Samsung quietly merged its old Bixby button into the side power button starting with the Note 10 series, giving the single button several default functions: short press for screen on/off, long press for Bixby, double press for camera, and combinations with volume buttons for screenshots and the power menu. Samsung allows users to remap nearly all of these actions through phone settings, including on older devices that still have a separate Bixby button.
Smart TVs still rely on remote controls, and many now support using a smartphone as a substitute via built-in IR blasters or app-based connectivity. Certain Android phones have infrared hardware and pre-installed universal remote apps that let users pair with their TV brand and control power, volume, and navigation. Devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google lack this IR hardware, but alternative software-based remote options exist for those users.
Singapore's National Library Board began ReadSG on September 6, 2026, a five-year effort that pays people small amounts to read. Logging 15 minutes of reading on GovTech's CrowdTaskSG platform earns 20 virtual coins, with 1,000 coins worth S$1, capped at one session per day. A companion effort, Read for Good, tracks total reading minutes across all participants and pledges up to S$150,000 to charity if 7.5 million cumulative minutes are logged.
A new buying guide breaks down the essential hardware to check before purchasing an Android phone for gaming, starting with the chipset that houses the CPU and GPU. It also flags RAM capacity and thermal management systems like vapor chambers as critical factors that determine sustained performance during long gaming sessions.
Android Authority writer Khamosh Pathak explains how he made his Pixel 9a feel like a distraction-free dumbphone without buying a $500 device like the Light Phone or Wisephone. He disabled most app notifications and used Switchly, a free open-source app blocker that supports QR codes and NFC tags, to block addictive features like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. He also paired it with BlockAds, a VPN-based ad blocker, to remove intrusive full-screen ads from free apps.
A Play Store app called Gadesk lets Galaxy Z Fold 8 owners run Samsung DeX's desktop interface directly on the phone's 7.6-inch inner screen, without needing an external monitor. The setup requires no rooting or sideloading, just installing the app and adjusting a few settings before DeX becomes usable standalone.
CarPlay allows multiple iPhones to be paired with a single vehicle, but only one can actively project the interface at a time. When a car mistakenly connects to a passenger's iPhone instead of the driver's, users must manually switch the connection through their infotainment system's Bluetooth or device menu.
Android devices come with native options to block spam and scam numbers, typically accessible through the Phone or Contacts app. Users who change their mind can just as easily unblock a number using the same apps. The exact steps can vary slightly depending on the phone manufacturer's version of Android.
Endeavor's Ari Emanuel has released a memoir this fall centered on his career negotiating high-stakes entertainment deals, positioned as a standout title in the season's nonfiction lineup. The related coverage also includes a broader etiquette guide addressing modern social behaviors like spoiler alerts, phone use at restaurants and concert conduct.
Android Authority's Andrew Grush says he still installs the third-party app AccuBattery on his Android phones, even as most performance-boosting battery apps have proven ineffective over the years. He explains that AccuBattery doesn't try to magically extend battery life but instead helps identify software or hardware issues causing excess drain, using pattern-recognition data gathered over time rather than the factory-calibrated data used by built-in OS tools.
Samsung is rolling out a new option letting Gallery app users sync photos and videos directly to Google Photos, replacing the native Microsoft OneDrive integration that shuts down September 30. The feature requires a compatible Samsung phone running Android 13 or later and a personal (non-Workspace, non-supervised) Google account, and is rolling out gradually with availability varying by device, region and account type.
Clicks has finalized specifications for its keyboard-first Communicator smartphone, increasing RAM from 8GB to 12GB and boosting battery capacity from a planned 4,000mAh to 4,350mAh rated for over 800 charge cycles. The device will ship with Android 17 preinstalled, with Clicks promising three major OS upgrades and five years of security patches. The phone begins shipping in December, and its $499 launch price is only guaranteed for orders placed before September 30.
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