operation, named Fuyao, is linked to Zhejiang Fengwo IoT Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese company established in 2019. The H96MAXV11 model was frequently reported among the affected devices. In one day, the operation received 65,957 reports from about 38,000 unique MAC addresses, with many devices misidentified as phones due to spoofed identifiers. Fengwo has also promoted over 120,000 "AI digital humans," though details on this marketing term are vague. The command-and-control server for Fuyao sends phone profiles to devices, masking their actual hardware specifications. The operation uses machine vision technology and a YOLOv8s object-detection model to identify advertisements. Bitsight documented 40 fraud tasks, 21 unique campaigns, and 166 modules across four devices. The operation's payout structure involves 144 operator-owned domains, with an estimated gross return of .25 per device daily, potentially leading to annual revenues in the millions. Attribution to Fengwo is supported by shared TLS certificate data and public patent records, although the patents do not directly address advertising. There is uncertainty about how the fraudulent apps were installed and at what point in the supply chain they were introduced. Device owners are advised to verify Play Protect certification and disconnect suspicious devices.
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