Android

TL;DR Google’s newest Pixel phones launch this coming Wednesday. The company has been teasing the handsets on YouTube, and its latest video just went live this afternoon. The newest clip is Google’s second to feature the Pixel 11 Pro. Google has not exactly been shy about teasing its next smartphones, and now with only two days to go until the big launch event, that’s not about to change. Google got the ball rolling late last month by showing off the Pixel 11 Pro, followed by the Pro Fold, and most recently, the Pixel Watch 5. If you thought we were headed to XL or tiny Pixel territory next, think again, as Google pops back in for a quick visit with the Pixel 11 Pro. The latest Pixel 11 series YouTube teaser from Google returns its focus to the Pixel 11 Pro — technically, a pair of them.

Credit: Amazon The ECOVACS GOAT O1000 RTK is a wire-free robotic lawn mower built to take over regular grass cutting, and there’s a solid deal on it right now at Amazon. It’s aimed at small-to-medium lawns and stands out by using RTK-based navigation, so it doesn’t need a perimeter cable around your yard. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR The Google Sheets icon has been updated on iOS. The new icon is the same as the old one, but rotated 180 degrees. This orientation better resembles an actual spreadsheet. We’re speculating the previous version’s orientation was an oversight, but Google hasn’t confirmed that. Google set out to modernize its app iconography this year, introducing new icons for a number of services, with soft, rounded shapes and a generous helping of color gradients. Today, one of those icons got yet another update, and it’s kind of a strange one. As flagged by 9to5Google, the icon for Google Sheets on Android has been flipped upside-down. No other changes were made to the icon’s shape or colors; it’s just the orientation that’s changed.

Long battery life and strong fitness tracking matter a lot when you want a watch that can keep up with workouts, walks, and day-to-day use without needing constant charging. The Amazfit Active Max fits that kind of buyer well, and there’s a solid Amazon deal on it right now. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Developer Sapphire Rhonodite has released updates for two Nintendo DS emulators, SeedlessDS and WatermelonDS. WatermelonDS 0.7.0 gets a refreshed UI, improved ROM and RetroAchievements interfaces, and experimental Vulkan FastPath. SeedlessDS targets lower-end handhelds with dual-screen support, controller-focused features, save states, cheats, and a planned Linux version. Nintendo DS emulation has come a long way. If you grew up gaming on the retro handheld, you already know just how unique it was thanks to its two screens (one with touch input), a stylus, and games designed to be played on both screens at once. This same uniqueness, however, also makes it especially tricky to recreate the Nintendo DS experience on modern devices. That’s where developer Sapphire Rhonodite comes in with updates for two Nintendo DS emulators. The two projects, which are looking to fill the gap left by DraStic, are SeedlessDS and WatermelonDS (via RetroHandhelds). The former is based on DraStic r2.6.0.4a, while the latter is a fork of melonDS.

Desk setups built for both gaming and typing often end up as a compromise. One keyboard feels great but lacks wireless options, while another has the right layout but not much room to tweak it. The good news is there’s a deal on the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Gaming Keyboard at Amazon right now, bringing this high-end option down to a much more tempting price. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Apple is considering new wearable device form factors, a new report says. Device types in consideration include round smartwatches, as well as screenless fitness trackers similar to the Fitbit Air. Apple is not expected to announce any new wearable form factors at its event in September. Apple is apparently looking to shake up its wearable offerings. A new report this week suggests that Apple is thinking about new shapes, price points, and form factors for its wearable tech, including screenless versions to compete more directly with devices like the WHOOP Band 5.0 and Google’s Fitbit Air. As reported by Mark Gurman for Bloomberg, after more than a decade of iterative updates to its Apple Watch offerings, the company is now seriously considering making wearable devices that diverge from its hallmark rounded rectangle design language. The plans aren’t concrete, but in addition to the screenless concept, Apple’s also discussed round smartwatches, as well as additional premium offerings beyond the Apple Watch Ultra.

Credit: Matt Horne / Android Authority TL;DR Duolingo is adding an Undo button for users who accidentally skip speaking exercises. Reddit users are welcoming the change, with some saying accidental skips have been a recurring annoyance. The feature doesn’t appear to be available to everyone yet. Duolingo has made a change or two lately that rubbed some users up the wrong way, but the app does occasionally make tweaks that are hard to argue with. That looks like it might be happening as we speak, with the app reportedly rolling out an Undo button for when you accidentally tell it that you can’t do a speaking exercise. The change was spotted by a user on Reddit, who shared a screenshot showing the new Undo option appearing after tapping the button to skip speaking exercises. Others in the thread were quick to welcome it, with some saying they’ve also accidentally skipped speaking practice in the past.

Credit: Paul Jones / Android Authority TL;DR A new leak may offer a glimpse at the Fairphone 6 Plus in Cobalt Blue. Another leak may have revealed the full specs and colorways (Horizon Black, Cobalt Blue, and Forest Green). The mid-gen refresh is said to cost €649 (~$750). The Dutch brand Fairphone is gearing up for the launch of a new phone, which will be a mid-gen refresh of the Fairphone 6. As we learned from a leak in late July, this device will be called the Fairphone 6 Plus. Two more leaks have now come in, not only granting us a first look, but also delivering the specs and pricing. Starting off with the newly surfaced renders, these images come from New Mobile. The renders feature the Fairphone 6 Plus in a colorway that’s reportedly called Cobalt Blue. As for the design, it seems the Plus will look almost identical to the Fairphone 6. Additionally, these images show off three accessories: a finger loop, a protective case, and a card holder.

TL;DR A new Spotify experiment allows users to skip ads placed between podcast episodes using a dedicated “Skip ahead” button. This feature is currently available to some Premium subscribers in the US and UK. If widely implemented, the Skip ahead button poses significant risks to creators’ revenue, as brands may be less willing to collaborate with them. Audio streaming service Spotify includes ads on its free tier, while Premium subscribers get no ads. However, the story is different for podcasts, where creators can place ads at varying intervals that are beyond Spotify’s control. Well, the music streaming app is now testing a feature that could change that. Reporting by the folks at Podnews reveals an experiment that lets Spotify users skip ads in podcasts. Known simply as “Skip ahead,” this pill-shaped key sits to the right of the Chapters button just above the podcast title. Right now, it apparently takes a couple of seconds to respond, likely because it’s still an experimental feature (via The Verge).

TL;DR Google reportedly replaced automatic code updates for Pixel hardware with a manual Google Forms request system. Developers report waiting weeks for Google Drive links instead of receiving instant code downloads. The upcoming GrapheneOS-powered Motorola phones are built specifically to avoid this exact problem. Unlike some of the best Android phones on the market, Google Pixels have traditionally given developers a clean, transparent canvas to inspect software, test early builds, and run alternative operating systems like GrapheneOS. However, a quiet shift in how Google handles Pixel source code is reportedly threatening that open reputation, and it could soon impact anyone using custom software on their phone. According to GrapheneOS on X, Google has apparently replaced public, instant code downloads for Pixel phone drivers with a manual request form. Instead of publishing code directly to open developer platforms where anyone can grab it, Google now requires developers to fill out a Google Form and wait for someone to send them a Google Drive link.

The Samsung Galaxy A56 5G just dropped to $374.99 at Amazon, which is $125 off its $499.99 recommended retail price. That is a 25% discount off the RRP, and it is a deal worth jumping on because it represents a return to the all-time low price. This isn’t the kind of price drop that happens every week, as the phone has only been this cheap three times since launch. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Users are reporting that OpenAI’s services are experiencing issues. OpenAI’s status page confirms that users are having elevated error rates. The outage appears to only affect ChatGPT. Having trouble trying to use ChatGPT this morning? You aren’t the only one running into problems. The company’s chatbot is currently experiencing an outage. Users are reporting on Downdetector that OpenAI’s services are down. It appears that the reports started around 8:20 AM ET, but briefly dipped around 9:00 AM ET, and reports are spiking once again. We’re seeing reports come in across the country, including New York, Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles.

TL;DR Google seems to be testing a new layout for its Search homepage. The updated layout removes the Google Search button, replacing it with three shortcuts to AI features. It’s unclear how widespread this test is. Google’s always looking for more ways to nudge users toward its AI features, and this week, the company’s testing another AI-focused tweak to Search. Some users are seeing a redesign of the Google Search homepage that replaces the classic Google Search button with a bunch of shortcuts to AI features. As reported by Search Engine Watch, some users are seeing a version of the Search page that replaces the Google Search button with three AI feature buttons: Create images, Ask about files, and Brainstorm.

TL;DR Samsung is reportedly producing an additional one million units of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, following decent demand. This comes after the company witnessed record-breaking pre-orders in South Korea, with the Z Fold 8 reportedly accounting for 70% of them. Samsung may increase the production of its wide-body foldable again in the future, depending on demand. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 was a big bet for Samsung, given that it strays from the company’s tried-and-tested format. A report recently claimed that the device made up for 70% of all Z8 series pre-orders in South Korea, breaking a domestic record previously held by the Galaxy Note 10 in 2019. A new report now suggests that this demand for the foldable may have convinced Samsung to increase production of the smartphone. According to ET News, Samsung is assembling an additional 1 million units of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 following the device’s “great success.” Samsung is said to have initially produced 2.8 million units of the foldable, and the manufacturer could increase production further if demand persists. Recent reporting highlights that demand for the foldable has already surpassed the company’s expectations.

TL;DR A new leak has given us a detailed look at the specs of the upcoming Galaxy S26 FE. It could come with the Exynos 2500 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage, per the leak. It could also feature a triple rear camera setup, a 4,900mAh battery, and could come in three colors: Graphite, Pistachio, and Blueberry. Samsung recently launched its new foldables, but the company is already preparing to launch the Galaxy S26 FE. We’ve seen leaked images of the upcoming phone, and a new leak has now shed light on its expected specs. According to a report from WinFuture, the Galaxy S26 FE could feature a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels. The display is also likely to reach 1,900 candelas of brightness in high-brightness mode and offer a 120Hz refresh rate.

Anker SOLIX has called out an entire industry over how it measures battery efficiency, and it’s using its own product to make the point. The company has published discharge efficiency data for its S Series portable power stations across a range of real-world loads, something it says makes it the first portable power brand to disclose this level of detail. Anker has also shared its testing methodology alongside the results. The issue, according to Anker, is how efficiency gets advertised in the first place. Most portable power brands quote a single efficiency figure, typically between 89 and 92%, measured near full load under ideal conditions. But that’s rarely how these devices actually get used. During a real outage, you’re more likely running a fridge, a CPAP machine, a router, and some lights, all of which draw under 300W, well below 15% of a typical 2,000W unit’s rated output. Anker says efficiency at those lighter loads commonly drops to 70 to 80%, meaning a meaningful chunk of stored energy never makes it to your devices.

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Some users report Gemini responding to ambient conversations even with standard hotword detection turned off. The issue may have stemmed from hands-free assistant access being enabled by default in Google Maps and Waze driving modes. Users can disable hands-free access and Voice Match directly within Google Maps navigation settings. It seems Google might have flipped a switch on Gemini without making much noise about it. A growing number of Android/Pixel users are reporting that Gemini on their phones has suddenly started chiming in and replying to ambient, everyday conversations completely out of nowhere, even when the standard hotword detection for voice assistant settings was supposedly turned off. Reddit user Flat_Marsupial_4249 was spooked by Gemini on their Pixel 9a suddenly interjecting in a private conversation between them and their friend during a drive. What’s more, the comment was contextually relevant rather than a generic search result, indicating that the AI assistant had been listening all along, adding to the creepiness.

TL;DR Google Play now lets users link their Venmo accounts for payments. You can pay for apps and in-app purchases using either your Venmo balance or cards linked to your Venmo account. Google’s introducing another way to pay for stuff on Google Pay. You’re now able to link your Venmo account to your Google Play account, letting you pay for apps and in-app purchases using either your Venmo balance or a card you’ve connected to Venmo. Google announced the new option in a blog post this morning. Venmo joins Cash App Pay and PayPal as third-party payment options on the Play Store.

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Most Google apps don’t need an introduction. Search, Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Drive, Photos, Keep — even our parents know about these. But Google makes a lot more apps than that, and most people have no idea they exist, partly because they don’t come pre-installed. That doesn’t make them any less useful, though. If anything, some of these are genuinely better than apps you might be paying for. YouTube Create

TL;DR Taking the cue from Netflix, Disney Plus is gaining a generative AI discovery feature to search for TV shows and movies using natural language. The ESPN mobile app is also picking up an AI search feature, giving users instant access to sports data, news, stats, and other historical information. These new AI features are currently in beta and only available to a small portion of app users. It’s hard to escape generative AI today, especially considering the rapid adoption of AI features across a variety of devices and apps. But when implemented correctly, some of these tools can potentially improve the user experience. One of the most popular video streaming services is now hoping for a similar result with its latest beta. In a blog post, The Walt Disney Company announced the rollout of an AI discovery feature in the Disney Plus app. This “beta experiment” is reportedly being undertaken with a small, unspecified batch of subscribers.

TL;DR Aptoide Games is coming to Google Play in the US, letting Android users install a competing app store without sideloading an APK. The move follows years of legal pressure from Epic Games and Google’s recent changes allowing qualifying third-party app stores onto the US Play Store. This could make alternative Android app stores more accessible, giving users new ways to discover apps and developers more options for distributing them. Google Play is about to do something that would have sounded pretty strange not too long ago: let you download another app store from inside Google’s own app store. Aptoide has announced that Aptoide Games, its gaming-focused Android marketplace, is coming to Google Play in the US. That means you’ll be able to search for Aptoide Games on the Play Store, hit install, and end up with an entirely separate place to find and download games on your phone. It’s one of the clearest signs yet that Google’s grip on Android app distribution is starting to loosen, and the long-running Epic Games fight has a lot to do with how we got here. Android has always been more open than an iPhone. You can install apps from outside Google Play, and alternative stores have existed for years. The problem is that the process still isn’t something the average person is likely to feel particularly comfortable with.

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority TL;DR YouTube is increasing its push for Shorts by auto-launching them when people start the app. The behavior appears erratic, and not everyone is experiencing it — yet. YouTube hasn’t confirmed whether this is an experiment, an intended feature, or a bug. YouTube has a tendency to push Shorts in as many different ways as it can. You’d often find the top three, sometimes four, rows on your YouTube home page dedicated to Shorts. Sometimes, Shorts show up as recommendations under long-form videos instead of comments. Similar experiments don’t stop at YouTube, but there’s a recent one that pushes vertical content and particularly seems to annoy many users. Several posts across Reddit highlight how launching YouTube sometimes opens Shorts without a warning. That’s usually the case when you might have shut the app on a Shorts screen, but some people say that it persists even when the app has been closed on another page. Some even say YouTube opens Shorts on startup, even when they don’t watch vertical videos at all.

I might be showing my age, but I remember a time when the 15GB of free storage Google bundled in with new accounts felt like it would last forever. Back when Gmail and Google Photos launched, that generous free space was Google’s killer feature. Today, however, that space runs out in a flash. Android phone backups are bigger, WhatsApp chats count against your limit, and between 4K video backups and high-resolution photography, it’s easy to fill up that free storage in months if not weeks. Running out of room is no longer rare. For most people, it is an annoying monthly reality.

The world’s first commercially available folding phone was the Royole FlexPai, and I still distinctly remember using it at CES 2019, thinking to myself, “There’s no way anyone’s buying this.” And, probably nobody did. But that product lit the spark for companies like Samsung and HUAWEI to take up the challenge and lead us to where we are today with foldables. Since then, I’ve reviewed and used many Android foldables, including Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, OnePlus’ brilliant OnePlus Open debut foldable, and various flip phones from Chinese manufacturers. While foldables aren’t for me personally, I’ve seen and used enough to know what separates successful ones from failures.