The Pixel punches way above its weight in the smartphone space [Video]
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Your passport can be added to Google Wallet; here’s how
Google Wallet introduced something called ID pass in late 2024. The new feature allows users to add their US passport to Google Wallet like a digital ID, and it provides some convenient benefits even if you don’t plan on using it all of the time.
Expand Expanding CloseYou can now test Gemini 2.0 Flash’s native image output
Following Gemma 3 and Gemini Robotics earlier today, Google’s AI news continues with wider access to native image output in Gemini 2.0 Flash that allows for conversational image editing alongside other capabilities.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces Gemini Robotics for building general purpose robots
Google DeepMind today announced Gemini Robotics to bring Gemini and “AI into the physical world,” with new models able to “perform a wider range of real-world tasks than ever before.”
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Deals: Galaxy Watch Ultra $230 off, Galaxy S25 Ultra $300 off, Surface Pro Snapdragon X Elite Copilot+ PC $350 off, more
Today’s Androidverse deals are headlined by one of the best straight up cash deals we have tracked to date on Galaxy Watch Ultra – you can now score any color with any band at $230 off the list price. Just keep in mind that price will drop even lower when purchased alongside a Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra, all of which are now seeing their own straight up cash deals on top of the bundle offers with as much as $300 in savings. Next we over to the laptops – Microsoft’s most affordable Surface Pro Snapdragon X Elite Copilot+ PC is $350 off and Samsung’s 2025 Galaxy Book 5 360 AMOLED touchscreen Copilot+ PC is now at a new all-time low with $200 in savings. Hit the jump for the rest of today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
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Pokemon Go is getting a new owner after almost 9 years with Niantic
Pokemon Go has had an exceptionally wide reach over the last few years. Since launching in 2016, it has become one of the most successful mobile games on Android and iOS with a cult following to this day. The team at Pokemon Go has announced that a new owner will be buying the rights to the game, though they suggest the current dev team will remain unchanged.
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Honey finally discloses that it uses affiliate codes now that Google Chrome requires it
After being exposed for some shady practices last year, PayPal’s popular Honey extension has finally been forced to disclose that, yes, it takes advantage of merchant affiliate programs.
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Samsung rolls out first Galaxy Buds 2 and Buds 2 Pro updates in just over a year
Samsung is rolling out new updates to its 2022 earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, in their first new patch in over a year.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung Galaxy AOD update simplifies Google Sports setup via Now Bar
Sports scores show up by default via the Now Bar in Samsung’s One UI 7 build, but tailoring those settings can be a bit of a pain. A new update to Samsung’s AOD makes that integration a little better with Now Bar and adds a guide to set up sports integration with Google.
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Pixel Weather rolls out some small, but useful tweaks [Gallery]
In its latest update, Google has added two small tweaks to Pixel Weather including better showing the date, as well as making it easier to save a location.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces Gemma 3 as ’world’s best single-accelerator model’
Following version 1 in February 2024 and 2 in May, Google today announced Gemma 3 as its latest open model for developers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Chrome policy update restricts shady affiliate extensions, like Honey
Google Chrome has made a policy update today that restricts how browser extensions can interact with affiliate codes, effectively banning the behavior of the controversial PayPal Honey extension.
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Google Photos for Android adds ‘Undo device backup’
As previously announced in December, Google Photos now lets you “Undo device backup” on Android.
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Samsung reportedly preparing first-party controllers for its Android XR headset
Samsung is still working to bring its first Android XR headset, “Project Moohan,” to market, and new information reveals that the company will also have some first-party controllers to go with it.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages ‘significantly’ improves ‘media receiving’ to fix slowdowns, failures
Google Messages has addressed slowdowns, failures, and other issues with receiving media in Android’s RCS app.
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Today’s Android app deals and freebies: CHRONO TRIGGER, Chloe Puzzle Game Pro, more
While we are still tracking a series of deals on top-tier Android games and apps from yesterday, there is a fresh batch of titles up for grabs today as well. Scope out the deals we also have on the OnePlus ANC Nord Buds 3 Pro at nearly 40% off as well as Woot’s Best of Tech Spring sale with TCL frame Google Smart TVs at up to $1,900 off, but for now are on to the apps, including tiles like CHRONO TRIGGER, Star Traders, Chloe Puzzle Game Pro, freebie icon packs, and more. Head below for a closer look.
Read MoreNothing Phone (3a) series now available, first update adds shareable ‘Camera Presets’
As it starts shipping to customers today, the new Nothing Phone (3a) series is getting an update that adds a “Camera Presets” feature.
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Waymo One coming next to Silicon Valley
Following Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin (via Uber), Waymo One is next coming to Silicon Valley.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 9a leak shows off both cameras in action, literally
The Pixel 9a is expeted to be released later this month, so that means more leaks are bound to show up as we approach the launch. A new Pixel 9a leak surfaces, showing off the camera in action during a Lucha Libre match.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 10 allegedly adds a telephoto camera to the base model, leaker claims
According to a leaker’s claim, Google’s upcoming Pixel 10 may upgrade the camera setup with a periscope telephoto lens on the base model, something that’s been missing previously.
Expand Expanding ClosePocket Casts web, Mac, and Windows apps are now free to access
As YouTube’s role in podcasting increases, Pocket Casts announced today that its web, Mac, and Windows apps are now free with a subscription no longer required.
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Deals: OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro nearly 40% off, OLED Copilot+ PC, TCL NXTFRAME Google Smart TV up to $1,900 off, more
Joining the ongoing all-time low pricing on the Chipolo ONE Point Google Find My Device tag tracker at $15, today we are kicking things off with a nearly 40% price drop on the latest OnePlus ANC Nord Buds 3 Pro at $50 shipped. Then it’s over to ASUS’ ultra-thin Vivobook S 14 OLED Copilot+ PC with Intel’s Lunar Lake chip at $450 off the list price, this all-time low on Lexar’s aluminum SL500 USB-C 2,000MB/s portable SSD, and the now live Best of Tech Spring sale with up to $1,900 off TCL’s 85-inch 120Hz NXTFRAME Google Smart TV. All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
Expand Expanding CloseMore Gemini coming to Google Meet and Chat for Workspace
With Gemini now available in Workspace Business and Enterprise, Google Chat and Meet are picking up a slew of new features.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Studio 1.5 adds people generation, faster sticker creation, light theme
As announced with last week’s March Feature Drop, Pixel Studio 1.5 is required to generate images and stickers of people, while there are a handful of other changes.
Expand Expanding CloseOne UI 7 stable might be the Galaxy S24’s next update, but don’t hold your breath
One UI 7 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, and the beta version has been the only taste most users—other than S25 users—have had. A new tip indicates that Samsung may release One UI 7 in its stable form for the Galaxy S24, omitting any further beta updates. In reality, we don’t know what Samsung’s plans could be next.
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