Google has completed its long-planned phase-out of Manifest V2 by removing all remaining MV2 extensions from the Chrome Web Store, including the popular ad blocker uBlock Origin. Extensions already installed on Chrome 138 or earlier will keep working but can no longer receive updates or be reinstalled once removed. Because the Chrome Web Store also serves other Chromium-based browsers, the removal affects users beyond Google Chrome itself.
Google confirmed that Device Help, a Gemini feature that lets users describe what they want their phone to do and have Gemini adjust settings automatically, isn't limited to the Pixel 11 series. A Google employee showed the feature working on other Pixel devices running Android 17, and said support will expand to additional devices over time.
Multiple Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL owners say their screens wake up on their own from minor vibrations, like something being set down nearby or driving over a bump, rather than actually being picked up. The only current fix reported is disabling the 'Lift to check phone' feature entirely, and some users say the feature feels far more sensitive than on earlier Pixel models.
Brave has rolled out a new 'email aliases' tool in its browser that lets users generate disposable email addresses which forward messages to their real inbox. Users can create up to five free aliases by verifying their main email through Brave's settings, then right-clicking any email field on a website to generate and insert an alias.
Google Search is now showing some AI Overview answers fully expanded by default on desktop, complete with an 'Ask anything' box that launches AI Mode conversations. Previously, this prompt only appeared after users clicked 'Show more' beneath a summary. The change, spotted by an SEO consultant and unconfirmed by Google, currently seems limited to desktop searches for definitions and similar queries.
Google has raised the price of its 4K Google TV Streamer to $149, a $50 jump from its original $99 launch price. The change is already reflected on the Google Store and at Best Buy, though Amazon still lists the device at its older price. The streaming box, which launched in 2024 and also functions as a smart home hub, joins a wave of price hikes across Google's product lineup, including the recently released Pixel 11 phones.
An analysis of moving from Windows to macOS notes that while web apps have made the transition smoother, Macs still differ in fundamental ways, starting with the absence of a native right-click and unfamiliar app installation steps outside the App Store. The piece traces the single-button mouse legacy to Steve Jobs, who reportedly resisted multi-button designs to keep interfaces simple.
JMGO has released its Iris Ultra Max Google TV projector outside China, featuring a dual-iris optical design that the company says delivers a 10,000:1 native contrast ratio. The device combines a triple-laser engine rated at 6,500 ISO lumens with 4K resolution at 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and Dolby Vision HDR support, plus a motorized gimbal, optical zoom, and extensive lens shift for flexible placement. Preorders start today at $2,999, with a full retail price of $3,499 and shipping set for October 19th.
Google has added the ability to import purchased Google Play Books directly into Gemini Notebook, letting users query and analyze book content alongside other sources like documents and videos. The feature initially covers about 100,000 titles from publishers such as Bloomsbury, Penguin Random House, and O'Reilly Media, plus special notebooks created with over 15 bestselling authors. This launch marks the start of Google's broader Expert Intelligence initiative, which will eventually expand to other products, third-party subscriptions, and textbooks.
MapQuest declined to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' despite a Trump executive order pushing the change, while Google Maps updated its listing to comply. The decision triggered a surge in downloads, pushing MapQuest to No. 4 overall on the U.S. App Store and No. 1 among navigation apps, with usage spiking 50 times above normal.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey told G20 finance ministers that a collapse in AI sector growth could trigger a market correction that ripples across the world economy. He pointed to high stock valuations, rising investor leverage, and growing financial ties between AI firms and major tech companies as factors that could magnify such a shock, while also flagging cyber security risks from coordinated attacks on multiple firms at once.
Smartwatches from Apple, Google and Samsung all include a basic flashlight feature that simply maxes out the display's brightness and turns it white. Despite mockery of the feature compared to a phone's dedicated camera flash, it proves genuinely useful for quick tasks like finding a dropped pill, precisely because the watch is already on your wrist rather than buried in a pocket or bag.
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