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Google confirmed that existing Chromebooks will keep receiving regular updates and security patches under its Auto Update policy through mid-2034. After that, newer commercial Chromebook models with 10-year update support extending past 2034 will be eligible to switch to the newly announced Googlebook OS, though Google says more migration details are coming soon.
Amazon is selling the Retroid Pocket 5 for $219, down from its $249 list price, matching the lowest price seen since summer Prime Day. The device features a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 865 chip, Hall effect sticks, active cooling, analog triggers, gyroscope and vibration, and is rated 4.6 stars by reviewers.
Take-Two Interactive issued a cease-and-desist to developer Paralympics Productions, forcing the team to shut down its unofficial native ARM port of GTA V for Android by October 3, 2026. The project, led by a developer known as Mojso, also covered a native Nintendo Switch build, both of which will now be discontinued without any code release. The developer acknowledged the legal notice and confirmed the shutdown in a message on X.
Google is bringing the Contacts tab back to the bottom navigation bar of its Phone by Google app, reversing a change made last year that moved it into a sidebar menu. The change is currently visible only to some beta users running version 240.0.98, and it did not appear consistently across all devices tested by Android Authority.
The Google Pixel 8, launched in 2023 at $700, is now available refurbished on Amazon for under $300. Google promised the phone seven years of OS and security updates, meaning it remains eligible for Android updates until roughly 2030. It features a 6.2-inch 120Hz OLED display, a dual rear camera system with 50MP wide and 12MP ultrawide sensors, and AI photo tools like Magic Editor and Best Take.
Renders attributed to leaker OnLeaks and published by Android Headlines show a Pixel 11A that looks nearly identical to the Pixel 9A and 10A, aside from a slightly rounder rear camera module and the same thick display bezels. A separate report from Mystic Leaks claims the phone will upgrade to Google's Tensor G6 chip, replacing the Tensor G4 used in the previous two A-series models. Android Headlines also reports the device will come in black, silver, green, and purple.
Google Translate app teardown reveals an in-development "Auto-save transcript" toggle in Live Translate settings that would automatically store conversation transcripts on mobile without a manual save step. Code strings indicate this saving feature will be disabled entirely when the app is used through Android XR smart glasses. Separately, spotted UI changes would let users trigger translation on glasses via voice command and end sessions with a touchpad swipe.
Chinese company Zinwa Technologies plans to open pre-orders on October 3 for a fully assembled BlackBerry Passport revival called the P26, running Android inside the original Passport body. The device will pack a new chipset, USB-C port, and 12GB of RAM, with shipments expected by late October. Zinwa currently sells a DIY version of the kit for $620 excluding shipping, though pricing for the assembled unit hasn't been announced.
AYANEO has officially released the KONKR Pocket BLOCK, a Game Boy-style vertical Android handheld first shown in May. It comes in 2GB/32GB and 3GB/64GB configurations priced at $89 and $109 respectively, though AYANEO is currently offering promotional pricing of $79 and $99. The device features a 3.33-inch 960x720 LCD, a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, a 3,500mAh battery, Android 12, and no analog sticks, with shipping starting late October in three color options.
An unofficial Android app called MotoKey Plus reprograms Motorola's dedicated AI key into a customizable button, assigning distinct functions to single press, double press, and press-and-hold. Users can set actions like flashlight, screenshots, media controls, notifications, Quick Settings, Gemini, or any installed app, with adjustable timing for taps and holds. The app is currently sideload-only, though its developer says a Google Play release is planned.
Android Authority's Jerry Hildenbrand bought a Pixel 11 for $300 via Google Fi loyalty discounts but hit a boot loop during initial setup, taking nearly an hour to reach the home screen. He says the device then struggled to maintain a stable network connection, and a colleague reported similar boot loop problems on a Pixel 11 Pro roughly a month earlier.
Google is challenging in court two European Commission requirements issued in July: one forcing it to give rival AI assistants deeper access to Android, including voice-activation capability, and another requiring it to share Google Search data with competing search providers. The Android rule would require Google, within 12 months of the July decision, to let users set a non-Google AI assistant like ChatGPT as their default and invoke it by voice.