tweaks

BetaBeacon
October 8, 2026
An enthusiast named Odrannnn has created an unofficial native port of the classic game Metroid Prime for Android, Windows, and Linux systems. The port includes touch controls, radial menus, gesture-based controls, widescreen display support, adjustable field of view, mods, save transfers from the Dolphin emulator, uncapped frame rate, and customizable gameplay options. Users need a device running Android 9 or newer with ARM64 support and their own copy of the American version of Metroid Prime 1.00 for the GameCube to play.
Winsage
October 7, 2026
Microsoft is set to unveil the Surface Laptop Ultra at a Windows and Surface event in San Francisco on a date scheduled for 10 AM PT (1 PM ET). The event will focus on how local AI will influence the future of PCs, particularly following mixed feedback on the previous Copilot implementation. This is Microsoft's first laptop-centric event in two years, featuring speakers like NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The Surface Laptop Ultra will utilize NVIDIA's RTX Spark superchip, which offers 1 petaflop of AI computing power. Pricing details for the laptop are expected to be revealed during the event. Microsoft has confirmed that there will be no new operating system until at least 2026, focusing instead on enhancements to Windows 11.
AppWizard
October 2, 2026
Google has begun the rollout of Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1, with a stable release expected in March 2027. The beta includes a new Notes Quick Settings Tile for the Pixel 11 series, while the previous Notes lockscreen shortcut and homescreen widget remain exclusive to Pixel 11 devices. Changes to the status bar include a bolder VPN icon and enlarged Bluetooth and Airplane Mode icons. The Gemini Intelligence boot animation is now available on the Pixel 10 series. Several fixes have been implemented, addressing issues such as audio output device switching, app crashes, excessive spacing in application icons, NFC service crashes, device freezes with fingerprint unlock, and Wi-Fi connectivity problems.
BetaBeacon
September 30, 2026
Valve has released Steam OS for Arm devices, which has been ported to Android handhelds by developers. The Arm version of Steam OS can run from a microSD card on supported devices like the AYN Odin 2 family and Retroid Pocket 6. The performance of games on Steam OS Arm varies, with some games working well and others not booting up at all. While there are other apps available for playing Steam games on Android, the release of Steam OS for Arm devices is a significant development in preparation for a potential Arm-powered Steam Deck in the future.
AppWizard
September 29, 2026
Many Android users experience rapid battery drain, which can be addressed through simple adjustments. Key factors contributing to battery consumption include high display brightness and apps that refresh in the background. To improve battery life, users can manually lower brightness, enable auto-brightness, reduce screen timeout to 30 seconds, switch from a 120Hz to a 60Hz refresh rate, and enable dark mode on OLED or AMOLED screens. Two system features, Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery, can also enhance battery life by limiting activity and learning app usage patterns. For long-term battery health, users should charge their devices between 20% and 80% and consider using a charging cap feature to prevent overcharging. Identifying power-hungry apps through the battery usage settings can help pinpoint issues, and users can set background usage limits or put apps in sleep mode. Running a battery test can determine if the battery needs replacement if the status is less than Normal.
AppWizard
September 28, 2026
The Witcher 3 Remastered is set to release on September 29, featuring updated visuals, a reimagined skill system, an expanded photo mode, enhanced combat mechanics, an armor transmog feature, and various quality-of-life improvements. The release will occur at different times across time zones: 3 am PDT for the West Coast US, 6 am EDT for the East Coast US, 11 am BST for the UK, 12 pm CEST for Europe, 8 pm AEST for Australia, and 11 pm NZDT for New Zealand. There will be no preload option for most platforms, except for Battlenet users, who can preload the approximately 45GB update.
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