All articles tagged with #apps
Android Auto can do more than navigation and music. A SlashGear guide highlights four free apps—SpotHero for parking, Audible for audiobooks (with car-friendly mode on mobile), Vivaldi Browser for ad-blocking web browsing on the car display, and GameSnacks for safe, parked-time HTML5 gaming—demonstrating how Android Auto’s utility extends beyond basic apps with the caveat to avoid gaming while driving.
Samsung’s Galaxy Enhance-X launches a major update that revamps the UI into three tabs (Plugins, Home, History), adds three plugins (CinematicGlow, FilmStyle, SkyGuide), expands editing tools for photos, videos, and documents (including batch editing and document-to-JPEG/PDF conversion), and organizes projects by media type in History; version 16.3.00.31 (~173.5MB) requires Android 16 and One UI 8.5.
YouTube now lets you hide Shorts in the mobile feed by selecting a zero-minute Shorts feed limit in Settings > Time management > Daily limits. The feature, which follows a previously higher minimum (15 minutes) and recent parental-controls integration, pauses scrolling but may still show individual Shorts; you might need to refresh to apply.
Google launches a Windows desktop app centered on Gemini AI, offering an AI-enabled search bar (Alt+Space) that can query the web, local files, Google Drive and installed apps, with built-in Google Lens screen sharing; the roll-out is global and English-only for Windows 10+ machines.
Over the winter I tested a string of Android flagships—the Razr Ultra, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Unihertz Titan 2, Fairphone Gen 6, and Pixel 10 Pro—finding Android’s OS and automation generally superior, but the App Store and app availability still pull me back to iOS; after another complicated eSIM switch, I bought an iPhone 17, concluding phones are 'app machines' and that the iPhone best serves my needs, despite nagging iOS quirks and robocalls.
Samsung has published a list of satellite-ready apps that can work on Galaxy devices even without cellular coverage, enabled through carrier partnerships in Europe, Japan, and North America. Galaxy S22+ and newer models generally support direct satellite connectivity (with some markets also supporting select Galaxy A series), and service varies by country. Current satellite-ready apps include Find My Mobile, Google Maps, Google Play Services, WhatsApp, Samsung Account, Samsung Health, Weather, and X (Twitter), among others.
After selling Dark Sky to Apple, its creators launch Acme Weather for iOS, a forecast app that shows a primary daily prediction alongside several alternate forecasts derived from satellite, ground‑station, and radar data. The app uses closely grouped forecast lines to signal reliability and wider spreads to indicate potential changes, and it lets users report conditions on a map with radar, lightning, rain, wind, and other data, plus customizable notifications. It costs $25/year after a two‑week free trial, with an Android version planned.
A tech writer recommends five tablet-optimized apps: Reuters for a clean, centralized news brief; Kindle for reading on a bright, large screen (including comics); Tidal for higher-quality streaming; cloud storage via Google Drive or Dropbox; and Procreate for intuitive digital drawing. The piece emphasizes that tablets excel for reading, on-the-go work, and creativity, while noting caveats like Reuters’ subscription, Tidal’s lack of a free tier, and Procreate’s lack of built-in cloud backup.
Amid heightened tensions over Greenland, Danish developers report a surge in downloads for boycott-oriented apps like Made O’Meter and NonUSA that help shoppers identify US-made products and find European alternatives. While experts say the practical impact on the US economy would be small due to limited US shelf presence, the apps reflect a personal, consumption-based protest and spotlight how tech can empower quick consumer reactions to geopolitical events.
A Tech Transparency Project report identifies 55 nudify apps on Google Play and 48 on the Apple App Store that can digitally remove clothing and render users nude or minimally dressed, with 705 million downloads and $117 million in revenue; Google and Apple have removed many but Grok and X remain under scrutiny amid EU/UK investigations and lawsuits, signaling ongoing regulatory pressure.
The article highlights five lesser-known apps compatible with Android Auto that enhance driving experiences, including Pocket FM for audio stories, Fuelio for fuel expense tracking, VLC for audio playback, Angry Birds 2 for gaming, and EasyPark for parking management, emphasizing their features and benefits.
The article highlights seven top third-party apps for Apple Watch that enhance its functionality beyond built-in features, including fitness tracking with Strava and Nike Run Club, outdoor navigation with AllTrails, mindfulness with Calm, music with Spotify, and navigation with Google Maps, offering users a versatile smartwatch experience.
The article highlights five underrated CarPlay apps—Waze, Simple Radio, GasBuddy, SpotHero, and Weather on the Way—that enhance driving experiences by offering better navigation, entertainment, parking, fuel price comparison, and weather updates, based on extensive personal testing and user ratings.
The article highlights five essential apps for enhancing the Apple TV experience, including Infuse for media playback, Spotify for music and podcasts, Letterboxd for movie tracking, Asphalt 8 for gaming, and Moonlight for game streaming, emphasizing their features and benefits for users.
Smartphones are versatile tools that can be used for a variety of practical purposes beyond communication, including measuring, detecting metals, remote controlling devices, digitizing photos, creating 3D scans, navigation, health monitoring, and more, often with simple apps and built-in features.