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Google is rolling out a September update to Android that lets users ask Gemini to remember where they placed physical items, even without a Bluetooth tag, storing the location and an optional photo in Find Hub. The update also includes Motion Assist for reducing car sickness on Android 17, a Guided Vision accessibility tool that narrates surroundings via camera, and Keep integration inside Google Messages for shared, editable notes.
Google introduced Google Pics, an AI-powered image creation and editing tool built on its Nano Banana model, rolling out to Workspace business customers and Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers. Rather than offering design templates or a creator marketplace like Canva, the tool lets users generate and edit visuals like posters and social posts through text prompts, with features for object isolation, text editing, and collaborative multi-version generation. It launches first inside Docs and Slides, with Drive integration to follow.
Apple has updated Apple Maps to display Lake Ontario as "Lake America" for users in the United States, following a similar change Google made earlier. The renaming stems from an executive order signed by President Trump amid trade tensions with Canada, which altered the lake's designation in the US Geographic Names Information System. Canadian users still see "Lake Ontario," while international versions of Apple Maps display both names.
Pixel 11 owners have reported static noise appearing in videos recorded using the Video Boost feature, which enhances color, lighting, stabilization and low-light detail. Google told Android Authority it has identified the cause and built a software fix that will roll out through the Camera app in the coming weeks, with further optimizations arriving in a future monthly Android update.
Google announced that Pics, its AI-powered image generation and design tool first revealed in May, is now widely available rather than limited to select testers. Access requires a Google AI Pro or Ultra plan, an AI Pro for Education subscription, or select Workspace Business and Enterprise tiers.
Google has begun distributing its Pics image editor to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, along with Business and Enterprise Workspace plan customers and AI Pro for Education users. The app, built on Google's Nano Banana image generator, lets users generate images from text prompts, edit individual objects, translate embedded text across 29 languages, and upscale images to 2K or 4K resolution.
Aurora Store, the popular open-source client used to download apps without a Google account, has started failing for many users with a 'Server busy, please try again later' error when installing apps anonymously. The problem persists across troubleshooting steps like clearing cache, using a VPN, or restarting devices, suggesting Google may be blocking access at the server level rather than a local bug.
Sonos unveiled its Sonos 27 software platform alongside new hardware, introducing annual OS version numbers and a redesigned app interface. The update lets external AI assistants like ChatGPT control Sonos systems through a public MCP server, enabling voice or text commands to play music, move audio between rooms, and adjust volume without a dedicated app.
A writer describes discovering that Google's AI produced a false claim, which required manual fact-checking to disprove. The episode is used to argue that AI-generated answers should be treated with the same skepticism given to unreliable human sources.
Google's latest Android feature drop lets users ask Gemini to remember where they placed rarely-used items like passports, complete with an optional photo, without needing a physical tracker attached. The saved location can later be retrieved by asking Gemini directly or checking a new 'remembered items' tab inside Find Hub. This works on Android 16 devices in regions supporting both Gemini and Find Hub.
A Reddit user shared screenshots showing Google's new advanced sideloading flow now live on their Android device, requiring a restart and a mandatory 24-hour wait before installing apps outside the Play Store. The interface warns users about scammers who pressure victims into enabling sideloading, and once the waiting period ends, users can permit sideloading for either seven days or indefinitely.
President Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as 'Lake America,' prompting the Seneca Nation's president to argue the move breaches a treaty dating back 232 years. The dispute has spilled onto social media, where users are also criticizing mapping services like Google Maps for potentially adopting the new name.