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Best Chrome Web Store games in 2023
Want to have some fun on your Chrome browser or Chromebook? Here are some of the best games you can grab on the Chrome Web Store.
The Chrome Web Store remains an excellent resource for adding functionality to your Chrome browser or Chromebook. There are all kinds of extensions and add-ons for you to try, including themes to spice up your Chrome session and password managers for more security. The ecosystem of Chrome add-ons is really diverse but did you know there are also come games you can play there, too?
Where to get the best 4K wallpapers
Want to get the best 4K wallpapers for your device? Here are some of the best websites and apps to get them!
The right wallpaper is often the centerpiece of your phone or desktop. It's the first thing you see when you turn your device on it, and you see it every time you exit out of apps or minimize them. Having the right background can make your device feel truly like your own, whether that's a Windows 11 PC, a Mac, or even a phone.
Google's "About this Result" panel will show you why you got those search results
Google's About this Result feature is rolling out, giving users the ability to see why they're getting the search results they're getting.
Google's search results sometimes work in mysterious ways. Sometimes, you'll get exactly what you're looking for by using a vague search term. Other times, what you're looking for might not show up even by using the most specific search terms you can come up with. No one outside of Google knows exactly how the search results are picked, but that's intentional as the company's search algorithm is a business secret. A little transparency would be nice, though. That's why Google has been working on a feature called the "About this Result" panel, which gives users more insight into their search results and why they're getting those specific results. Today, Google is expanding what kind of info the panel shows to better give searchers an idea about what factors Google used to decide the results to show.
Kiwi Browser dev prepares to release Chromium updates more frequently
Future updates to Kiwi Browser will automatically be rebased on top of the latest Chromium version thanks to the "Kiwi Next" project.
There are a lot of third-party web browsers out there, many of which use Chromium as their base. One such browser available on Android is called Kiwi Browser, developed by XDA Senior Member arnaud42. Kiwi is aimed at power users with features like a built-in ad-blocker, crypto-jacking protection, and most importantly, extensions support, a feature that most Chromium-based browsers — notably Google Chrome itself — lack on mobile.
POCO X3 GT leaked renders reveal it's a rebranded Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G
The POCO X3 GT, a new device in POCO's X3 lineup, has leaked in the form of press renders, confirming it's a rebranded Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G.
Xiaomi's lineup of devices is a confusing mess. We've talked about it and complained a lot about it, and yet, it's still a mess. Nonetheless, their devices are pretty good, and Xiaomi's POCO lineup of smartphones is alright as far as price to performance goes. The Redmi lineup is also pretty good in that particular aspect. The POCO X3 and the POCO X3 Pro were both amazing devices for the price, and the company is looking for a third golden ticket with the POCO X3 GT.
Right-to-repair movement gets a big win as the FTC will scrutinize repair restrictions
Right-to-repair proponents in the U.S. got a big win as the FTC announced they'd investigate bad repair restriction practices from OEMs.
As companies like Apple and John Deere ramped up their repair restrictions, a right-to-repair movement slowly gained steam in the United States and Europe. The ideals behind the movement are certainly something we at XDA can agree with. People should be able to repair their own phones if they are able to, and companies shouldn't introduce arbitrary roadblocks that make it more difficult to replace parts. Companies that stand to lose an easy source of revenue from owning repairs are fighting tooth and nail to hamstring the right-to-repair movement, but with the growing anti-Big Tech movement, governments in Europe and America are starting to take the consumer's side. Last week, President Biden signed an executive order directing executive agencies to, among other things, limit the ability of companies to restrict repairs. Now, the agency with the power to do just that — the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC — announced that it will ramp up law enforcement action against illegal repair restrictions.
Nokia is lending its name to a new line of smart home lighting products
Nokia is getting into the smart home lighting game. Or rather, a company licensing Nokia's name is. They look cool nonetheless, though.
Nokia is a household name when it comes to mobile phones thanks to the brand's dominance before the rise of smartphones. Today, Nokia is no longer in the business of making phones, though you'll still see their name on the shelves since they've licensed their brand name to HMD Global, a Finnish smartphone maker. Smartphones aren't the only "smart" product that Nokia is willing to slap its name on, though. Meet Nokia Smart Lighting, a suite of smart home lighting and electrical control products.
Twitter is testing a downvote button for tweet replies on iOS
Twitter is testing Reddit-like upvote and downvote buttons for tweet replies in the beta version of the iOS app. Read on to know more!
As of lately, Twitter has not been afraid to experiment with new features on its otherwise straightforward social media platform. Some of those experiments like Fleets never end up taking off, but it's important for the company to try new features so users stay engaged in the platform. Today, Twitter is trialing a new feature that — if adopted — will undoubtedly be controversial. Some beta testers of the iOS app will start to see a different design for liking a tweet alongside an entirely new button to "downvote" a tweet.
'Backup by Google One' is replacing Android's phone backup tool
Google is launching a new backup service called "Backup by Google One" to replace the built-in backup tool found on most Android phones.
For a long time, transferring your information from an old phone to a new phone once you switched over to the latest and greatest thing could either be a very simple task or a very annoying one. You could use a proprietary transfer tool from your OEM, which would allow you to move most files over from your old phone, or you could use the more comprehensive Titanium Backup if you had root access. Alternatively, you could use the built-in backup tool available to all devices with Google Play Services installed, or a similar one offered by the Google One app.
Samsung teases new foldables are coming at its Galaxy Unpacked event in August
Samsung has sent out invitations to its Galaxy Unpacked event, which will be held in August 11th, also teasing new foldable phones.
In case you're not in the loop, Samsung is about to introduce to the market new foldable smartphones under its Galaxy Z series, following up on the success of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Galaxy Z Flip from last year. Both devices were modestly successful despite their steep price tags, consistently ending up in the opinion mill as some of the best phones Samsung has offered yet. Now, Samsung has sent out invitations for its next Galaxy Unpacked event, where Samsung is teasing the announcement of these new foldable smartphones.
Netflix is finally expanding into gaming, starting with mobile games
Netflix is formally expanding into gaming, starting with mobile gaming, as they've announced in a letter to investors. Read on to know more!
For a long time, Netflix has stood as the one and only video streaming service. But in 2021, the panorama is a little bit different. The market is currently scattered between several options such as Disney+, Paramount+, and Apple TV, and while Netflix is still one of the top players in the scene, if not the biggest one, they're definitely not as strong as they used to be, and their market share is dropping quickly. So logically, they want to branch out. And one market they've been eyeing for some time is the gaming market.
Google is killing off its standalone Bookmarks service
Google Bookmarks, a little-known cloud bookmarking service by Google launched in 2005, is being killed off by September 30th.
Pour one out for yet another Google service getting shut down. Google Bookmarks is a service that has been around for a long time, since it was first launched in 2005. All major web browsers include bookmarking, and with the advent of cloud syncing, your bookmarks can remain the same across device. Google Bookmarks, though, is completely separate from browser bookmarking, even from Google Chrome bookmarking. It's a barebones service that allows users to bookmark links or notes and access them from any device or computer. Now, the service is being shut down in September.
The ROG Phone 3 is finally getting its Android 11 update
The Android 11 stable update for the ASUS ROG Phone 3 is now available for downloading. Check it out on your device now!
The concept of gaming smartphones as we know them today has been with us for a few years, having been kickstarted with the Razer Phone. Bleeding-edge specifications and features to appease gamers and their needs have been at the forefront of the concept for these devices, and they've shifted a lot over the years. But one company that's consistently pulling it off right is ASUS with their ROG line of smartphones. ROG is one of the biggest brands when it comes to gaming PC components, and on the smartphone side of the aisle, they're a pretty big deal too. Last year's smartphone, the ROG Phone 3, is now finally getting Android 11.
Verizon joins T-Mobile and AT&T in using Google Messages for RCS
All major U.S. carriers are now using Google Messages for RCS as Verizon announced they're pre-loading it on their phones starting next year.
The RCS dream, having RCS replace SMS across the board, has not materialized as quickly or vastly as people hyped about the technology thought it would be, but the good news is that it's getting there. Google, as the biggest proponent of this technology, has rolled out RCS to people around the world, regardless of carrier support, through the Google Messages app, and millions of users (exactly 444 million a month across 60 countries, according to the GSMA) are texting their family, friends, and acquaintances over RCS every day. And carriers in the U.S. are getting into it as well. While their initial objective was to build a proprietary, cross-carrier app for RCS, they've since scrapped that and decided to just use Google's Messages app instead. First, it was T-Mobile, and then AT&T. Now, Verizon is joining in as well.
The first apps to use Android 12's Material You theming are here
The first third-party apps adding support for Google's new Material You design language, including Tasker and Sleep as Android, are here.
While native theming on Android is a concept Google has been flirting with for years, even going so far as to add support for a system-wide dark theme, full-on native theming to the degree other services like Substratum and other theming engines used to have was pretty much still unheard of, at least on stock Android. With Android 12 and Google's new Material You design language, though, they're getting much closer to that goal. Using Material You, Google's design language has gotten much more diverse and customizable, but it's going to be a while before we see it adopted in a widespread manner across apps. The good news, though, is that it's getting there. A handful of Android apps are now getting support for Material You theming in time for the third Android 12 beta.
Report: Xiaomi beat Apple to become the #2 smartphone vendor in Q2
Xiaomi has become the second biggest smartphone maker in the world, overtaking Apple, according to a new report by Canalys.
Xiaomi's growth over the years as a smartphone maker has been huge, especially throughout the past 5 years. They've gone from being an "affordable alternative" to being the main option of many users around the world, especially in emerging markets. The value proposition device lineups like the Redmi Note series offer remains unmatched and just keeps getting better, which has earned Xiaomi a solid following as well as device sales in the millions. But how big has Xiaomi become?
Google Workspace users can finally use Assistant on smart displays and speakers
Google Workspace users can now take full advantage of the Google Assistant on smart displays and smart speakers. Read on to know more!
Google Workspace accounts are great for users within a company as they give you most of the benefits of having a Google account applied within your company's specific context, but trying to use one as a regular Google account yields some interesting results. While they're technically just another Google account, it's weirdly crippled in some aspects. One of them is support for Google Assistant. Google Assistant on Workspace accounts has extra work-related features meant to integrate into your workspace, but it used to be a famously glaring omission from these accounts compared to regular Google accounts. And even then, you couldn't use it on smart displays and speakers. Today, that changes.
Google Drive on Android adds audio playback speed and notification controls
Google Drive's Android app has added support for controlling audio playback speed, as well as notification audio playback controls.
Google Drive has become a key part of Google's ecosystem of services. Every Google account gets 15 GB of free storage for hosting whatever you want on the cloud, and that quota applies for other Google services like Google Photos. Drive also does a great job at sharing your files with friends and family, but in the case of listening to audio files, you're given only rudimentary controls for listening to files stored on the platform without having to download them to your phone.
Google Recorder update brings support for more English dialects
Google Recorder is adding native support for more English dialects, including UK English, Irish English, and Singaporean English.
Google Recorder was first introduced back when the Google Pixel 4 launched in 2019, and it was pretty groundbreaking when it first launched, with features like automatic transcription using Google's own AI and voice recognition. And since it was first launched, it has been improved a lot. But the voice recognition is not perfect. And while Google's voice transcription already does a pretty good job picking up different accents, right now, it's a one-size-fits-all solution that works best on American English, which isn't ideal for other dialects. Now, support for more English dialects is coming to the app.
New Opera 77 update adds support for popout video conferencing and pinboards
Opera 77, the newest release of the Opera web browser for desktop computers, is now out, adding a couple of nifty changes. Check it out!
The most widely used desktop browser is Google Chrome, and it has been for a while, followed by Microsoft Edge. But there are plenty of third-party options for you to check out, one of which is Opera. Opera used to be arguably one of the worst options in terms of speed and features compared to its competition, but since it was rebased to the Chromium engine just like other browsers, it got a lot better. And it keeps being constantly updated with new features. A new update to Opera 77, the latest major version of the browser, adds several new features, including popout video conferencing and what Opera calls "pinboards."