At the start of this month, we spotted that the Nest Hub would get deeper Google Fit and Fitbit integration. You can now ask Google Assistant for your Fitbit and Google Fit stats.
Today
May 21
Gama Pehlwan, undefeated wrestler ‘The Great Gama,’ honored in Google Doodle
The latest Google Doodle honors the undefeated Indian wrestler Gama Pehlwan, aka “The Great Gama,” on his 144th birthday.
In this week’s top stories: we exclusively report some exciting new specs for the Pixel Watch, Google creates ‘no-cost Legacy G Suite’ tier for existing customers, Chromecasts and Smart Displays ditch bandwidth conservation, and more.
Google’s legacy in earbuds is… complicated. There’s been a lot to love with the Pixel Buds series, but also some serious mistakes. Now, we’re preparing for the launch of the Pixel Buds Pro, and they have to learn from Google’s mistakes and problems to date.
May 20
Google won’t be selling the Pixel 6a for another two months, but an official unboxing video provides a quick glimpse of the under-display fingerprint sensor, while the actual box contains some rather interesting Tensor branding.
Xiaomi, one of the biggest phone manufacturers in China, wants to prevent APKs from being extracted from Android devices, but thankfully Google disagrees with the idea.
Bandwidth: Shadow gets a ‘Power Upgrade’ as Sony confirms dates for new PlayStation Plus
The lesser-known cloud gaming service Shadow is this week getting a “Power Upgrade,” with a new subscription option that adds the power of an RTX 3070 GPU and more.
Google Stadia has dates for a bunch of new family games coming to the platform, as it also added a huge classic this week.
Android app deals of the day: Hidden Folks, Chronos Principle, Majesty, and more
As we quickly approach the end of the work week, it’s time to roundup all of Friday’s best Android app deals courtesy of Google Play. First go check out the offers we have on the Moto G 5G and the Samsung Galaxy S21 256GB model alongside its Galaxy S22/Ultra Kickstand Covers, then head right back here for all of your software needs. Today’s collection is headlined by titles like Hidden Folks, The Chronos Principle, Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom, The Insider, The Enchanted Kingdom, and more. Hit the jump for a complete look at today’s best Android game and app deals.
Microsoft is now offering a new version of Windows Subsystem for Android, in testing, that runs all of your apps on the latest Android 12.1.
Since our report on Friday about how the Pixel Watch will be using Samsung’s Exynos 9110, 9to5Google has learned more details about what specs are powering Google’s upcoming wearable and the health capabilities it will offer.
Amazon’s latest Fire tablets will ship with Android 11, the first upgrade since Android 9
Amazon has one of the most popular “forks” of the Android operating system with its Fire OS for tablets, and finally, the company is upgrading to Android 11.
Deals: Galaxy S21 refurb $330 off, Samsung 2022 mini-LED TV first discounts, more
All of today’s best deals are now live and headlined by $330 off the refurbished Samsung Galaxy S21 256GB. That’s alongside the first markdowns on Galaxy S22/Ultra Kickstand Covers and new all-time lows on Samsung’s 2022 mini-LED 4K/8K smart TVs. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
PayPal offering $10 reward for your first purchase on Google Play
In a bit of cross-promotion, PayPal is offering a $10 reward for making a purchase on Google Play through their payment service.
Bandcamp will keep in-app billing on Android for now, as Google & Epic battle it out [U]
Just last month, Epic Games announced that it would acquire the music platform Bandcamp. Now, Bandcamp is the latest reason Epic Games is taking legal action against Google, this time over the tech giant’s Android app billing crackdown.
This article was last updated on May 20. Scroll down for the latest.
While plaudits flowed for the Galaxy S22 Ultra — and rightly so — the Galaxy S22+ might be the best of the latest Samsung lineup due to its mix of form and feature set. With that in mind, this is our long-term review of the Galaxy S22+.
Google has updated its chart showing the percentage of Android devices running various versions of the OS, but there are still no details about Android 12’s adoption rate.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates uses a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 instead of a Surface Duo
During a Reddit AMA this week, Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates revealed he uses an Android phone with a big canvas, but it isn’t Microsoft’s own Surface Duo. Instead, Bill Gates uses a Galaxy Z Fold 3 as his daily smartphone.
Google Maps directions lead a group of tourists into a stream, Michael Scott style
Google Maps is a phenomenal tool for finding your way around unfamiliar roads, but in some regions, local knowledge prevails. Recently, a group of tourists followed Google Maps directions through a flooded stream.
Qualcomm today did its usual mid-year update to this cycle’s mobile flagship chip with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, and the 7 Gen 1 was also announced. The chipmaker additionally unveiled a new reference design with the Wireless AR Smart Viewer.
May 19
In addition to a new Recently Played tile, YouTube Music for Wear OS will soon let you stream songs over data/cellular instead of having to download songs, albums, or playlists ahead of time.
Google is bringing its bright red warning banners to Chat in order to guard against invites that contain potential phishing and malware links.
In addition to other Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) announcements today, Google is making it easier to find accessible Android apps in the Play Store.
The May 2022 Android security update is rolling out now to these phones and tablets in Samsung’s wide-reaching lineup of Galaxy devices.
Google has spent the better part of a decade trying to push the Pixel in the smartphone market with the United States as its main target. On the back of the Pixel 6 series, it seems Google has finally solidified that slot, with a new report seeing nearly 400% growth in Q1 2022.
Android app deals of the day: Teslagrad, Forest Golf, Mobile Doc Scanner, more
Thursday’s best Android app deals are now live and waiting for you down below. Joining the Google Play software offers, we have solid price drops on the Moto G 5G and Lenovo’s flagship Tab P12 Pro Android tablet as well as Samsung’s Galaxy S22/Ultra Kickstand Covers. Our app collection is headlined by titles like Teslagrad, Forest Golf Planner, Mobile Doc Scanner (MDScan), FTP Server, SuperGBC Pro (GBC Emulator), and more. Head below for a closer look at today’s best Android Android app deals.
It seems the Galaxy Z Flip 4 will be shipping with a bigger battery, and a new leak all but confirms it’s going to be a bigger upgrade than some earlier leaks suggested.
On the Google My Activity page, one of the very first controls shown is Web & App Activity. Google will soon break up that setting with a new “Workspace search history” preference.
The first-generation Nest Hub is getting a more sizable update than usual that adds the app launcher and on-device Bluetooth settings menu.
Pixel 6a colors: Google’s stunning ‘Sage’ green and where you can get it
Google’s latest Pixel phone is the mid-range Pixel 6a, which arrives this July for around $450. The device comes with Google Tensor and a familiar design, as well as delivering a new “Sage” green color that’s exclusive to the Pixel 6a. In some countries, though, Pixel 6a colors are a little limited. Here’s what you need to know.
Adding alt-text to Gmail image attachments
For Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Google is previewing new features across several products covering Android and Workspace, including alt-text in Gmail.
eSIM is a brilliant way to simplify cellular plans, but to say it’s underused is certainly an understatement. Today, though, Verizon-owned Visible is announcing support for eSIM on Android, with Google Pixel 6, Pixel 5, and several Samsung phones on the list.
Deals: Lenovo Tab P12 Pro Android tablet $120 off, Moto G 5G hits $350, more
All of today’s best deals are headlined by a new all-time low on Lenovo’s flagship Tab P12 Pro Android tablet at $120 off. That’s alongside the first price cut on the new Moto G 5G at $350 and the eufy smart pan and tilt cam for $39. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
Flaw in Huawei AppGallery allows paid Android apps to be downloaded for free [Update: Fix incoming]
A newly discovered flaw in Huawei’s AppGallery store makes it possible for paid Android apps to be downloaded for free, but a fix is on the way.
Samsung phones with UWB can unlock & start the new Genesis GV60 electric car
We’re slowly moving to a world where the traditional wallet and car keys are things of the past, and everything is handled by your smartphone. This week, Hyundai’s Genesis brand launched the GV60 electric vehicle, and it can be unlocked and started using Samsung smartphones with UWB.
After the launch of the OnePlus Nord 2 late last year, the Chinese firm is following up with a refreshed and tuned OnePlus Nord 2T. But is there enough of a difference to warrant switching from the OnePlus Nord 2 to the OnePlus Nord 2T?
The OnePlus Nord 2T has now officially been unveiled as a follow-up to last year’s mid-range Nord 2.
Samsung has updated these devices to Android 12
Android 12 is still a very new version of the platform, but Samsung is launching the update for its Galaxy devices less than a month after Google’s own Pixel phones. More devices will be updated over the coming months, and Samsung has confirmed a preliminary list of devices that will be updated.
Playing Fortnite on mobile phones is about to get a lot better, as Nvidia GeForce Now is rolling out support for the full hit game with touch controls on both Android and iOS.
Lawnchair 12.1 is now available in Alpha and includes a number of improvements alongside the new At a Glance widget found in Android 12.
Magic Eraser ad highlights ‘distraction removal’ from your photos on Pixel 6 series
Magic Eraser is a neat tool that comes bundled with each Pixel 6 and gives you the ability to remove unwanted photo bombers or artifacts from your photos. Now the latest Google ad for the Pixel 6 series is highlighting the power of the impressive Magic Eraser feature in everyday circumstances.
May 18
At I/O 2022, Google announced that it will update over 20 of its first-party apps for large screens in a show of its commitment to the form factor. This will undoubtedly improve the experience for existing owners and is meant to encourage other developers to do the same. Here’s every Google app on Android that has a tablet update and what’s still to come.
Google Doodle honors Stacey Park Milbern, champion of disability justice movement
Today’s Google Doodle honors Stacey Park Milbern, a champion of the disability justice movement, as part of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
As announced in March, Google TV is rolling out a redesign that adds a “Highlights” news feed and reorganizes other parts of the Android app.
Google Photos recently rolled out a pair of tweaks on Android and iOS that make it easier to delete media in albums, and there’s a new date/location indicator when browsing.
Small Android phones are dead. As sad as it is to say, it’s extremely unlikely that a flagship Android phone will come out in the foreseeable future. Let’s go over why.
Google now accepting Android 13 Beta 2 and 12 QPR3 Beta 3 feedback
Google is now taking feedback for Android 13 Beta 2 a week after its launch at I/O 2022. At the same time, the Android 12 QPR3 Beta 3 survey is also available.
A week ago at I/O 2022, Google said it would optimize over 20 of its Android apps for large-screen devices. The first tablet update is now here, and that distinction goes to Google Lens.
