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 has rolled out Play Services version 26.35, which lets Android users tap their physical transit cards against an NFC-enabled phone to import the card and its balance into Google Wallet. The update also adds a redesigned 'Add a card' success screen and various account management and location-sharing improvements. Separately, Google Play Store version 53.1 introduces a new navigation bar and short feature descriptions in the 'Similar Apps' section.
Android Authority found evidence within Play Store version 53.0 of an unreleased interface specifically for paid games. The redesign uses a larger, more immersive banner image with ratings, age rating, and device compatibility info layered at the bottom, alongside the recently spotted Ask Play question-chip feature.
Digging into Play Store version 53.0, Android Authority uncovered and activated a hidden option that lets users pause and later resume app installs instead of only being able to cancel them. The outlet recorded a working demo showing a new 'Pause' button alongside a 'Resume' option, with the built-in download manager listing paused downloads for quick access. Google has not made the feature public yet, but the code exists and works with some manual tinkering.
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.
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.
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.
The guide walks Android users through checking their OS version, applying pending system updates via Settings, and enabling or manually triggering app updates in Google Play. It also notes that some app updates require accepting new privacy permissions before installing.
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.
Luanti's Android app was removed from the Google Play Store following a DMCA takedown notice filed by Tracer.AI on behalf of Microsoft, accusing the open-source voxel game platform of infringing Minecraft's copyright. Luanti's developers say the app contains no proprietary Minecraft code or assets, noting that Tracer.AI filed a nearly identical notice against them in 2023, which was successfully appealed, and has separately targeted another voxel-style indie game called Allumeria this year.
Google is letting Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) users import select owned ebooks from Google Play Books directly into notebooks for analysis. The feature, called Expert Intelligence, covers over 100,000 titles from publishers like Penguin Random House and O'Reilly Media, and includes partnerships with 15 bestselling authors. Users can then apply Gemini Notebook tools like Audio Overviews and Infographics to the imported book content, and combine multiple titles in one notebook.
Google has updated Gemini Notebook with an 'Expert Intelligence' feature that lets users import books bought through Google Play Books, enabling them to ask questions, generate summaries, plans, infographics, and AI podcasts based on the text. More than 100,000 titles from publishers including Penguin Random House and O'Reilly Media support the feature at launch, and Google partnered with 15 authors like Michael Pollan and Steven Pinker to build customized 'Featured Notebooks.'
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