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GrapheneOS announced it is teaming up with Motorola to produce phones running the privacy-focused custom Android OS. Commentator Switched To Linux says the deal raises unanswered questions and concerns rather than excitement, without detailing specific terms of the arrangement.
Google has rolled out Chrome 153 on desktop, Android, and iOS, marking the switch from a four-week to a two-week release schedule. This follows an earlier announcement that Google would double the frequency of stable Chrome releases to speed delivery of features and fixes.
Multiple Waze users report that switching the app from split-screen to full-screen view on Android Auto causes the navigation information box—showing ETA, arrival time, next turn, and remaining distance—to vanish. Some say the data briefly reappears when an alert pops up, only to disappear again once the alert clears, while at least one user reports the map failing to center properly in either view. Android Authority has contacted Google, and it remains unclear whether the fault lies with a recent Android Auto or Waze update.
GM's 2027 configurator listings show the Cadillac Lyriq still offering CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, despite the company's 2023 announcement that it would drop the phone-mirroring features from future EVs. A Cadillac spokesperson said the brand is evolving its infotainment strategy based on customer feedback while also focusing on its own native interface.
Google is bringing back Now Playing notifications in the shade on Pixel devices, months after removing them during a March update that split the feature into a standalone app. The restored alerts show the song title and artist, plus a shortcut to favorite tracks or view listening history, without needing to unlock the phone. The rollout appears limited so far, based on scattered Reddit reports rather than an official announcement.
Volunteer programmers have completed a 100% decompilation of Super Smash Bros Melee, according to the decomp.dev database, meaning the GameCube game's original code has been fully reverse-engineered. It joins other decompiled titles like Twilight Princess, Pikmin, and Animal Crossing, giving developers a legal path to build unofficial ports without using Nintendo's copyrighted code.
Arm has announced its new C2-Ultra CPU architecture, the successor to last year's C1-Ultra, which is expected to appear in Samsung Exynos and MediaTek Dimensity chips around 2027, and possibly Google's Tensor G7. Arm claims up to 15% peak performance gains over its predecessor, though most of that comes from a higher 4.45GHz clock speed rather than architectural changes, while power efficiency improves by 38% at equivalent performance thanks to a 2nm process and larger L2 cache.
An Android Authority writer who has used both Android and iPhone devices for over a decade discusses rumors of Apple's first foldable phone, dubbed the iPhone Ultra. The author outlines five features—including a crease-free display—that would be necessary for them to consider fully switching from their Android device to Apple's foldable.
Android Authority argues that Samsung's new Galaxy S26 FE, now priced at $700 after a $50 increase, faces stiff competition despite carrying flagship-level performance with some cost-cutting on materials. The outlet points to alternatives including the Google Pixel 11, Pixel 10a, Samsung's own Galaxy S26, the Motorola Edge (2026), and the Nothing Phone 4a Pro as options worth weighing first. A reader poll cited in the piece shows the Galaxy S26 and Motorola Edge drawing the most votes as preferred alternatives.
Vivo executives confirmed the X500 series will debut in China on September 21, following the acclaimed X300 Pro and X300 Ultra. The lineup will add 4K/240fps recording, 4K HDR portrait video, and new preset and custom video color styles that can be shared between users, an upgrade over the X300 Ultra's photo-only sharing.
Android Authority surveyed nearly 2,200 readers about Google's tougher sideloading measures, which add security checks, a 24-hour delay, and a forced restart before installing apps from outside the Play Store. Roughly 47.5% said the extra friction is always worth it, while another 36.6% said it's worth it for certain apps only, meaning over 80% of respondents remain willing to sideload despite the added steps.
Google's seven-year software commitment for Pixel phones guarantees OS version updates and security patches, but the company now ships its flashiest features through quarterly Pixel Drops and Android Drops rather than the annual Android release. As a result, older Pixels that technically remain 'supported' are increasingly missing out on the features that actually matter to users, while major Android version updates like Android 17 have grown noticeably thin on new capabilities.