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Chrome on Android might borrow NotebookLM’s best feature

Tushar Mehta / Android Authority TL;DR Google is testing AI audio overviews in Chrome for Android. This feature will be available as part of Chrome’s Read Aloud functionality. AI audio overviews could convert text from any webpage into interactive NotebookLM-style podcasts for improved learning. Google is steadily building up the number of touchpoints where we interact with AI by default. Search, one of Google’s most used products, has already been canopied by AI overviews for a text-based s

Pixels lack this key calling feature in many markets, but there is a possible solution

Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR The GSMA has told Android Authority it could work with Google to broadly enable VoLTE around the world. Google Pixel phones lack VoLTE support in most markets where Pixels aren’t sold. This news comes months after Samsung and the GSMA announced a plan to enable VoLTE by default on Galaxy phones. Samsung and the GSMA announced a plan earlier this year to broadly enable VoLTE tech by default on Galaxy phones in many markets. This is a big deal as 3G networ

This Google Wallet trick is helping me organize all my summer travel

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority If you know me, you know that I love traveling, I enjoy visiting fun places, and I try to be as organized about all of this as I can. That’s why I use the wonderful Wanderlog to plan my trips, but since I don’t pay for the app’s premium sub, I have to manage my reservation documents separately. That’s why every trip gets a folder in Google Drive, and in there go all the PDF files for hotels, museums, expos, concerts, events, and other bookings I’ve planned dur

Android 16 review: Post-hype

Google recently released Android 16, which brings a smattering of new features for Pixel phones, with promises of additional updates down the road. The numbering scheme has not been consistent over the years, and as a result, Android 16 is actually the 36th major release in a lineage that stretches back nearly two decades. In 2008, we didn't fully understand how smartphones would work, so there was a lot of trial and error. In 2025, the formula has been explored every which way. Today's smartpho

Google rolls out Veo 3 video generator, try it for free using credits

Google is rolling out Veo 3 to everyone using Vertex AI, which is an ML-testing platform provided by Google Cloud. Unlike Sora and other generative video AI models, Veo 3 is a state-of-the-art video generator trained on millions of YouTube videos, and it can generate realistic videos, but great quality comes at a high cost. Veo 3 isn't free, but since it's part of Google Cloud, you can use it for free by subscribing to the $300 trial offered by Google. To get started, you can sign up for a Go

The best Google phones to buy in 2025 ahead of the Pixel 10 launch

Google nailed it with the Pixel 9 lineup, thanks to its clean software, some genuinely useful artificial intelligence features, and availability in every price segment. The flagship lineup includes four Pixel phones -- the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, while the Pixel 9a debuted recently. This makes a Pixel smartphone available in every price segment. The latest devices also include new AI features and camera smarts with the help of Google Gemini. It can be confusi

Google just gave its Photos app the feature upgrade it deserves - here's what's new

Google / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET After hitting pause three weeks ago, Google is resuming rollout of its AI-powered Ask Photos feature. This time around, the company says, things should be better. Last fall, Google slowly began rolling out a new feature that lets you ask queries to find particular pictures in your Photos app. You might ask something like, "Where was that restaurant we ate at in San Francisco?" or "Show me all the selfies I took in NYC museums," and Gemini will find what yo

The Economy Is So Off the Rails That They’re Trying to Figure Out How to Make Ads Specifically Targeted at AI Bots

As artificial intelligence ruins the economy and takes over the world, Google is quietly working to change the advertising game in a mind-bending way. As Semafor reports, AI has so utterly altered the way search engine advertising works that Google is now being forced to rewrite the script it forged itself. Chief among its new directives: creating a new ecosystem where advertisers compete for the attention of AI agents rather than humans — a shift predicted at the very beginning of this year b

I hated Google Photos’ AI search feature, but after the latest update, I love it

Joe Maring / Android Authority At Google I/O 2024, Google introduced the world to “Ask Photos.” It was a new Gemini-powered search experience for Google Photos that would enable you to use natural language to easily find pictures in your library. The pitch sounded great and like a legitimately good use of AI. Unfortunately, Ask Photos’ implementation fell short. I’ve been using Ask Photos for the last several months, and in almost every scenario, it’s been significantly worse than the old sear

Google Sends Out Bizarre Email Saying AI Will Now Control Your Phone's Apps

One of the most powerful tech corporations on earth has a message for Android users: its AI will soon be taking control of your phone. Android users have begun receiving ominous emails warning that Gemini, Google's proprietary large language model (LLM), will soon be able to "help you" with apps like Phone, Messages, and WhatsApp. Crucially, the emails note that Gemini will be able to "help" users regardless of "whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off" — which prompted some understandab

Google Photos won’t downgrade your edited HDR pictures to SDR anymore

Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR HDR photos in Google Photos now keep their full dynamic range and HDR metadata when edited with tools like Photo Unblur and Magic Eraser. The app now has an “Ultra HDR” tool for brightening images. SDR photos can now be enhanced to HDR. Google is rolling out some improvements to how high dynamic range (HDR) and standard dynamic range (SDR) images are edited in the Photos app. The update will keep HDR photos from getting downgraded to SDR. Google is also u

Google’s carbon emissions just went up again

Google’s carbon emissions jumped yet again as the company continues to push ahead in AI. The company’s 2025 sustainability report emphasizes that its “ambition-based emissions” grew 11 percent last year to reach 11.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution, marking a 51 percent increase compared to 2019. That puts Google farther away from its goal of slashing planet-heating pollution in half by 2030 compared to a 2019 baseline. But what it calls “ambition-based” emissions excludes certa

Forget Google and Microsoft: OpenAI may be building the ultimate work suite of apps and services

Eugene Mymrin/Getty Images OpenAI is building new features within ChatGPT that would make it a direct competitor with workplace productivity suites like Google Workplace and Microsoft Office 365, The Information reported Tuesday. ZDNET has reached out to OpenAI for comment. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) Also: How to get Windows 10 extended secur

How your Pixel phone can now help you shoot expert-level photos and video

Max Buondonno/ZDNET For a lot of people, camera quality is a huge selling point when picking a cellphone. Having so many different options can be overwhelming, though. So, how do you ensure that you're getting the most out of your phone's capabilities? A new Google Pixel Camera mode wants to teach you everything you need to know. Also: The best camera phones: Tested by experts When Google announced its 2025 Pixel Feature Drop, one feature went relatively unnoticed -- something called "Camer

Google will show you more news from your favorite sources - here's how to set it up

SOPA Images / Contributor / Getty Thanks to a new Google Labs feature, you can now tell Google which news sources you want to see more often in Top Stories (as long as you opt in). The company detailed the feature in a blog post Thursday, as part of six ways you can better personalize your Search experience. With the "Preferred Sources" experiment in Labs, you might choose to see world or political news from your preferred outlet, news about your favorite sports team from the newspaper beat re

Google's Veo 3 AI video generator is now available to everyone - here's how to try it

smirkdingo/Getty Images Veo 3, Google's new video-generating model that's been making waves across the internet, is now available for everyone in public preview, the company announced Thursday. The tool was initially available only to subscribers of Gemini Ultra and through Flow, Google's AI-powered filmmaking platform that was also revealed at the most recent I/O. As of Thursday, it can be accessed as a public preview by all Google Cloud customers and partners in the Vertex AI Media Studio.

Topics: ai audio google veo video

6 Best Smart Speakers (2025): Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri

There are many smart speakers on the market, and picking the best smart speaker keeps getting tougher. First, you need to decide which voice assistant you prefer. There are three worth using—Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri—and each has its pros and cons. This guide is organized by our preferred speaker, regardless of which assistant it uses, but we recommend a secondary option if you prefer a different assistant. Overall, Google- and Amazon-powered smart speakers are the way

Google Drive could soon help you decode documents faster (APK teardown)

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google Drive on Android is working on introducing Gemini-based PDF summary capabilities, similar to those found on Drive on the web. Users will soon be able to access PDF summaries directly within the PDF viewer via a three-dot menu or header icon. The app is also working on multi-file and limited folder summarization features that allow content across various Docs and PDFs to be summarized simultaneously. Google Drive has received many Gemini-relate

Another Almost-Free Chromebook Deal Just Dropped at Best Buy, This Time on One of HP’s Best Models

Chromebooks have been flying off the shelves at Best Buy like crazy lately, and with deals like this, it’s easy to see why. This latest blockbuster deal is on the HP 15.6-inch Chromebook, a super-fast laptop stuffed full of features that will make it your everyday laptop for work, play, and streaming, and for just $199. It’s normally a $449 device, but Best Buy’s cleaning them out with this huge $250 sale (56% off), and they’re going to go fast. Chromebooks are known for their speed, reliabilit

Google's new AI app Doppl lets you try on outfits virtually

Google Labs is making virtual outfit try ons available to all with a new experimental AI app called Doppl, the company announced in a blog post. You can upload a photo of yourself and any outfit to see how it will look on you and can even create an AI-generated video of yourself and the clothing in motion. To use it, first upload a full-body photo of yourself, then choose photos or screen shots of outfits. For instance, you can screenshot or download photos from sources like Pinterest or clothi

There’s a new Google app on the block and it’s all about exploring your personal style

Google TL;DR Google has released a new app called Doppl in the US. The app is designed to help users try out different outfits virtually. Doppl lets you upload a photo or even a screenshot of an outfit you like, and creates a digital, animated version of you wearing it. Google is rolling out a brand-new app called “Doppl.” The experimental app is designed to help you imagine how different outfits might look on you, without having to physically try them out. Available starting today on iOS an

Topics: app doppl google look try

Is Google readying a rival to iOS’ Contact Poster? (APK teardown)

Apple TL;DR We’ve spotted clues that indicate Google is working on a “calling card” feature for Android. The feature may allow for full-screen images and custom fonts for incoming calls. Speculatively, it could be similar to iOS’ Contact Posters, enabling users to personalize their call display. Google and Apple frequently look at each other’s operating systems for inspiration on what next to bring to their own. We’ve seen iOS copy features like widgets, free app icon placement on the home s

5 things I’ll miss the most when I ditch my Google Pixel phone

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority I first dabbled with Pixel phones when I received 2019’s Pixel 4, but I fully committed to the brand when I bought my Pixel 7 Pro in 2022. Unfortunately, I’ve already decided that I won’t be buying another Pixel phone for a multitude of reasons. Despite my refusal to get another Pixel phone anytime soon, there are definitely some Pixel-exclusive features I’ll miss when I switch to my next smartphone. Call Screening and other call features don’t make my list, a

Your Android phone is getting a big security upgrade for free - here's what's new

Google / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET That smartphone in your pocket is home to your favorite apps, personal accounts, and sensitive data. That means your device should have the strongest security protection available to prevent the wrong people from stealing your money or information. Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025 For Android users, Google offers a variety of tools and technologies to defend you against scammers, malware, and other threats to your security and privacy. In a bl

Gemini in Google Sheets now lets you type a prompt to tell it exactly what to do

Jaque Silva/NurPhoto /Getty If you use Google Sheets for work, Gemini is about to make your life a lot easier. Also: Google's new free AI agent brings Gemini right to your command line - here's how to try it Sheets already has the capability for Gemini to assist with creating tables and formulas, generating graphs and charts, and handling tasks like conditional formatting, sorting, and filtering. Now you can enter a prompt in a cell to tell Gemini what you want to do. Also: Google Earth jus

Google starts rolling out Pixel Camera ‘education hub’ to help you master every feature

Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Google has started rolling out the education hub in the Pixel Camera app. The feature was announced in the June Pixel Drop. It allows users to learn how to use various Pixel Camera features and is rolling out on version 9.9 of the Pixel Camera app for the Pixel 6 and above. Google has begun rolling out the new “education hub” in its Pixel Camera app. Available in version 9.9 of the app for Pixel 6 and newer devices, this feature was first introduced in t

There’s a new Google app on the block and it’s all about fashion

Google TL;DR Google has released a new app called Doppl in the US. The app is designed to help users try out different outfits virtually. Doppl lets you upload a photo or even a screenshot of an outfit you like, and creates a digital, animated version of you wearing it. Google is rolling out a brand-new app called “Doppl.” The experimental app is designed to help you imagine how different outfits might look on you, without having to physically try them out. Available starting today on iOS an

Topics: app doppl google look try

Google is rolling out its AI-powered ‘Ask Photos’ search again – and it has a speed boost

is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. After quietly pausing the rollout of Google Photos’ AI-powered “Ask Photos” search tool, Google is now expanding access once again and making some improvements to the feature. Google’s Gemini AI models power Ask Photos so that you can ask complex questions to help you find photos. But earlier this month, a member of the Google Photos team said on X that the feature “isn’t whe

Google’s new and improved Ask Photos is back on track — and rolling out now!

Google I/O TL;DR Ask Photos is a Google Photos feature designed to answer questions about the contents of your photo library. While announced at Google I/O 2024, access over the past year has been extremely limited. Earlier this month we heard the rollout was paused while Google worked to address a few issues, but today it’s back on track. Over the past couple years, AI has been changing the way we do lots of things, and while there is absolutely no shortage of controversial uses of the tech

Google launches Doppl, a new app that lets you visualize how an outfit might look on you

Google is launching a new experimental app called Doppl that uses AI to visualize how different outfits might look on you, the company announced on Thursday. The app is available on iOS and Android in the U.S. Doppl is designed to let you virtually try on outfits on a digital version of yourself. The app works by first getting you to upload a full-body photo of yourself. From there, you can use photos or screenshots of different outfits to virtually try them on. These images could be a photo of