wearables Archives

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Pixel Phones Get a Taste of Material 3 Expressive in Android 16 Beta

Google I/O 2025 has concluded, and the Android 16 QPR1 Beta has been launched, introducing the Material 3 Expressive design language. This update is the first Quarterly Platform Release following the stable Android 16 Beta program and is primarily aimed at developers and testers. It enhances user experience with a fresh visual design, which will also extend to Wear OS 6. Key features of the update include a redesigned user interface with increased space for widgets and apps, new system icons in the status bar, a colorful quick settings panel, expanded customization options, and enhanced controls for home and lock screens. The beta is available for various Pixel devices, including Pixel 6, 7, 8, and 9 series, as well as Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Google’s Find My Device gets a much-needed update

Google's Android operating system update on May 13 rebranded Find My Device to Find Hub, adding Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tag support and satellite connectivity for improved tracking. Google plans to partner with airlines to enable Bluetooth tag location sharing for lost luggage recovery, launching early next year. The update is part of the Android 16 revamp, which includes personalization options and the introduction of Material 3 Expressive. Additionally, Google I/O announced the transition from Google Assistant to Gemini Live across various platforms for a more intuitive AI experience.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

The Android Show I/O Edition: Everything that was announced from Android 16 to Android XR

Google is unveiling key features ahead of the Google I/O event, including Material 3 Expressive (M3), which focuses on enhancing user experience through color, shape, size, motion, and containment. M3 will introduce a vibrant UI for smartphones and wearables, featuring a new "tear away" notification system and playful animations. The Pixel Watch will have animations that follow the display's curvature, and Wear OS 6 will allow users to customize color schemes and watch faces. Google's Gemini AI will be integrated into more devices, replacing Google Assistant and enhancing interactions on Wear OS, Google TV, Android Auto, and Android XR. Gemini will provide hands-free assistance for Wear OS users and facilitate natural conversations in Android Auto. It will also improve content discovery on Google TV and offer real-time planning assistance in Extended Reality devices. To combat online scams, Google is introducing privacy tools with Android 16, including enhanced warning systems in caller and Google Messages apps, AI-driven detection of fraudulent messages, and a Key Verifier program for secure end-to-end encrypted communication. Google Play Protection will implement live threat detection for malicious app changes.

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Nerd Survivors, Templar Battleforce RPG, and more

Android users can find exciting deals on Google Play this weekend, including a 25% discount on Fitbit smart wearables, the launch of the annual Bose Mother’s Day sale for audio equipment, and a complimentary Best Buy gift card with the purchase of a Google Pixel 9a smartphone. Notable app offerings include "Nerd Survivors," "Templar Battleforce RPG," "Doom & Destiny Worlds," and "Heroes of Flatlandia."

Winsage

March 30, 2025

Revisiting Microsoft’s biggest canceled devices — from revolutionary phones to dual-screen PCs

Microsoft has scrapped several notable hardware projects over the years, including: - Microsoft Courier (2010): A dual-screen device with a 5.5-inch FHD LCD display and 3D Touch technology, shelved in 2014 due to complexities and costs. - Surface Mini (2014): An 8-inch Windows RT tablet designed for touch and pen input, canceled shortly before its announcement due to a shift away from Windows RT. - Xbox Joule (2014): A fitness watch intended to sync with Microsoft Kinect, canceled in early 2014 before the launch of Microsoft Band. - Microsoft Band 3 (2016): A refined wearable with improved features, canceled as Microsoft exited the fitness wearables market. - Surface Andromeda (2018): A dual-screen phone designed for pen and digital ink capabilities, shelved in 2018, with its hardware repurposed for Surface Duo. - Surface Neo (2021): A dual-screen computer with two 9-inch screens, canceled in 2021 alongside the discontinuation of Windows 10X. - Surface Cronos (2022): A planned mid-range variant of Surface Duo, canceled as Microsoft shifted focus away from new phone hardware.

AppWizard

March 2, 2025

The Android Central team picks the best fitness apps and watches they can’t do without

Brady Snyder uses the Nike Run Club app, having logged over 1,500 miles with it over the past decade. He appreciates its compatibility with various platforms and Garmin devices, user-friendly interface, and community features. For hardware, he alternates between the Garmin Enduro 3, known for its battery life and training insights, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, which excels in phone integration. He also uses the Strong app for strength training, Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds for workouts, and the Withings Body Scan for body composition monitoring. Additionally, he values the Garmin Venu 3 for weightlifting tracking, the Google Pixel Watch 3 for heart rate tracking, and the OnePlus Watch 3 for GPS accuracy and battery life. He utilizes the Yuka app for nutritional information and recently acquired the Galaxy Watch Ultra for its durability and battery life.

AppWizard

December 15, 2024

10 Top-Rated Health & Fitness Apps For Your Android Devices

Android fitness applications are essential for tracking progress and maintaining motivation toward health goals. Notable apps include: - Flo Period & Ovulation Tracker: Over 380 million users, tracks ovulation, fertility, water intake, physical activity, and mood, offers reminders and a content library on health topics, and includes a feature for couples to connect accounts. - JustFit - Lazy Workout: Focuses on home workouts without gym memberships, allows personalized fitness plans, and includes Pilates workouts requiring minimal equipment. - MyFitnessPal: Calorie Counter: Provides visibility into health profiles with a database of 14 million food items, features a barcode scanner, and integrates with over 50 apps and devices. - Calorie Counter - MyNetDiary: User-friendly for weight loss and nutrition management with over 1.7 million food items, an AI-powered scanner, and a community feature for motivation. - Pilates Workout at Home: Offers budget-friendly Pilates workouts with personalized plans and step-by-step video tutorials designed by certified experts. - Finch: Self-Care Pet: Introduces a virtual pet that evolves with user engagement in self-care activities, offering quizzes, motivational quotes, and journaling spaces. - Fasting - Intermittent Fasting: Simplifies intermittent fasting with customizable plans and a resource hub for tips, integrating with wearable devices. - Wysa: Anxiety, therapy chatbot: An AI-powered chatbot using CBT and DBT techniques for emotional support, includes mood tracking, mindfulness exercises, and options to connect with therapists. - TrainingPeaks: Designed for endurance coaching, offers structured training plans, real-time tracking with wearables, and advanced features for serious athletes. - Muscle Monster Workout Planner: A comprehensive workout planner with over 300 exercises, AI-driven guidance, and support for various training environments.

Winsage

December 12, 2024

Why do you continue using Windows 11?

Users are exploring alternatives to the default File Explorer on Windows 11, with OneCommander being a popular choice. Other options include Total Commander and Directory Opus. The recent release of Windows 11 version 24H2 includes new features like sudo support. Microsoft’s OneDrive integration has received mixed reactions, particularly regarding automatic backups. Many users are upgrading their gaming PCs to at least 16GB of RAM, with 32GB being preferred for modern gaming. Consumer-grade CPUs now commonly feature 16 cores and 32 threads. The Google Pixel Watch 2 has gained attention for its design and fitness tracking. Firefox is often the first app installed on new systems, followed by gaming platforms like Steam. Users are encouraged to maintain regular hardware updates, including BIOS settings. Drive partitioning preferences vary, with some users favoring multiple partitions for data safety. Greenshot is a favored tool for capturing screenshots among content creators. Intel has announced the Core Ultra Series 2 platform, codenamed Lunar Lake, which aims to enhance performance and battery life.

AppWizard

October 16, 2024

Wear OS 5 blocks one of the best watch apps and it’s high time Google fixes things

Google has introduced the XML Watch Face Format (WFF) for Wear OS, optimizing memory usage and enhancing battery life for smartwatches. However, this has led to a decline in creativity for Android watch faces, resulting in the loss of popular apps like Facer. The WFF restricts complex animations and features, limiting memory usage to 10MB in ambient mode and 100MB in interactive mode. Users of the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3 are left with default options or limited WFF alternatives, discouraging innovation. Facer is working with Google to integrate its service with Wear OS 5, but the transition requires converting its library of 500,000 faces to XML, which would strip away many features. Users would need to repurchase previously acquired faces, as the current Play Store structure lacks adequate support for developers. There are suggestions for Google to allow third-party installations of WFF faces or acquire Facer to improve watch face discovery.

AppWizard

August 14, 2024

Android game and app price drops: High Sea Saga DX, Dream Town Island, and more

Today's Android games and applications include pre-order promotions for the Pixel 9 handsets, offering Amazon credit, trade-in discounts, and deals on Pixel Buds Pro 2. Motorola's unlocked 2024 Edge is available at competitive prices, along with limited-time discounts on select Sonos sound bars. The Google Ace LTE Kids Smartwatch and Sony XM4 ANC Headphones are also featured in current promotions. Standout Android games include High Sea Saga DX, Dream Town Island, and Tropical Resort Story. High Sea Saga DX involves maritime adventures with treasure hunting, monsters, and rival players, requiring a skilled team and a well-constructed ship.