Gemini’s updated color branding is continuing to roll out on Android with an updated glow animation for the system-wide overlay.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini overlay rolling out four-color glow on Android [U]
Author
Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
Abner Li has worked at 9to5Google since 2015 and in late 2020 took on the role of editor-in-chief. He is keenly focused on tracking what happens at Google, and is often the first to spot new features in Google’s ever-growing family of applications that are updated on a daily basis, including Search, Assistant, Maps, Workspace, Android, Chrome/OS, Wear OS, and YouTube Music.
To him, what Google does greatly impacts the technology space and modern life. Inside the company, he is particularly interested in the key products mentioned above, as well as services like Google Podcasts and Google Lens. Each are massive platforms that can be unwieldy to grasp, with Abner keenly bent on understanding their philosophy and future direction. He is most excited about Google’s plans for augmented reality glasses.
Abner spearheads the APK Insight program at 9to5Google to chronicle all changes in the company’s Android apps, often finding new features before they are officially announced. This includes redesigns and revamps, launches, and new products.
A big area of interest is Google’s hardware division, including Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. He detailed all of the Pixel 3’s camera features before launch and scooped the 2nd-generation Nest Hub’s Soli-powered Sleep Sensing capability, including how it would integrate with Google Fit.
Recently, Abner detailed the Pixel Watch’s specs in full before launch, including bands and pricing. He also got wind of the Pixel Tablet’s ultimate form factor.
Google app tests more prominent AI Mode and Live access
As AI Mode comes to more users around the world, Google is testing more prominent ways to surface the capability (and Live) on mobile.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle says AI not causing traffic declines & that it cares more about web’s health than competition
Google is out with a blog post today rebutting recent reports that its AI features are causing traffic declines.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini app adds Guided Learning mode & visual responses, free college AI Pro returns
Ahead of the new school year, the Gemini app is adding a trio of new tools like Guided Learning, while the free year of Google AI Pro offer is back for college students in several countries.
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[Fixed] YouTube playback speed is currently broken on Android
A bug with YouTube for Android today means that you cannot adjust the playback speed of videos.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 16 August update rolling out with three Pixel fixes
The next update to Android 16 is rolling out with the August 2025 security patch for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, and 9a.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini app can now create custom storybooks, comics, and more
The latest Gemini app feature lets you create “personalized, illustrated storybooks complete with read-aloud narration.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Photos redesign adds persistent M3 Expressive backup indicator
Google Photos for Android is getting a very prominent and persistent redesign of its backup indicator that leverages Material 3 Expressive.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Music 5.0 beta brings iOS 26 features to Android
Ahead of iOS 26 launching this fall, Apple Music for Android is beta testing version 5.0.0 with new features and design tweaks.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit update makes sleep tracking more accurate, might raise awake time
In addition to a bigger Charge 6 and tracker/smartwatch updates last week, Fitbit detailed some improvements to sleep tracking.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel 10 ‘Soon’ teaser goes hard on iPhone’s AI Siri delays [Video]
With a little over two weeks until the announcement, a new Pixel 10 “Soon” teaser from Google heavily needles how Apple hasn’t been able to ship the Siri AI upgrades for the iPhone 16.
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Google Home app fixes edge-to-edge Routines bug on Android
For the past several weeks, the Google Home app’s Routines creator and editor had an edge-to-edge bug on Android 16, and a fix is now here.
Expand Expanding CloseAre you using Chrome for Android’s bottom address bar? [Poll]
In July, Google finally launched a bottom address bar for Chrome on Android. Are you using it?
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 9a gets deepest discount yet at $100 off
The US Google Store and other retailers have kicked off a $100 discount on the Pixel 9a that ends a few days before the Pixel 10 launch.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle renames most of its new Gemini-Assistant voices for Nest [Video]
Back in June, Google introduced three new voices for the upcoming Gemini-Assistant revamp for the Nest Mini and Audio. Ahead of launch, Google has renamed most of them, but they otherwise appear to be the same.
Expand Expanding CloseIt’s wild how similar Google AI Mode and Gemini are right now
The clear difference between Gemini and AI Mode will be an assistant. That’s already the case today, and what LLMs continue to make possible will only widen that gap. However, the similarities today make me wonder whether this is confusing for most users.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Home media controller getting Material 3 redesign
As previewed last November, Google Home for Android is giving the media controller a Material 3 redesign.
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Google’s latest Circle to Search redesign looks like the TVA portals from ‘Loki’
After adding Song Search history, Circle to Search on Android is testing a redesigned animation that looks straight out of Loki.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle now keeping ‘actively used’ goo․gl links, others will stop in August
After originally planning to have all goo.gl URLs stop working later this month, Google will now “preserve actively used links.”
Expand Expanding CloseGemini 2.5 Deep Think rolling out now for Google AI Ultra
After previewing at I/O 2025 in May, Google is now rolling out the Gemini 2.5 Deep Think mode to AI Ultra subscribers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle One Material 3 Expressive redesign drops the graphics [U]
The Google One app on Android is getting a Material 3 Expressive redesign.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Watch 4 price leaks with LTE possibly getting cheaper
Following the Pixel 10 series, the US price of the Pixel Watch 4 has leaked and points to cheaper LTE models.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Phone beta expands rollout of Material 3 Expressive redesign
The piecemeal beta rollout of M3 Expressive (M3E) in the Google Phone app continues with version 185.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat’s new in Google Home 3.34, 3.35, & 3.36: Camera updates + bug fixes
In April, Google began offering changelogs for the Home app on Android and iOS. Release notes for Google Home 3.34, 3.35, and 3.36 are now available.
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