What you need to know

• Google debuts Lyria 3.5, its next-gen AI music generation that takes its musicality, lyrics, and vocal quality up a level in Flow Music.
• Creative control was highlighted as a strong point for Lyria 3.5, as users can control tempo, vocals, drums, and bass, alongside tools for track length.
• Google's Lyria 3.5 is rolling out in Flow Music today (July 29

The middle of the week features another AI model announcement from Google, aiming to advance its music generation capabilities.

This afternoon (July 29), Google's press release highlights its newest AI music generation model, Lyria 3.5. According to the company, this should "deliver higher-quality song generation." A subsequent blog post continued, stating that Lyria 3.5 advances the model's "musicality, lyrics, and vocal quality." Regarding the AI's musicality, Google states users can create more complex sounds that feel more "natural."

Prompt adherence and structural awareness are two key areas Google says it focused on for Lyria 3.5. Of course, the former should help keep the AI on topic and avoid lyrics that have nothing to do with your prompt. Lastly, Lyria 3.5's vocals are said to deliver "more expression," alongside updates to its AI's pronunciation.

All of this is wrapped in Lyria 3.5's updated creative control system. Google states users can control the song's tempo and duration a little more easily than before. Users will find options to alter their AI-generated song's vocals, drums, and bass. Moreover, the length of a track can now range from 30 seconds to three minutes.

Google states its Lyria 3.5 model is rolling out today in Flow Music.

Keep the beat with AI

In February, Google got off to a fast start with the launch of Lyria 3. Its highlights included generating songs up to 30 seconds long based on text prompts or photos. Lyrics, style control, and "more realistic audio" were also detailed in its debut. Some aspects of AI music generation continue with Lyria 3.5. Users should still be able to describe the feeling or vibe of the song they want, such as saying "a goofy R&B jam about a lonely sock."

Shortly after Lyria 3's launch in February, Google said it was preparing to roll it out for Dream Track in YouTube Shorts. Similarly, a few months later, Google Vids welcomed Lyria 3 and Veo 3.1 models. Lyria's involvement was particularly useful for users creating videos and looking for a short 30-second to three-minute-long beat or soundtrack.

What you need to know

• Google Photos removes an annoying extra step by letting you capture a photo and jump straight into AI editing.
• Generative AI tools like Remix and Photo to video are now easier to access, making spontaneous edits much faster.
• The new in-app camera workflow eliminates the need to switch between the camera app and Photos.

Google Photos is cutting out a frustrating detour in its mobile app, making generative AI features like Remix and Photo to video much more convenient for the average user.

The company has unveiled a new camera experience that lets you take a photo and go straight to AI-powered editing tools without first rooting around your gallery.

Until now, feeding a fresh snapshot into Photos’ generative suite required an awkward multi-step dance. If you wanted to turn a quick funny expression into an animated clip or stylized portrait, you had to leave Google Photos, open your phone’s dedicated camera app, take the photo, then reopen Google Photos and hunt through your album to select it. That friction made spontaneous edits feel like too much work.

The updated flow allows you to take a new photo within the app and jump directly into Google Photos’ editing interface, where AI tools are at the ready. That eliminates the usual routine of opening the gallery, finding the photo you just took, and then firing up the editor.

In the year since, the app has transformed from a simple cloud backup tool to an AI-first photo hub featuring things like Magic Editor, Reimagine, Auto Frame, and Ask Photos. The latest shortcut doesn’t add a brand new editing capability, but it takes away some of the friction getting to the tools that already exist.

For those who routinely touch up photos before posting them, the new workflow could save an astonishing amount of time.

Android Central's Take

I personally like this direction because it removes one of those small annoyances that tend to add up over time. If I know I’m going to clean up a photo before sharing it, I’d rather jump straight into editing than hop around the app. That said, Google does seem intent on bringing AI into every nook and cranny of Photos, whether you asked for it or not. This shortcut is genuinely useful, but I’d still rather Google spend those same efforts fixing the core camera and gallery experience instead of assuming every shot needs an AI makeover.

What you need to know

• Samsung Find is losing support on older Galaxy devices, meaning phones and tablets running One UI 2.0 (Android 10) or older will no longer receive app updates.
• Existing device tracking, SmartTags, and connected accessories will still work, and you can reinstall the latest compatible version from the Galaxy Store or Google Play.
• Samsung recommends upgrading to a newer version of One UI to keep receiving Samsung Find updates and long-term support.

If you’re hanging on to an older Galaxy phone, Samsung has some bad news: it’s drawing a line in the software sand. Following its decision to drop Samsung Messages, the tech giant is also removing support for updates for the Samsung Find app on any device running One UI 2.0 or older.

A new notice in the app says that Samsung Find is not getting updates on Galaxy phones and tablets running One UI 2.0 or older, which is based on Android 10. That means no new features, no bug fixes, no performance upgrades, and no future compatibility updates for those devices, as spotted by SamMobile.

Well, the good news is that Samsung is not shutting down the service. And if you have an older Galaxy phone, Samsung Find will work just like it does now. Compatible Galaxy devices, SmartTags, earbuds, and other connected products are still available. You can reinstall the app from the Galaxy Store or Google Play if you uninstall it, but you'll only have access to the most recent version compatible with your software.

There are a couple of caveats, though. Samsung says over time the app may not work with older devices and newer Galaxy hardware as it develops. Since unsupported versions won’t get compatibility updates, newer features added for recent Samsung phones may never appear on older phones.

Samsung says the move is intended to deliver a "more stable and high-quality service experience" for users on supported devices. If your Galaxy phone qualifies for a newer version of One UI, the company recommends updating both the firmware and the Samsung Find app so you can continue receiving new features and ongoing support.

Android Central's Take

Honestly, I'm not buying the "stable and high-quality experience" excuse. What Samsung is really telling us is that they’d rather you buy a new phone than keep squeezing an old one. Yes, supporting old-school software is a pain, but let's face it, this is a power play for planned obsolescence under the guise of a service upgrade.

What you need to know

• Google's latest System update brings Play services v26.29 and Play Store v52.5 with upgrades for Wallet, Wear OS, Play Games, and content discovery.
• Play services' latest version adds new Maps and Wear OS APIs for developers alongside unspecified system bug fixes.
• The Play Store is becoming more engaging, with a smoother Play Games Sidekick dashboard, comic previews in Play Shorts, and smarter travel app recommendations through the updated Engage SDK.

Google’s latest Google System update won’t grab headlines for fancy new tricks, but it does bring a handful of changes that could help make everyday Android use just a little bit smoother. The latest rollout brings Play Store v52.5 and Google Play services v26.29 with content discovery improvements, Play Games and Wallet updates, and Wear OS improvements.

On the Google Play services side, version 26.29 continues the trend of Google pushing new features out of full Android OS updates. Maps APIs for Android Auto, phones, tablets, TVs, Wear OS, and PCs are now available for developers, as are new utilities APIs for Wear OS. Google also managed to slip in bug fixes for system management and diagnostics on phones, but it hasn’t said what those patches are for.

Wallet gets the largest batch of changes. For new users, the update saves a few steps, as Pixel Watch owners can now set up Express Pay directly from the watch. Google is also renaming the “Connected apps” section to “Linked apps” on its platforms, a small change that better reflects how third-party services connect to Google accounts. For Pix users, Gboard now works within messaging apps, and there are new developer tools for digital wallet and payment experiences.

The Play Store’s v52.5 update is more about how you find and interact with content. Google says the Play Games Sidekick dashboard is now more stable and responsive, which leads to a gaming companion experience that’s less likely to experience hiccups. Play Shorts is also branching out beyond apps and games, with the addition of popular comic book previews that you can swipe through before you get to the full story if something catches your eye.

Google is also giving a lift to travel apps. With updates to the content clusters in the Engage SDK, third-party travel apps that are supported can now show your previous searches, helping you to get back to your trip planning.

What you need to know

• "Tuning" was spotted in a leak conerning Google's Gemini Daily Brief, which could bring specified customization tools to users.
• A report claims users can tell the AI what they want to see in their morning digests and what they don't.
• Gemini Spark and Daily Brief were a part of Google's I/O highlights, which turn the AI into a proactive assistant.

Google rolled out "daily brief' for Gemini earlier this past spring, and you couldn't avoid the Samsung Now Brief similarities. The company has reportedly kick-started development for a refreshing change.

Google often runs tests for many features, and Android Authority claims to have discovered its latest for Gemini's daily digest. The publication dove into a recent app version with tipster AssembleDebug, who discovered a "Tune your brief" function for Daily Brief. When tuning, the tipster claims users can open a sub-menu that offers a glimpse into what Gemini rounds up for you, as well as suggestions.

"Important events" and "action items" were a couple of items highlighted by the AI; however, it suggests adding email newsletters, updates from your child's school, and more. Much of this is coming from your connected Gmail and Calendar accounts. Alternatively, users can interact with the textbox for better customization.

AssembleDebug states users can write what they'd like to see more or less of in their Daily Brief from Gemini. By that, it seems that users can get specific, informing the AI of specific senders they'd rather not be updated about constantly every morning. Additionally, if there are emails you just can't miss, you can tell Gemini and "tune it" appropriately. The tipster reminds us that since this was found hidden in Gemini's app code, there's no telling when Google could roll this out (if it makes the cut).

Proactive AI

You might remember Gemini Spark from the days of Google I/O 2026. This is an AI agent for Google's main AI that's eager to become more proactive. Spark features deep integration with the user's Gmail, Docs, Slides, and more, and Gemini's Daily Brief was an extension of this mindset. Personalized morning digests are the main course in the AI's Daily Brief.

Google said, "Daily Brief goes beyond simple summaries by actively organizing and prioritizing information based on your goals, while also suggesting what you should do next." What the tipster found in this "tuning" leak is kind of what Google's feedback options did. Currently, users can thumbs up or down the information provided in their Daily Brief. It's not the best way to tell the AI what you want or don't want. Of course, directly tuning it will provide the best results.

Android Central's Nicholas Sutrich enjoyed his time using it, praising the AI for finally not feeling like a "ChatGPT prompt clone."

Sony has been doing all the wrong things of late, but I'm not here to rant about them canceling physical game discs today. I'm here to help you fix a very annoying, yet somehow super prevalent, problem. If you use the PlayStation app on your smartphone, you might have come across this issue.

I signed out of my secondary PlayStation account on my phone a few weeks ago and tried to log in to my primary PS profile, which has 2FA enabled for security. Unfortunately, I wasn't receiving any two-factor authentication text messages from Sony. It was the start of the weekend, which meant I'd have to wait two days before Sony's customer support came online.

So here's what I did to fix it and finally log back into my account.

How to regain access to your PlayStation app when two factor authentication fails

Usually, the correct thing to do is to use your backup codes when 2FA fails. And trust me, Sony's PlayStation app regularly fails to send a 2FA SMS. Just go to Reddit, and you'll find countless accounts of this happening (here, here, and here). PlayStation account users have even been prevented from logging in to their PS4s and PS5s because of this problem.

Anyway, I kept my backup codes in such a safe place that even I couldn't find them. So here's what I did.

1. Open the PlayStation app and tap Sign In.

2. Enter your email address and tap Next.

3. Instead of entering your password, select the Trouble Signing In? option.

4. You'll have to reset your password now by selecting the Recover Your Account > option.

5. You will be redirected to the account recovery portal. Enter your email address there and tap Send Link.

6. Once the password recovery email arrives, choose to set up a passkey instead of a password. This automatically disables two-factor authentication.

7. Once your passkey is set up, sign in to the PlayStation app using your passkey instead.

The PlayStation app can be your savior when you're locked out of your PSN account

Previously, PlayStation Network (PSN) users could use 2FA on their PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4 if they weren't sent a verification code via SMS. But that option is no longer available. So if you can't get your two-factor authentication code via text, you need to rely on your backup codes.

Thankfully, even if you've misplaced your backup codes, this hack lets you reset everything without relying on 2FA. Once a passkey is set up, it is tied to your password manager. So just make sure you don't get locked out of that!

What you need to know

• Google Play hosts The Auction at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), and there are rewards for visitors on-site and online.
• In the Play Store app, Play Points members Gold or higher can claim an exclusive digital case of rewards for a chance to score prizes.
• If you're at SDCC, Google Play encourages users to get their custom tote bag and unique keychain charms at the charms bar.
• The Auction runs from July 23 to July 25, and the final day at 5 pm PT is when the auction gets underway, hosted by Quenlin Blackwell.

SDCC (San Diego Comic Con) is underway, and Google Play is there to take in the sights while also giving away rewards for users on-site and online.

Google announced that it's hosting The Auction at SDCC, and people can snag perks and rewards to celebrate. If you're unable to make it to the San Diego area for the festivities, Google Play Points members can still have fun. Google states that users will find "Digital reward cases." For Gold Plus members, "can unlock an exclusive digital rewards case on Google Play for a special chance to score points boosters and surprise collectibles." Keep in mind, this includes Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Play Points members.

You can find these cases in the You or Perks tab in Play Points. The Special Event—Comic-Con in San Diego case ends on August 10, per the app.

Alternatively, if you're looking for "instant rewards," users can head to the Use tab to redeem "high-demand gear," like the Gen 2 Backbone One | DEATH STRANDING 2 Limited Edition controller.

Everyone who has made the trek to SDCC, Google Play is hosting The Auction. From July 23 to July 25, visitors can "step into an immersive space where tokens earned on-site are your currency." Google highlights a massive gachapon that visitors can spin for rewards. You can use your tokens to redeem a custom tote bag or "uniquely crafted keepsakes" at the venue's keychain charm bar.

Visitors can also score rewards for MARVEL Strike Force and Crunchyroll.

This all converges on a massive auction finale on July 25 at 5 pm PT hosted by Quenlin Blackwell. Visitors can bid on high-value items from an Emerald Gemagotchi Necklace with white diamond buttons on a 14K gold ball chain to a Herman Miller Vantum Gaming Chair. There's still time, and if you're not a Points member yet, get going.

Peep the rewards

Buying in-game items and other items through the Google Play Store helps you rack up points. In turn, these points level you up from Bronze to Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. In September, Google revamped Play Points, introducing new rewards. The inclusion of more prizes was for users in the U.K. Google teamed up with YouTube, Chrome, and developers to curate accessories and clothing options for points holders.

Shortly after, in December, Google Play Points brought the Pixel 10 Pro into the mix with a decent discount. If you had the points, you could get $250 off the Pixel 10 Pro, which knocked it down to $749 on the Google Store. However, the company said some users might've been eligible for an extra $200, knocking it down to $549. This was a promotion Google ran from December 15-27, so if you were there (and interested), it was a joy.

Android Central's Take

I would give my personal take on this, but you already know I'm a big comic book fan (and if you didn't... now you know). SDCC is always a great time. Seeing what's coming up from my favorite games, Marvel comics, and DC comics is a highlight. But please excuse me, I'm getting my rewards on Google Play.

Google's video-generation AI models are finally getting the Nano Banana treatment. Gemini Omni powers video creation in the Gemini app and replaces Veo. Now, the Gemini Omni model is coming to the Create tab of the Google Photos app. A new Video Remix feature helps you take simple video clips and transform them into something new using Gemini Omni, all without leaving Google Photos.

I gave it a shot, and while it's not a replacement for the full Omni experience in the Gemini app, Video Remix is pretty fun to use. You select a 10-second video clip, choose a Remix template, and wait for the reimagined video to generate. The results were better than I expected, even if I wish Video Remix supported longer clips. Here's how you can try Video Remix for yourself.

What you need to get started with Video Remix

Although the Video Remix experience is powered by Gemini Omni, you won't find it in the Gemini app. Instead, you can use Video Remix in the Create tab of the Google Photos app. It lives alongside Photo Remix and Reimagine, with the key difference being that Video Remix is made for short clips. Specifically, you can select a 10-second portion of a video to change using Omni and Video Remix.

Video Remix uses the following prompt templates to shake up your clips:

• Relight my video with a morning glow
• Add doodles to my video
• Set my video in a greenhouse
• Give my video an orange sunset glow
• Add shifting laser light strobes
• Paint my video in dreamy watercolor
• Make my video look like pixel art
• Give my video a tropical sunset background
• Put my video in a gritty subway scene
• Cast a magic hour haze in my video
• Cast my video in cool blue hour tones
• My video as a stop-motion sketch
• Turn my video into a moving oil painting
• Put my video in a Mediterranean villa
• Give my video a golden hour glow

As you can see, Video Remix templates vary from offering subtle lighting changes and background swaps to completely remaking clips in selected art styles. Google says that stable and steady videos work best with Video Remix, and warns that it might not always work as expected or could include audio.

For now, Video Remix is rolling out for paid Google AI subscribers. It's available in the following countries:

• US
• Argentina
• Bangladesh
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Egypt
• India
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• South Korea
• Turkey

If you're located in one of the above countries and have a Google AI Plus, AI Pro, or AI Ultra account, you're ready to start using Video Remix in Google Photos.

How I use Video Remix to reimagine my photos

I take a bunch of videos I rarely revisit, so I thought using Video Remix could be a fun way to play around with clips lying dormant in my Google Photos library. I had videos of dolphins from a boating trip and Meta Oakley clips from summer runs, and I used Video Remix to change them up. Here's how I did it, and how you can too:

1. Open the Google Photos app.

2. Tap Create.

3. Press Video remix.

4. Choose a template.

5. Select a video from your Photos library.

6. If your video is longer than 10 seconds, use the grab handles to select a section of the video to remix. Then, press Generate.

7. Wait for the clip to process. This may take up to two minutes. When finished, play the Video Remix output and press Save to add it to your library.

Now, you've created your first Video Remix. You can try again if the results didn't turn out as you expected, or choose a different prompt to get a new output.

Everything I made with Video Remix in Google Photos

Despite the short maximum video length, Video Remix's results were impressive. For my first test, I tried taking a POV-style video from one of my runs and turning it into a watercolor moving painting. Gemini Omni certainly nailed the effect, as you can see below.

However, the output felt too cartoonish for my liking. I tried the doodle Video Remix template next, hoping it would be more tasteful. The output was my favorite of all. It livened up a video of myself running across a bridge with sketched stars, outlines, and arrows. What was a mundane running clip turned into something ready for socials, which is the entire point of Video Remix.

For those that want an even subtler effect, there are lighting templates for Video Remix. I used the morning glow template on a video of dolphins popping out of the water, and it definitely changed the clip's appearance. See for yourself in the video below.

All told, Video Remix does what it says it'll do — unless there are human faces involved. In some cases, Video Remix won't generate a clip if it thinks there are faces of minors in the original video. This certainly makes sense for safety reasons, but it doesn't always get it right. Even when generating remixes of videos containing adult faces, the outputs don't usually match the original subject closely.

When to use Video Remix in Photos instead of Omni in Gemini

The Omni model in the Gemini app should still be your go-to for new video generations. However, for making small changes to existing clips, Video Remix in Google Photos is the better choice. I'd like to see Video Remix support longer clips and expand access to free Photos users. For now, it's still a great option for Google AI subscribers.

What you need to know

• The European Commission issued its first-ever Digital Markets Act fines against Google, totaling €890 million ($1 billion) for anticompetitive practices.
• Search took the biggest hit, with Google fined €460 million for allegedly giving its own services preferential placement over rival platforms.
• Google Play wasn't spared either, as the EU fined the company €430 million for restricting developers from steering users to cheaper payment options outside the Play Store.

Google’s battles with European regulators are far from over. After recently losing its fight against the EU’s record €4.1 billion antitrust fine over Android's market dominance, the European Commission has now issued its first fines against the company under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The EU announced that it has fined the company €890 million (around $1 billion), saying that Google broke the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by giving its own services an unfair advantage in Search, and limiting how Android developers can reach customers outside the Play Store.

The penalties are divided into two parts. Google was fined €460 million for allegedly favoring its products, including Shopping, Hotels, Transport, and Sports results, over rival services in Google Search. EU regulators said that Google's services were consistently given better placement and richer visual treatment than rival services, making it harder for competitors to get visibility.

The second fine, worth €430 million, was imposed on Google Play. The Commission said Google blocked developers from directing users freely to cheaper offers or alternative payment methods outside the Play Store. Under the DMA, developers should be able to promote those options without facing restrictive conditions, and Google’s steering-related fees were also found to be higher than what regulators consider acceptable.

These are the first fines that Google has received under the DMA, Europe’s landmark law aimed at reigning in the power of the biggest “gatekeepers” in the tech industry. The ruling also orders Google to change its Search ranking practices and its Play Store policy to comply with the law. Failure to take corrective action within 60 days can result in additional penalties based on the company’s global revenue.

Android Central has contacted Google for a statement and will update this article when we hear back. Anyway, the tech giant is expected to appeal the decision but will continue discussing possible compliance measures with regulators.

Android Central's Take

I don’t think most people will lose sleep over Google getting another billion dollar fine, but if these rulings push Google to give developers more freedom and make Search a little fairer, that’s ultimately a win for users. At the same time, I can’t help but notice the pattern here: Google changes its products, regulators object, Google appeals, and the process repeats itself. For years, you’d think we’d be talking about lasting fixes after billion-euro penalties instead of another chapter in the same regulatory saga.

What you need to know

• Google introduces Selfie Video, a new secure sign-in method to log into your account.
• Users will be required to set up a Selfie Video initially, running through Google's guided instructions before it's saved.
• Signing into your account with Selfie Video will compare your new recording with the initial one for verification.

As far as device security goes, or even account security, biometrics are unique. Google wants to advance that by using your face.

Google announced that it's adding a new way for users to sign into their accounts this week. Selfie Video is a method that will join Google's more security-conscious methods for account sign-in. Setting up Selfie Video is fairly straightforward. Google says it will walk you through the head movements you need to make so its software can "capture multiple angles" of your face. The Selfie Video you record initially is the original.

After you're done and you're looking to sign into your account, you can record a "new" Selfie Video. Google says it will compare the current video to your first one to verify you.

There are a few other ways users can sign into their Google Accounts. The company states Selfie Videos are here in case you're locked out. If you've forgotten your password or "don’t have access to your usual phone or computer," Selfie Video could help. Security—personal privacy, really—is an area Google knows is important to users. The announcement highlights the user's control over their video.

Your capture will be saved (and encrypted) on Google's servers "with your consent." Google says your video is saved for sign-in purposes "unless you opt to share it for additional purposes." What's more, users can delete their saved video at any time. It adds that when you call on Selfie Video for verification, Google deploys several layers of defense to protect your account from deep fakes, fake photos, and videos.

If Selfie Videos are your jam, you can get it set up.

Take a selfie

Passkeys are probably the most recognizable "strong" sign-in method that Google Accounts offer users. We've had passkeys as an option for personal accounts since 2023. The idea is to give passwords a nice (quiet) way out. Of course, you can still sign into your account with your password, but Google's kept pushing passkeys. This new security tech is reportedly 40% faster than typing your password. Passkeys were developed with the FIDO Alliance and are used across websites and apps.

Another good reason to rely on a passkey is that it can't be phished or stolen. Plus, you don't have to remember anything (phew!). It's worth remembering that since passkeys are a new security method, they've got their issues.

What you need to know

• Google says Chrome on Android now experiences 48% fewer scroll stutters than in 2023.
• The improvements are the result of nearly three years of engineering work.
• Google redesigned several parts of Chrome's rendering pipeline to achieve this.

If you've felt lately that the Chrome app on Android is smoother while scrolling through articles (like this one, even), it's probably because you're using the end result of three years of engineering work behind the scenes at Google.

While Google may be focusing heavily on new AI features, like bringing more Gemini into Chrome, there are also plenty of other improvements the company has been quietly working on for Chrome on Android. Take, for example, that split-second stutter you sometimes notice when scrolling through a webpage before it carries on as normal, which Google internally calls "scroll jank."

In a new engineering blog post, Google says Chrome on Android now experiences 48% fewer janky scrolls than it did back in late 2023.

According to Google, scroll jank happens when Chrome fails to update the page quickly enough to keep up with your finger. Even though the delay may only last a fraction of a second, it's still enough for the human eye to notice, making the whole scrolling experience feel jerky.

The company says that getting rid of those interruptions wasn't as simple as making Chrome faster. Google explains that Chrome's rendering pipeline is far more complex than a typical Android app because the browser spreads work across multiple processes for security and stability. That means there are far more opportunities for tiny delays to build up before a frame finally appears on screen.

To tackle the problem, Google first spent months instrumenting Chrome's rendering pipeline to identify exactly where scroll stutters were occurring.

It then introduced a series of architectural improvements over the following years, including rerouting touch input through a faster path, reducing communication delays between browser processes, and moving more work onto the GPU.

Google also worked alongside Android itself to prioritize the operating system's input threads, helping touch events reach Chrome more consistently, thus helping it produce frames more reliably.

Google went into a lot more depth about exactly how it fixed all this, but I won't bore you with the technical details. In case you've been wondering why Chrome doesn't feel so bad on Android anymore, this is why your feed might feel a little less jumpy than it did a couple of years ago.

What you need to know

• OpenAI is addressing a severe AI security flaw with Hugging Face that occurred during a simple "model evaluation."
• It discovered that GPT‑5.6 Sol and other pre-release models were involved in this incident, relentlessly breaching nodes and exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities until it gained internet access.
• OpenAI states it is committed to partnering and working with Hugging Face and others to solve this problem and roll out protections.

After what appears to be an "unprecedented cyber incident," OpenAI is getting candid about a nasty AI security incident during a "model evaluation."

A recent security incident involving an autonomous AI gave AI Hugging Face quite the scare. Now, OpenAI is discussing what its investigation into the matter uncovered as it partners with Hugging Face to develop protections. OpenAI explains that the incident occurred "during an internal evaluation which prompts models to pursue advanced exploitation using complex attack paths, in an effort to quantify their cyber capabilities."

These tests typically run in a "highly isolated environment," but some AI models broke through. Another unnerving discovery is that the AI models involved in the incident were OpenAI's GPT‑5.6 Sol and other pre-release models.

OpenAI says the models in question became "hyperfocused" on finding a solution for ExploitGym, and it went to "extreme lengths" to discover one. To solve the problem, OpenAI found that the AI would relentlessly pursue a way to access the internet. In doing so, the AI models found and exploited a reported zero-day vulnerability. Once the AI broke its isolation and got access to the internet, it was over.

OpenAI says, "the models inferred that Hugging Face potentially hosted models, datasets, and solutions for ExploitGym." OpenAI gives an example, stating the AI was able to "chain" attack vectors, leveraging stolen credentials and other zero-day vulnerabilities within Hugging Face's servers. The post states that Hugging Face identified the problem and launched quarantine (containment) measures, as well as the reconstruction of its open-source models to stop the problem.

Quite the fright

Hugging Face adds that it also deployed additional guardrails and "stricter admission" controls on its clusters to prevent this issue. The company also stepped up its awareness, so a "high-severity signal pages a responder in minutes, any day of the week." Hugging Face has begun working with a cybersecurity forensic specialist to conduct further investigations.

On OpenAI's side, it's working on stronger controls at an infrastructure configuration level. Partnering with Hugging Face has brought the company into its trusted access program. OpenAI says it is offering Hugging Face its support in this matter. On a related note, Hugging Face has informed its community members about a few potential next steps. Since security is a major concern, it recommends that its community members "rotate any access tokens" and review recent activity on their account.

Hugging Face remains committed to using AI as a defender for online systems. It says, "Defending an online platform now means treating the data and model surface as a first-class attack surface, and using AI on defense to keep pace. We will keep investing there, and keep sharing what we learn."

Android Central's Take

This sounds exactly like a sci-fi movie. I saw people in Hugging Face's comments mention Terminator 3... and that might be what I'm thinking of. My colleague Nicholas Sutrich said this was a "nasty AI incident." He's not wrong. These AI models were able to get free, exploit terrible flaws, and gain internet access. It was after the solution to a problem it was given. It didn't stop. Imagine that danger turned in another direction. Something much more crucial to us.

What you need to know

• A tipster reportedly discovered a new accessibility feature that Google is working on for Gboard called "Sign-to-text."
• This feature would leverage the user's camera and Google's AI to "translate" sign language into written text for messages or online searches and more.
• Android has several common accessibility features, and Android 16 helped to refine the hearing aid experience for Bluetooth LE-based models and more.

There are a few important accessibility features present on Android that help make devices useful. However, a recent rumor claims that Google is working on another, and it could be its most significant.

"Sign-to-text" is a feature that Android Authority claims Google is working on for its keyboard app, Gboard. Within the code of a recent Gboard app version, the publication claims it found a welcome pop-up for "Sign-to-text," an accessibility feature for users who communicate via sign language. The early description says it will "translate your signing into text messages, web searches, emails, and more."

As one might imagine, this Gboard feature would leverage your phone's camera to capture you signing. If you also expect this feature to rely on Google's AI, you'd be right. Together with tipster AssembleDebug, the publication found that Sign-to-text will "translate" sign language into written text. While the video is said to "never leave your device," Sign-to-text will send "points representing the movement of your body" to Google for translation before deletion.

There's still quite a bit unknown about this. The tipster couldn't find much else aside from the splash screen and brief description. There's also speculation about how good Google's support for sign language will be. Android Authority highlights that there are other sign languages out there aside from American Sign Language.

Accessible for all

As we mentioned before, Android has its fair share of accessibility options for users. Android 16 made two important changes for users who rely on hearing aids. If a user has a pair of Bluetooth LE earbuds, they can switch to their phone's mic to hear a call better. Additionally, users can adjust the volume of their hearing aids from their phone. Work to improve the hearing aid experience continued for Android 16 in December 2025.

In Google's year-end update, hearing aids were given Fast Pair support. The single-tap experience for pairing these devices to a compatible Android device was undoubtedly a major win. Google rolled this out for Demant hearing aids first, but planned to expand its support to Starkey devices earlier this year. Other than hearing aids, Android has accessibility options for colors and text size, but sign language is something fresh for its available selection.

Android Central's Take

I like that this has been discovered. It's in Google's code, yeah, but hopefully that means something. I've seen things like this disappear, as it's probably something Google is trying to see if it can do. I truly hope this is one that makes it because it would be huge for people who sign.

What you need to know

• Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1 is officially here, kicking off testing for Google's next Pixel Feature Drop arriving in December 2026.
• This beta includes fixes for Bluetooth reconnection failures, lock screen media glitches, Gemini-related reboot crashes, and touch input bugs.
• The update supports Pixel 6a through the Pixel 10 lineup, plus the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, and is available via the Android Beta Program and Android Emulator.

Google’s not wasting any time after wrapping up Android 17 QPR1. The company has officially kicked off testing of Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1, offering Pixel users and developers a first look at the next quarterly update expected to arrive as the December 2026 Feature Drop.

This release doesn’t come with any new user-facing features, but it does fix some annoying bugs that have plagued Pixel owners. In its official release notes, Google says it has fixed an issue where Bluetooth devices could fail to reconnect after losing pairing, with no indication there was a problem. There’s also a fix that stops media controls from flashing briefly on the lock screen when waking a phone, even if notifications for that app had been turned off.

The most important fix is maybe for Gemini. Pixel devices may suddenly reboot when launching Google’s AI assistant due to a system crash. Google also addressed an issue with touch input where apps would stop receiving touch events after users performed a drag-and-drop gesture with multiple fingers.

The Android 17 QPR2 Beta 1 is now available with build number CP41.260701.005 and supports most of the supported Pixels, including the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 series, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 8 series, Pixel 9 family, and the latest Pixel 10 devices. It’s also available through the Android Emulator, and users enrolled in the program can install it over the air via the Android Beta Program.

But the rollout brings a major change, too. If you still have a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, your beta journey ends right here. These devices have reached their guaranteed update limits, so the previous QPR1 branch is their final beta track.

Android Central's Take

I don’t mind if Google takes a break from dumping flashy new features on us if it means they’ll actually iron out the bugs that get in the way of using my phone. Not getting access to yet another AI gimmick is 100x more annoying than Gemini demanding a reboot or Bluetooth suddenly refusing to reconnect. That said, I’d still like to see Google spend less time playing catch-up with stability issues in the first place. Pixel owners signed up for a premium Android experience, not a free QA gig. If QPR2 delivers a smoother, more reliable phone by December, that’s a win. But it would be even better if these fixes didn’t have to wait for a quarterly update.

What you need to know

• Google Maps is finally bringing a live speedometer to Android Auto, closing a long-standing feature gap with Android phones and Apple CarPlay.
• The rollout is currently very limited, with reports pointing to a server-side release for select Google Maps beta users on version 26.29.02.946673643.
• The speedometer appears next to the speed limit indicator and changes color when you exceed the posted limit, making it easier to monitor your speed at a glance.

Google is finally checking off one of Android Auto users’ oldest wish list items. Google Maps has had a live speedometer feature on Android phones for a long time and even brought it to Apple CarPlay in 2024, but now it’s starting to show your speed on Android Auto as well.

It seems like the rollout is very limited for now. User reports from Reddit suggest that the feature is rolling out to a small number of beta users running Google Maps version 26.29.02.946673643, including at least one driver in Canada (via 9to5Google). As is often the case with recent Google Maps features, the update seems to be a server-side rollout, so simply updating the app doesn’t mean you’ll get it immediately.

The speedometer sits alongside the speed limit indicator when that information is available. Community reports say the speed read-out changes color as well if you’re driving over the posted limit, making it easier to spot at a glance without taking your eyes off the road for long.

As with everything, Google considers the feature a reference and not a substitute for the real speedometer in your vehicle.

The delay has been particularly puzzling, given that Android Auto has lagged behind both Google Maps on Android phones and Apple’s CarPlay, despite them sharing a lot of the same navigation experience.

With this update finally arriving, Android Auto is edging closer to feature parity as Google continues rolling out other navigation upgrades, including its new immersive Maps interface with 3D buildings, improved lane guidance, and easier-to-follow highway interchanges.

Android Central's Take

This is one of those updates that, for me, deserves a “finally” more than a “yay.” A live speedometer isn’t some new AI-powered thing; it’s a simple navigation feature that’s been on phones and even CarPlay for ages. I’m still pleased to see it coming to Android Auto, because it’ll give drivers one less reason to look down at the dashboard, especially when driving in unfamiliar areas with lots of speed limit changes. I just wish Google would be just as quick about practical quality-of-life features as they are with fancy add-ons.

Now that smartphones have become our de facto communication and note-taking devices, the need to type faster has become a priority for many. Whether it's a requirement for your job or it's a skill that'll help you in university or at an internship, I have valuable advice for you.

Many people still default to tapping each letter on their phones, but there's a better way. I learned how to type insanely quickly on my Android phone with a single hack, and while it's not a new feature by any means, I'm going to teach you, too. Once you've mastered this skill, your average words per minute are going to jump up.

How to type really fast on your Android phone

This demonstration was conducted on a Google Pixel 8 running Android 16 and using Gboard as the default keyboard. After explaining how to use this hack, I'll also explain how to implement it in Samsung Keyboard.

As long as you're using Gboard on an Android phone running at least Android 8, you're good to go. This "trick" is called swipe typing, sliding to type, or Glide Typing (on Gboard). The idea is that you don't lift your finger for each letter of the alphabet, only for each word, saving you a lot of time. Here's how to slide your finger across the keyboard to type faster.

1. Tap a text box where you want to type on your phone.

2. Instead of individually tapping the alphabet, slide your finger without lifting it. Pause on the letters for a microsecond, and lift your finger when you're done typing a word. A space is automatically added once you lift your finger.

If you're a Samsung Keyboard user, you'll need to head to the keyboard settings and enable the Swype mode before sliding your finger to type.

Swipe typing on Gboard is intelligent and intuitive

Gboard gets smarter over time, as does your swipe-typing accuracy. As you swipe over the alphabet, you'll get word suggestions in Gboard. Over time, you can teach Gboard what your intended word was by tapping the right suggestion.

Swipe typing also works with words added to your dictionary, such as names, slang, abbreviations, or words in another language. They don't have to be grammatically correct.

What's even cooler is that you can swipe to type in other languages too! I tried it with Urdu in Gboard, and it works just as well as it does in English. Plus, if you use a Wear OS watch with Gboard, you can use this hack on your smartwatch as well.

I attract so much attention when I swipe-text in public, and people are always curious about it. I've even had strangers ask me to teach them how to use the feature on a train!

It is not the fastest or easiest trick right away; you might actually type slower at first. But once you get the hang of it, it's very hard to go back to the "usual" typing method on your smartphone.

Apple's Find My network has long been a compelling reason to pick up an iPhone. It uses hundreds of millions of devices to track your products using crowdsourced location data, and almost everyone chooses to participate. Google lacked a true alternative for a while, but we've had one for the past two years with Find Hub (formerly Find My Device). It's still relatively new, so many Android users forget to use Find Hub or aren't aware of everything it can do.

I don't even remember to check Find Hub when I can't find an Android phone, Wear OS watch, or Bluetooth earbuds — but I'm starting to change that. Google Find Hub is loaded with features that help you keep track of your gadgets and protect your data in a worst-case scenario. These are the five Find Hub features you need to know about.

Check your phone's Wi-Fi network and battery percentage

Most people probably know that Find Hub uses crowdsourcing to update a device's real-time location so you can find it. You may not know that Find Hub can provide additional information about your phone, and this remote data can help you locate it. Crucially, Find Hub lists your device's battery percentage in the app — this lets you know how much time you have to find it before the charge runs out.

More importantly, Find Hub will tell you whether your phone is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network. It'll also let you know the strength of the connection signal. This only works when your device is online, but it can be very helpful. For example, if I see a phone in the Find Hub list connected to my home Wi-Fi network with a strong signal, I know it's in my apartment. If it's connected to my network with a weak signal, it could be in my car out front.

Sometimes, the information you get from a device's battery and connectivity status can be more helpful than the raw GPS coordinates. To try it for yourself, open Find Hub and tap a device in the Devices list. If it is online, you'll see when the device was last seen, its battery percentage, and network connection status under its name.

Find your device on a map, and get directions to it

If you can't remember where you left your device, its location data can help. I don't always turn to Find Hub location data first because, unless you're using a tracker with ultra-wideband (UWB) support, the app can't help you narrow down the device's location beyond providing GPS coordinates. Still, it can be useful if you can't remember whether you left your phone at home, at work, or at a coffee shop.

To check it, open Find Hub and tap the name of your device in the list. A map will open with a pin showing the device's last known location. You can tap the Get directions button to open Google Maps, view the coordinates on your device, and start navigating to them.

I use the Play sound feature in Find Hub more than the Get directions tool. If you think a device is lost near you, navigate to Find Hub > [Device Name] > Play sound to blare an alarm through your device if it is nearby and visible. It's really loud, and sounding the alarm gives you a great chance of locating your lost product.

Share ownership of a device with someone else

For accessories like earbuds, you can share ownership with a trusted friend or family member in the Find Hub app. The way it works is simple. Open the Find Hub app, find your device in the Devices list, and tap it. Then, press Share ownership and hit Continue. This will create a shareable link that can be sent to one person and expires after 24 hours.

When the person you share an accessory with accepts the invitation, they'll be able to see the device's location until you stop sharing it. This is helpful for devices you share with someone else, as both of you will be able to track their location. It isn't available for every device, though, and it's made for accessories. I used it with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, sharing the location with my partner so we both can keep track of the earbuds.

Mark a device as lost, and get notified when it's found

Of course, there are times when you lose a device away from home and might not be able to easily locate it. Find Hub can help in this situation too, with a Mark as lost mode. In the Find Hub app, locate your lost device in the Devices list and tap its name. Then, hit Mark as lost and Continue.

You'll be able to add a contact phone number or message that appears on your lost device. It'll completely lock down your lost phone, showing a black screen with a shortcut that allows anyone who finds it to instantly call the owner (you). When you find it, you'll be able to unlock it from this screen, but you'll need to use two-factor authentication. Alternatively, you can remove the lost device lock remotely using the Find Hub app or the Find Hub web client at https://www.google.com/android/find/.

Factory reset your device when all hope is lost

If you can't regain access to your device, Find Hub can permanently erase it to ensure your data is never compromised. This should be your last resort, as erasing a lost device remotely will remove it from Find Hub, and you won't be able to see its location. To do this, open the Find Hub app, find your device in the list, and tap it. Then press the Settings gear icon next to your device's name. Then, tap either Factory reset or Remove device — the former is for phones, and the latter is for accessories.

Completing the factory reset process will remotely wipe your lost device, permanently deleting all its data. This certainly isn't an easy decision to make, but erasing your device could be better than letting your data potentially fall into the wrong hands.

Google Find Hub works with Android-powered devices, Wear OS watches, Bluetooth accessories, and item trackers. When you learn to master it, you'll have a much better chance of finding your lost devices and items.

What you need to know

• Google is rolling out Android 17 QPR1 Beta 7 to Pixel users with a Pixel 6 or newer phone.
• The patch is lighter; however, it features a trifecta of fixes for the Pixel Quick Settings menu for issues that have been reported since January.
• Beta 6 rolled out at the top of July, achieving the major milestone of Platform Stability.

Google is following up on a huge milestone for its first quarterly Android 17 update with a beta that fixes issues Pixel users have been vocal about.

Compared to what Beta 6 achieved, Android 17 QPR1 Beta 7 might seem a little lackluster. However, what it does is roll out solutions to problems Pixel users have been reporting for months. Google shared its patch notes on Reddit this week, stating enrolled testers with a Pixel 6 or newer phone can begin downloading it. There are two issues that users have continued to report to Google. Both involve the Pixel Quick Settings menu.

Google states that it's rolling out a fix for "Battery Share from Quick Settings." Users have informed Google that Battery Share would "sometimes do nothing" or "sometimes it shows the wireless charging animation." Another round of Issue Tracker reports states that Battery Share wasn't working properly. The user says it would "turn off the second I try to turn it on." What's more, they state that the UI would incorrectly say their phone is wirelessly charging when "it's not connected physically to anything."

While Google has known about this problem since January, a fix is now rolling out for Pixel users in Beta 7 to solve a "failure to start charging" and "repeatedly displayed the charging animation." Two more fixes are rolling out for Pixel Quick Settings. Please read them below.

Quarterly update soon

• Turning off Wi-Fi created an empty gap between the battery and mobile data icons in the Quick Settings status bar
• A crash in the Quick Settings font size controller that prevented users from adjusting their text size from the quick access panel

The hope is that we're coming up on Google's first quarterly release for Android 17. Usually, this takes place around September. Google has been moving quickly with Android 17's development, so maybe the timeline has changed. Either way, QPR1 Beta 6 rolled out two weeks ago, achieving the major milestone of Platform Stability. This matters for both sides, but more so for developers. Better preparation for their apps to work with this new version can begin. For users, this means we're one (major) step closer to downloading it.

There was a Quick Settings-related issue in Beta 6, as well. Users reported that there was a visual glitch when "rapidly swiping" through the media carousel. The Quick Settings layout and settings icon were affected by this bug. Now, the company's rolling out even more fixes for Quick Settings.

What you need to know

• Google announced a Connected Apps expansion in AI Mode in Search, opening access to Instacart, YouTube Music, and Canva for U.S. users.
• These services let users lean on the AI for grocery shopping, as AI Mode asks for their preferred store before filling their Instacart bag ahead of checkout.
• Google states that it's working with other partners in preparation to add more services

Google's Connected Apps let users bring Gemini into their emails, Drive, and more. This experience is expanding this week, as AI Mode lends a helping hand.

Google announced this afternoon (July 16) that it's rolling out Connected Apps in AI Mode. The post states, "...we’re enabling you to directly connect your apps in Search." Connected Apps in AI Mode will roll out first for U.S. users, and it's adding three "go-to" services for users getting started. U.S. users can connect their YouTube Music account with AI Mode for playlist creation.

The company offers a brief example, stating users can prompt the AI to create a playlist for someone's birthday. Offering their age helps, as the AI rolls the time machine back to their birth year to create a playlist that blends the past and present. AI Mode will produce its results in your chat with it. Users will find the playlist's AI-generated title, number of songs, playlist length (mins/hours), and buttons to "add to library" or play.

Something to note is that AI Mode's playlists in YouTube Music will expire after a duration. Google recommends that users save their playlist to avoid losing it.

Instacart is another service users can let the AI leverage. If you're looking to get some groceries before a big party, you can tell the AI to "get me all the things I need for my BBQ and add them to my grocery cart." AI Mode will sift through your Google Account, Gmail, and more to gather the details, and since you mentioned "grocery cart," Instacart is where it'll lean to complete the process.

Users can select their preferred store, verify the items in their cart, and open Instacart to complete the transaction.

Let AI do the heavylifting

The final service arriving in AI Mode is Canva. You may know that this is a go-to app for creating flyers and other promotional material. Users can tell AI Mode to create a specific banner in Canva, alongside specific details, such as its theme, date/time for the event, and more. AI Mode will offer its results in chat. Users can tap on the individual AI creations to edit them in the Canva app.

Connected Apps in AI Mode are rolling out today (July 16) for U.S. users. Google says it's "working with a range of partners," teasing that there's more to come.

Personal Intelligence was a huge update for Gemini in January. This allowed users to bring Gemini into their personal lives by connecting Photos, Gmail, YouTube, and other apps. Users could ask Gemini to find dates from a recent string of emails or find replacement tires. The AI would look through emails and their photos to find their car's make and model before completing the search.

Google rolled this experience out in AI Mode, Gemini, and Gemini in Chrome for more U.S. users in March. It was confined to Google's apps, but this expansion gives users even more room to work with.

What you need to know

• Spotify announced that it's removing the Premium lock on Managed Account, making them free for all parents to create for kids under 13.
• Managed Accounts are a music-only experience, meaning kids' profiles will be private, non-discoverable in search, and parents can filter out explicit content and more.
• Kids will have access to popular playlists like Discover Weekly, Daylist, and Made for You.

Managed Accounts with parental controls are a good way for parents to get their kids into Spotify, but it was locked to Premium. Spotify's changing that this week, and it might be a huge win for parents.

Spotify announced this morning (July 15) that it's making Managed Accounts free for all parents on Spotify globally. It doesn't matter which Spotify plan you're on. Spotify says parents can "create a free Managed Account for their child in the U.S., UK, Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, with many more countries either already live or following soon." It teases Canada, New Zealand, and multiple European countries are coming soon.

Setting up a Managed Account is fairly simple. Parents can open Spotify > (side menu) Add Account > Create a Managed Account. Ads will be present if you're on a free account; however, Spotify says these will offer "helpful information about how to get the most out of the app."

Managed Accounts are focused on kids under 13. The experience is purely music-based, providing access to Spotify's music library and playlists (including playlist creation). Since a Managed Account is music-only, Spotify says its videos and Canvas content are turned off by default.

A few music discovery playlists that users have on Spotify are available for Managed Accounts. Kids can receive their own Discover Weekly, Made for You mixes, and Daylist. It's worth mentioning that while these playlists lean on the kids' taste in music, they will also adhere to the settings their parents have chosen. Spotify Wrapped is a huge year-end celebration of your listening habits, and kids will get one, too.

Safety in mind

Spotify has become a little more social over the years. Managed Accounts take a step back from those features. The company states Managed Accounts will not have access to messages and cannot upload custom profile pictures. What's more, a Managed Account is immediately made private and cannot be discovered via search.

Parents will have a dashboard of parental controls for their child's account. Users can filter out certain content they'd rather keep their kids away from, such as explicit music. Parents will also find settings to "manually manage the playback of specific artists or songs." If parents need to change anything, they can easily return to their parental dashboard for a Managed Account and alter its settings.

Android Central's Take

This is management made easy for parents. I've got a few family members that I know would've loved this a few years earlier. Better late than never, right? I think that these Managed Accounts should've always been free. It's not a bad thing to have had free for parents, as I'm sure many let their child use their account. There are still parents that will continue to do so, but at least there's the option to give them their own "account."

What you need to know

• Google is said to be testing a redesigned Android Auto media card that prioritizes playback controls over oversized album art.
• The new layout adds quick-access buttons like Like, Shuffle, and Repeat, depending on the media app you're using.
• The expanded controls appear to be limited to vehicles with larger infotainment displays, leaving smaller screens with a simplified layout.

Google seems to be rolling out a major usability upgrade to the media player in Android Auto’s dashboard interface, swapping out the oversized album art for quicker access to playback controls.

Android Authority spotted the new media card in an APK teardown, which replaces the current layout with a more compact presentation. The card prominently displays the album art, with track information positioned below it. The background is still a blurred version of the album art, but the biggest difference is a larger set of playback controls.

In addition to the standard play/pause and track skip buttons, Android Auto could also show app-specific shortcuts such as Like, Shuffle, and Repeat. The exact controls appear to differ depending on which media app you’re using, so podcast players and other audio apps may show different actions.

That’s a welcome change from the current design, which can require opening the full app just to access commonly used features.

But there's another catch. Android Authority’s teardown suggests that not all cars will display the expanded controls. It appears that a larger display on the head unit has room for these additional buttons, while smaller screens might revert to a simpler design.

The company recently added swipeable media cards and has been slowly rolling out interface changes it announced at Google I/O 2026, such as the new Immersive Navigation experience in Google Maps. This potential change looks like it’s a logical addition to the overall experience.

For the time being, the new media player remains hidden within recent Android Auto builds, and there’s no official release date. As with many Google experiments, there’s no guarantee it will ship in its current form. That said, if this interface makes it to stable users, it could make controlling music in the car noticeably faster with fewer taps and less time hunting for the buttons you use most.

What you need to know

• Google Images celebrates 25 years, and it's rolling out a new "immersive, browseable gallery" in July.
• Users will find a gallery in Images that updates in real-time based on their interests, with an added option to save content into "Collections."
• AI Overviews receives Nano Banana, meaning users can ask the AI to generate images based on their prompt.

This week marks 25 years of Google Images, a part of the company's search experience that's often overlooked. That's changing with a complete redesign that updates in real-time.

Today (July 14), Google is celebrating 25 years of its image search experience with an update that's going to change the game. The company is starting to roll out a complete redesign of Images, calling it a "brand new browseable home." In a way, Google Images looks inspired by Keep or the Photos app. Users will find images spread out, almost like a collage. Google says this "dynamic, immersive gallery" will still display results from across the web.

However, it will also "update in real-time, intelligently tailored to your unique interests." Google Images features a series of tabs right above its results. These tabs go beyond hopping between other Google-related results. Users will find "Saves and For You" tabs. The first influences the rest: users can save photos they find on Google Images to a "Collection" and name it.

Your Collections will appear beside the For You, so you can "jump back in and continue exploring based on what inspires you." This redesign for Google Images will roll out over the next few weeks for English desktop users in the U.S. Users are encouraged to sign in to their Google Account once it arrives.

The second update brings AI Overviews into the mix. Google says this update is for users who "have a highly specific vision where an image doesn’t yet exist." Google's Nano Banana brings its image generation capabilities directly into AI Overviews. Text prompts telling the AI to "create a visual" or "help me visualize" will produce "high-quality, custom visuals." The top of your AI Overview will show the generated photo, along with a few ways to tell the bot to tweak it.

Moreover, Google Images will appear beneath it with a few real-world examples that fit your prompt to help.

25 years of Image Search

Since this is a birthday bash, Google is walking back 25 years, back to where its image search started. The company recalled an update in 2001 after Jennifer Lopez's captivating green Versace dress stunned the world a year prior. Google said, "People didn’t just want to read about the dress — they wanted to see it. So in July 2001, we launched Google Images, making it possible for the first time to search and instantly explore visual content from across the web."

Eight years later, in 2009, Similar Images debuted. Web searches can often turn up results that you're not interested in. With "find similar images," users could ensure they got the results they wanted (i.e., bow and arrows, not a hair bow). Circle to Search in 2024 was a major milestone for Google after Lens took over in 2018 (then multi-search for Lens in 2022). Now, in 2026, Google has relied on its "intelligent search box" to help carry user queries for text-based and image searches.

Android Central's Take

I don't use Google Images that often. It's been like that for years. I use it occasionally for looking up cities in different countries, or for snapshots of movies. Google's trying to change that. This update makes Google Images a better assistant for inspiration or ideas if you're going to travel. The real-time updating aspect is another important aspect of this new sentiment that looks pretty good. Here's to another 25, Google Images.

What you need to know

• Opera says its monthly active users on Android grew 66% in the UK and 40% in the US year over year in Q2.
• Opera credits its growth to features Chrome lacks out of the box, like a free VPN, ad blocker, and built-in AI tools.
• The company says its European momentum has continued following the EU's Digital Markets Act, boosting both new users and retention.

Chrome may come preinstalled on almost every Android phone, but Opera says more users are actively choosing its browser instead.

Google has been working hard to add more and more features to Chrome on Android. We recently saw Chrome rolling out Gemini features to more countries, but it seems that still isn't enough to keep everyone on board. As it turns out, more and more users are switching to, or at least trying, third-party browsers, including Opera.

In its latest report, Opera says a growing number of users are making the move to its browser. According to the company, monthly active users of Opera on Android grew 66% in the U.K. and 40% in the U.S. year over year in the second quarter this year, suggesting that plenty of people are looking beyond the default browser on their phones.

More people are ditching Chrome than you'd think

The company says this isn't limited to the U.S. and U.K. either. Opera reports that its momentum across Europe has continued following the European Union's Digital Markets Act. It also notes that this isn't just about acquiring new users, but retaining them too, thanks to the kind of features Opera offers on Android.

The company credits its growth to features Chrome doesn't offer out of the box, including a free unlimited VPN, a built-in ad blocker, AI tools, and more.

Opera also says recent additions, like a dedicated football hub on its Android browser, have made it easier for users to check World Cup stats and details, which is bringing even more people to its browser.

Android Central's Take

I'm still firmly a Chrome-first user on my Pixel 10 Pro, but I've been giving Opera a shot over the past few months, and it's become my go-to second browser, if you will. Do you use different browsers for different tasks on your Android phone? Let us know in the comments below.

What you need to know

• Samsung Health's new AI consent comes with a major catch: Opt out of AI training, and you could lose cloud syncing and Samsung account backups for your health data.
• Samsung wants access to a wide range of sensitive information, including sleep, activity, nutrition, medical records, medications, body measurements, and menstrual cycle data to improve its AI models.
• Declining consent doesn't just disable AI features. Samsung warns it will stop syncing your health data and may delete previously backed-up records unless it's legally required to retain them.

Samsung is quietly rolling out a new AI consent prompt in Samsung Health, but its approach to user choice is already raising eyebrows. The company doesn't just offer users a choice to opt in or out of AI training; it ties the choice to cloud syncing, so if you opt out, you could lose Samsung account backups of your health data.

The folks at How-To Geek report seeing a new notice labeled "Consent to the Use of Health Data for AI Training and Modelling." According to the notice, Samsung requires permission to use a broad spectrum of health data to improve its AI models and health algorithms. That includes activity metrics like steps, sleep, nutrition, and body measurements; medication details; medical records; and menstrual cycle tracking data. Samsung also says some of this data may be reviewed by humans during AI training.

The controversial part isn’t Samsung asking for consent; it’s what happens if you don’t. If you disable the AI training option, you’ll get a warning that Samsung Health will no longer sync data to your Samsung account.

The notice also says that any health data that has been synced previously will be deleted, unless Samsung is legally required to keep it. That is, you can only get cloud backup in exchange for helping train Samsung’s AI.

The company seems to be promoting the collected info as fuel for smarter health features, saying the data will help improve health analysis algorithms and AI-powered experiences inside Samsung Health.

Privacy advocates and users are unlikely to object to AI improvements alone. The bigger problem is that a core feature — keeping your health history in sync across devices — now depends on an unrelated decision about consent. If you just want your fitness records backed up – without being part of the AI development process – Samsung’s current implementation doesn’t offer much room for compromise.

Android Central's Take

I’m all for AI getting smarter if it actually helps deliver better health insights, more accurate wellness recommendations, or earlier warnings about possible problems. Those are benefits to which most of us can relate. But the choice between contributing sensitive health data or keeping cloud backups seems an unnecessary trade-off. Consent only exists when it's freely given, not when one of your app's core features is held hostage.

What you need to know

• Gemini in Chrome is expanding to the UK, bringing Google's AI-powered browsing assistant to more desktop users.
• The AI works directly inside Chrome, letting you summarize long articles, compare information across tabs, and complete tasks without switching apps.
• Smarter AI features are coming , including conversation memory for personalized responses and Nano Banana 2-powered image editing from simple text prompts.

Google is expanding the reach of Gemini in Chrome, with its AI-powered browsing assistant now beginning to roll out to desktop users in the UK, a significant expansion for a feature that has been limited to fewer markets thus far.

So what do you get? This isn’t some dumb chatbot tacked onto your browser. Google says Gemini in Chrome is your own personal assistant, integrated deeply into your day-to-day workflow. It’s designed to quickly summarize super dense articles or compare specs across multiple shopping tabs without you having to change screens.

Google is also tightly tying the experience into its own ecosystem. You can schedule meetings through Google Calendar, look up locations in Maps, draft emails in Gmail, and even ask questions about YouTube videos without leaving the page.

Persistent context is another addition. Gemini in Chrome can remember information from earlier conversations so it can offer more tailored responses as you move forward. Google is also adding Nano Banana 2 capabilities to the experience, allowing users to transform images found on the web with a simple text prompt, rather than having to go to a separate AI image editor.

Of course, the deeper access that an AI assistant has to your browsing also raises security questions. Google says it’s built in safeguards for the experience, including protections against known prompt injection attacks and confirmation prompts before Gemini performs sensitive actions.

Android Central's Take

It makes a lot more sense to keep AI inside the browser than to jump between tabs, apps, and chatbots. If Gemini can reliably summarize pages, compare information and deal with quick tasks without slowing me down, that’s a real productivity win for users. That said, Google still has to demonstrate that this is more than just a flashy AI demo. Browsers are cluttered enough, and the last thing anyone needs is an assistant popping up everywhere just because it can.

What you need to know

• Meta has been pushed to remove Muse Image's capabilities in its AI chatbot on Instagram following user unrest.
• The AI could snag images of people from public Instagram accounts, turning them into unknown creations based on another user's prompt.
• Meta grappled with another privacy concern on its smart glasses, as an update now disables the camera if the privacy light is tampered with.

Meta announced the next step for its "people first" AI era last week, but it didn't sit well with users who saw its intentions for Instagram.

Meta came forward with a statement about its Muse Image AI after extreme user backlash hit the company. Reuters reports that Meta is now "discontinuing" the feature. According to the publication, Meta said, "We've ​heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so ⁠it's no longer available," when referring to Muse Image on Instagram. The company adds that it intended to deliver "a useful creative tool" and to give users "control" over their public imagery.

It's this last part—the user's "control"—that's caused an uproar in its own right. This feature quickly arrived on Instagram last week, but users were opted in for their public content to be used by others, prompting Muse Image in Meta AI. This was done without the knowledge of many, and when they found it, word quickly spread on social media to disable it.

Reuters quotes SAG-AFTRA, the union for actors and more, who said, "Anything other than a clear and conspicuous opt-in for these types of uses of Instagram users' images ​is unacceptable..." The union then highlighted the dangers of "nonconsensual digital ​replicas" as anyone can prompt Muse Image in Meta AI to take someone's photo and turn them into... anything.

What's unclear now is how Meta will proceed with Muse Image. The feature is gone from Instagram, but whether we could see it return in a different, perhaps, more acceptable capacity, isn't clear.

A lack of privacy

There's one thing to have an AI image generator that "creates" something based on the user's prompt. But users have been quick to tell Meta that the alternative, using real people's photos, is a line they're not willing to cross with it. Muse Image was launched last week and was quickly positioned as an image generator built on Muse Spark—new AI for a new era. One aspect that Meta kept pushing was that Muse Image can be "rooted" in your social circles.

This meant that people chatting with Meta AI on Instagram could @-mention their friend (or anyone with a public profile) and tell it to make something. It's not necessarily that the person consented to their photos being used. It's more that, well, their profile is public (or they haven't opted out), so Muse Image can snag it.

This wasn't the only privacy concern Meta had to deal with. Last week, the company rolled out a mandatory update that disabled its smart glasses' camera if the privacy light was tampered with. This update was the result of continued misuse of smart glasses technology, as the public detested "this creepy behavior."

Android Central's Take

I'd say I'm surprised. But I'm not. Right off the bat, the feature seemed strange. This is a big feature to opt everyone into. Most people didn't even realize it was there, or Muse Image's capabilities. Now that they do, it hasn't sat well with them. It's a privacy issue. It's the feeling you get knowing that someone can take your photo and make you look how they want. It's unsettling, and now Meta knows it.

What you need to know

• Google is rolling out AI labels for ads across Search, YouTube, and Discover to make AI-generated or AI-edited advertising more transparent.
• The new "Created or edited with AI" disclosure appears in My Ad Center under the new "How this ad was made" section, with the rollout happening globally.
• Ads made with Google's AI tools are labeled automatically, while advertisers using third-party AI tools must disclose AI use themselves.

Google is finally adding another layer of transparency to AI-generated advertising, giving people a better idea of when the ads they're seeing were created or edited with artificial intelligence.

The company announced in a blog post that ads across Google Search, YouTube, and Discover will now feature a new disclosure in My Ad Center that says “Created or edited with AI.”

To see it, tap the three-dot menu or info icon on an ad and go to the new “How this ad was made” section, which explains whether AI was used to create the ad. Google says the rollout is happening worldwide.

The labels work differently depending on how the ad was created. If advertisers use Google’s own generative AI tools, the disclosure will be automatically added by the company.

However, if they use third-party AI tools, they are expected to self-report by manually applying the label. In some markets those disclosures might even show up directly on the ad, rather than tucked away in the information panel.

Google says the update aims to help users better understand the content they’re seeing and give advertisers clear tools to meet evolving transparency standards.

The company has already made disclosures mandatory for digitally altered political ads and has broadened technologies such as SynthID and C2PA to help improve AI content identification. The broader rollout takes these transparency efforts beyond election ads and into everyday commercial campaigns.

That said, the system isn't foolproof. Only content created with Google’s AI products is automatically labeled; everything else is up to advertisers being honest about their use of AI. That leaves room for bad actors to slip through unless Google develops stronger detection methods down the road.

The latest version of Wear OS has landed, just in time for Android 17 to start rolling out on Pixel smartphones. Wear OS 7 is not a huge departure from Wear OS 6, but the update brings a handful of new features that are either available now or coming soon.

It's not immediately clear what's new with Wear OS 7 when you update your smartwatch. Fortunately, we're going to highlight the biggest changes coming to your smartwatch that you'll want to take advantage of.

Wear OS 7: Devices and availability

Right now, Wear OS 7 is rolling out to smartwatches running Wear OS 6. However, future Wear OS models, such as the Galaxy Watch 9, could arrive with the new update preloaded out of the box. The current devices eligible for the update include:

• Google Pixel Watch 4
• Google Pixel Watch 3
• Google Pixel Watch 2

In addition to the Pixel Watch series, we expect Wear OS 7 to appear on older Galaxy Watch models, including the latest Galaxy Watch 8 series. OnePlus watches, such as the OnePlus Watch 3, will likely also be updated, though it's unclear when they will arrive on Wear OS outside the Pixel Watch series.

We will update this section when companies announce their Wear OS 7 release schedules.

Wear OS 7: New features

Visually, Wear OS 7 is not a huge departure from Wear OS 6 and still employs Google's Material Expressive design language. However, the company made notable under-the-hood changes and introduced new features that are either available now or will arrive later.

Live Updates

Android's Live Update notifications are a useful way to keep an eye on the status of things like deliveries, sports scores and more. These are coming to Wear OS 7 devices, and will be accessible via the notifications view, which you can access by tapping the notification icon.

Remote Media routing and per-app auto launch

Changes to how your watch handles media are coming. With Wear OS 7, you can choose which apps auto-launch the media player, including YouTube, YouTube Music, and Spotify.

Additionally, when playing media, users can route the audio output directly from the watch. If you're playing music on your phone, you can use the watch to instead have audio played from another connected device, such as a smart speaker.

Android XR control

Android XR devices are coming later this year, and with Wear OS 7, you'll be able to control these wearables directly from your wrist. Google highlights one example in which, when you take a photo with connected Android XR glasses, the preview appears on the watch. It's unclear at the moment what other ways Wear OS 7 watches will connect to Android XR glasses.

Gemini updates

Gemini is getting some noteworthy changes, starting with the new Neural Expressive design language for a more fluid UI. But beyond looks, Gemini becomes more functional with the help of Gemini Intelligence. Users on Wear OS 7 can trigger automated tasks on their phones directly from Gemini on their wrists, and they can track the progress and completion of these processes on the watch.

Additionally, with Personal Intelligence, Gemini on your watch will be able to take your personal context from connected apps like Gmail, Search, and Messages to make more informed decisions and suggestions, providing more relevant responses.

Widgets

Widgets are the new evolution of Wear OS tiles, allowing developers to create more flexible and dynamic dashboards for your favorite apps to match those on your phones. Furthermore, using Gemini Intelligence, you can create your own widgets by telling Gemini what you want using natural language, allowing you to get the type of glanceable information you want.

Google Contact app updates

The Google Contacts app is getting some quality-of-life updates to make it more functional. When searching for a contact in the Google Messages app, there is now a three-button layout with the keyboard and voice text to make it easier to find the contact you're looking for.

Additionally, improvements have been made to the UI, including an updated Favorites list, new quick action buttons, and a larger contact photo.

Emergency Sharing updates

Loss of Pulse, Car Crash, and Fall Detection features in the Safety & Emergency settings now have the option to toggle on Emergency sharing. This will share your location and other information with emergency services if there is no response from you and the phone detects a fall, car crash, or loss of pulse.

Wear Workout Tracker

Wear OS watches often offer their own fitness and workout apps, but to help reduce development time and resources, Wear OS 7 now has a built-in Workout Tracker. Later this year, fitness apps like ASICS Runkeeper can tap into the heart rate monitor, media controls, and more, which can help standardize the fitness tracking experience across Wear OS devices.

Battery life improvements

Perhaps one of the most important improvements coming with Wear OS 7 is the boost in battery life. According to Google, users can expect up to a 10% improvement in battery life thanks to system-level power optimizations. This could mean at least a few hours of additional battery life, which is a lot for smartwatches.

One UI 9 Watch

Samsung's version of Wear OS is built with its own One UI skin on top, which it calls One UI Watch. With Wear OS 7, we expect Samsung to roll out One UI 9 Watch, which should bring new features and changes compared to One UI 8 Watch.

We don't know much about One UI 9 Watch at the moment, but it is expected to feature a similar, yet refreshed, interface. We can also expect new features and customizations, with Samsung set to release new Blood Pressure Trends with the update to replace Vascular Load.

One UI 9 Watch firmware has reportedly been spotted on Galaxy Watch 8 models, which suggests it's likely close to landing on our smartwatches.

We can expect One UI 9 Watch to arrive with the Galaxy Watch 9 series, which is expected in July alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The update will likely arrive soon after on eligible Galaxy smartwatches.

What you need to know

• Google Photos received another reimagining tool called "Video Remix."
• Similar to its other Remix option, Video Remix lets users reimagine a video with new lighting, an entirely different theme or style, and more.
• The Create tab's Remix was our introduction to this for photos in 2025, and a Remix option as since hit Google TV.

New AI capabilities are rolling out in Google Photos. Reality can be nice, but there are times when you wish you could remix it into something better.

This afternoon (July 8), Google Photos announced a new feature rolling out called "Video Remix." The Create tab in the Photos app is where you can get started. Google states Video Remix "transforms ordinary videos into share-worthy moments in just a few taps." The feature leans on Google's Gemini Omni model to handle the user's editing prompt.

On one hand, users can leverage Video Remix's easy templates for quick edits. However, you can also tell the AI what you'd like to change, such as lighting or style/theme. Video Remix can also reimagine your video's background. In an example, Google says users can take their video from out on the street to a greenhouse.

Video Remix is rolling out today (July 8) for eligible Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra subscribers. The following countries will see this: U.S., Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Turkey.

Create tab welcomes videos

We're no strangers to remixing things in Google Photos. After all, the Create tab was the main event in the app's update last summer. Google Photos received the same photo-to-video capabilities that Gemini did. "Remix" only concerned images at the time. Users could upload a photo and tell the AI to turn it into a Christmas party or a still straight from a comic book or anime.

At the time, Google said Remix and the other features in the Create tab were experimental. They only rolled out to U.S. users initially before others. Now, it seems Google has learned some lessons about how its remixing feature can help users, so we're seeing better availability.

AI creations have expanded this year, as Google TV got in on the AI hype. Photos that you've stored in your Google account can be turned into a "dynamic slideshow" for your TV's screensaver. What's more, even TVs got a Remix option. This works like all the rest: capable of reimaging images with totally wacky and fun styles.

What you need to know

• Meta AI announced Muse Image, its newest image generator that builds off what it started with Muse Spark.
• Muse Image is "rooted" in the user's social circle (or anyone publicly on Instagram), able of adding people into an image if they're @-mentioned.
• The latest AI also brings image generation to WhatsApp chats and 30 new effects for Instagram Stories.

Meta AI introduced us to its new direction with Muse Spark, and now the company's unveiling an AI model for image generation.

Meta got off to a fast start, stating Muse Image is capable of producing "precise edits and more personalized creations through Instagram." What's more, Muse Image pairs well with Muse Spark from its Superintelligent Labs. Muse Spark featured some hefty reasoning capabilities for user prompts, and Meta says the same tech is available in Muse Image. Its image generator understands complex prompts, and it can browse the web for context.

What truly stands out for Muse Image is how Meta says this AI is "rooted in your world." In Meta AI, users can @-mention someone they know from Instagram. The company says Muse Image will bring those profiles' images directly into your AI creations. The AI can only grab publicly available photos. Meta says it's giving users an easy way to manage how their content can be used for AI.

Once Muse Image is done, users can share what the AI created in Instagram Stories and group chat. Speaking of Stories, Meta says Muse Image brings 30 new AI effects for this feature, as well as image generation capabilities in chats on WhatsApp; however, this is starting "in limited countries with more on the way."

The AI's ability to understand the user's prompt is an important aspect. To make this as painless as possible, Meta says Muse Image can understand "simple, conversational language." Other than "high-quality" images, Muse Image can create infographics or how-to guides with fully rendered, legible text. Additionally, Meta says this text will be "styled to match" whatever you're going for, but users can likely tweak this further if necessary.

All about people

The ideas won't flow every day, and that's where Meta AI's "suggested presets" come into play. If you've uploaded a photo, Muse Image will have a few suggestions on what you can do with it. Perhaps you want to restore its former glory or reimagine it with a wacky theme. Elsewhere, Muse Image in Meta AI can help users redesign rooms with products sourced from the web and the Facebook Marketplace.

Moreover, users can edit photos directly in Meta AI, thanks to Muse Image.

While Muse Image's availability is limited for now, the company is preparing to roll it out to more countries and users who have Meta AI. Also, Muse Image is eyeing a home on Facebook and Messenger with additional updates for Instagram and WhatsApp.

Muse Image is the next step for Meta AI after it debuted Muse Spark in April. The company said this AI model was to bring us into a "people first" era. Muse Spark leverages multiple AI agents to handle user tasks with speed and accuracy. Muse Spark can help people create a small minigame and find answers for troubleshooting problems. More than that, Meta says that it wants to bring health assistance to the AI.

The company states that it's been working with over 1,000 physicians to provide curated training data.

What you need to know

• Meta is rolling out a mandatory update that disables the camera entirely if the glasses' privacy light is tampered with or covered.
• Earlier glasses only showed a prompt when the LED was covered, but users bypassed it by drilling holes or using mods.
• Meta will also remove ads and posts promoting tampering services and take action against any accounts linked to them.
• The change follows growing misuse of Meta's AI glasses and public backlash over the company ignoring the issue for so long.

Something that should've been here from day one has finally happened. Meta is rolling out an update that blocks users from recording with its smart glasses if they tamper with the privacy light.

Smart glasses are inherently a privacy nightmare. To this day, plenty of people don't realize that the glowing LED on Meta's AI glasses means they're being recorded, and Meta has finally taken a step to curb this creepy behavior.

The company has started rolling out a mandatory update for all Ray-Ban Meta and Meta's new glasses that will now disable the camera entirely if the privacy light is destroyed or tampered with.

Starting with its second-generation glasses, Meta tried to stop users from covering the LED with tape or other objects by showing a prompt asking them to uncover the recording light before continuing.

Tampering with the privacy light now kills the camera

Even then, users found workarounds like drilling into the holes, and modders came up with more sophisticated methods, but that shouldn't be possible anymore.

In its latest FAQ, Meta explains that the camera will now be physically disabled if the glasses detect that the privacy light has been tampered with or covered.

The company also says it's working across its platforms to remove ads and posts advertising these kinds of tampering services, and that it will take action against any accounts tied to them.

There's been growing misuse of Meta's AI glasses, along with plenty of public backlash over the company failing to address this creepy behavior sooner. It seems Meta has finally listened, and this is an important privacy change.

It's also worth noting that the update will be mandatory for all Meta and Ray-Ban Meta users.

Android Central's Take

About time, honestly. Meta let this creepy behavior slide for far too long, and it took public backlash to force a fix. I'm glad it's here, but I can't help wondering why it wasn't baked in from the start.

Google pulled a Google on Pixel Studio image generation, meaning the feature was killed just like countless other projects before it. Now that the AI image-generating feature is gone, there are still quite a few ways to create custom stickers on a Pixel phone.

Of the many ways, the easiest is as quick as a long press, whereas the other options require a few more steps. So, here are some ways I like to create custom stickers on my Pixel 10 Pro without Pixel Studio.

Note that my Pixel is running Android 17, but Pixels running Android 16 with recent updates should also have access to the same features. Make sure you update your phone and apps to the latest available versions in case you still don't see these features on your Pixel phone.

How to create custom stickers on Pixel phones with Google Photos

Google Photos is the native image gallery app on every single Pixel phone. Many Android phones also use it as the native image viewer.

To create a custom sticker from a preexisting image, first find the picture you want in Google Photos.

After that, simply press and hold the subject you want to make into a sticker. I usually use my cat, but this works with other animals and people too.

From there, you can past your sticker in other apps, including chats. You can also find them in the Collections tab on Google Photos.

How to create custom stickers on Pixel phones with Google Messages

Little did I know that Google Messages already has a sticker creator built into it. Now that I have found it, I am happy to share that it is incredibly easy to use.

If you want to create custom stickers from your photos, just open a chat in Google Messages and tap the smiley face icon next to the photo attachment icon in the text box. Then, choose the Photomoji option.

After that, either take a picture with the camera or select a picture from your device to create a sticker. Simply tap the send button to send the newly created sticker to the chat.

You can also use this sticker as a reaction image as opposed to the preloaded emojis, as a way to spice up your reactions ot messages.

There are still so many other ways to create your own custom stickers for messaging apps

Although we can no longer use Pixel Studio to reimagine our photos into fun stickers or simply create basic ones, there are plenty of alternatives to do so.

The simplest way to access the same image-generation feature Pixel Studio had is to open Gemini. Attach the picture you want to turn into a sticker, give Gemini the instructions, and it'll spit out what you need. However, the result will be a picture with an opaque background.

WhatsApp users will find that creating stickers in the app is child's play. Simply select the stickers option in the app, then tap the "create sticker" button to convert any image from your photo gallery into a sticker. There's no AI reimagination feature, however, so you'll have to rely on AI like Gemini for that.

What you need to know

• Google now counts Android backups like SMS, call history, and settings toward your Google storage quota.
• New backup controls let you choose exactly which data, including call history and settings, gets backed up.
• Google says the average Android backup is only around 40MB, so most users won't notice a major impact.

Google has started counting your Android phone's backup data against your Google account storage.

Previously, Android backup data, including SMS, call history, and device settings, didn't count toward your Google storage quota. The only backup data that did count was Google Photos and MMS.

However, as spotted by 9to5Google, starting July 7th, Google is now counting all Android backup data against your total Google account storage.

This means SMS, call history, device settings, and other app data will now all count toward your total storage. On the upside, though, Google is also giving users more control over what gets backed up. There are new toggles in the Android backup settings that let you manually choose what's included.

For example, you can choose whether to back up your call history, device settings, or app data individually, and turn off anything you don't need. You can find these options by going to Settings > Accounts and Backup > Google Backup.

The good news is that this will barely matter for most people. Google says the average Android backup is only around 40MB in size, so it's unlikely to make a meaningful dent in your total storage.

That said, if you have a lot of data to back up, you might need to upgrade to paid storage through a Google One or Google AI plan to get the extra headroom you need.

Google has already started rolling out the change. I can see it on my Pixel 10 Pro, and the company says existing accounts will get it in the coming months.

Android Central's Take

Honestly, I assumed Android backup data was already counting against my Google storage this whole time. Turns out it wasn't, so this change doesn't bother me much. What I do appreciate though is the new granular controls. Being able to choose exactly what gets backed up is something Android should have offered a long time ago, and I'm glad it's finally here.

Google and Android are pretty much synonymous, given that the former owns and develops the latter. However, over the years, Android has more or less grown into its own entity, spanning not just your phone but wearables, vehicles, and more. Meanwhile, Google as a company continues to expand its reach beyond just Android and Search, and lately it's been all about AI.

But we want to know how you feel about both. In 2026, are you a fan of Google and/or Android? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Google and Android in 2026

Google and Android have grown a lot since their early days. Google (and its parent company, Alphabet) grew from a simple search engine to a huge conglomerate with a hand in many aspects of our lives, including internet browsers, self-driving cars, internet service, and the very smartphones in our hands. And while Google has pushed the boundaries of AI for many years, things have only recently begun to ramp up exponentially with the advent of generative AI.

Google now sees itself as an AI company, and these days its focus has been on incorporating AI across its many products.

Still, despite bringing tons of fun and useful products over the years, Google has had its fair share of problems. The company is constantly in litigation over its practices and has, on several occasions, been found to be anticompetitive or maintain a monopoly in certain markets. It has also aligned itself with government contracts that consumers find morally questionable.

Google has also introduced a ton of products only to kill them shortly after, which has sullied consumer trust in the brand.

Fortunately, Android is one of the products that Google has not managed to kill. After buying Android in 2005, Google turned it into the world's most widely used operating system, spanning many different device types and price points.

Android has many faces, even just on smartphones, thanks to its open-source nature, and companies like Samsung have helped expand its reach and feature set. In fact, Android phones often adopt new features before iOS on iPhones.

That said, Android isn't perfect, and while it has certainly become more capable with Android 17, it's still seen by many as a second-class citizen when compared to Apple. Even in 2026, there are still plenty of popular apps that are launched on iOS before making it to Android. And when apps do come to Android, there are often quality issues that aren't present on iOS.

Additionally, unlike iOS, Android is not very consistent, especially when you move across brands. Samsung and Google's own Pixel smartphones tend to get new Android platform features before anyone else, leaving others like Motorola waiting on the sidelines, which some find frustrating.

But let us know in the comments how you feel about Android and Google and if you're a fan of one or the other (or both)!

What you need to know

• Google Maps may soon let you order food with Gemini, cutting out apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash.
• Hidden code in the latest Google Maps app points to an upcoming "Ask Maps to order food" feature, but it's not live yet.
• The feature appears to build on Gemini's Ask Maps experience, taking users from restaurant discovery to placing an order in one conversation.

Google Maps has long been the go-to app for finding a good place to eat. Soon, it may also be the app that orders your meal before you even arrive.

The latest version of Google Maps (26.27.00.941319029) has code strings hinting that the app could be used for more than just discovering restaurants and letting users order food via its Gemini-powered Ask Maps experience, as observed by the folks at Android Authority. If it works as intended, users might not have to get into apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash to place an order.

The strings refer to a feature called “Ask Maps to order food.” The feature isn't live at this point, but the wording gives one of the clearest glimpses yet into what Google is planning.

One of the promotional messages reads: “Tell us what you’re craving, find local favorites, and Maps will order for you — even when you’re on the go.” Other strings include a shortcut to “Order food,” a “Try it out” button, and an option to dismiss the prompt for later.

Gemini does the heavy lifting

The idea probably stems from Ask Maps, an AI assistant Google unveiled earlier this year. Gemini already has a feature that lets users find restaurants and attractions through natural-language conversations, instead of traditional keyword searches. It looks like Google isn't stopping at just recommendations. Instead, it looks like the next logical step is to complete the order for you.

We don’t yet know exactly how Google plans to do this. The big unknown is if Gemini will be able to do the entire ordering process in the cloud or if it’s going to lean on Google’s newer on-device AI capabilities.

Some of the functionality may require newer hardware to work too, such as the agentic AI features Google recently announced for the Pixel 10 series, which can do things like place orders, Android Authority points out. That said, Maps has always offered the same core experience across Android devices, so it’d be surprising if food ordering was limited to a handful of phones after all.

Then there's the question of what kind of ordering Google has in mind. The app’s strings appear geared toward pickup, implying Maps can order food while you’re driving.

If this feature sounds familiar, it’s because Google has tried in-app food ordering before. The company has also rolled out restaurant ordering into Search, Assistant, and Maps years ago with partners including DoorDash and other delivery services. This time, it’s the AI tier that’s different.

But for now there is no public interface to test and no timeline for launch. As with any APK teardown, just because you see the code doesn’t mean the feature will ship. Google builds a lot of stuff that never makes it into stable releases.

Android Central's Take

I'd be all for that if it actually helps me not bounce around between three different apps to get dinner sorted. If Google Maps can suggest a restaurant, order my dish, and have it ready for me when I arrive, that's a real quality-of-life upgrade. But Google also tends to add more features to Maps every year, and some of them don't stick. I’d rather see the company nail down a fast, reliable ordering experience than turn Maps into yet another bloated app that’s trying to do everything and does very little well.

What you need to know

• Google announced Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 is rolling out for enrolled Pixel testers a week after Beta 5 dropped.
• The patch is lighter, focused mostly on fixing issues Pixel testers have been reporting on the Issue Tracker.
• Beta 5 carried a significant number of fixes for Pixel users, such as solutions for vanishing widgets, the Game Dashboard, and more.

The next beta for Android 17's first quarterly update has crossed a major developmental hurdle. Here's everything Pixel testers can expect to find.

Google announced that Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 is rolling out now for enrolled Pixel users. As vCP31.260618.005 rolls out to Pixel 6 and new phones, Google states Beta 6 means the quarterly update has reached Platform Stability. This is a key milestone, as Google looks to begin preparations for a wider (stable) launch for phones. This latest beta is a bit lighter. Google only appears to have a few bugs it's looking to squash ahead of more testing.

The company states it's rolling out a visual glitch when "rapidly swiping through the media carousel." Google says users experienced this in the Quick Settings layout and settings icons. Another fix rolling in is the result of several reports across three Issue Tracker threads following Beta 5. Pressing the volume buttons was reportedly producing an unintended result in the Clock app.

The remainder of the changelog is as follows:

• Users were unable to select multiple spell checker languages
• An issue in WindowManagerGlobal that resulted in app crashes
• Enabling the Wi-Fi hotspot displayed a generic default SSID instead of the user's saved custom name

The work continues

Beta 6 has stunned Pixel testers. It's only been a week since QPR1 Beta 5 rolled out, and that patch carried a significant number of bug fixes. The last beta rolled out a fix for an Android 17 problem stable Pixel users encountered: vanishing widgets. So, while Google has acknowledged and seemingly already solved this problem, Pixel users still have a while to wait before it hits their phones (unless they're in the beta). On the other hand, Google rolled out fixes for the Game Dashboard, a screen freeze with the Always-On Display, and more.

Android 17 QPR1 hitting Platform Stability early in July probably shouldn't surprise us. Google rolled out Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1 in August last year, shortly after the Pixel 10 launched. Google's been quickening its development process and trying to work through bugs at the same time. There's a chance we'll see something similar take place this year, too.

I use Gemini for all sorts of things on my phone, from general assistant help and smart home control to generative AI creation. The app tries to be a jack-of-all-trades, capable of creating text, images, audio, and video from simple prompts. Gemini Omni is Google's latest video-generation tool, announced at Google I/O 2026 and bundled with the June Pixel Drop.

Gemini Omni's calling card is conversational prompts. Like how you can generate images with Nano Banana from simple inputs, Google wants you to be able to do the same with Gemini Omni. I tried it on my Pixel 10 Pro, and the experience felt way more polished than any Veo model. I don't generate AI videos very often, but when I do, I'll be using Gemini Omni going forward. Here's how you can, too.

Gemini Omni is a new model designed to create videos

Open up the Gemini app and tap the model picker, and you won't see Gemini Omni. You'll find 3.1 Flash-Lite, 3.5 Flash, and 3.1 Pro (availability varies depending on your Google AI subscription), but not Gemini Omni. That's because Gemini Omni is specifically designed for video. In fact, Google's landing page for Gemini Omni says we should "think of it like Nano Banana for video."

The model you'll be using in the Gemini app is called Gemini Omni Flash, and it's also available in Google Flow and YouTube Shorts. While it's wholly focused on video for now, Gemini Omni will eventually support image and audio outputs as well. The idea is that Gemini Omni will one day be able to "create anything from any input," which is a lofty goal. This will happen "in time," according to Google, but you can start using Omni for videos today.

Another oddity about Gemini Omni is that it's highlighted as a June Pixel Drop feature, but it's available on any smartphone. Gemini Omni isn't a Google Pixel exclusive; it's limited by your Google AI subscription status. There is a free version with strict rate limits, but more availability is reserved for Google AI Plus, Google AI Pro, and Google AI Ultra subscribers.

That's good news for anyone without a Pixel — everyone can try it in the Gemini app or on the web.

How I create videos with AI using Gemini Omni

Gemini Omni is designed to support multiple inputs and conversational prompts. In other words, anyone can use it. Here's how to get started:

1. Open the Gemini app.

2. Tap the + button and select Videos.

3. Now, you'll see the Gemini Omni prompting box. Tap the bottom-left button to upload a photo or video as part of your prompt, or press the bottom-right button to choose between a Landscape or Portrait aspect ratio.

4. Next, come up with a text prompt. You can type your prompt or tap the microphone button to record an audio snippet as part of your prompt.

5. Tap the Send arrow to submit your prompt to Gemini Omni.

6. Wait for your video to generate. You may see the following message: "I'm generating your video. This could take a few minutes, so check back to see when your video is ready.

7. When your video is ready, you can hit the Share button to create a public link to it. Or you can tap the three-button menu and select Save video to download it to your device.

Now, you've created your first video with Gemini Omni. Remember, you can use any mix of text, images, audio, or video to inform your Gemini Omni prompt.

If you're not sure where to start, you can tap one of the suggestions on the Gemini Omni page. It'll tell you exactly what it needs to generate a video. For example, the Talking pets suggestion will ask you for a picture of your pet to customize the output.

Should you use Veo or Gemini Omni for videos?

Gemini Omni is replacing Veo models in the Gemini app, although you'll still be able to find Veo models in other Google products. I've used both, and my vote goes to Gemini Omni. With its broad support for inputs and easy-to-follow suggestions, it doesn't take much skill to create a fun AI video with Omni.

I made a video of my seafood dinner coming to life and jumping off the plate, and well, Gemini Omni did its job. I'm not sure how often I'll turn to Omni to generate videos with AI, but I know it's up to the task.

What you need to know

• Google's NotebookLM now condenses massive documents and notes into 60-second, TikTok-style vertical videos.
• The feature is fueled by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite Image, Google’s fastest and most cost-efficient image generation model, boasting four-second render times.
• Google is also previewing a robust full-video generation model that supports natural language editing, multimodal inputs, and native audio syncing.

Nobody really enjoys reading through a massive stack of notes or a 50-page research document when they're cramped for time. Google knows this, and so it’s rolling out a huge upgrade to NotebookLM that takes your uploaded documents and turns them into bite-sized, 60-second AI-generated videos.

For the uninitiated, NotebookLM started out as a simple AI research assistant, but it’s now a powerful learning tool. The latest feature, Short Video Overviews, expands on the Cinematic Video Overviews we saw earlier. But the real star of the show is the engine that powers it: Google's new Nano Banana 2 Lite.

Officially dubbed Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite Image, Nano Banana 2 Lite is Google’s fastest and most cost-efficient image generation model to date. You get a whopping four-second image generation time and a big jump in visual quality over the original Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (the first Nano Banana). This engine combines world knowledge with rock-solid consistency of character. It lets you quickly sketch accurate scenes, develop storyboarding tools and render legible typography for localized ads without compromising object fidelity.

Using Short Video Overviews in NotebookLM activates this model, which condenses your sources into a vertical video packed with narrative explanations and educational animations. It's purpose-built for people revising notes, presentations, or lengthy PDFs who just want the key takeaways. Before generating, you simply select "Short" from the output formats (alongside Explainer and Cinematic), pick your specific sources, and set the video's focus using a custom prompt or a suggested topic.

Alongside this, Google also pushed Gemini Omni Flash into public preview. This model is aimed at full video generation, with conversational editing (relighting scenes and swapping characters with natural language) and multimodal inputs. It has native audio pairing for each video output and syncs on-screen text with kinetic movements.

Short Video Overviews aren't available to everyone just yet. The feature begins rolling out over the coming weeks to English-speaking users aged 18 and older. When it goes live, you’ll be able to access it on the web, Android and iOS, whether you’re signed into a regular consumer account or Google Workspace.

Android Central's Take

If you’re a student cramming for finals or someone who hates reading dense reports, turning a 50-page PDF into a digestible, TikTok-style recap is a massive win. But are we really so allergic to actual reading that we need an AI to hallucinate a 60-second clip from our notes? Google wants to sell the service as the ultimate productivity hack, but it feels disturbingly like a crutch for our fast-shrinking attention spans.

What you need to know

• Mishaal Rahman, an employee of Google's Community engagement for Android, teased Android 17's upcoming foldable gaming mode.
• This gaming mode would split a foldable's screen during gameplay, featuring the game at the top half and a virtual gamepad below that.
• It's a full gamepad, featuring all the buttons you'd expect from a PlayStation or Nintendo controller, and users will be able to customize it.
• Rahman says this gaming mode is targeting a "platform release in the coming months."

A Google member has posted a generous early look at what's coming up for Android 17 and gaming for foldables.

On the Android Gaming subreddit, Mishaal Rahman, working for the community engagement side of Android at Google, posted a glimpse at Android 17's "foldable gaming mode." Rahman leads off by stating, "While touch controls work incredibly well for many titles, certain games are better enjoyed with physical gamepads." To solve this, Google is working on a gaming mode for these unique phones that splits their screen.

The top half would host your game, leaving the bottom half with a true (touch-based) gamepad experience. Rahman says the gaming portion of the screen will remain "unobstructed." To enable this, Google says users need only unfold their phone before or after launching a compatible game.

Another issue that Google sought to solve was users needing to carry a controller. While Android works well with physical controllers, traveling can be a burden. This foldable gaming mode is focused on games that support physical controllers. Rahman adds that devs don't have to change much for this virtual gamepad to appear; however, split-screen support is where their focus should be.

The gamepads look familiar. If you were to compare it to Xbox or Nintendo controls, you'd feel right at home. Google worked in X, Y, A, and B buttons, alongside L1, L2, R1, and R2. Of course, users will find analog sticks for movement and a D-pad for their arrows. Android 17 will let foldable users customize their virtual gamepad's layout. You can have the sticks together in the middle, more like a PlayStation 5 controller, or staggered, similar to a Nintendo Switch 2 or Xbox controller.

What's more, users will be able to increase or decrease the size of their gamepad. Haptic feedback is another addition, teased as a toggleable option. Some Android games already have haptics. This might be an obscure or off-the-wall reference, but if you've played Pokémon TCG Pocket, you'd know.

Rahman says, "Foldable gaming mode is part of the Android 17 platform release and will be available in the coming months."

Onward, Android 17

Android 17 launched in mid-June after some rapid testing by Google over the past few months. This year's OS upgrade isn't quite as flashy as we've seen before, but it's effective for detecting threats and scams. What's more, the OS brings a few key features, such as Bubbles. This is a new way for users to multitask between apps on their device in a floating menu. While many users with slab phones (think Galaxy S25, Pixel 10) might not see much of a use for it, Bubbles truly targets large-screen devices (foldables).

Rahman teases this foldable gaming mode for a future platform release "in the coming months," and we can't help but look at Android 17's first drop. Right now, Google is engaged in QPR1 Beta 5 after rolling it out to Pixel users last week. The latest beta was pretty large, bringing fixes for vanishing widgets, Game Dashboard, and Pixel cameras.

Android Central's Take

Do I have to say much here? I think we all know that I really like what Google's teased for foldables. I might have to get myself one (pray for my wallet). Gaming on foldables hasn't been bad, but this change would make it better. I can see this useful for games that would truly benefit from a virtual gamepad. Think Wuthering Waves or Zenless Zone Zero. Quick button inputs, rapid movements. A lot of people game on their phones, and making foldables better at that would make them a little more appealing (at least for me).

What you need to know

• WhatsApp announced the beginning of its global username reservation period for the platform.
• Users can begin reserving their desired username this week on WhatsApp, which lets them share this instead of their phone number for added privacy.
• Small business owners and content creators can "claim" their usernames from Facebook or Instagram and port it into WhatsApp.

In the name of privacy, WhatsApp is rolling out username reservations, and this is how you can get started.

Today (June 29), WhatsApp announced that its "introducing usernames" to the platform this week. Users can keep their phone numbers to themselves and instead put their chosen username front and center. What's more, WhatsApp is adding a "key" to help users "control who contacts you by your username." To avoid overlap, the messaging platform is kicking things off with a reservation period before the username feature launches officially "later this year."

What's rolling out is a new Username option in your WhatsApp account settings (Settings > Account > Username). Tapping that will give an initial splash screen and a button to create one. The system will check to make sure your username hasn't already been taken. If it has, you'll need to create a new one. Additionally, the secondary level of security is the "key."

If you specify that only people with your key can contact you, WhatsApp will generate a unique string of numbers for you. However, you must share your username and this generated key before someone can start texting or calling you.

WhatsApp states that there is no "registry" or suggestions for usernames. People must know your name (and key, if you've chosen that) before they can contact you. For content creators and businesses on Facebook or Instagram, users can "claim" their username and transfer it to WhatsApp.

Reserved under...?

WhatsApp states usernames are rolling out "gradually over the coming months." The app will inform you when you can begin doing so in your country.

We've been hearing about usernames on WhatsApp for a while now. The messaging platform rolled out a few contact-focused features a while ago. The main goal was to give users the option to save contacts from WhatsApp web and Windows devices. It gave more flexibility when interacting with contacts, as the only way you could do so prior was on your primary phone.

However, the platform said this was done to begin setting the framework for usernames in the future. This would be that future. Global reservations for usernames are beginning this week, so users should start thinking ahead of time and get to it ASAP.

Android Central's Take

Usernames are simple. If you grew up playing multiplayer games, you'd know the feeling. They represent who you are (in a way), and are like fun codenames when you're playing games. The thing about phone numbers is that they're so personal. They literally connect you with someone else. If someone has it, they knew exactly how to reach you. Not everyone's ready for that kind of commitment, and I think usernames can solve that.

What you need to know

• YouTube Shorts is getting a major usability upgrade with 2x playback, a clutter-free viewing mode, improved recommendation controls, and a redesigned Like button.
• You can now speed through Shorts at 2x by holding either side of the screen, making it easier to skip slower content without leaving the video.
• A new Clear screen mode hides on-screen clutter with a single tap, giving videos a cleaner, more immersive viewing experience.

YouTube is giving Shorts one of its biggest viewer-focused updates yet, making the experience cleaner, faster, and a lot more familiar for anyone who’s spent time on TikTok.

The rollout brings four major improvements to the Shorts player interface, including a faster playback experience, a clean viewing experience, improved feedback controls, and a new Like button, as per YouTube's announcement. The headline addition is 2x playback speed.

Shorts had previously been limited to normal playback speeds, while standard YouTube videos offered various playback controls.

With the new change, you can now hold either side of the screen to temporarily double the speed of playback. Then, release your finger to return to normal. If you want to keep it at 2x, just swipe down with the screen held.

Another welcome change is the addition of a new "clear screen” mode. Watching Shorts often means an overlay full of buttons, captions, usernames, and other interface elements. Now you can hide almost everything on the screen with just one tap, leaving only the video itself. Tap again if you want the controls restored. The feature is a close copy of TikTok’s Clear Mode, but it’s an improvement many Shorts viewers have been asking for.

YouTube is also altering the way viewers engage with Shorts. The familiar thumbs-up icon is being replaced with a heart, aligning the visual language of Shorts with other short-video platforms. It looks different, but it functions the same: tap it and you’re still giving the video a thumbs up.

The dislike button is dead

The bigger switch is dislike. YouTube is removing the dislike button from the Shorts player entirely and will provide users with more direct controls over recommendations. Viewers are asked to select “Not interested” or “Don’t recommend this channel” from the three-dot menu instead of just disliking a video. These tools, YouTube says, provide more accurate signals about what kind of content people actually want to stop seeing, which helps improve future recommendations rather than just relying on a simple thumbs-down.

But creators don’t need to worry about losing their historic data. The current dislike counts for Shorts will still be available in YouTube Studio. At the end of June, however, Google will stop collecting new dislike counts for Shorts, while long-form videos and live streams will continue to show dislikes like they do today.

Another quality-of-life improvement that comes with these changes: viewers can mute Shorts right from the player, making it easier to browse silently without having to use the device’s volume controls.

Android Central's Take

I think this is the kind of updates shorts has been needing for a while. Scrolling should be less frustrating and more purposeful if you could zoom through slower videos, hide the clutter on the screen, and fine-tune recommendations without resorting to a vague dislike button. That said, it’s hard to look past how many of these additions feel like they were lifted from TikTok, rather than truly original thoughts. By now, YouTube appears more interested in closing feature gaps than blazing its own trail.

What you need to know

• Ticketmaster announced its partnership with Google Wallet, which brings "customizable passes" to Android.
• Clients of events can customize their digital passes with flashy designs and up to 12 links for important venue details.
• Users benefit from this last note, as they can find info on parking, food, drinks, merch, and VIP access directly from their pass.

This summer is going to be packed with events of all kinds. To try and help, Ticketmaster announced a partnership with Google Wallet for more unique digital passes on Android.

Ticketmaster says that what it's worked on with Google Wallet are "customizable passes" that are designed for "branded experiences" on Android. Passes are mobile tickets saved in Google Wallet, but Ticketmaster says this new direction offers a new sense of "brand presence." Brands can offer customized hero images, tour artwork, and more.

If you're attending a group's stop on their nationwide tour, you might see unique album artwork or sports game visuals if you're going to an NFL game.

Aside from flashy visuals, these customizable passes are getting more useful for you, the user. Ticketmaster says clients can add "up to 12 action links to each pass." These links will direct visitors to crucial event areas. Links for parking, transportation, gate details, VIP upgrades, and food/drinks can be found in these passes. This removes the need for users to conduct extra research before heading out or leading up to the event/gameday.

The post states that tapping a parking link will open a map of the venue, so you can plan where you might go. Additionally, users can download that event's affiliate app on their Android device through these links if desired.

Digital passes continue to evolve

Passes and digital tickets have been a big aspect of Google Wallet for years now. The company rolled out a useful update to Wallet, one that would automatically surface a pass you might need. "Context-aware" is what drives this feature. Google states that as the user approaches a location, like a train station, the Wallet app would produce their train ticket on their lock screen.

This removes the need for users to open their phones, navigate to the Wallet app, and select their appropriate pass. Google says this capability extends to airport gates, concert venues, and stores. Considering this new partnership with Ticketmaster, perhaps something like this would occur for these customizable passes.

Android Central's Take

I like this partnership, and this is coming from a sports guy. Getting my tickets ready for gameday is an exciting feeling. I can just imagine a White Sox or a Bears ticket through Ticketmaster's new approach for passes. The hype would be unreal. What's more, these links would help with stadium navigation for parking in case anything changes.

What you need to know

• Google posted its release notes for Android 17 QPR1 Beta 5, which brings its June security patch and a fix for vanishing widgets.
• The company is also working in several game-related fixes for the Game Dashboard and downloads, alongside a camera fix.
• Android 17 hasn't been flawless for Pixel users, as its stable launch quickly introduced problems for 5G and its display.

Android 17's first quarterly release development continues, and Google has announced another beta shortly after the OS debuted.

On the Android Beta subreddit, Google posted the patch notes for Android 17 QPR1 Beta 5, which is rolling out now to enrolled Pixels. The company says all Pixels are receiving the same build number, labeled as vCP31.260608.007 with June's security patch. These mid-June release notes detail several bug fixes, and one mentions disappearing widgets. Google says Beta 5 brings a fix for an issue that caused home screen widgets to "disappear or become unavailable in the widget picker after a device reboot."

It was reported that Google was looking into a fix for the issue, and it seems that this could occur for its next major update.

Some Pixels suffered from crashing while downloading mobile games in Android 17's QPR1 beta. Google says a fix is rolling out to solve those crashes and "device hang" during download. Another gaming issue concerned Pixels' Game Dashboard. A couple of reports were raised about this, stating they couldn't "stop screen recordings or save files." Beta 5 should solve this, but as always, users can raise any problems through the Issue Tracker.

The remainder of the changelog is as follows:

• An issue where the camera app temporarily freezes or stutters shortly after being opened from an idle state
• An issue that caused the screen to freeze with a pixelated bottom bar when waking the device from Always-On Display
• A timeout issue where the Download Manager failed to complete downloads when excluded from an active VPN connection
• An issue causing inconsistent charging completion time estimates to display on the lock screen versus the charging screensaver
• An issue causing the Private Space UI to crash and locked private apps to improperly appear in launcher search results
• An issue where a non-functional bubble option incorrectly appeared in the context menu of archived apps
• A system-level WebView rendering regression that caused Monopoly Go to freeze and crash when attempting to open mini-games

Android 17 is here, but the work's not done

It's only been a couple of weeks since Beta 4 rolled out for Android 17's first quarterly update. The patch brought May's security update, a few bug fixes, and stability improvements. However, this beta introduced a social media feature that debuted with Android 17's stable release: Screen Reactions. If you were enveloped in Google's massive June Pixel Drop and Android 17 announcements, you'd know all about it.

With Screen Reactions, users can leverage their selfie camera and their screen recordings to simulate a green screen. It sounds like an ideal scenario for content creators on TikTok or those making clips for YouTube Shorts. Android 17 hasn't been flawless in its debut. Pixel users have been quick to report 5G connectivity problems and other display issues.

Android Central's Take

Google's development continues, as we all expected. It's good to see the company working in a fix for a problem stable users are struggling with. Hopefully, this is a good sign for the other issues many have mentioned. We're still a ways out from this first quarterly release, but things look bright for now.

What you need to know

• Meta states it will donate its Ray-Ban AI smart glasses to legally blind veterans through its various partnerships, including one with the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA).
• The BVA is said to hold in-person events for blinded veterans to get their glasses and receive technical support, as well as a "training guide."
• We expect much more about Meta's smart glasses this year at Connect 2026, and there might be something extra from Qualcomm.

The Fourth of July is coming up, and Meta has announced that it will donate Ray-Ban AI glasses to legally blind American veterans.

The company broke things down in a newsroom post, stating that there are "more than 130,000" legally blind American veterans in the country. To get this done, Meta states it's partnering with the Blinded Veterans Association to hold "monthly webinars" (with TechSoup). These webinars are educational, giving veterans a chance to ask questions about AI glasses problems and receive support.

The BVA is furthering its assistance by developing a "training guide" for blind or low-vision veterans. The guide will consist of "voice command activation, reading documents, answering phone calls, and navigating daily tasks with greater autonomy." Meta will continue to partner with other organizations to host in-person events where veterans can receive their AI glasses and early assistance.

Meta is also using its partnerships not only to help blind or low-vision veterans but also to connect them with others with similar stories.

Eligible veterans can get started by visiting the BVA's official page for blinded veterans to request a device.

Meta pushes its smart glasses

Outside of the standard Ray-Ban space, Meta rolled out an update for its Ray-Ban Display glasses with major features. The update was scarce early on, but those who received it first reported Palm Unlock. This unlock method was added to the device's biometrics, giving users a way to access their glasses by opening their palm. "Live Sports" was another addition. Users could receive updated scores on their HUD without reaching for their phone.

What's more, Meta brought better functionality with WhatsApp video calls. Users could lean on their glasses' POV camera. This would stream what they see to their friends/family on the call, so it's like they're there with them. There's a lot more that we're expecting from Meta this year, especially during Connect in September. Qualcomm's started teasing "something new" in the realm of XR, and we can't help but think this could debut (or at least show up) during Meta Connect.

What you need to know

• Android 17 quietly adds LHDC v5 support, giving Pixel users another high-quality Bluetooth audio option.
• Compatible earbuds from brands like Nothing and OnePlus can now stream higher-bitrate audio on Pixels.
• Users may need to manually enable LHDC v5 in Developer Options and turn on Hi-Res Audio in the companion Bluetooth earbuds app.

It's been over a week since Google released the stable Android 17 update, and while the company highlighted most of the major features upfront, users are now starting to discover some smaller additions that quietly shipped with the release.

As spotted by the Reddit user QuantumCatalyzt (via Android Authority), Google appears to have silently added support for the Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec (LHDC) to Pixel phones with Android 17. This means Pixel users can now take advantage of LHDC for higher-quality wireless audio, alongside existing codecs like AAC.

A lot of wireless earbuds already support LHDC, but Pixel phones previously didn't. That meant users often had to fall back to Sony's LDAC or even lower-quality AAC and SBC codecs, even when using compatible audio hardware.

With Android 17, Pixel users can now use the newer LHDC v5 codec for higher-bitrate audio over Bluetooth. Some Bluetooth earbuds sold in the U.S. that support LHDC include the latest Nothing Ear earphones as well as several earbuds from OnePlus.

It also looks like you might need to manually enable LHDCv5 first. To do that, head to Settings > System > Developer Options > Bluetooth Audio Codec and select LHDCv5. Depending on your earbuds, you may also need to enable a Hi-Res Audio option inside the companion app.

Once everything is set up, you'll also need a high-quality audio source to take advantage of it. For example, services like Apple Music support Hi-Res Lossless audio up to 24-bit/96kHz, allowing compatible earbuds to stream higher-quality audio through LHDC.

Savitech, the company behind LHDC, had previously mentioned that Android 17 would include native support for the codec. With Android 17 now rolling out, that support appears to be live.

For users with compatible premium earbuds, this finally unlocks another option for better-quality wireless audio on Pixel devices.

Android Central's Take

It seems Google has quietly enabled LHDC support by default, and that's a big win for Pixel users. Better audio quality, wider earbud compatibility, and Auracast support make Android 17 a surprisingly solid update for audio lovers.

Google Pixel phones offer many customization tools, but up until recently, the Pixel UI home screen was more restrictive. Google only recently made it possible to remove the At a Glance widget from your home screen, for instance. While past Pixel Drops brought fresh theme packs and style choices, the latest Android 17 update adds a hidden home screen customization option that can seriously simplify your setup.

I keep my home screen basic, only including a few home screen widgets and the most important apps. For everything else, I use the app launcher or search bar. That means I know exactly which apps and icons are on my home screen without needing to look at their names. Finally, Android 17 lets me remove the redundant app names from my home screen for a cleaner look.

Pixel home screen customization just leveled up

The easiest way to change your Pixel home screen is to hold down anywhere on it that isn't covered by an app or widget. This brings up a small menu with the Wallpaper & style, Widgets, Apps list, and Home settings buttons. You can even switch between default wallpapers straight from this tiny menu on the home screen. To customize your phone's look, tap Wallpaper & style.

Here, you'll be able to pick a Theme pack, change your phone's Colors, set a Color contrast settings, manage your Icons, and choose a Layout. This isn't new, but Android 17 adds a setting on the Icons page. Previously, you could choose an app icon Style or change the app icon Shape.

There are five shapes to choose from, and the styles are abundant. You can pick Default or Minimal — the latter forces all your app icons to match your selected color palette, creating a consistent look I almost always prefer. There's also the Create option, which lets you build custom app icon designs by starting with one of six styles: Disco, Scribbles, Cookies, Easel, Treasure, and Stardust.

Android 17 adds a new Names tab to the Icons page, and it's where you can choose to show or hide app names on your home screen.

How I hide app names on my Pixel

I changed the look of my home screen in seconds by hiding app names. To do it, I simply held down on my home screen wallpaper, pressed Wallpaper & style, and tapped Icons. Then, I switched to the Names tab and flipped the toggle beside Show app names to the off position.

There's a virtual render of your home screen displayed on this page that adapts as you change the look of your app icons. So, you can flip the toggle beside Show app names a few times, watching how your home screen changes. If you like the minimalist look of the Pixel home screen without app names, leave the toggle off.

By default, app names are still shown on the Pixel home screen in Android 17. Nothing will change unless you want it to — but the option to remove app names from the Pixel UI home screen is something Pixel fans have long wanted. Keep in mind that if you hide app names from your Pixel home screen, they'll still appear in the app drawer.

My entire home screen is finally as clean as the dock

Android 17 is a neat update for my Pixel phones, and I love that Google continues to add new customization features. The previous app icon customization interface was already one of the best available on any Android skin, but it was missing something basic — hiding app names.

Now, my entire home screen looks as clean as the app dock. No names, just a minimal setup with app icons and widgets.

What you need to know

• Android 17 is causing major touchscreen headaches for some Pixel users, including ignored taps, dead zones, and reversed scrolling across the system.
• Owners of the Pixel 10, Pixel 9, Pixel 8, and Pixel 7 series have all reported similar issues.
• Google is aware of the issue, but its first fix isn't working for everyone. Clearing the Pixel Launcher cache has produced mixed results.

If you've recently upgraded your Pixel to Android 17 and your screen is exhibiting erratic behavior, you're not the only one experiencing this issue. For early adopters, a frustrating new bug is breaking down the very core of the smartphone experience: its touchscreen.

Owners report on Reddit some bizarre input problems, where their phones either simply ignore taps or completely misinterpret basic vertical swipes, as spotted by Android Authority. Swipe up to scroll down your social feed, and your operating system might just catapult you back to the top of the page.

The mess is a consequence of the larger, stable rollout of Android 17. While major OS upgrades usually ship with a few teething problems — reports have already documented a frustrating 5G glitch and a work-profile bug that makes home screen widgets disappear entirely — a broken touchscreen is a whole other kettle of fish. You can get around a Wi-Fi drop with mobile data, but you can’t get around a screen that doesn’t recognize your thumb.

The entire modern Pixel lineup is affected

The issue is already reported in Google's IssueTracker, and based on a few Reddit threads, it affects the whole modern lineup. Users say that the Pixel 10, 9, 8, and 7 series are all affected. The bug doesn't discriminate by app, either; these reversed inputs and dead zones happen anywhere in the system UI.

Google knows about the problem. The official PixelCommunity account on Reddit recently chimed in with a suggested troubleshooting step: go to Settings > Apps > See all apps > Pixel Launcher app > Storage & cache > Clear cache. However, a few users replied that this fix did absolutely nothing to restore normal touch responses.

If Google’s method doesn’t work, some users have found success by heading into their device settings and flipping off the “Smooth Display” feature. Interestingly, at least one owner found that turning Smooth Display off and then on again fixed the erratic scrolling for good. Keep in mind that this fix has a varied success rate, but if you're currently struggling with reversed scroll directions while reading an email, it's definitely worth a try.

Google has not committed to a firm timeline for a permanent software patch right now. If you’re still on last year’s software and haven’t downloaded Android 17 yet, hold off on that install button. Wait for the first official bug-fix update to come out.

Android Central's Take

Honestly, after months of tracking Android 17's development, it's exhausting to see this so-called "stable" release turning premium hardware into a frustrating game of touch-roulette. I guess the one “benefit” to this mess is that Google is kindly forcing us into an impromptu digital detox. After all, it’s very easy to lay your phone down when every swipe up violently slams you back to the top of your feed.

With stable Android 17 finally rolling out to Pixel devices, there are a ton of new features for us to try out. During The Android Show, Google highlighted new social-media-focused features, and now we're finally getting a look at some of them, which aim to enhance your experience creating content for apps like Instagram.

One such feature is screen reactions, a new built-in capability that removes some of the effort that would normally require a third-party app or fancy app techniques. And I admit, for a relatively simple feature, it's quite ingenious, and I'm surprised Google had the wherewithal to launch it with Android 17.

Screen Reactions is a surprisingly effective feature

If you're on Instagram or TikTok, then you've probably seen them. Many of my favorite content creators react to news, images, or other videos by inserting a small floating video of themselves. Reaction videos like this are quite effective, as they let viewers see both the original content and the reaction, and sometimes the reaction is better or funnier than the original.

I'm a casual social media user, but I have dabbled in making Reels every now and then. However, given my limited knowledge of creating social media content, this type of reaction video has always eluded me. And I know there are built-in functions to help create these types of videos, like a virtual green screen, but I've not wanted to take the time to figure it out, though I'm sure it's a fairly easy process.

Now, I don't have to figure it out. Because Screen Reactions is built into the screen record function on my Pixel 10, creating this type of reaction video just takes a few taps, without futzing with different app methods to achieve the same effect. And you can edit the clips on-device or put finishing touches in Instagram or TikTok. It's not perfect, but it feels like it just lowered the barrier to entry for anyone wanting to create content on social media.

How to use Screen Reactions on your Pixel 10

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Quick Settings menu.

2. Tap the Screen Record button. You may need to edit your Quick Settings menu and add the button if it's not already there.

3. Toggle on Show selfie camera. This will automatically turn on the Record microphone option.

4. Tap the color palette icon to enable a color background. Tap any color to show the background or tap it again to turn it off.

5. Tap Start to begin recording.

6. When you're done, tap the live notification and tap Stop to end recording.

7. You can go straight to recording another clip, delete the clip you just recorded, or edit the clip to your liking using Google Photos editing features.

Once you're done with each clip, you can edit them together in the Google Photos app or use a third-party app such as Instagram and TikTok to add finishing touches.

Things to keep in mind

Screen Reactions is a cool feature, but it's not perfect, and there are some limitations worth noting. The first thing you should know is that it only works when screen recording is set to record the entire screen; it won't work if you just want to record a specific app. That means anything that appears on the screen will be captured in the recording, including when you adjust the volume, open the notification shade, tap the live notification to stop the recording, etc.

It makes sense why it would be the entire screen, as your reaction could very well involve using your phone and diffing into its settings or switching to multiple apps, but it's just something to keep in mind.

My first instinct was to try recording a Screen Reaction on a full-screen Reel to get cleaner video with fewer Instagram UI elements. For some reason, Reels won't appear if you try this method; you'll just see a black screen and your selfie video. TikTok's Clear Display does work, however, so that may be an alternative, or you could just download the Reel or TikTok if that option's available.

Another downside of Screen Reaction recording the entire screen is that you'll also see your screen recording status icon in the notification shade. I don't know about you, but this looks kind of tacky, and I wish there were a way to leave this out of the recording. It's probably the one way Instagram or TikTok's green screen effects are better than the built-in function.

Perhaps an updated version of Screen Record could include an option to hide these extra on-screen elements from the recording, ensuring the video looks as clean as if you recorded it with Instagram or TikTok's tools.

It would also be nice if stopping the recording wasn't a two-step process of taping the live notification at the top of the screen and then the stop button. Google should place a stop or pause button somewhere more accessible so I'm not reaching in front of the selfie camera to stop recording.

Still, despite some quirky and questionable UI choices, I think this is a great feature that takes away much of the complications of making a reaction video for social media. If you have a Pixel smartphone, you should give it a try. I can't wait to see how other OEMs implement this feature when Android 17 rolls out to other Android phones.

Android 17 is bringing a few exciting improvements to Google Pixel phones, and Bubbles may be the biggest one. Pop-up and floating windows are nothing new for Android users, but they've never been built into Pixel UI. Instead, power users had to turn to other operating systems like Samsung's One UI to multitask with floating windows.

Google was already familiar with floating windows and pop-up views because Android already supported Bubbles for messaging apps. Back then, I found them more annoying than helpful. I only activated conversation bubbles by accident and never saw the value in them. After trying the upgraded Bubbles experience for apps and multitasking in Android 17, I'm a believer.

Here's how you can try app bubbles with Android 17 for yourself, and how the Pixel experience compares to the Galaxy one.

App bubbles are a new way to multitask on Pixel

Google Pixel phones already support multitasking with split-screen views. Open an app, use the app switcher, and press the app's name to reveal a Split screen button. Then, Pixel users can pick a second app to create a split-screen layout. They can drag the slider in the middle to adjust the split ratio.

For traditional Android phones, a 50:50 horizontal split is the default, but you can drag the slider to the 90:10 position to unlock a new Android 16 feature. In this mode, one app takes up most of your phone screen, while the secondary app remains greyed out. Tapping the unused, secondary app flips the ratio. It's a great solution for when you want to use two apps in (mostly) full-screen mode without having to use the app switcher.

Android 16 didn't offer a better way to use more than two apps at once, however. Android 17 finally addresses this problem with app bubbles. You can use up to five at once, and it's a convenient way to multitask when the regular split-screen mode won't cut it. Essentially, the apps stay minimized in bubble form, and tapping them reveals a floating window that lets you use the app over whatever is on your screen.

I rarely used split-screen views on my Pixel phones for multitasking, but Bubbles seem much easier to create and are fun to use.

Add up to five apps to an Android 17 bubble group

Bubbles are a core part of the Android 17 experience by default. Surprisingly, you can't create them in the same way you would a split-screen view. Instead, you need to create Bubbles by physically holding down on an app's icon on the home screen or app drawer. Find the app you want to turn into a bubble, and hold down on it to reveal the shortcut menu.

If the app doesn't offer a custom shortcut, you'll see a button with a new icon beside the word Bubble. This icon looks like a window being minimized, with an arrow pointing toward a dot. If the app does have custom shortcuts, you'll only see the Bubble icon — not the text. Either way, tapping the Bubble button in an app's shortcut menu will open your first app bubble.

The floating app window takes up most of the screen, and you'll see all the bubbles in your group above it. If this is your first bubble, you can press the + button to add apps you've recently used in bubble form. To add an app that you haven't recently used as a bubble, find it in the app drawer, open the shortcut menu, and tap the Bubble button.

You can fit up to five in a bubble group and switch between them by tapping each bubble icon. They reorder as you use them, so the most recently used app icons appear first. Tap away from the app bubble, and you'll return to wherever you were before opening the bubble. The bubble or bubble group will appear as a tiny icon on your screen that you can move wherever you'd like.

There are a few ways to close a bubble. If you only want to close one, you can open it, tap the Manage button, and hit Dismiss bubble. To close every bubble in a group, grab the bubble icon and drag it toward the Close button at the bottom of the screen, then release.

Foldable users get a different app bubble experience

If you have a Pixel Fold, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, or Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the Bubbles experience will be different when you open the main display. Here, Bubbles appear as part of the Taskbar. Besides your Taskbar's dock apps and recently used apps, you'll see the Bubbles group in the corner. You can tap the app bubble or group to open the floating window, but it'll still only take up a small portion of just one half of the screen.

The great thing about the way Bubbles work on the inner screen of folding phones is that they stay completely hidden as you use your device. In minimized form, Bubbles — like the rest of the Taskbar — are stowed away as you use other apps. Swiping up from the bottom opens the Taskbar and reveals your Bubbles.

I love Android 17's app bubbles, but there's a catch

Bubbles are a clever way to multitask smarter on your Pixel devices, especially if you have a Pixel Fold device. However, they don't match up perfectly with floating windows and pop-up views on Samsung Galaxy phones.

The One UI 8.5 experience is more powerful, as you can move floating windows anywhere, resize them, or separate them. You can also create floating windows from the app switcher in One UI, whereas you need to go to the home screen or app drawer in Pixel UI.

So, while the Bubbles experience in Android 17 needs work before it can be a true One UI competitor, it's a great step in the right direction for Pixel users.

What you need to know

• Pixel users on the Google Pixel subreddit report 5G connectivity problems shortly after downloading Android 17.
• Users state their device will no longer hold 5G, as their device resorts to LTE; however, some have found relief by placing their phone in Repair Mode and restarting.
• Other Android 17 issues affecting Pixels include vanishing home screen widgets, but Google states it's working on a fix for that.

New software can often come with a handful of issues. Android 17 is no exception, as Pixel users report connectivity problems.

Shortly after Android 17 launched, users on the Google Pixel subreddit reported problems connecting to 5G on various Pixel phones (via Android Authority). The original poster states they downloaded Android 17 on their Pixel 9 Pro and "ever since the update, I'm only ever on LTE." The user states they've always managed to keep a consistent 5G connection on their phone. This update has changed things, and not for the better.

Others have said the same, reporting this issue on a Pixel 10 Pro, 8a, and 6a. LTE is the only phone data connectivity users can manage; however, issues extend beyond connectivity. One user's report says, "After the update my esim disappeared and would not connect to any mobile network." One post says a user lost 5G and 4G connectivity, pushing their phone to lean on its satellite network.

A Google Support member responded to the thread, offering a document that could help the users resolve their 5G connectivity problems. However, the original poster says they found relief through a fellow user's response. The user says they restored their 5G by putting their Pixel 9 Pro in repair mode and restarting.

A bumpy start

Android 17 launched on Tuesday, and Google was quick to begin its rollout to eligible devices. Essentially, it was its Pixels that were first on the list. While the latest OS offers a selection of new features and even stronger security/threat detection capabilities, it hasn't been flawless. Recently, more Pixel users have reported missing widgets after downloading Android 17.

Users said their widgets have vanished, and it's not clear how to get them back. This problem isn't widespread, at least not in these early reports. What's more, it seems confined to phones with a work profile configured. Luckily, Google's been quick with this issue. The company has responded to reports, stating it's working on a fix for a future patch.

Joining Android 17's release was a June Pixel Drop. Among the highlights were "Bubbles" and the "Bubble Bar." The latter matters for Pixel Folds; however, the Bubbles feature in general is about multitasking between apps in a floating menu on your device. Emergency detection features get a sharing upgrade for Pixel Watches, too.