visual elements Archives

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Google Messages could get a dedicated spot to see all media from your chats

Google is experimenting with a swipe feature in its Messages app to improve navigation through pictures and videos, allowing users to reply to media without being redirected to the main chat. This update includes a quick-access bar for reactions and comments on media, and a dedicated media overview section for accessing older shared images and videos. These features are currently in testing and are expected to be available to all users in the coming months.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Here’s an early look at Google TV app’s Material 3 Expressive overhaul (APK teardown)

Google is updating its Google TV app to align with Android's Material 3 Expressive design language, featuring a more colorful interface with accented gradients and enhanced visual elements. A beta version has shown a revamped blue color palette, a new section for recent searches, and a potential "Hot and New" tab, although these features are still in development. The latest app version (4.39.3208.761013668.5) includes updates to the For You tab, making it more vibrant with an updated search icon and larger text and buttons. The floating action button has changed from gray to blue. The rollout of these design changes is expected after the stable release of Android 16 QPR1.

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

Google building audio-only mode for driving ahead of video apps on Android Auto

Google is introducing a feature for Android Automotive that allows users to switch seamlessly between video and audio modes while driving. Currently, video apps on Android Automotive can only be used when the vehicle is parked, but this new functionality will enable audio playback from video apps while the vehicle is in motion. This feature is available through an early access program for vehicles running Android 14 and above, and app developers must integrate it into their applications. Additionally, Google plans to extend video app support to Android Auto, which may include similar audio functionality.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Save 20% Off Two of the Best PC Games of 2025

Fanatical is offering a 20% average discount on two games released in 2025. 1. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is discounted by 22%, with its price dropping from .99 to .79. The game allows players to explore a sandbox world set in 14th century Bohemia, with 100% completion taking around 125 hours, though many players spend over 150 hours. 2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available for .99 after an 18% discount from its retail price of .99. The game features a turn-based combat system and has received the highest user rating on Metacritic. It explores themes of mortality and grief and has been praised for its narrative and emotional depth.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

A New Start Menu and More Major Upgrades Are Coming to Windows 11

Microsoft announced significant upgrades for Windows 11, including enhancements to the Start menu, Copilot AI, and utilities like Paint and the Snipping Tool. The Start menu will become larger, more customizable, and user-friendly, allowing users to view all apps at once, hide recommended shortcuts, and increase the size of the pinned apps panel. A "phone companion" feature will be integrated into the Start menu. These changes are expected to roll out to the Windows Insider channel within the next month. File Explorer will introduce AI actions for document summarization and image editing directly from the right-click menu. Notepad will gain AI text generation and summarization features, along with lightweight formatting options like bold, italic, lists, and Markdown support. Copilot Vision will allow users to interact with AI regarding on-screen content. Some features will debut on Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon chipsets, including an AI agent in Settings to assist users with adjustments and the Click to Do feature for scheduling meetings and launching Immersive Reader mode. The Photos app will introduce a relight feature for dynamic lighting control. Paint will gain capabilities for creating custom stickers from text prompts and an AI-powered object select tool. The Snipping Tool will receive enhancements like intelligent screenshot cropping, text extraction, and a color picker. The Narrator on Copilot+ PCs will be upgraded to provide rich descriptions of images.

AppWizard

May 2, 2025

How to use Gemini Live’s camera and screen sharing features

Gemini Live has transitioned from a voice-based AI assistant to a multimodal platform that can process camera feeds and screen-sharing inputs, enhancing user interactions with visual context. It requires an Android device with at least 2 GB of RAM and Android 10 or later, along with a Google One AI Premium subscription for access to camera and screen-sharing features. These features are complimentary for Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S25 users, and newer Pixel devices may offer a trial for Gemini Advanced. To share a live video feed, users must launch Gemini, tap the Live icon, select the Camera button, and ensure the desired items are visible. For screen sharing, users open the relevant app or screen, activate Gemini, and select Share screen with Live. Gemini can summarize content and answer questions based on the shared screen. The multimodal capabilities are particularly beneficial for scenarios requiring detailed descriptions, positioning Gemini Live competitively alongside other AI platforms.

BetaBeacon

April 26, 2025

Download PUBG Mobile (free) for Windows, Android and iOS

PUBG provides a complete gaming experience with uncertain challenges in each match, focusing on tactical gameplay and survival mechanics.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

Google may introduce an expressive new Material Design theme at I/O this May

Google is set to announce a significant update to its Material Design framework, focusing on enhancing expressiveness in app development, at Google I/O 2025 next month. Developer discussions have revealed a new theme called “Material3Expressive,” and a Google engineer confirmed efforts to help developers create more engaging applications. Evidence of this update includes a patch in the AOSP Gerrit related to “I/O 2025 Expressive talk code demos,” which introduces new code for the Material 3 Compose library. The update may refine the existing framework rather than completely overhaul it, with indications of a more visually engaging interface in recent Android Settings app updates. Anticipation for Google I/O 2025 is high, but the new design elements may not be immediately available in the stable release of Android 16, with a gradual rollout expected in future updates.

Winsage

April 11, 2025

The new Windows 11 Beta update makes widgets better than ever before

Microsoft's latest update for Windows 11 Beta introduces the ability to read MSN articles directly from the Widgets feed, allowing users to access full articles, slideshows, and videos without using a browser. Users can customize the visibility of the MSN feed on their Widgets board. The update also enhances Copilot+ PCs with an AI-powered semantic search bar for natural language queries and improves the Narrator feature, which now analyzes screen content to provide descriptions of images and visual elements for visually impaired users.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

SpyNote Android malware resurfaces in campaign using spoofed app install pages

A report from DomainTools LLC reveals that cybercriminals are using newly registered domains to distribute the SpyNote Android remote access trojan (RAT) by creating fake websites that resemble legitimate Google Play app installation pages. These counterfeit pages often include familiar visual elements to deceive users into downloading harmful APK files, such as a site mimicking the TikTok installation page. The downloaded files typically contain variants of SpyNote, which can conduct surveillance, harvest sensitive information, and execute remote commands on compromised devices. The delivery mechanism involves a two-stage process where a dropper APK installs a secondary APK with core spyware functionalities, utilizing JavaScript to trigger downloads from fake install buttons. Common characteristics of the domains distributing SpyNote include registration with NameSilo LLC and XinNet Technology Corp., hosting on infrastructure linked to Lightnode Ltd and Vultr Holdings LLC, and the presence of SSL certificates. The malware delivery sites contain code in both English and Chinese, suggesting a Chinese-speaking threat actor may be involved. SpyNote has been associated with advanced persistent threat groups targeting individuals in South Asia, including those in the Indian defense sector. Once installed, SpyNote requests intrusive permissions to access SMS, contacts, call logs, camera, microphone, and location services, and employs persistence mechanisms that make it difficult to remove. DomainTools advises users to be vigilant against spoofed app pages and avoid sideloading APKs from unverified sources.