Android

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR One Google Home user says Gemini started calling them “Fish Lemon” after a conversation about cooking fish. The nickname now appears in reminders and on their smart display, and attempts to change it only seem to work temporarily. Other Reddit users in the thread aren’t offering much sympathy. Gemini for Home is supposed to get to know you better over time, but giving you an unwanted pet name might be going a bit too far. After a conversation about cooking fish, one user’s Google Home apparently decided they should henceforth be known as “Fish Lemon.” Funny as it was, the joke has worn a bit thin for the user now, as Gemini seemingly refuses to forget it. In a post on the r/googlehome subreddit, user nynexman4464 explains that the strange nickname appeared a few weeks ago. They remember asking a cooking question involving fish when Google Home responded with something along the lines of, “OK, from now on I’ll call you fish lemon.” They laughed it off at the time, but Fish Lemon has apparently stuck around.

TL;DR Gemini for Home can now better handle voice commands combining media and smart home controls. Google has fixed issues with setting alarms and adding items to Google Keep lists through Home. Google Home now sorts automation options alphabetically and respects privacy settings for third-party routines. Soon after giving the Google Home app an interactive AI Storytime feature, improved alarms, better song recognition, and an easier way to broadcast messages, Google is rolling out another round of improvements meant to upgrade Gemini for Home. The Google Home app’s latest update is out now, bringing expanded voice controls to Gemini for Home, complete with smaller changes that should make managing automations less of a chore.

TL;DR Google has launched Gemini 3.8 Flash, its third Flash model in just six weeks, with a focus on smarter agentic workflows. Gemini 3.8 Flash “works harder” on complex tasks, outperforming larger models on several benchmarks while remaining relatively inexpensive. Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber brings specialized vulnerability detection and automated patching capabilities, but access is limited to Google’s Fairwind Program. Google’s previous smartest AI model, Gemini 3.6 Flash, was released in late July. The tech giant wasted no time iterating on it, with Gemini 3.7 Flash launching just weeks after. Now, just three weeks later, the company is already introducing 3.7 Flash’s successor. Google just announced Gemini 3.8 Flash, and this time around, the focus is on delivering next-generation intelligence for agentic workflows and cybersecurity with two different variants.

TL;DR Googlebooks will use AI to sort files into topic-based folders automatically. These folders, or collections, will also be accessible through desktop widgets. Users will also be able to share local files directly with Gemini Notebook. The first set of Googlebook devices is expected to arrive as soon as mid-September. While Google has yet to formally confirm the launch schedule, Acer, one of its hardware partners, recently teased its first Googlebook at IFA 2026, priming us for what’s coming. Ahead of the Googlebook launch, we’ve discovered a set of features under the umbrella of “Device Intelligence.” As the name suggests, these features use AI to help you get the most out of the Android-powered laptop experience.

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR A leak may have revealed the configuration and colors of the Galaxy A18. It’s said that the phone will have two storage options: 128GB and 256GB. The leak reveals three colorways: Light Blue, Black, and Silver. Leaks are starting to pick up for the Galaxy A18. Back in July, CAD renders appeared, revealing that Samsung won’t be making any drastic changes to the design. Another leak has now emerged, revealing what could be the configuration and colors. Roland Quandt of WinFuture has shared some details about the Galaxy A18 on social media. According to Quandt, the smartphone will come with two choices for storage. You’ll be able to pick between a 128GB model or a more expensive 256GB version.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 8 is one of the most eye-catching foldables around, and there’s already a deal on it at Amazon. This clamshell phone keeps the pocket-friendly flip design Samsung is known for, while adding a slimmer profile, a 6.7-inch inner display, and a larger 4.1-inch FlexWindow on the outside. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Google’s introducing a pair of Translate upgrades: one for Android, and one for iOS Google’s upgrading Live Translate on Android with support for background translations. Apple users are getting access to Translate’s “listening mode” for no-earbud-needed translations. Being able to act as a real-time interpreter is one of Google Translate’s greatest strengths, thanks to its impressive Live Translate mode. Today the company shares the latest ways it’s making that already powerful mode even better. When you’re trying to do something when traveling like check into a hotel, or get information from someone about a destination on a map, it’s easy to run into a bit of a problem — you want to use Live Translate to help you quickly understand the person you’re talking to, but you also need to keep checking info from another app on your phone. Wouldn’t it be great if Live Translate could simply run in the background, so you didn’t need to keep the Translate app on top?

Keeping hard floors clean can become a daily chore, especially when dust, pet hair, and sticky spots build up quickly. The Yeedi S14 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop is built for that kind of job, and there’s a solid Amazon deal on it right now. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR Google briefly released an upcoming Googlebook app called Look up, before scrubbing all references from the Play Store listing. While users can no longer download it directly from the Play Store, the app can be sideloaded on phones running Android 17. In addition to instantly answering questions based on the highlighted text, Look up also features a conventional chatbot experience for additional questions. Following years of developing Chrome OS, Google took a big leap with the introduction of Googlebook, a flagship laptop platform that the company says brings together the best aspects of Chrome OS and Android. Ahead of the first set of Googlebooks slated to arrive this fall, we’ve been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some of the platform’s features, including its camera app. One more Googlebook app has just appeared online, and this time it’s a useful utility tool. Google appears to have inadvertently pushed the Play Store page for an app called “Look up” live ahead of time, although the screenshots and other details have since been scrubbed entirely. We’ve managed to get ahold of the app on a couple of our Pixel phones, though users can no longer directly install it from the Play Store listing (via 9to5Google).

Amazon has a strong deal on the highly rated Anker Prime Power Bank right now, dropping it to $259.99 from its $329.99 retail price. That saves you $70, and the full discount comes to 21% off the recommended retail price. Since this is a Lightning deal, it is the kind of offer that will disappear fast. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Android Authority TL;DR Users are running into issues with Microsoft 365. Microsoft has confirmed that the service is experiencing degradation The problem is affecting OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook, Teams, and more. Microsoft is currently dealing with an issue affecting its 365 services. So, if you have been experiencing problems with OneDrive, Outlook, and more, you’re not alone. The tech giant has confirmed on its status site that Microsoft 365 is going through service degradation. It appears the impact of the outage extends to several of Microsoft’s offerings, including Universal Print, Outlook for Android and iOS, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Copilot, and more. The issues also vary depending on the service, such as delays or failures to send or receive emails; being unable to load or refresh portions of OneDrive and SharePoint; being unable to create, upload, or retrieve print jobs, and so on.

Amazon just knocked $300 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, dropping it from its $2,099.99 RRP to $1,799.99. That is a 14% discount relative to the recommended retail price, and it is the first Amazon price drop we have seen for this recently launched foldable. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung has expanded its Android 17-based One UI 9 beta program to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, and Galaxy A57. The update is rolling out in regions like South Korea and India with the August 5, 2026, security patch. Eligible users can register for the pre-release software via the Samsung Members app once they ensure their data is backed up. Samsung is finally picking up the pace with its next major software release, rapidly expanding access to its Android 17-based skin across multiple product tiers. After rolling out beta builds to flagships like the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung has now launched the One UI 9 beta program for the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the mid-range Galaxy A57. According to tipster Tarun Vats on X, the One UI 9 beta is now available in South Korea for both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, with build versions such as F741NKSU4ZZHP for the clamshell foldable.

TL;DR HUAWEI’s Watch GT 7 series adds serious outdoor upgrades, including indoor snow-sports tracking, maps for over 3,000 resorts, and more. The Watch D3 takes blood-pressure tracking further with 24-hour ambulatory monitoring, while the Watch 6 series adds over 100 workout modes and eSIM calling. FreeBuds Neo earbuds boast up to 30dB adaptive ANC, lossless and spatial audio, plus dual-device support. HUAWEI has launched three new smartwatch families and a new pair of wireless earbuds, with its latest wearables ranging from serious blood-pressure monitoring to ski tracking and a more conventional smartwatch experience. HUAWEI Watch GT 7 series The HUAWEI Watch GT 7 series stands out for sports enthusiasts. Available in 46mm and 41mm versions and eight colorways, including Yellow, Blue, and Pink, the GT 7 is positioned as the more accessible option. The GT 7 Pro, available in Yellow, Green, and Black, gets more interesting outdoor upgrades and a premium, scratch-resistant build featuring a nano-tech ceramic bezel and titanium-alloy middle frame.

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Welcome to Wallpaper Wednesday! In this weekly roundup, we’ll give you a handful of Android wallpapers you can download and use on your phone, tablet, or even your laptop/PC. The images will come from folks here at Android Authority as well as our readers. All are free to use and come without watermarks. File formats are JPG and PNG, and we’ll provide images in both landscape and portrait modes, so they’ll be optimized for various screens. For the newest walls, as well as all those from previous weeks, check out this Drive link. Want to submit your own? Head to the bottom of this article.

Credit: Qualcomm TL;DR Qualcomm has revealed more information about the GPU in its next-generation Snapdragon flagship processors. The GPUs will pack AI-focused Adreno Matrix Cores and Neural Fusion tech for improved frame generation and super-resolution. Otherwise, you should expect a GPU with an even higher clock speed than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 GPU. Qualcomm recently revealed the first details for its next-generation flagship processors, focusing on the CPU improvements. Now, the company has detailed what we should expect on the GPU front. Easily the most notable upgrade to the GPU is the addition of Adreno Matrix Cores, with a graphic below suggesting that there are three cores. These cores run AI workloads locally with lower latency and improved power consumption. These cores come a year after Qualcomm brought SME tech to accelerate AI workloads on the CPU. So what are the Adreno Matrix Cores actually used for, then?

TL;DR A future Google Photos update may let users customize the appearance of their Collections tab with a new reorganizing tool. While we’ve known about this for close to a month, we can now offer a first look at the tool itself. When available, Google Photos users will be able to reorder or hide items in the Collections tab for a cleaner layout. Google Photos has undergone a wave of design changes over the past several months. We saw the app’s revamped bottom bar widely roll out to Android devices this July. Then last month, we found evidence in the Photos app suggesting users may soon be able to reorder items in the Collections tab. However, we couldn’t get the tool to appear back then. That’s changing today, as we can now provide a first glimpse of how it works. 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: Android Headlines TL;DR Samsung might launch a Galaxy S27 Ultra variant with Exynos 2700 in some regions. Exynos 2700 is rumored to have outperformed the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro in Samsung’s internal testing. Along with the Ultra, the Galaxy S27 Pro could also come with the Exynos 2700 in certain markets. Samsung appears to be on track to launch the Galaxy S27 series early next year. The series gains a new Pro variant in addition to the three existing models, but the bigger, more polarizing change so far is the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s new camera bump, which would invariably remind you of the iPhone 17 (and 18) Pro. Now, another surprising piece of news appears to raise the bar for the Galaxy S27’s surprises, and this one particularly talks about its innards. South Korean publication Money Today (via tipster Jukan) says Samsung will launch a Galaxy S27 Ultra variant driven by the Exynos 2700. The report notably contradicts previous claims (and natural assumptions) that the Ultra would only use a Snapdragon chip. If that proves true, it would be the first Ultra in the Galaxy S series to feature an Exynos chip since the Galaxy S22 Ultra five generations earlier.

Credit: Sihoo Ergonomic chairs with support in the right places can make your day a lot more comfortable. The catch, unfortunately, is that no one sits in the exact same position the whole time. We lean forward to type, then recline to think for a second, then lean forward again, push back to stretch, and so much more. Meanwhile, you’re continuously trying to find the perfect position again. Most ergonomic chairs offer manual adjustments for multiple focus areas, with each needing its own changes. However, Sihoo treats every shift as one continuous motion and manages everything automatically. The Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 is one of the first full-body adaptive ergonomic chairs, built around a system that tracks your head, back, lumbar area, and arms as a group. Sihoo has been in the ergonomic chair business for 15 years, and the Doro C300 Pro V2 is its latest. Here’s what you need to know.

TL;DR Multiple users are reporting that their Samsung accounts are being randomly deactivated, supposedly for security reasons. Some have been able to recover their accounts by speaking to the company’s support team. The issue could stem from the use of aliases in email addresses, though the company hasn’t confirmed this. While not mandatory, a Samsung account on your Galaxy smartphone or tablet helps synchronize your data across multiple apps and devices and enables additional cross-device experiences. It’s one of those aspects that you won’t truly miss until it’s gone. Some users are now finding this out the hard way. User reports on Reddit and Samsung’s community forum over the past couple of days highlight an issue in which Samsung accounts are being randomly deactivated, reportedly for security reasons, although no specifics are provided (spotted via 9to5Google).

TL;DR YouTube’s new companion experience lets your phone automatically recognize what’s playing on your TV when both devices use the same account. You can use your phone to comment, subscribe, browse, search, and even scroll through Shorts without interrupting the video playing on your TV. You can also send videos from your phone directly to the TV, and the two devices don’t need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Watching YouTube on a TV is great, but interacting with anything on the screen is a different story. Maybe you want to leave a comment, subscribe to the channel, read the description, or figure out what to watch next. Suddenly, you’re pecking away at an on-screen keyboard with a TV remote, and the phone sitting comfortably in your hand starts looking like the much better option. That’s exactly the problem YouTube is trying to solve with its latest update. The company is giving its TV and mobile apps a much tighter connection, effectively turning your phone into a companion for whatever is playing on the big screen. Better still, setup is minimal. Your phone and TV don’t even need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. As long as you’re signed into the same YouTube account on both devices, your phone can recognize what’s playing on the TV and automatically bring up a companion panel.

TL;DR Razer has launched a new mobile game controller called the Razer Prio. It’s sleek and folds down to the size of a credit card so it can easily be carried around. It comes with a full controller layout, and Razer says it’s engineered to reduce joystick drift. There’s no dearth of mobile game controllers on the market, including Razer’s own offerings. So why did the company launch yet another mobile controller? Well, because it addresses a couple of really important pain points that most mobile gamers associate with game controllers. Razer showed off its new Prio mobile gaming controller in a YouTube video. At first glance, it might look relatively similar to most other controllers, but it’s not. For one, the Prio looks sleek when attached to a smartphone.

TL;DR Google has fixed an issue in the Google Home app that prevented some older Chromecast devices from being set up. Affected users should update the Google Home app to the latest version 4.26 or newer and try again. The fix clears up confusion over whether older devices had simply reached the end of their support. Google’s oldest Chromecast dongles started running into problems earlier this year, with some users unable to use them with certain apps. Things got worse when an update to the Google Home app left some owners unable to set up their older devices. After weeks of frustrations, Google has finally resolved the setup issue. Google confirmed the fix in an update to a Reddit thread where users reported problems setting up older Chromecast and Google Home devices. The company says the issue is resolved and recommends that affected users update the Google Home app to version 4.26 and try setting up their device again.

It’s never a bad idea to slap a case on a brand-new smartphone, and this statement couldn’t be truer if you just purchased a Google Pixel 11 series handset. Available in a suite of bright, playful colors and with that new HiLight LED on the Pro models, the Pixel 11 line is among the showiest Google has released in a while. Keeping them this way years into their seven-year software support windows will be key.

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Acer has announced that its first Googlebook is “coming soon.” The company didn’t reveal more launch details, but we’re guessing it could appear at the Googlebook launch event on September 15. Acer also gave us a fleeting glimpse of the machine, revealing what appears to be a conventional laptop. Google will hold its Googlebook launch event on September 15, and we’re expecting many devices from hardware partners. Now, Acer has confirmed that it’ll “soon” offer a Googlebook of its own, while giving us a fleeting glimpse at the device. Acer confirmed at its IFA 2026 event that its first Googlebook is “coming soon,” without revealing more availability details. It’s a safe bet that we’ll learn more about Acer’s new computer at the September 15 launch.