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Apple's iOS 18 update introduced support for Rich Communication Services (RCS), replacing the older SMS-based system for cross-platform messaging. This change resolves the long-standing issue of photos and videos losing quality when sent from Android phones to iPhones.
Honda's Prologue EV is essentially a rebadged Chevrolet Blazer EV, built on the same GM underpinnings but sold with a key difference: it retains Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, which GM stripped from its own EVs in favor of a Google-built Android Automotive OS. This near-identical pairing of vehicles, one with phone mirroring and one without, has effectively created an unplanned real-world test of how much consumers value that feature.
A free Android utility called Action Notch converts a phone's front camera notch into an interactive shortcut, letting users tap, double-tap, or long-press it to trigger actions like screenshots, flashlight toggles, or automation scripts from Tasker and MacroDroid. The app supports more than 50 actions, and a paid pro tier adds extra gestures plus rule-based actions that let a single gesture behave differently depending on context.
Xiaomi's new $500 Redmi Note 17 Pro Max includes full-resolution 50MP photo capture and a manual/pro camera mode, features absent from Google's $900 Pixel 11. Google reserves these tools for its pricier Pixel 11 Pro lineup, even though the base Pixel has hardware capable of supporting them.
Chrono is a free, open-source Android alarm and clock app that offers more customization than Google's or Samsung's default Clock apps, including dark mode, Material styling, alarm tagging, and time-of-day icons. It isn't listed on the Google Play Store, so users must sideload it manually to install and update it.
Fairphone has released the 6 Plus, a modest upgrade to last year's Fairphone 6 featuring a newer midrange Snapdragon chipset and a new cobalt color option, and it's now officially for sale in the US. The device costs $649, includes 12GB of RAM, a five-year warranty, and up to six OS upgrades, while maintaining Fairphone's signature repairability with 12 user-replaceable parts.
Android Authority tested a working version of XREAL's long-teased Project Aura glasses at IFA and found the software experience far more polished than expected. XREAL now says the Android XR headset will launch by the end of 2026 for under $1,500, though it stressed that figure isn't necessarily $1,499 and could shift.
Sideloading lets Android Auto users add apps Google hasn't approved, including video-capable YouTube clients, bypassing the platform's official restrictions. This method skips Google's security vetting, and Google itself notes that sideloaded apps carry over 50 times more malware than apps from the Play Store. Google plans to require developer identity verification for sideloaded apps starting in late 2026 to curb these risks.
Security guidance highlights that leaving Bluetooth constantly active exposes phones to attacks like bluebugging and bluesnarfing, where nearby hackers exploit open connections. Recommended precautions include turning Bluetooth off when not needed, setting it to hidden rather than discoverable mode, unpairing phones from rental or sold cars, and disabling features like Android Auto's automatic activation or the iPhone's Live Listen tool.
TCL is launching its P80 Series this month, led by the P80 Ultra, which combines a 50MP main camera and a 50MP 3x periscope telephoto lens with a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED display peaking at 3,200 nits. TCL positions the device against rivals like the Samsung A57 and Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus, neither of which offers a dedicated telephoto camera, while also including exclusive NXTPAPER screen technology across the Ultra and Pro models.
At a New York launch event, Insta360 unveiled the X6, its latest 360-degree camera, and used the occasion to showcase a decade of product evolution since its original Nano device. The company framed the X6 not just as a standalone gadget but as the centerpiece of a broader ecosystem meant to simplify capturing and editing immersive footage.
Blurams used IFA 2026 in Berlin to introduce a broad home security ecosystem covering outdoor solar-powered cameras, indoor dome cameras, a local storage hub, and an AI companion toy for children. The lineup includes three F-series outdoor cameras ranging from a 4MP model to a 4K Ultra HD version, each featuring solar charging, motion detection, night vision, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. All devices support free cloud playback and local microSD storage without requiring a subscription.