Android

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR A growing number of reports claim that Facebook is down. The areas hardest hit appear to be Chicago, New York, Detroit, and Miami. Are you having trouble with Facebook today? If pages are loading slowly or not at all, you’re not the only one experiencing these issues. The social media site appears to be down for some. Facebook users are reporting an outage on Downdetector. It appears that the reports started recently, but the number of reports is continuing to grow. As a result, it’s unclear just how widespread the problem is. According to the heat map, the hardest hit locations appear to be Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Miami.

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR OpenAI is currently experiencing an outage. Users are running into elevated error rates on ChatGPT. The company has applied a fix and is monitoring the status. Is ChatGPT running slowly or giving you errors today? Don’t worry, there’s a reason why the service is acting up. OpenAI is currently experiencing an outage. According to the OpenAI status page, users have been experiencing an elevated rate of errors. The issues not only apply to ChatGPT, but also Codex and OpenAI’s APIs. It appears that the problem has been going on for a few hours now.

TL;DR Google is expanding Gemini Live to more smart speakers and displays. The assistant is now available on the first-generation Google Home Mini and Google Nest Hub. Google began rolling out Gemini Live to its smart speakers last year in October. The AI assistant became available across a range of devices, including the Nest Mini, Nest Audio, Nest Hub, and Nest Hub Max. It also landed on the recently launched Google Home Speaker. Now, Gemini Live is finally expanding to some additional first-generation speakers and displays. Google has announced that it is rolling out Gemini Live to the first-generation Google Home Mini and Google Nest Hub. If you’re a Google Home Premium subscriber and you own one of these devices, you’ll now be able to have back-and-forth conversations with the chatbot.

TL;DR Spotify appears to be working on a new tool for song identification. While it doesn’t work just yet, text strings in the app clearly allude to the functionality, including requests for microphone access. So far we’re only seeing this evidence on Android, but it’s likely the Spotify iOS app will offer something similar. For a whole, whole lot of people, Spotify is our go-to destination for any and all things audio. That means music streaming, absolutely, but also access to podcasts and audiobooks, to say nothing of playlist tools for really customizing the experience. And while Spotify offers some great discovery features for finding new artists, what do you do when you’re looking for something in specific — you just don’t know what it’s called? It turns out, Spotify’s working on a solution for that, too. 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: Matt Horne / Android Authority I’ve defended Duolingo more times than the app has probably deserved. After almost 1,200 consecutive days with the green owl, I still think its convenience and simplicity make it a useful learning tool, even if it’s still annoying in many ways and nowhere near capable of teaching you a language by itself. But that defense becomes harder when a Duolingo course update doesn’t merely annoy learners but leaves them unsure of what they have or haven’t actually learned. That seemed to be happening for some users recently, even though I didn’t particularly notice it myself. We wanted to know how many of you were negatively affected by the recent course upgrades, and we set out to find out. That was the theme behind our recent poll. We reported on the fact that the Duolingo course expansion appeared to have shuffled some users along their learning paths, with completed sections suddenly containing unfamiliar material and other learners being sent back to lessons far below their previous level. In that article, we asked whether these changes had negatively affected your progress in a poll, and you responded in your thousands. Let’s take a look at the results.

TL;DR Express Pay is a relatively new Pixel Watch feature that lets users tap to pay without opening the Google Wallet app. Several users reported earlier this month that Express Pay wasn’t working as intended. Google now says it’s resolved the issue. Back in March, Google rolled out a great little quality of life improvement for Pixel Watch called Express Pay. Express Pay lets you optionally access tap-to-pay and transit options without having to first open the Google Wallet app, making it easier to use those features with one hand. That feature broke for some users earlier this month, but now, Google says it’s issued a fix. User goo_mason posted to the Pixel Watch subreddit early in July to say that Express Pay wasn’t working for them, with their Pixel Watch 4 still requiring the Google Wallet app to be in the foreground to access tap-to-pay functionality. A handful of users commented to say they were experiencing the same issue. The PixelCommunity account replied to the post this morning to say that the issue had been resolved, though the comment doesn’t mention how.

This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup.

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Xbox is testing a free, ad-supported way to stream games from your library. The ads play before a streaming session, and the session lasts for an hour. Players will be able to choose other ways to play at any time. On the heels of announcing an XBOX Backward Compatibility program, Microsoft has one more announcement to share this week. The gaming brand is working on a new option for game streaming and testing is already underway. In a blog post, Microsoft revealed that it has begun testing an ad-supported way to stream games from your library. This new option would allow players to stream games without having to pay a fee. Instead of paying, the player would watch ads before their play session. Once finished, they would then be allowed to stream their game for up to an hour.

TL;DR A new rumor suggests the primary camera in the Galaxy S27 and S27 Plus could use a Sony sensor. Samsung’s S-series phones have used Samsung ISOCELL sensors in their primary cameras for several years. The S27 Pro and S27 Ultra may also feature an upgraded 50-megapixel ultrawide camera. We’ve been hearing rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S27 series since 2024, and now that this week’s Galaxy Unpacked event has revealed everything there is to know about the Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra, leaks about Samsung’s next high-profile slate of phones are sure to pick up. For example: a new report today sheds a little light on what we might be able to expect out of the S27’s cameras. Dutch-language publication Galaxy Club reports that the Samsung Galaxy S27 and S27 Plus may feature a 50-megapixel primary camera sensor supplied by Sony. The hardware itself doesn’t sound unusual for a high-end phone in 2027, but it’s interesting to note that Samsung has used its own ISOCELL sensors in the primary cameras of S-series phones since the Galaxy S22.

Credit: Amazon TL;DR Amazon is integrating its cloud gaming platform, Luna, into Prime Video. Playing games comes at no additional cost for Prime members. Luna is available on Prime Video starting today for US and UK users with Fire TVs. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is pushing for a redesign of Prime Video that highlights the company’s AI abilities. Although versions of that redesign are reportedly already in testing, that overhaul likely won’t arrive for a while. However, there is one change to the app that’s coming out today, and you’ll probably appreciate it more than having more AI shoved in your face. If you forgot that Amazon runs a cloud gaming platform called Luna, no one would blame you. But the service will be a lot harder to forget now that Amazon is integrating it directly into Prime Video. That’s right, the e-commerce giant announced that you’ll now be able to play games within the Prime Video app.

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google cut janky scrolling on Chrome for Android nearly in half between 2023 and 2026 by improving frame delivery consistency. Features like “Input Vizard” bypass Chrome’s busy main browser thread, sending touch input straight to the GPU compositor thread. New features like “Input prediction” and “Direct2Thread” ensure smooth rendering even if the OS lags in delivering touch data. Google is constantly tweaking Chrome for Android, whether it’s experimenting with Gemini in the navigation bar or making deep structural performance improvements. Today, the focus is strictly on performance. Google has announced that it successfully reduced the frequency of frustrating janky scrolls in Chrome on Android by a massive 48% between 2023 and 2026. By focusing on frame delivery consistency rather than just raw speed, Chrome’s latest architectural upgrades ensure that swiping through the web feels noticeably smoother. As detailed on the Chrome Developer Blog, Google set out on a complex, multi-year journey to hunt down the root causes of Chrome’s rather infamous jank and stuttering on Android.

TL;DR The European Commission has fined Google a combined $1 billion over violations related to the Google Play Store and Search. Google must comply within 60 days or risk shelling out periodic penalty payments of up to 5% of its global revenues. The Commission said Google can appeal this ruling, while also acknowledging steps the company has taken to mitigate some of these violations. Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into effect a couple of years ago to curb the dominance of major tech corporations like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Meta. The legislation is designed to ensure a level playing field for all players in the market regardless of their size. It didn’t take long for the European Commission to announce investigations into Google, along with other big tech corporations, for non-compliance. The investigation may now have reached its conclusion, as the regulator has just slapped a massive fine on the search giant. In a statement today, the European Commission said it was fining Google €890 million (~$1 billion) over two separate violations related to Search (€460 million) and the Play Store (€430 million).

TL;DR Samsung just launched its latest foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8. Units currently in the hand of testers are refusing to install popular benchmark apps. Samsung confirms to Android Authority that it’s aware of this behavior, and is working to resolve it. Benchmark figures are a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s incredibly useful to be able to summarize a phone’s capabilities in the form of a few easily comparable numbers. But the flip side of that is a mire of misleading tests, oversimplifications, and that lingering specter of benchmark manipulation. Nonetheless, every time we come across a compelling new phone — like any of Samsung’s latest foldables — we’re at least curious what the benchmark performance would look like. But with the Galaxy Z8 series, Samsung appears to be taking deliberate steps to block benchmark apps. The Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 units we have access to all refuse to allow us to run popular benchmark apps. Not only does Samsung prevent these apps from being installed through the Play Store, but we’re not even able to sideload them, suggesting the presence of a blacklist.

TL;DR Amazon Prime Video is testing an AI-focused overhaul, internally referred to as Lighthouse. The initiative entails AI-derived content recommendations and an app UI refresh. Jeff Bezos is reportedly personally involved with Lighthouse. After raising the price of its ad-free offering (and newly gating 4K playback) earlier this year, Amazon Prime Video is now looking to incorporate more AI. According to a new report, Jeff Bezos himself is pushing for a Prime Video redesign that more prominently features AI-driven content recommendations. According to Reuters, Bezos wants to use Prime Video to highlight Amazon’s AI prowess. An initiative called Lighthouse is meant to provide more personalized TV and movie recommendations by using AI to analyze subscribers’ preferences and theoretically serve them content they’ll be more likely to watch.

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is built for kids ages 6 to 12 who are ready for a bit more freedom on a tablet, and there’s a solid deal on it right now at Amazon. This newest 10.1-inch Kids Pro model gives older kids a larger screen for reading, games, and videos, while still keeping parent controls in place. See the deal at Amazon

TL;DR The launch prices of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Fold 8 in the US and Europe are far higher than the launch prices in Korea. Off to the side of the launch event, CEO TM Roh reportedly explained why the pricing is so much lower in the company’s home country. The executive described the Korean market as the “foundation for strengthening the Galaxy brand’s global competitiveness.” Yesterday, Samsung held its long-anticipated summer Galaxy Unpacked event, where it introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series and Galaxy Z Flip 8. While a price hike was expected, given the current state of the industry, it didn’t hurt any less to learn that we would be paying $100 more for the Fold 8 Ultra this year. What has taken some by surprise is the launch prices in South Korea, which are far more affordable than those in the US and Europe. If you’re wondering why there’s such a price gap between these markets, CEO TM Roh has offered an explanation. During the festivities, Roh reportedly took a moment to talk about the Fold’s pricing strategy off to the side. According to The Korean Times, Roh described Samsung’s home market as a foundation for strengthening the Galaxy’s global competitiveness. The executive added that the lower prices in Korea will remain the company’s direction and goal.

Front doors, garages, and side yards are the kind of spots that need an extra set of eyes, but not everyone wants to deal with a full camera install. The Wyze Bulb Cam is built for exactly that job, and it’s on sale at Amazon right now for $37.98. That price is down from the $49.98 recommended retail price, which is a 24% discount. It also matches the lowest price we’ve ever tracked, matching the recent Prime Day price. See the deal at Amazon

A magnetic charging stand is a handy pick for anyone who wants their phone upright and easy to see while it powers up on a desk or nightstand. There’s also a good deal on the Google Pixelsnap Charger with Stand at Amazon right now, bringing it down to $50.39. See the deal at Amazon

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Google’s parent company Alphabet recently reported its earnings for Q2 2026 with a 24% YoY revenue increase. While its major business avenues resulted in profit, Alphabet posted negative free cash flow in the just-ended quarter. These increased expenses were reportedly because of new AI infrastructure and increased R&D costs. Artificial Intelligence, now known in every household as AI, has long been positioned as the pioneering technology that frees humans from their mundane obligations and lets them focus on creative pursuits. During its rise since the launch of ChatGPT, however, AI has proven to excel at routine creative tasks like writing and generating images, videos, and even music. And that has been used as a cover to discharge the human workforce for better financial rewards. While the results may be contentious, and unique for companies now shifting workloads to AI, there’s a clear money pattern that cannot be ignored, and that has to do with the record money spent on building core AI resources. Google’s latest earnings call verifies that notion. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, announced its Q2 earnings. It said revenue grew by 24% year-on-year in Q2 2026, with quarterly revenue hovering around $120 billion. This accounts for one of the highest profits Google’s parent has made in, like, ever. The biggest contributor to that growth was Google Cloud Platform, which includes enterprise AI solutions, AI infrastructure, and the core cloud services for corporate clients, contributing roughly $25 billion in revenue during the period. Interestingly, part of that comes from Google’s resources commissioned by rival Anthropic. Alphabet’s other avenues, including Google Ads, YouTube Ads, and other subscription-led services, also recorded higher YoY revenue.

TL;DR Chrome 155 will feature redesigned notification prompts on Android. The prompts will be less intrusive and will automatically disappear if ignored. A new “Notifications” option will also be added to Chrome’s site controls UI. Google has been hard at work improving the user experience of Chrome on Android. The company recently added new features, including a redesigned navigation bar. Now, it’s working on a change that will make pretty much every internet user breathe a sigh of relief. In a post on the Chrome for Developers blog, the company announced that it’s making some changes to how the browser displays notification prompts on Android (via PiunikaWeb). Right now, if a website wants your permission to show notifications, the prompt basically hijacks your screen until you allow or block it.

Credit: Qualcomm TL;DR Qualcomm is rumored to be preparing a new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 model (SM8850-1-AB) to live alongside three existing variants. The new chip will offer near-standard benchmark performance at a lower cost, targeting phones under 4,000 CNY (~$600). Phone makers may turn to this refreshed SoC amid rising RAM and component costs that are driving up the price of next-gen chips and phones. We’re almost done with major flagship launches for this generation, which means we’re also inching closer to the launch of the next generation of flagship processors. Qualcomm is expected to launch the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro at the Snapdragon Summit in September, but the company could have one more surprise in tow. A new leak suggests Qualcomm may keep the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 around by launching a refreshed variant. Leaker Digital Chat Station says through a Weibo post that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is expected to be a “long-lasting flagship chip.”

Samsung has a duo of new Galaxy Watches out for 2026, and one of them is the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. It’s been just about two years since the first Watch Ultra was announced, and for the second model, Samsung has made some pretty impressive upgrades. Remember how thick the original Watch Ultra was? The Watch Ultra 2 is much thinner. The Watch Ultra 2 is more durable than its predecessor, features a slightly larger (and significantly brighter) display, a much newer chipset, and a considerably larger battery. Add it all together, and the Watch Ultra 2 sounds pretty great.

I’ve always had a soft spot for flip phones. There’s something undeniably charming and incredibly cute about them, and Samsung has been nailing the formula for years. The Galaxy Z Flip is pocketable, the cover screen handles most tasks, and its compact design somehow makes me want to pick it up even when I don’t need to. That’s exactly why I look forward to every new Galaxy Z Flip launch, and why I was especially excited to get my hands on the Galaxy Z Flip 8. So when I came across the latest rumor, I won’t lie — it completely took the wind out of my sails. The idea that Samsung could end the Flip series after the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is genuinely disappointing, and I really hope it’s wide of the mark.

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority TL;DR Google is introducing a new selfie video sign-in and account recovery method that lets users verify their identity with a short selfie video. The feature uses liveness checks, facial matching, encryption, and Google’s existing security systems to help prevent spoofing attempts. Users can delete their saved selfie video at any time and can choose whether or not Google can use their videos to improve its facial recognition and verification tech. Google is adding a new way for users to sign in and get back into their accounts when traditional recovery methods aren’t available. Called selfie video, the new feature allows users to record a short video of themselves and later use it to verify their identity when signing in to their Google account.

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR An Android Authority teardown has revealed that Google is working on a Redact tool in Google Photos. This would allow users to “redact sensitive areas of your photos,” according to a code snippet. Google would be joining Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, and others in offering this functionality. There are times when we want to share images with other people but need to redact sensitive info in them first. Unfortunately, Google Photos only lets you scribble over the desired area with the Markup option. Thankfully, we’ve discovered that Google is working on a solution. 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.