Pixelated 102: A Breath of Fresh Air
Episode 102 of the 9to5Google podcast Pixelated recaps the key takeaways from Google I/O and delivers a hands‑on review of the new Fitbit Air wearable. The hosts praise Google’s AI‑driven features across Android, Workspace and Pixel devices, while noting slower developer‑tool rollouts for smaller firms. The Fitbit Air is evaluated for its five‑day battery life, refined health sensors and competitive pricing. The episode is sponsored by Proton Unlimited, offering listeners a 30 % discount on privacy‑focused services.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Series May ‘Significantly’ Improve the Display Crease
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is reported to feature a “significant” reduction in the visible display crease, putting it on par with Oppo’s Find N6, which claims an invisible, zero‑feel hinge. The improvement applies to both the standard Fold 8 and...
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 Might Get Another Classic and Pixel Watch Raise-to-Talk
Samsung appears set to release a Galaxy Watch 9 Classic, reviving the rotating‑bezel design that has been cycled on and off in recent models. Leaked Wear OS update code also suggests the watch will support Google’s raise‑to‑talk voice feature first seen...
Google Adjusts Gemini’s New Usage Limits in Response to Complaints
Google has revamped Gemini’s usage limits, shifting from a simple time‑based cap to a compute‑based model that accounts for prompt complexity, tool usage, and chat length. Users hitting limits quickly can now buy pay‑as‑you‑go AI credits, while failed requests no...
Spotify Resurrects YouTube Clips to Let You Share Podcast Segments as a Link
Spotify announced a new "Podcast Clips" feature that lets listeners create and share short, timestamped segments of any episode via a simple link. Users can choose to share a full episode, a specific chapter, or a custom clip, and the...
YouTube Adds ‘Custom Feed’ to Home Page, Just in Case the Search Bar Is Too Boring for You
YouTube has added a "custom feed" button beside the search bar, letting users type nuanced prompts that generate a continuously refreshed video stream. The feed can be saved as a chip on the Home page and edited at any time....
Google Home Can Now Use What Cameras See as Automation Starters, Android Widget Improved
Google Home’s latest update integrates Gemini’s camera scene‑understanding into smart‑home automations, allowing Nest and select Gemini‑built cameras to trigger actions based on visual events. The rollout also brings a more responsive Android Home widget, refined Familiar Faces management, and expanded...
Deals: Pixel 10 Devices From $449, Google Nest Cam $57, Ring Wired Doorbell Pro, Anker Chargers, More
Google’s Memorial Day sale slashes prices across its Pixel 10 lineup, offering up to $300 off premium models and pushing the Pixel 10a to a record‑low $449. The latest Nest Cam Indoor drops to $57 in open‑box condition, while the Ring Wired...
Google Health for Android Rollout Was Sped up as Fitbit Air Buyers Were Struggling to Pair
Google has expedited the rollout of Google Health 5.0 on Android after early Fitbit Air owners reported pairing issues. The update, which essentially rebrands the Fitbit app, launched a week ago but lagged behind iOS releases, leaving Android users unable...
IOS 27 Could Give Google Cast Native Integration, Like AirPlay, Thanks to the EU
Apple is reportedly preparing iOS 27 to support third‑party streaming protocols, including Google Cast, to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The change would let users select a non‑Apple solution as the default for sending video, audio, or photos to...
Snap’s AR Glasses with Display Reportedly Beat Android XR to Launch, but for $2,500
Snap is preparing to launch its next‑generation Spectacles AR glasses in fall 2026, priced at roughly $2,500. The rollout would precede Android‑based XR glasses from Google and XREAL, which are slated for 2027 and late 2026 respectively. Snap’s device focuses...
Google Details Wear OS Widgets that Replace Tiles, Shows Off First Apps with Support
Google announced the rollout of Wear Widgets on Wear OS, a visual upgrade that replaces full‑screen tiles with two widget formats—2×2 and 2×1. The new widgets share the same construction as Android home‑screen widgets, letting developers port designs more easily...
Google Has Apparently Ended Updates for Every Chromecast Except One
Google has officially halted critical security updates for five legacy Chromecast models, including the 2nd‑gen, Audio, Ultra, 3rd‑gen, and the 4K Google TV version. The only device still receiving updates is the 2022 Chromecast with Google TV (HD), which remains...
![Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 Has a Bouncy New Animation for Quick Settings [Video]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/android-17-quick-settings.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 Has a Bouncy New Animation for Quick Settings [Video]
Google has introduced a new bouncy animation to the Quick Settings panel in Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3. The motion mirrors the existing bounce effect in the notification shade, giving the swipe a sense of inertia before snapping back. The update is...
Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3: System UI Adds More Blur to Pixel
Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 expands the blur and translucency introduced in earlier releases, adding frosted‑glass effects to the volume slider, full volume panel, power menu and other system UI elements. The changes build on Google’s Material 3 Expressive redesign and leverage...
Google Rolling Out Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 for Pixel
Google unveiled Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 at I/O 2026, continuing its two‑week update cadence. The build addresses a range of stability and UI issues, from noisy system logs to Wi‑Fi dropouts and audio distortion. Beta images are available for Pixel 6...
Google and Samsung’s Android XR Glasses Will Have Multiple ‘Disruptive’ and ‘Timeless’ Styles
At Google I/O 2026, Google and Samsung unveiled the first Android XR smart glasses, created in partnership with fashion houses Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The devices embed Gemini’s generative AI for voice‑driven navigation, ordering, notifications, and real‑time translation, and...
Google TV Update Will Support Wii-Like Pointer Remotes
At Google I/O 2026, Google announced that future Google TV updates will support motion‑controlled pointer remotes, similar to Nintendo’s Wii‑mote. The new input model will introduce hover states, scrollable containers and cursor clicks across the Home screen and third‑party apps. Developers are...
Deals: Best Buy Memorial Day Sale, Nothing Headphone (a) All-Time Low, Phone (3), $1,000 Off Windows Copilot+ PCs, More
Best Buy and Amazon kicked off Memorial Day with deep discounts across consumer electronics, including up to 50% off TVs, Apple gear, and Android phones. Nothing’s flagship Headphone (a) fell to $169, a 15% cut, while the unlocked Nothing Phone (3)...
OnePlus Resumes Rollout of Latest OxygenOS Update Following Boot Issues
OnePlus announced that the rollout of OxygenOS 16.0.7 and 16.0.5 updates has resumed after a brief pause caused by abnormal restart and boot issues on a small subset of devices. The company detected the problem during internal monitoring, halted distribution,...
Google Updates Find Hub App with Location Notifications
Google has released version 3.1.608‑5 of its Find Hub Android app, adding location‑sharing notifications. Users can now set alerts to be notified when a contact arrives at or leaves a chosen place such as home or work. The new feature...
![More of Google Pixel’s New 3D Emoji for Android 17 Have Leaked, Here’s a Quick Look [Gallery]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/android-17-emoji-leak-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
More of Google Pixel’s New 3D Emoji for Android 17 Have Leaked, Here’s a Quick Look [Gallery]
Google has previewed a new Noto 3D emoji library that will ship with Android 17, initially rolling out on Pixel devices later this year. The leak shared by RKBDI reveals roughly 250 of the over 4,000 redesigned icons, including faces, animals, objects...
Gemini App Rolling Out ‘Extended’ Thinking Level, New 3rd-Party App Integrations
Google is expanding its Gemini app ahead of I/O 2026 with a new “Thinking level” selector that appears for Gemini 3 Flash and Gemini 3.1 Pro, offering Standard and Extended modes. The Extended mode provides deeper reasoning and is being rolled out to a limited...
Gemini Intelligence Has High Android Spec Requirements, Likely Won’t Support Pixel 9 or Galaxy Z Fold 7
Google unveiled Gemini Intelligence, a suite of advanced AI features for Android, but set steep hardware thresholds. Devices must have a flagship processor, at least 12 GB of RAM, AI Core and Gemini Nano v3 support, plus five OS upgrades and six...
Google’s Nest App Is Down for Many in Widespread Outage
Google’s legacy Nest app experienced a widespread outage on May 15, 2026, affecting both iOS and Android users with a generic connection error. The problem persisted for several hours despite the Nest status dashboard showing no alerts, and Google has...
Pixelated 100: The Googlebook Question
The 100th episode of 9to5Google’s Pixelated podcast celebrates a milestone while unpacking Google’s newest Android Show announcements. Hosts Abner, Damien, and Will discuss Android Intelligence, a suite of AI‑driven predictive features, the rollout of user‑generated widgets, and the teased Googlebook...
OnePlus Removed From Best Buy Stores as US Shutdown Looms, Replaced by Nothing
OnePlus devices have been pulled from Best Buy store displays and replaced by Nothing phones, marking the latest sign of the brand’s retreat from the U.S. market. The removal follows the end of OnePlus’s carrier partnerships and a public statement that...
Fitbit 4.69 Rolls Out with Redesign of Focus Stats and Logging
Google has released Fitbit app version 4.69 for Android, marking the last update before the platform is rebranded as Google Health. The rollout introduces a redesigned focus‑stats screen with a customizable 2 × 3 grid, multi‑page support, and new “Log” button that replaces...
![Sony’s Awful ‘AI Camera Assistant’ for Xperia Is the Final Boss of the Worst Camera Trend [Gallery]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/sony-xperia-ai-camera-4.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Sony’s Awful ‘AI Camera Assistant’ for Xperia Is the Final Boss of the Worst Camera Trend [Gallery]
Sony has rolled out an AI Camera Assistant on its new Xperia 1 VIII, touting "Xperia Intelligence" and a telephoto sensor that is roughly four times larger than previous models. Early demos show the AI dramatically brightening scenes, flattening contrast, and oversharpening...
![Snapseed 4.0 Update Adds Camera Shortcut on Android [Changelog]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/Snapseed-4-cover.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Snapseed 4.0 Update Adds Camera Shortcut on Android [Changelog]
Snapseed 4.0.1 for Android is now rolling out with a new long‑press shortcut that instantly opens the app’s built‑in Camera, plus volume‑button capture. The patch (4.0.1.91 5151253) also stabilizes the suite, fixing crashes in tools such as Color, Portrait, and Frames,...
Motorola Razr (2026) and Razr Fold Pre-Orders Open, but You Should Wait
Motorola opened pre‑orders for its 2026 Razr lineup, including three clamshell models and the first book‑style Razr Fold. The Razr+ and Razr Ultra are essentially refreshed 2024 devices, offering only a new hinge and modest battery gains at $1,099 and $1,499 respectively....
Android Rolling Out AI-Powered ‘Contextual Suggestions’ that Learn From Your Habits
Google is rolling out an on‑device AI feature called Contextual suggestions on the Pixel 10 series running Android 16. The system analyzes app usage, location and routine activities to predict helpful actions, such as offering a workout playlist or prompting a TV...
Samsung Launching One UI 9 Beta, Based on Android 17, for Galaxy S26 This Week
Samsung announced the beta rollout of One UI 9, its Android 17‑based skin, for the Galaxy S26 lineup later this week. The program initially covers the United States, UK, Germany, India, Korea and Poland. One UI 9 introduces expanded creative tools, deeper accessibility options,...
The Sideload 033: You (Probably) Can’t Buy the Best Smartphone Cameras
Episode 33 of 9to5Google’s Sideload podcast features Phandroid editor Nick Gray discussing Oppo’s Find X9 Ultra and Vivo’s X300 Ultra. The two phones deliver flagship‑level camera performance—200 MP sensor, large aperture, dual‑pixel autofocus, and per‑pixel HDR—yet are not sold in the United States. Gray...
Latest Google Home Update Speeds up Gemini, ‘Ask Home’ Now Works with Voice Commands
Google rolled out a new Google Home update that accelerates Gemini’s voice processing, making timers and alarms noticeably quicker. The update extends Gemini’s “Ask Home” feature to voice commands, letting users ask contextual questions like the location of a family...
Gemini Overlay on Android Basically Adds Circle to Search
Google is rolling out a new Gemini overlay update for Android that adds a “Circle to Search” function, enabling users to draw a circle around any on‑screen element and embed it as an image in their AI prompt. The overlay...
Spotify Is Investigating Why Google Cast, Chromecast Devices Won’t Show in Connect
Spotify has confirmed that Google Cast and Chromecast devices are not appearing in the Spotify Connect interface across its apps. The issue, reported by users on forums and Reddit, affects a range of devices including Nest speakers and Chromecast Audio....
Samsung Widely Rolling Out Stable One UI 8.5 Update, Five Months After the Beta Started
Samsung has begun the worldwide stable rollout of One UI 8.5 after a five‑month beta that started on December 8, 2025. The update, which sits on Android 16, debuted on the Galaxy S26 series in February 2026 and is now reaching a broad lineup including the...
Gemini ‘Omni’ Video Model Shows up with some Early Demos
Google is testing a new video generation model called Gemini Omni, an apparent extension of its existing Veo system. Early demos showcase a chalkboard math proof and a detailed spaghetti dinner scene, both handling text and motion with surprising realism. The...
Fitbit Air Has Status Light & Double-Tap Gesture, Gets Whoop Size Comparison
Google’s Fitbit Air packs its hardware into a tiny “pebble” that features a left‑edge status LED. Users must align the tracker correctly when swapping bands, then firmly double‑tap the top to trigger the light, which flashes white for normal operation...
![Review: I Want to Love Belkin’s 3-in-1 Pixel Watch Charging Dock, but Google Ruined It [Gallery]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/belkin-pixel-watch-charging-dock-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1){kind=tracking}
Review: I Want to Love Belkin’s 3-in-1 Pixel Watch Charging Dock, but Google Ruined It [Gallery]
Belkin introduced a modular 3‑in‑1 Qi2 charging dock that supports Pixel Watch 1‑3, phones and earbuds, priced at $64.99. The dock features a 25 W wireless pad, a secondary earbud charger, and a pull‑out watch shelf with interchangeable inserts. Reviewers praise...
![Google Pixel Phones Will Probably Let You Ditch the Search Bar in Android 17 QPR1 [Video]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/google-pixel-10a-launcher-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1){kind=tracking}
Google Pixel Phones Will Probably Let You Ditch the Search Bar in Android 17 QPR1 [Video]
Google is testing a new toggle in the Pixel Launcher that lets users hide the persistent search bar, a feature long baked into the Pixel homescreen. The option lives under Settings > Search bar settings > Show search bar and, when disabled, shifts docked...
Pixelated 099: Should We Be Worried About the Pixel 11?
In episode 99 of the 9to5Google podcast, hosts Abner, Damien, and Will dissect the latest Pixel 11 rumors, suggesting a summer 2026 launch with upgraded camera sensors and a mysterious "Pixel Glow" feature. They also flag potential downgrades such as...
Google Rolling Out Big Snapseed 4.0 Update for Android
Google has released Snapseed 4.0 for Android, ending the app’s year‑long iOS‑only status. The update brings a refreshed interface with a grid homepage, three bottom tabs, and dark/light theme toggles. A new Snapseed Camera lets users shoot with real‑time film‑style...
Deals: Fitbit Air Pre-Order Offers, Pixel 10 Pro/XL up to $500 Off, Legion Go 2 Windows Handheld $482 Off, More
Best Buy is bundling a free Obsidian Google Active band with Fitbit Air pre‑orders, mirroring Amazon’s $35 credit. Google’s Pixel 10 lineup sees deep cuts, with the 256 GB Pixel 10 Pro XL open‑box priced at $701, nearly $500 off. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11 falls to $540...
![YouTube App for Google TV, More Revamps Side Menu with Easier Library Access, Recent Channels [Gallery]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/10/YouTube-Google-TV-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
YouTube App for Google TV, More Revamps Side Menu with Easier Library Access, Recent Channels [Gallery]
YouTube’s TV app is receiving a refreshed sidebar that moves the Subscriptions and Library sections higher up, reducing the clicks needed to reach the most‑used areas. The redesign also adds two persistent channel shortcuts that stay visible even when the...
OnePlus’ Latest Phone Cuts OS Updates in Half, because Clearly Everything Is Fine
OnePlus launched the Nord CE6, a mid‑range phone priced under €300 (≈$327), featuring a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, 8 GB RAM, a 50 MP camera and an 8,000 mAh battery. The company advertised a “Fast and Smooth for 6 years” experience, but the device will receive...
Gmail Adds AI Inbox to the Bottom Bar as Help Me Write Becomes More Personal
Google has extended its AI Inbox feature to Gmail’s Android and iOS apps, placing a dedicated tab in the bottom navigation bar alongside Mail, Chat and Meet. The mobile AI Inbox is currently in beta and limited to Google AI Ultra subscribers,...
Google Fit Will Shut Down in Favor of Health, Migration Tool Coming Later This Year
Google announced that its legacy Google Fit app will be retired and its users will be moved to the newly rebranded Google Health platform, formerly the Fitbit app. The transition includes a migration tool slated for release later this year,...
You Won’t Need to Leave Your Pixel Watch Behind to Use Google’s New Fitbit Air
Google has officially launched the Fitbit Air, a display‑less wearable that complements its Pixel Watch. The two devices can be worn together or separately, with health data automatically synced to Google’s Health app and filterable by device. Fitbit Air mirrors...