Android

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR An Android Authority teardown has revealed more details about Google’s Rambler tool. We uncovered two screenshots showing off the feature, including two dictionary options. You can use your existing Gboard dictionary, but there’s also a Rambler Dictionary that saves your spoken words. Gemini Intelligence brings a suite of features to compatible Android phones, and Gboard’s Rambler tool is one of them. This speech-to-text tool delivers polished voice dictation that includes removing filler words and pauses. Google has already delivered plenty of info about this tool, but we’ve now discovered even more details. You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Authority Insights brings you all the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage from the Android Authority team that you won’t find anywhere else.

The new Pixel 11 series is great, especially if you’re a fan of Google’s idealized, nature-inspired stock wallpapers. These are timeless, clean, and will look great on any device. Luckily, wallpapers are just images, and you can use them on any device that lets you change the background. It’s just a matter of finding the image files with a good resolution, and we have them for you! We’ve managed to get hold of the Google Pixel 11 wallpapers thanks to our friends from YTECHB. Each comes with a set of corresponding colors that match the available color versions. Want in on the fun? Keep reading to get these wallpapers on your phone ASAP!

Late last month, Samsung launched its new book-like foldable duo, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Given the latter’s superlative tacked onto its title, you’d expect it to be the device making the most noise post-launch. Interestingly, it’s the lesser new kid in the block causing a scene. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 now adopts Samsung’s new wider foldable design, giving users a broader, squatter slab of a screen that’s great for consuming media. It’s also crammed into a thinner frame, making it more pocketable than its sibling. It trades these benefits for a few downgrades, including only two rear cameras, a smaller battery, and a softer screen.

Google has just peeled the curtain back on the Pixel 11 phones, and there’s a fair amount to like here if you’re a Pixel fan. But in addition to Gemini Intelligence and the Tensor G6 chip, the new phones bring a few camera hardware upgrades and some cool software additions. However, you only need to take a closer look to realize that Google’s best new camera features were actually copied from other smartphone brands. Don’t believe me? Here’s the proof.

TL;DR Google has lowered Search profile requirements to 35,000 followers on YouTube, Instagram, and X, and 100,000 on TikTok. Search profiles are already appearing outside the US, even though Google’s support page still lists the US as the only supported market. Google says it plans to expand the feature further and has “more to come” for creators. If you have ever wished Google Search could give your favorite creators or publishers something closer to a social media profile, Google is getting there. The company launched Search profiles in June, giving eligible publishers and creators a dedicated space to bring their websites, social accounts, videos, and posts together. Now, Google is making those profiles considerably easier to get. Google’s Search profiles initially required a sizable following: 100,000 followers on YouTube, Instagram, or X, or 300,000 on TikTok. Google has now lowered those thresholds to 35,000 for YouTube, Instagram, and X, while TikTok’s requirement drops to 100,000 followers.

There’s a lot I can complain about when it comes to Pixels, but design has rarely been one of those things. Google has settled into a look that I genuinely like — it’s clean, minimal, and premium. So, even though the Pixel 11 doesn’t look dramatically different from what we’ve already seen before, I’m completely fine with that. I’d much rather see Google refine a design that already works than change it just for the sake of looking new. And then there’s the new Hibiscus color. Yeah, it completely stole my heart. What can I say? I like my phone a little loud sometimes.

TL;DR We discovered a prompt to “Try Harry Potter themes” on a Pixel 11 series device. Google hasn’t actually announced any Harry Potter themes just yet. This comes after we first discovered evidence of Potter-based themes in April. Google introduced Pixel theme packs last year, and we’ve already had Wicked and SpongeBob packs. We uncovered evidence of Harry Potter theme packs earlier this year, and it looks like the Pixel 11 phones are getting ready for them. Colleague Adamya Sharma attended the Pixel 11 India launch and discovered a pop-up to “Try Harry Potter themes” on a demo device. Check out the image below.

TL;DR Google is refreshing several Pixel app icons following the Pixel 11 launch, bringing them closer to its Material 3 Expressive design language. We were able to spot the new Weather and Recorder icons, while Pixel Camera, Calculator, and Clock are also reportedly getting redesigned looks. The changes are easy to miss, but they give your Pixel a cleaner, fresher look. Google has only just introduced the Pixel 11 series, and we’ve already spotted several Google apps picking up redesigned icons that bring them closer to the newer, more expressive look the company has been rolling out across Android.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority The year 2026 is turning out to be quite a dull one for smartphones (thanks in large part to brands dealing with skyrocketing RAM prices), and perhaps the best examples of that are the new Google Pixel 11 and the Samsung Galaxy S26. Neither phone brings a massive upgrade over its predecessor. However, if you’re choosing between the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 as your next Android phone, there are plenty of smaller differences that could ultimately sway your decision.

Google’s flagship and budget smartphones made a name for themselves for their exceptionally consistent photography capabilities, a theme the brand is keeping alive with the Pixel 11 series. The latest flagships sport some, but in typical Google fashion, it’s playing it safe and staying consistent. While this strategy means we virtually always know what we’re getting when a new Pixel lands, being too predictable has allowed some rivals to leapfrog the brand with more modern, superior camera hardware, resulting in better pictures. As a Pixel fan, I want my next Google phone to take pictures that I simply can’t grab on other phones in the business.

TL;DR Google is working on a new slider in Gboard settings to let users control the clipboard duration. It will let users choose to keep unpinned clipboard data for up to 24 hours. The slider will include the following options: one hour, two hours, three hours, six hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, and 24 hours. Google seems to be working on a new Gboard feature that could make life easier for anyone who has ever used the keyboard’s clipboard. While digging through the latest version of the Gboard app (v18.0.3 beta), we spotted a new clipboard setting that Google is working on. You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Authority Insights brings you all the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage from the Android Authority team that you won’t find anywhere else.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Pixel Weather is getting subtle upgrades, including a new icon, right after the Pixel 11 launch. The AI weather summary is now called Weather Brief, while the app tells you the last time it updated the weather. Pixel Weather Screensaver is also getting ready to inform you when your device uses the new Extreme Charging Mode. Just after officially launching the new Pixel devices yesterday, Google is pushing out a set of new icons to its system apps. One of those is the Pixel Weather app, which is not only getting a slightly updated icon, but also a few new features that we’ve discovered and will discuss below. You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Authority Insights brings you all the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage from the Android Authority team that you won’t find anywhere else.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google has quietly confirmed that all Pixel 11 Pro Fold models support the FeliCa contactless standard. It also looks like all Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro models outside the US support this standard. FeliCa is a contactless standard that’s popular in Japan for payments and transit. NFC is a staple on most Android phones today, allowing you to easily make wireless payments. However, Japan has its own wireless payment solution dubbed FeliCa, which requires dedicated hardware in the phone. The good news is that Pixel 11 phones now offer much better support for this standard. Google’s support page reveals (thanks, Dylan H!) that the Pixel 11 Pro Fold supports FeliCa globally. Furthermore, the page shows that Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro models outside the US also support FeliCa.

TL;DR Google has partnered with three major European soccer teams. It’s introducing a total of nine new soccer-themed wallpapers for Pixel users. The partnerships could also include custom app icons and personalization features in the future. If you’re a Google Pixel user and a football — I mean soccer — lover, you probably remember that Google added exclusive wallpapers from Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC in the Pixel’s Wallpaper and Style service a few years back. Now, the company is partnering with even more soccer teams in Europe and adding new wallpapers for Pixel users. You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Authority Insights brings you all the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage from the Android Authority team that you won’t find anywhere else.

TL;DR Persistent pop-ups urging you to update Chrome may actually be malware pushed by compromised browser extensions. The issue affects Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Brave, and Opera, attempting to trick users into running potentially malicious scripts. Identifying and removing suspicious or newly acquired extensions is currently the primary way to stop the pop-ups. We all have our favorite Chrome extensions that make daily web browsing effortless, whether it’s a quick screen snip tool, a right-click unlocker, or a simple tab manager. But what happens when one of those trusty add-ons quietly turns against you? Over the past few days, an increasing number of web users have fallen victim to a frustratingly convincing browser scam that tricks people into downloading harmful malware disguised as routine system updates. The issue manifests as an aggressive pop-up claiming a “Critical Update Required” or “Update available” to keep using your browser. If you click to proceed, instead of a standard browser update, it downloads a suspicious .vbs or .exe script directly to your machine.

TL;DR The Gemini app now has over 1 billion monthly active users. Gemini is adding connections with apps including Ticketmaster, Otter.ai, Wix, OpenTable, Zocdoc, Pandora, and more. The bigger goal is to make Gemini more action-oriented, letting you plan and complete tasks from one conversation instead of constantly jumping between different apps. Gemini is already pretty good at answering questions, digging through information, and helping you figure something out without opening a dozen browser tabs. But Google increasingly wants it to do more than tell you what to do. And considering just how many people are using Gemini now, that shift could be a pretty big deal. Google says the Gemini app has crossed 1 billion monthly active users, making it the fastest-growing product in the company’s history. Users are pointing Gemini Live at things through their cameras, sharing their screens when they need help, uploading schoolwork, and collectively generating more than 150 million images every day.

TL;DR The Google Store is offering up to $1,250 off the new Pixel 11 series and a free Pixel Watch 5 with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Amazon is offering up to $825 off when trading in a Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Best Buy is also offering up to $1,000 off the new Pixel 11 series, plus a $200 gift card and a one-month membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The Pixel 11 series is finally official, and you can already pre-order the phones. If you’re planning to buy the latest Google Pixel and don’t want to use carrier deals, there are some great trade-in offers via other retailers. Pixel 11 trade-in deals Google Store deals The best trade-in deals on the Pixel 11 seem to be on the official Google Store. The company is offering an impressive instant discount of up to $1,000 if you trade in a Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google has confirmed that the Pixel 11 phones will get seven years of spare part support. This matches the Pixel 11 family’s seven-year software update policy This also comes after the Pixel 8 series first offered seven years of spare parts. Google has just announced the Pixel 11 phones, bringing the Tensor G6 chip, a variety of nifty camera features, and seven years of updates. What happens if your phone breaks or has a battery issue during those seven years, though? Thankfully, the Pixel maker has some good news for consumers. Google confirmed during the Pixel 11 line’s Indian launch that the phones will receive seven years of support for spare parts. This support applies to all markets where the phone is sold, including the US.

TL;DR Pixel Watch 5’s new Breathing Emergency Detection feature is also now available on the Pixel Watch 4. The feature uses AI to analyze heart rate, motion, altitude, and blood oxygen signals to detect a potential breathing emergency and automatically call emergency services. It is currently available on Pixel Watch 4 and 5 in 10 European countries, with Google saying it plans to expand the feature to more countries. Google launched the Pixel Watch 5 just hours ago, and it’s now bringing one of its biggest new health and safety features to the Pixel Watch 4. Breathing Emergency Detection, part of Google’s new Health Guardian suite of features, can detect when a wearer may have stopped breathing and automatically call emergency services if they don’t respond. According to Google’s blog post, the feature is now available on both the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Watch 5 in several European countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Ireland, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. Unfortunately, the US is not on that list yet. However, Google says it is working to expand availability to more countries.

TL;DR Leonardo US Cyber and Security Solutions is proposing its SignalTrace tech to law-enforcement agencies. SignalTrace could let police track vehicles using the electronic signals from phones, laptops, smartwatches, and other nearby devices alongside ALPR cameras. While Leonardo says the system does not identify individuals, recurring device signatures could potentially be linked to specific vehicles and their registered owners. The technology could help police track vehicles that evade license-plate cameras, but it could also flag innocent people when their devices appear in vehicles associated with an investigation. Imagine a world where the police can identify people on the move not just by their license plate, but also the electronic devices that are traveling with them. This is exactly what a new sensor system from Leonardo US Cyber and Security Solutions is designed to achieve. The technology is aptly named SignalTrace, and it is designed to detect Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and RFID signals being emitted from nearby devices (via ArsTechnica). Leonardo’s idea is to deploy these sensors alongside automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras like those from Flock.

TL;DR Last week, a Google Play user reported that Google had revoked access to their purchased The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition trilogy. The problem now appears to be a technical issue, as Google says the affected user should still have access to the films. Google eventually issued the user a refund in the form of store credit. The user says they still can’t access the films. Recent events are reminding us that purchasing digital content doesn’t necessarily guarantee access to that content in the future. Earlier this summer, Sony revoked access to more than 500 films sold through PlayStation’s digital storefront, leaving users who’d purchased the films unable to watch them. Last week, it looked like Google was pulling something similar, with one user’s digital The Lord of the Rings collection seemingly going missing. As it turns out, though, that situation is apparently due to some combination of technical issues. In a Reddit thread that’s since been removed, user ugoindownsaka1 said that they’d lost access to the digital copies of The Lord of the Rings extended edition trilogy they purchased through Google in 2022. After some runaround with Google Play customer service, the user was initially denied a refund for the purchase. Now, though, ugoindownsaka1 reports not only that they’ve received credit equal to what they paid for the trilogy, but also that Google insists they do still have access to their movies.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google Search was mistakenly telling users that Sam Altman had passed away. It appears that a vandalized Wikipedia page about Altman falsely declared that the CEO died on August 12, 2026. The page has since been fixed and a date of death is no longer appearing in Search. Everyone makes mistakes, right? However, some mistakes are more prominent than others, such as when Google Search missteps. That happens to be the case today, as the search engine mistakenly informed users of surprising, false news about Sam Altman. Earlier today, Google Search users noticed something strange when looking up the OpenAI CEO. As usual, the results included the executive’s name, image, and a brief overview taken from Wikipedia. However, along with those details was a date of death. The card read that Altman had passed away on August 12, 2026.

TL;DR Spotify added support for music videos back in 2024. The service currently lets Premium subscribers download albums, playlists, and podcasts for offline listening. Now it looks like Spotify is working to support music videos downloads, too Spotify may still primarily be a service focused on listening to music, but over the past several years, it’s impossible to ignore just how much its scope has broadened. From podcasts to audiobooks, Spotify has continued to give subscribers more and more different types of content to consume — and a couple years back, that extended to music videos. Now we’re taking an early peek at where Spotify’s music video support could be heading next. You’re reading an Authority Insights story. Authority Insights brings you all the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage from the Android Authority team that you won’t find anywhere else.

Pool days, beach trips, and weekend getaways are a lot better with a speaker that can handle water, sand, and being tossed in a bag. The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 4 fits that job well, and it is now on sale at Amazon for $64.99. That price is down from the $79.99 recommended retail price, representing a 19% discount. It’s also the first time this speaker has gone on sale on Amazon. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Verizon’s network appears to be down. Thousands of the carrier’s customers are reporting that the network is down. We’re seeing reports in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles. If you’re a Verizon customer, you might run into a little trouble if you’re trying to get in touch with someone. The wireless carrier appears to be experiencing a massive outage. Thousands of users are reporting on Downdetector that Verizon’s network is down. According to the website’s graph, it appears that reports started coming in around 12:40 PM ET. At its peak, there were over 2,500 reports of an outage. That number has now dipped to a little below 2,000.