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The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC. Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.

Following the last release 11 months ago, Google is rolling out the first update of 2026 to the Chromecast with Google TV (4K).

The Fitbit Air is finally getting another band option that isn’t fabric or polyurethane. Instead, the Metal Mesh band might actually take the Fitbit Air up a notch.

Samsung’s One UI 9 update is now available for the Galaxy S24 and Z Fold/Flip 6, a month after the official rollout was initiated.

All attempts to bring the lessons and benefits of the touch era to PCs have failed, from Windows 8 to the era after the iPad when the Mac gained fullscreen apps. From an experience perspective, the iPad came closest because it was built on iOS, but it still failed due to the locked-down limitations at its core.

After using Googlebook OS for over a week, I think Google has the beginnings of a desktop OS for the Android smartphone generation, but the inherent strategy reset makes for a rough first take.

Following a prior beta program, Nothing has started its stable Android 17 update rolling with its flagship Phone (3).

Google is following the Fitbit Air launched in May with a second tracker that features a screen called the Fitbit Edge.

After outing its Pixel 7 series in recent weeks, Google has just quietly released the Pixel 9 series to its Certified Refurbished program with prices starting at $499.

After a protracted wait, LineageOS is now officially available for the entire Pixel 10 lineup and the more affordable Pixel 10a.

LineageOS 24 is now official, with the latest builds rolling out based on Android 17, bringing a surprise early release alongside a fresh coat of Material Design 3 Expressive paint, new WebUSB flashing tools, and more.

One of the best new features of Google’s Pixel 11 (and Googlebook) is support for Rambler voice-to-text, and it’s now been ported to other devices – if you’re willing to take the risk, that is.

We broke the news this week that a next-gen Google TV Streamer is incoming, but it also arrives as Google’s smart home hardware strategy faces a tough spot and new competition.

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The big selling point for Googlebook is that it’s a desktop platform that deeply integrates with your Android phone but, at launch, those “Better Together” sync features are in a messy place. Google is now rolling out updates, including the bafflingly-missing support for Samsung devices.

Samsung is now rolling out its Android 17-based update, One UI 9, to its collection of supported Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Here’s the full list of devices that have been updated so far, and what you should know about the update.

States across the US are slowly rolling out support for adding your driver’s license or ID to the Google Wallet app on Android.

As announced last week, Google is rolling out a big change to the Gemini app experience for users on the free plan. Additionally, everyone is getting access to thinking or “effort” levels.

Google Health 5.10 is rolling out as a smaller update this week with a trio of new features across the app.

Welcome to Pixelated episode 120. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will celebrate 10 years of Pixel by ranking all of Google’s smartphones released over the past decade. Also, we finally make the jump over to video!

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9to5Google can report that development on a next-generation Google TV Streamer is underway. 

Google has dropped an official teaser for its Fitbit Edge tracker and confirmed an October 12 launch, just a few days away.

Having been using a Googlebook for the better part of a week, there are any number of headaches I could talk about, but easily the biggest problem I’m running into thus far is the app situation. Frankly, it’s a mess.