Google is rolling out a Personal Intelligence feature for Gemini AI in Android Auto starting today, with support for cars featuring Google built-in arriving in coming months. The feature lets Gemini pull information from Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Photos, YouTube, and Search to answer context-specific driving questions, such as checking a flight status from an email confirmation or navigating to a location shown in a recent photo.
The TCL TAB 10 Gen 4, an Android 15 tablet featuring a 10.1-inch FHD display and 128GB of storage, is on sale for $150, a $50 reduction from its regular price. This matches the lowest price the device has reached since its release.
TextNow is releasing Yello, a modified Motorola Moto G Play priced at $150 with a $20 monthly plan and no contract requirements. The phone blocks the Google Play Store and app installs, limiting kids to calls and texts with contacts parents approve through a web portal that also shows GPS location, plus a camera, calculator, weather app and seven preloaded games.
microG GmsCore is a free, open-source reimplementation of Google's proprietary Play Services, letting apps that rely on Google APIs run on AOSP-based ROMs such as LineageOS without the non-free Google software. It provides core functions like network-based location, works on real devices and emulators, and is licensed under Apache 2.0, though it requires a ROM supporting signature spoofing and a separate Play Store replacement app.
Spotify users have long reported music starting automatically in their cars even after disabling the 'Start music automatically' toggle in Android Auto. Spotify's support team says the issue often stems from connected Bluetooth devices sending a 'play' command upon reconnecting, rather than from the app itself. There is no single fix, though toggling settings, unpairing Bluetooth devices, or removing Spotify from Android Auto can sometimes help.
A tech writer published a setup guide for replacing Google TV's ad-laden interface with Projectivy Launcher, swapping YouTube for the ad-free SmartTube client, using Wholphin for Jellyfin, and remapping the remote with Button Mapper. The configuration was tested on two Chromecast with Google TV devices and a Hisense TV, and the author says it should work on most Android TV hardware.
Amazon is offering the TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G at a 30% discount off its retail price, bringing the paper-like-display Android phone to under $200. The deal represents an $85 price cut from the phone's normal cost.
A new alpha tool called Mac.apk enables Android applications to run directly on Apple Silicon Macs without an emulator, virtual machine, or underlying Linux kernel. Apps appear as native macOS windows in the Dock, use the Mac's GPU and CPU directly, and support light/dark mode switching. It requires macOS 26.4 or newer and is distributed as a signed, notarized disk image.
Developers are using AI coding assistants like Claude Code to remove bloatware, sponsored ads and tracking features from smart TVs, replacing stock interfaces with custom launchers. Projects such as "dumbtv" and "cleanyourtv" let users strip Android TV or Google TV systems over Wi-Fi and rebuild simplified home screens resembling Apple TV. One creator said he built the fix after noticing a sponsored ad on his parents' TV before reaching Netflix.
A leak reported that an Android manufacturer may revive an 'Ultra' flagship model, reversing a broader industry trend of brands shifting toward 'Pro Max' naming for their top-tier phones. Specific details about the company or device's specifications have not been confirmed.
Creality has introduced the Pika, a compact, battery-powered 3D scanner weighing about 260 grams that connects wirelessly to iPhones running iOS 15 or newer and Android 10+ devices, as well as laptops via cable or wireless link. It ships with rechargeable AA batteries, a tabletop tripod, and a manual turntable, and runs the same Creality Scan software used by the company's pricier Sermoon scanners. It is currently available for pre-order at $699.
AYN has disclosed specifications for its upcoming Odin 3 Portal handheld gaming device, confirming it will use a Snapdragon Elite processor and include a notably large battery. The device has not yet launched, but the spec sheet positions it among the most powerful Android gaming handhelds announced so far.
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