Here’s everything new in Android 17 QPR3 Beta 1 [Gallery]
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Pixelated 046: Pixel 9aches and pains
Welcome to episode 46 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk all about the Pixel 9a.
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Pixel 10 pops up as Google prepares slightly faster boot times for Android
Google is preparing some kernel improvements for Android devices which are said to improve boot times by up to 30% on the Pixel 10, the first semi-official reference to the unreleased smartphone.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle app getting ‘Activity’ tab for faster Search History on Android
Besides Search and Discover, the Google app on Android offers a bookmarking system that is now getting a fresh coat of paint as part of the “Activity” tab.
Expand Expanding CloseEpic Games Store switches to weekly free Android games with two more titles
The Epic Games Store on Android initially launched with over 30 games and a monthly selection of free offerings, though the storefront offers a weekly title on PC. The company announced that it would be switching over to weekly free offers, starting off with two new titles.
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Today’s Android app deals and freebies: LIMBO, Fury of Dracula, Liege Dragon, more
Friday has arrived, but before we all head into another weekend let’s scope out the day’s best Android game and app deals. Now sitting alongside today’s Google Play offers, the Samsung March Madness sale event rolls on with solid discounts on Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Book 5 Pro, and that’s just for starters. We also spotted notable discounts on this 3-in-1 OnePlus Pouch charger with a built-in USB-C cable, one of the best prices to date on the ASUS’ Expertbook CX54 Chromebook Plus, and a new all-time low on Google Pixel 8a at $200 off. Moving on to the apps, highlights include titles like LIMBO, Fury of Dracula, Liege Dragon, and more. Scope them all out down below.
Read MoreThis tracker works with Android’s Find My Device network and costs just $18
There aren’t many trackers for Android’s Find My Device network, and most of the ones that are on the market aren’t exactly cheap. A new option, the “MiTag,” has recently surfaced, though, which costs under $20.
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GM kills third-party kit that brought Android Auto and CarPlay to its EVs
GM has been adamant in its decision to remove Android Auto and Apple CarPlay from its vehicles, and now the automaker has killed a third-party kit that made it possible to still use those platforms.
Expand Expanding CloseOnePlus has completed an incredible redemption arc [Video]
Of all the OEMs making Android phones, OnePlus has been completely reinvigorated over the past couple of years, both as a brand and as a choice for buyers.
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Deals: Pixel 9 Pro XL $350 off, Pixel 8a now just $299, Galaxy S25 from $300 w/ trade, more
We are ready to cap off the work week in deals with ongoing price drops on Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and more, but we also featured a notable chance to score the most affordable Galaxy S25 from $300 with enhanced trade-in values this morning as well. Then it’s over to the Google ecosystem where you’ll find a huge deal on the unlocked Google Pixel 9 Pro XL at $749, or $350 off the going rate, alongside the best deal we have tracked to date on the Google Pixel 8a at $299, or $200 off – both of these deals likely won’t last for long. We also spotted ASUS’ Expertbook CX54 Chromebook Plus down at one of the best prices ever this morning alongside a host of sweet charging gear and accessories you’ll find down below.
Expand Expanding CloseWood-backed Motorola Razr 60 Ultra surfaces in leaked video
The Motorola Razr series is getting a new lineup of foldables after the success of the Razr 50 series. The new Razr 60 lineup will include a version with wood backing, something not so foreign to Motorola.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung scrubs One UI 7 US release date, global dates unchanged
Initially, it was expected that Samsung would start rolling out One UI 7 on April 10, as the company had announced. However, it appears that the information pages for the US One UI 7 rollout are no longer available, and there is currently no confirmed date for the rollout of this update in the United States.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle says Galaxy S25 will now play nicely with Android’s instant hotspot feature
Android announced a new set of cross-device services last year, and both have been made available for the company’s Pixel lineup. Nearly a year later, Google has updated support for cross-device services like instant hotspot to include the Galaxy S25, and maybe more of Samsung’s devices.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 9a lacks Satellite SOS support with its older modem, Google confirms
Google’s Pixel 9a offers a lot for its $499 price tag, but it doesn’t have everything the rest of the Pixel 9 series has. Thanks to a generation-old modem, the Pixel 9a lacks support for Google’s Satellite SOS feature.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung confirms initial list of Galaxy devices getting Android 15
One UI 7 is finally nearing the end of testing and will soon be available to users in a stable format starting in April outside of the Galaxy S25 series. Samsung listed a number of Galaxy devices that would be eligible for the Android 15 update repackaged as Samsung’s One UI 7.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini app redesigns ‘plus’ menu, adds Canvas on Android and iOS
Following the web introduction on Tuesday, Gemini Canvas is now rolling out to the Android and iOS app with a redesign of the plus menu.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini app rolling out Audio Overviews to Android, iOS
As announced earlier this week, the Gemini app is getting the ability to generate Audio Overview podcasts, with Android and iOS users beginning to see this capability today.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music upgrades Quick picks with multi-song radio creator
First spotted in August, YouTube Music is now rolling out an upgrade to the Quick picks shelf that lets you create a radio based on multiple songs.
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Android Auto 13.9 update is now widely available
After launching in beta a few weeks ago, Google has made the Android Auto 13.9 update widely available to all users.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 9a lacks Pixel Screenshots, Call Notes due to RAM
Due to only 8GB of RAM, the Pixel 9a will not have Pixel Screenshots or Call Notes in the Phone app.
Expand Expanding CloseThe latest vinyl Android figure is a faux wood ‘Pine Pal’ where no two are alike [Gallery]
Google’s long-time partner for Android figures, Dead Zebra, has just launched its latest addition, the faux wood “Pine Pal.”
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 9 and Galaxy S25 adding satellite messaging on Spectrum and Xfinity Mobile
Following Verizon’s announcement yesterday, Spectrum Mobile and Xfinity Mobile have both confirmed that Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 owners on their networks will be getting satellite messaging “in the coming weeks.”
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Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Northgard, Meadowfell, Wilderless, more
Thursday afternoon’s roundup of the best Google Play store deals are now live and ready to go down below. Alongside the ongoing Samsung March Madness sale event with hundreds in savings on the Jetblack Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Book 5 Pro, among other things, today’s hardware deals also include 8Bitdo’s Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller for Android, Google’s smart Nest Security Cams, and the 256GB Pixel Tablet. But for now it’s all about the apps, including Northgard, Meadowfell, Wilderless, Endling, and more. Head below for a closer look.
Read MoreGmail rolling out AI-powered ‘Most relevant’ search update
Google is introducing “smarter search” to Gmail for Android, iOS, and the web that leverages “AI to show you the most relevant results, faster.”
Expand Expanding CloseHuawei Pura X doesn’t know whether it’s a flip phone or a book-style foldable [Video]
Huawei just announced the Pura X, its latest foldable, and it’s a departure from existing form factors, slotting somewhere in between a flip phone and a book-style foldable.
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