GoKawiil
Tech News
A report highlights that modern Android phones already include native document scanning, OCR, QR code reading, and other utilities that previously required separate downloads. Devices running Android 14 or later can scan documents directly through the stock Camera app, eliminating the need for dedicated scanner apps.
Android Authority found a hidden feature in Google Photos version 7.90 that expands reactions on shared photos beyond a simple heart. Once enabled, it shows a redesigned reaction button alongside comments, and a floating bar suggesting emojis while also letting users tap through to the entire emoji picker to choose any reaction. The feature isn't publicly available yet but appears functional and ready for rollout.
Google's July redesign of the Photos app removed the visual separators that used to mark where one day's photos ended and the next began, replacing them with a floating date label that scrolls with the feed. The change came bundled with a broader visual overhaul, including a new floating navigation bar, that most users otherwise praised. A workaround exists to restore the old date-grouped view for people who rely on it to keep their photo library organized.
Android Authority's reviewer spent weeks testing the Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max, a €1,149 flagship phone with an aluminum frame, Kunlun Glass, and a notably large camera module. Despite Huawei's US ban and shrinking global market share since losing Google services seven years ago, the reviewer found the build quality and craftsmanship rival any top-tier device on the market.
Android Authority's review of the Pixel 11 Pro XL highlights HiLight, a feature that assigns glow colors to specific contacts similar to old notification LEDs. The reviewer found the concept appealing but the execution confusing, requiring navigation between multiple apps and menus just to assign a color to a contact.
Code found in Google Photos version 7.90 reveals plans to standardize how long deleted photos and videos remain recoverable, setting a single 30-day trash window for all media. Currently, backed-up items stay in trash for 60 days while non-backed-up files are removed after 30 days. The feature is not yet live for most users, but testers were able to activate it early.
Waymo announced plans to bring its driverless ride-hailing service to Munich, months after establishing a German entity. The company will first manually map the city's streets, then test vehicles with safety drivers before removing them, following the same rollout process used in its 11 other operating cities. Waymo is coordinating with Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority and local officials, targeting public commercial service by the end of 2027.
Several Google Home owners report that asking their smart speakers to add items to Google Keep lists no longer works, even though the assistant correctly recognizes the voice command. In some cases the device merely states how many items are already on a list instead of adding anything new, and one user found it worked for a list named 'Shopping list' but not others. Google has not yet confirmed the cause, and the Notes & lists settings in the Google Home app appear to hint that voice-based list access may have been altered or removed.
Google's Android Developers account posted data claiming foldable phone owners spend roughly 14 times as much on in-app purchases as owners of regular smartphones. The company did not disclose specific dollar amounts or which categories of purchases—subscriptions, game currency, or otherwise—drove the gap. The post was framed as a pitch urging app developers to optimize their software for foldable screens, timed around the Pixel 11 Pro Fold launch.
Google is extending Gemini's ability to generate interactive 3D models and simulations, first announced in April, to all Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users meeting age requirements. The feature lets users ask Gemini to visualize complex concepts—like DNA structures—as manipulable models rather than static images. It is available immediately in the Gemini app.
Samsung's One UI 9 Beta 6 update for Galaxy S26 devices introduces a new 'Touch and hold for AI select' switch under Display > Edge panels settings. Users had complained that lingering too long while swiping out the Edge Panel would accidentally freeze the screen and launch AI Select. The new toggle lets users turn off that long-press behavior while still keeping AI Select accessible as a shortcut icon in the Edge Panel.
New CAD-based renders of the Galaxy S27 Ultra, produced by Android Headlines with leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer, show a colored, detailed model built from leaked case-maker measurements. The design departs sharply from the S26 Ultra's vertical camera stack, replacing it with a large, lopsided camera island, while the phone's overall dimensions (about 163.76 x 78.25 x 7.97mm) remain close to this year's model.