Apple has released version 7.0 of its Apple Music beta for Android, introducing a new floating, translucent navigation bar and redesigned artist pages with large artwork. The update also moves artist bios behind a single tap on an 'i' icon next to the play button, rather than requiring users to scroll to the bottom of the page. The changes were first spotted by user Sumanta Das on X and confirmed by Android Authority through the beta program.
Android Authority found new code in Play Store version 53.3.21-34 showing a more developed layout for paid game listings, featuring larger banner graphics and color-matched interface elements. The update also appears to replace numeric ratings with descriptive labels such as 'Absolute peak' or 'Controversial,' and is expected to add more detailed feature information for shoppers.
Apple has released a 7.0 beta of Apple Music for Android that introduces a Liquid Glass-inspired redesign, including a floating translucent bottom bar and mini-player, revamped top bars, artist pages with cover-matched backgrounds, a reorganized Settings page, and edge-to-edge status and navigation bars. The update also aligns Apple Music's Android version numbering with iOS 27, continuing a scheme started in the prior release.
Teardown of Google Play Store version 53.3.21-34 uncovered code strings referencing a new 'playlist' feature that would let users group at least three games into a custom collection. The strings suggest users could name, describe, and color-code these playlists, plus add, remove, or delete games from them later. Google has not confirmed the feature publicly.
A Reddit user named PartiallyFrozen bought a first-generation Amazon Echo Spot for $4 and converted it into a custom dashboard by rooting the device, installing LineageOS, and building an Android-based interface. The AI coding tool Claude Code guided the entire process, and the finished device now displays market data, PC usage stats, speech-to-text output, and task updates by communicating with a small AI agent running on the user's computer.
Android Authority ran a two-week reader poll asking Pixel owners whether Android 17 QPR1, which began rolling out this month, introduced new problems. Of 1,458 respondents, about 68% reported some new issue, with performance (19%), UI behavior (16%), display glitches (14%) and connectivity (11%) as the top complaints, while nearly a third said they saw no new problems.
Android Authority released its latest 'Wallpaper Wednesday' collection, featuring six reader-submitted images and three from its own team. The wallpapers are free, watermark-free, and available in both landscape and portrait formats as JPG or PNG files via a shared Drive link.
Valve released an Arm version of SteamOS following its Snapdragon-powered Steam Frame headset, and developers hashtagbasit and MaSieS4Fun quickly adapted it to run on Android handhelds. The port can be installed from a microSD card on devices including the AYN Odin 2 family, AYN Thor, Retroid Pocket 6, and several AYANEO Pocket models, letting users try SteamOS without wiping internal storage. Android Authority tested the MaSieS4Fun build on an AYN Odin 2 Portal and reported it booted and set up successfully after first installing the Rocknix ABL bootloader.
Android Authority ran a reader poll asking how often people upgrade their smartwatch, offering options ranging from yearly upgrades to waiting until the device stops working. With seven votes recorded so far, 57% said they upgrade only when their smartwatch malfunctions, while 43% said they replace it every three to five years; no respondents chose annual, biennial upgrades, or not using a smartwatch at all.
Samsung has released its third-generation SmartTag item tracker, adding improvements to range and battery life over previous models. Unlike earlier versions, SmartTag 3 works with iPhones as well as Android phones from brands other than Samsung.
A review of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra highlights its 14.6-inch OLED screen, 1,600-nit peak brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and an under-display fingerprint sensor, all housed in a 5.1mm-thick, 692-gram aluminum body. The reviewer notes the tablet has only a single USB-C port, calling it a limitation for a device positioned as a laptop replacement.
HONOR has quietly released the Life S3, a 3.68-inch E Ink display that magnetically attaches to the back of any phone using an included magnetic ring. The device supports Wi-Fi 6 book transfers, microSD cards up to 1TB, and claims up to 30 hours of reading on its 650mAh battery, running a custom RTOS with JD Reading preinstalled.
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