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YouTube confirmed it has resolved an issue that caused missing thumbnails and blank gray or black spaces in Home, Subscriptions, and profile feeds on Android and iOS. The bug appeared over the weekend, following a separate freezing issue reported on Galaxy phones last week. YouTube says users still seeing blank gaps should force-quit and restart the app.
Google's March Pixel Drop update for Android 16 introduces Desktop Mode, a feature that lets Pixel 8 and newer phones connect to an external monitor to run a PC-like interface. The feature had been in beta testing for several months before this official release.
Spotify has launched Running Mode, a new feature available to Premium subscribers in select markets on both iOS and Android. The AI-powered tool builds playlists around song BPM to match a chosen run type, offering structured intensity curves, voice guidance and a Prompted Playlist option for further customization. Unlike the earlier Spotify Running feature discontinued in 2018, it does not track pace but instead lets users select their preferred run style upfront.
A user named Cobanov used Anthropic's Claude AI to debloat his four-year-old Android TV through developer/ADB access, instructing it to disable unused apps, shorten animations, and log all changes rather than uninstall anything. He also replaced Google TV's ad-heavy home screen with FLauncher, an open-source app launcher, and reported the TV ran smoother than when new, all without rooting the device.
Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Android, once planned to let Windows 11 run Android apps natively, was discontinued in 2024. Users now rely on third-party emulators like BlueStacks and NetEase's MuMuPlayer, or Google's Play Games for PC, which streams a limited catalog of opted-in Android games via a lightweight virtual machine. Windows 11's Phone Link can also mirror a connected Android phone's screen and apps, though it runs the apps on the phone rather than the PC.
Android Authority writer Megan Ellis describes how her HONOR 600 Pro, like Motorola's Razr, Edge and the Nothing Phone 4a, ships with a dedicated physical AI button on its frame. After finding the button's default AI-launching behaviour unwanted, she discovered a settings option letting her reassign it to trigger other phone functions instead of an AI assistant.
Android Authority writer Zac Kew-Denniss outlined features found on other Android phones but absent from Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, including ultra-fast charging, IR blasters, dual desktop modes with advanced app cloning, Moto Actions-style gestures, and Nothing's Glyph lighting system. The piece notes Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra tops out at 60W charging and the Pixel 11 Pro at 45W, compared to phones like the OnePlus 15 at 80W and even faster options available outside the US.
Android Authority's Stephen Radochia has published a comparison review of Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL against the Pixel 8 Pro after a week of testing. He reports that the new phone feels lighter and more refined, with a matte black finish and color-matched aluminum frame, while gaming performance remains a weaker point. He now says it's harder to recommend holding onto the Pixel 8 Pro than in previous years.
In an opinion piece, Android Authority's Aamir Siddiqui writes that after being a longtime advocate for book-style foldable phones, he has grown disillusioned with the category. He argues that the multitasking benefits of a combined phone-tablet device rarely justify the added complexity, fragility, and cost of folding mechanisms, saying he only uses split-screen multitasking a few times a month.
Android Authority highlights lesser-known Google Lens features, including identifying items for purchase by pointing a camera at them and returning direct shopping links, and decoding laundry care symbols on clothing tags. The tool also works for interpreting car dashboard icons, nutrition labels, and troubleshooting device issues, aided by its integration with Gemini for follow-up questions.
Google shared new details on its Chromebook Plus laptop lineup, emphasizing tight integration with Android phones and a commitment to 10 years of software updates. The first devices come from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.
A third-party app called Merge Watch lets users pair an Apple Watch with an Android device after initial setup with an iPhone. Users install the app on both the Apple Watch and an Android phone, grant Bluetooth, health, notification and battery permissions, then pair via a six-digit code. Health data syncs to Google Fit, though it can take time to appear after setup.