LineageOS 23 review: The de facto AI-free alternative Android experience [Video]
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Chrome 136 tones down some Dynamic Color on Android [U]
Google is widely rolling out Chrome 136 for Android today with some visual tweaks, like toning down Dynamic Color in some parts of the browser.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung DeX redesign appears, likely using Android 16’s updated desktop mode
Google has been slowly building out a “desktop mode” for Android for quite some time now and it appears nearly ready to launch with Android 16, and Samsung seems to be building on it with a redesign of DeX.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung changed Quick Settings in One UI 7 – here’s how to change it back
One UI 7 brings a lot of changes to Galaxy devices, and some, which are a matter of preference, seemed to have been changed without the user’s permission. One significant change in Samsung’s One UI 7 is the separation of Quick Settings and the notification panel. Here’s how to change it back.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 16’s redesigned battery icons leak in line with Material 3 Expressive
Google is working on a new design language for Android 16, and a new leak showcases how the updated battery icons in the update will work.
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Galaxy Note 20 series now getting one of its final updates
Samsung is rolling out what will be one of the final updates for its Galaxy Note 20 series in the final footnotes of the Galaxy Note’s legacy.
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Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Gunslugs 3, Neoteria, The Past Within, more
This afternoon’s roundup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to roll. Just be sure to also scope out the discounts we spotted on Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at $60 off alongside 8Bitdo’s Ultimate Mobile gaming controller for Android, Google’s elevated 1TB unlocked Pixel 9 Pro at $300 off, and this deal on OnePlus Buds Pro 3. As for the apps, highlights include titles like Gunslugs 3, Neoteria, The Past Within, HideAndSeek, Skel and Defense, and more. Head below for a closer look.
Read MoreLeak: How and why Google made Material 3 Expressive
Ahead of this month’s announcement, Google accidentally published a blog post detailing the thinking and research behind Material 3 Expressive.
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Gemini app update adds Android homescreen widget
Following last week’s announcement, the Gemini app update that introduces an Android homescreen widget is widely rolling out.
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Deals: 1TB Pixel 9 Pro $300 off, Kindle Colorsoft, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, 8Bitdo Android controller $27, more
Today’s deals are kicking off with a $300 price drop on the upgraded 1TB unlocked Pixel 9 Pro alongside the ongoing offers on the rest of the lineup from $599. From there we move over to a return of all-time low pricing on Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft at $225 as well as 8Bitdo’s Ultimate Mobile gaming controller for Android at $27, and a series of earbud deals – Galaxy Buds 3 Pro at $60 off, Powerbeats Pro 2 at $50 off, and the flagship OnePlus Buds Pro 3 with vegan leather case down at $140. All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
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Waymo plans to more than double its self-driving I-PACE fleet within the next year
Waymo announced plans to more than double its fleet of self-driving I-PACE electric vehicles by the end of next year.
Read MoreGoogle AI Mode and Lens are working on its own conversational ‘Live’ camera mode
Last month, AI Mode gained Google Lens integration (as depicted above) to power multimodal search. Google is now working on “Live for AI Mode.”
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube tests new Premium subscription made for just two people
YouTube Premium has been expanding in a couple of ways over the last years, including adding tiers for families and students. A new YouTube Premium tier has appeared in select regions for groups of just two people, coming in at a lower cost than the full-fledged five-person offering.
Expand Expanding CloseSkype has left the call, officially shutting down today
After over two decades of ups and downs for the video call platform, Microsoft is officially shutting down Skype. The platform boomed in the 2010s and has since become less appealing as an option among competitors like Zoom and other messaging tools.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung refuses to give the Galaxy Z Fold 7 a bigger battery, Flip 7 is 100 mAh less
New leaks show that Samsung is still refusing to put a bigger battery in its book-style Galaxy Z Fold 7, even though the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is rapidly catching up in capacity.
Expand Expanding CloseThe Material 3 Expressive redesign of Google Clock leaks out [Gallery]
Ahead of Material 3 Expressive’s debut at I/O 2025 later this month, a redesign of the Google Clock app has emerged.
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Google Calendar update makes it easier to juggle accounts while creating events, sort of
A new update is rolling out to Google Calendar on Android which makes it easier to create events across separate Google accounts.
Expand Expanding CloseMotorola is finally updating Razr+ (2024) to Android 15, two months faster than last year
After a lengthy wait, Motorola Razr+ (2024) owners are finally getting an Android 15 update.
Expand Expanding CloseAI really can make smartphones better, just not like this
The AI hype train is in full swing, and it dominates the conversation around smartphones. I truly do think that AI can make smartphones better and more interesting, but there’s a right way to go about it… and a wrong way.
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One UI 7 is hurting battery life on Galaxy S24 and other updated devices for some
Samsung has finally widely rolled out the long-delayed One UI 7 update, but some Galaxy S24 owners have noticed that battery life is considerably worse, and they don’t seem to be alone.
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How to use and prompt Veo 2 in the Gemini app
In addition to images and Audio Overviews, the Gemini app can now generate short video clips, and here’s how best to prompt Veo 2.
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NotebookLM is powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash
In addition to announcing Audio Overviews in 50+ languages and letting users pre-order the native mobile app this week, Google shared that NotebookLM is currently powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash.
Expand Expanding ClosePixelated 052: The Android Show Show
Welcome to episode 52 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about the upcoming “Android Show” and the Android 16 leaks.
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Google working on DeX-like desktop mode for Android phones
Samsung has long offered the ability for your phone (or tablet) to power a desktop OS experience when connected to an external display. Google is now working on a DeX-like desktop mode experience for Android.
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Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Star Wars Pinball 7, HOOK 2, Groundskeeper2, more
Friday afternoon’s collection of the best Android game and app deals are now ready to go, headlined by another addition to the Star Wars Day deals with Star Wars Pinball 7 to join yesterday’s deals on KOTOR 1 and 2. Just be sure to also scope out the deals we are tracking today on Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S10 FE/+, this OnePlus Pad 2 bundle at $200 off, and this Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 16-inch 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop at $521 off as well. Head below for a complete look at today’s best Android game and app deals.
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