Windows 11's built-in Phone Link app lets users make and receive phone calls directly from their PC by pairing an iPhone or Android device. Setup requires updating Phone Link through the Microsoft Store, enabling Bluetooth on both devices, and installing a companion app (Link to Windows) on the phone to complete pairing. Once paired, users can dial contacts or use a dial pad from the Calls tab, and incoming calls route to the PC automatically.
Samsung has confirmed that several Galaxy Tab lines are receiving their last major OS upgrades. The Tab S9, S9+, S9 Ultra, S9 FE and S9 FE+ will get One UI 9 (Android 17) as their final update, with security patches continuing to around 2028. The Tab S8 series and the budget Tab A9 line have already received their final OS upgrade, One UI 8 (Android 16), with security support ending in 2027 for the S8 models and about a year from now for the A9 series.
Android Auto, the Google interface normally projected onto a car's dashboard display, can be run on an old Android tablet using third-party receiver apps instead of an actual vehicle. The phone handles all the processing, so even an aging tablet that struggles with regular apps can display Android Auto's simplified maps, music and messaging layout.
Android phones let users check which apps consume the most storage via Settings > Device Care > Storage > Apps, where apps can be uninstalled or archived. Archiving removes an app's core files and temporary data while keeping login credentials and personal settings intact for easy reinstallation. Android also offers an 'auto-archive' feature that automatically archives rarely used apps when storage runs low, which Google says can free up nearly 60 percent of an app's storage space without deleting its data.
Anbernic has detailed its upcoming RG DDS, a dual-screen handheld inspired by the Nintendo 3DS, priced at $299.99 with a temporary preorder price of $284.99. The device runs a Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 chip on Android 16, with options for 8GB/128GB or 12GB/256GB memory and storage, a microSD slot supporting up to 2TB, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, a six-axis gyroscope and an AI button for game guides and translation. Anbernic says the handheld will begin shipping gradually from December 10, 2026, in Glacier White, Basalt Black and Phantom Blue colors.
Xiaomi smartphones, which sell at low prices and remain uncommon in the US market, embed advertisements across built-in apps including file management, music, and the core interface. The phones previously displayed ads even within the Settings app, though Xiaomi reversed that particular placement. Users can reduce, but not fully eliminate, these ads by adjusting specific device settings.
Google has broadened its Android Earthquake Alerts system, extending coverage to more than 200 regions worldwide. The feature uses smartphone accelerometers to detect ground shaking and warn users of nearby seismic activity.
Ledger unveiled Atom, a touchscreen Android device it calls a signer rather than a wallet, at its Op3n event in Paris on October 15. The device separates an Android environment from an isolated Secure Mode for signing transactions, ships with Solana Mobile's Seeker app and dApp Store preinstalled, and will be sold through Ledger's site starting at $849 for a limited Founder's Edition, with regular units priced at $899 and delivery expected in summer 2027.
MapQuest launched a new 'Surveillance' layer this week that marks the locations of automatic license plate readers from Flock Safety, Motorola Solutions, Genetec, Axon and several other manufacturers. Users can enable it via the app's Layers menu, and tapping a marker reveals the camera type and exact coordinates. The company has not disclosed how it sources this location data.
MapQuest has introduced a new toggleable map layer that displays locations of outdoor surveillance cameras and license plate readers, including devices from Flock, Motorola Solutions, Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon and several other manufacturers. The feature sits alongside existing traffic and incident layers in the app.
A Reddit user flagged a counterfeit WhatsApp listing appearing in a sponsored slot ahead of the genuine app on Google's Play Store, as first reported by Android Authority. The fake app, from an unknown developer called 'Agment Assets sallu,' has over 500,000 downloads and copies WhatsApp's icon, screenshots and description text. Google has not responded to a request for comment, and the listing remained live at the time of reporting.
Google has launched Googlebooks, a new line of laptops that run Android natively rather than ChromeOS, positioning them as premium alternatives to Windows and macOS machines. The initial lineup features touchscreens, aluminum and magnesium bodies, biometric unlock, large trackpads, and a light-up accessory called the Glowbar that signals Gemini activation and battery status, but most models cost well over a thousand dollars.
GoKawiil