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Google’s new Windows desktop app brings a Spotlight-like search bar to PC

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Google is testing a new search app for Windows. A blog post on Tuesday said the app, currently available on personal accounts via Google’s Search Labs, will allow you to use an Alt + Space shortcut to search for information from the files on your computer, in yo

4 ways I save money on my favorite AI tool subscriptions - and you can too

PM Images/DigitalVision/Getty Images Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. I subscribe to several generative AIs, both for personal and professional reasons. Those include ChatGPT, Google AI Pro, Copilot through Microsoft 365, and Perplexity AI. But with most of those AIs generally costing $20 a month, subscribing to them all can put a heavy dent into my wallet. That's why I've dug up discounts on these services that save me a fair chunk of change. Here's what I've done to sav

Some Pixel 7 users say their batteries are swelling - what Google is doing about it

CNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users are seeing a rise in battery issues. The swelling is causing some phones to separate. Google is offering several remedies, including a replacement. Yet another Pixel phone is experiencing battery issues. Just a few months after the Pixel 7a had such widespread battery problems that Google offered to repair them for free, and the Pixel 6a saw overheating problems so severe at leas

We're launching a new Google app for Windows experiment in Labs

Today, we’re launching a new experimental Google app for Windows in Labs to help you find what you need, faster. Now you can search without switching windows or interrupting your flow. Whether you're writing in a doc or in the middle of a game, just press Alt + Space to instantly search for information from your computer files, installed apps, Google Drive files — and of course, the web. With Google Lens built in, you can select and search anything on your screen, making it easy to translate i

Google's AI Overviews 'Misconduct' Undermines Publishers Who Create Content, Lawsuit Says

Penske Media, which owns publications including Rolling Stone, Variety and Billboard, is suing Google, alleging that the search giant is illegally using their content and that of other publishers to fill out the AI Overviews that have become a fixture at the top of Google search results. In a lawsuit filed Friday in US District Court for the District of Columbia, Penske argues that Google's "misconduct" through its monopoly in online search has coerced publishers to acquiesce to misappropriatio

Google may shift to risk-based Android security patch rollouts - what that means for you

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Google may change how Android security updates work. But larger patch cycles might give hackers more time. 'High-risk first' model could streamline OEM patches. Google is considering an overhaul of security patch update rollouts in a bid to improve Android security. Risk-based update system According to Android Authority, the new system -- dubbed the "Risk-Based Update System" (RBUS)

Google launches new protocol for agent-driven purchases

On Tuesday, Google announced a new open protocol for purchases initiated by AI agents — automated software programs that can shop and make decisions on behalf of users — with backing from more than 60 merchants and financial institutions. Called the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), the system is meant to be interoperable between AI platforms, payment systems and vendors, providing a traceable paper trail for each transaction. In a post announcing the protocol, Google executives emphasized their c

Google to invest £5 billion in UK AI as Trump heads for state visit

General view of the Google headquarters in King's Cross as the tech giant faces a 5 billion pound lawsuit in the UK for allegedly abusing its online search dominance. Google owner Alphabet on Tuesday announced a £5 billion ($6.8 billion) investment in the U.K.'s artificial intelligence development, just as the country prepares for U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit this week. The U.S. president is scheduled to arrive in Britain on Tuesday evening, before the pomp and pageantry gets unde

Google Wallet may soon let you favorite passes for faster access (APK teardown)

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google Wallet seems to be preparing a new way to “favorite” passes. Users will be able to tap a star button to add a pass to their favorites and have it appear on the home screen. It’s unclear whether the starred or favorited passes will be highlighted somehow on the Wallet app’s home screen, or if they’ll show up directly on your phone’s home screen. Google Wallet has steadily evolved from a simple payment tool into a hub for boarding passes, transi

Google Pixel battery woes continue, but when will enough be enough?

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority 🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup. According to community reports, another Google Pixel model is now facing battery issues. According to Google support forum posts, several Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users suffer from swollen batteries, some of which are causing the screen to separate from the device’s chassis. Notably, some of our

Google owner reveals £5bn AI investment in UK ahead of Trump visit

Google owner reveals £5bn AI investment in UK ahead of Trump visit Watch: BBC speaks to Ruth Porat about AI investment in the UK The company will officially open a $1bn (£735m) data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Tuesday. Google's president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat told BBC News in an exclusive interview there were "profound opportunities in the UK" for its "pioneering work in advanced science". The money will be used for infrastructur

Topics: ai google porat said uk

AI challenges the dominance of Google search

AI challenges the dominance of Google search 5 hours ago Share Save Suzanne Bearne Technology Reporter Share Save Anja-Sara Lahady AI has become an assistant for Anja-Sara Lahady Like most people, when Anja-Sara Lahady used to check or research anything online, she would always turn to Google. But since the rise of AI, the lawyer and legal technology consultant says her preferences have changed - she now turns to large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. "For example, I'll ask it

Google Home app finally supports hot water controls for Nest thermostats

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR The Google Home app is getting long-awaited hot water controls for Nest thermostats. The features are rolling out for Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen UK/EU and Nest Thermostat E. Google is also rolling out controls in the Google Home app for non-thermostat climate devices. Google’s Nest team has announced several thermostat improvements in the Google Home app, including hot water controls, which were previously limited to the older Nest app. Hot wa

Google confirms fraudulent account created in law enforcement portal

Google has confirmed that hackers created a fraudulent account in its Law Enforcement Request System (LERS) platform that law enforcement uses to submit official data requests to the company "We have identified that a fraudulent account was created in our system for law enforcement requests and have disabled the account," Google told BleepingComputer. "No requests were made with this fraudulent account, and no data was accessed." The FBI declined to comment on the threat actor's claims. This

Android will soon be able to theme every app icon, and Google Play won’t let developers opt out

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is making support for its Themed Icons feature mandatory by automatically generating themed icons for apps that don’t already provide one. This change addresses inconsistent home screens, as many developers currently opt out of providing a themed icon for branding or design reasons. To enforce this, Google updated its Play Store policy today, requiring developers to legally grant users the right to modify their app icon’s color. App icons rarel

Some People Are Definitely Losing Their Jobs Because of AI (the Ones Building it)

AI might be coming for our jobs, but capitalist pressures appear to be coming for the people responsible for developing AI. Wired reported over 200 people working on Google’s AI products, including its chatbot Gemini and the AI Overviews it displays in search results, were recently laid off—joining the ranks of unfortunate former employees of xAI and Meta, who have also been victims of “restructuring” as companies that poured billions of dollars into AI development are trying to figure out how t

With no DOJ breakup, Alphabet becomes a $3 trillion company

In Brief Alphabet hit just over $3 trillion dollars in market cap on Monday as investors continue to reward it after a federal judge declined to break the company up. On Sept. 2, U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta outlined softer-than-feared remedies for his year-ago ruling that Google maintained an illegal monopoly in search. The DOJ had proposed stronger remedies, including that Alphabet-owned Google be forced to sell Chrome. Tech companies like Perplexity and Ecosia lined up with unsol

Google confirms hackers gained access to law enforcement portal

Google has confirmed that hackers created a fraudulent account in its Law Enforcement Request System (LERS) platform that law enforcement uses to submit official data requests to the company "We have identified that a fraudulent account was created in our system for law enforcement requests and have disabled the account," Google told BleepingComputer. "No requests were made with this fraudulent account, and no data was accessed." The FBI declined to comment on the threat actor's claims. This

The Supreme Court is Google’s last hope to avoid an Epic reckoning in October

4. For a period of three years ending on November 1, 2027, Google may not share revenue generated by the Google Play Store with any person or entity that distributes Android apps, or has stated that it will launch or is considering launching an Android app distribution platform or store. 5. For a period of three years ending on November 1, 2027, Google may not condition a payment, revenue share, or access to any Google product or service, on an agreement by an app developer to launch an app fir

Gemini Is the Top Free iPhone App, and This 'Bananas' AI Image Model Is Why

AI fans have gone bananas over Google's new image generator, known as Nano Banana. The image generation app has helped Gemini dethrone OpenAI's ChatGPT as the most popular free app for iPhone users. On Monday, the Gemini iOS app was the No. 1 free app in the Apple App Store, marking an important milestone for Google in a heated AI race. Screenshot of the Apple app store charts taken on Monday, Sept. 15. Screenshot by Katelyn Chedraoui/CNET Gemini has gotten a lot of updates over the past few

Hundreds of Google AI Workers Were Fired Amid Fight Over Working Conditions

More than 200 contractors who worked on evaluating and improving Google’s AI products have been laid off without warning in at least two rounds of layoffs last month. The move comes amid an ongoing fight over pay and working conditions, according to workers who spoke to WIRED. In the past few years, Google has outsourced its AI rating work—which includes evaluating, editing, or rewriting the Gemini chatbot’s response to make it sound more human and “intelligent”—to thousands of contractors empl

Android UI finally beats iOS in the looks department - and I'm stunned

Jack Wallen/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Google released the latest Android feature drop. Material 3 Expressive has finally arrived, and it's brilliant. You get more customizations, better animations, and performance. When the latest Android feature drop hit my Pixel 9 Pro a few days ago, I was stunned. There it was -- everything I've been asking of Google. The company has finally given the Android interface a much-needed facelift. Als

Alphabet becomes fourth company to reach $3 trillion market cap

Google CEO Sundar Pichai gestures to the crowd during Google's annual I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California on May 20, 2025. Alphabet has joined the $3 trillion club. Shares of the search giant jumped more than 4% on Monday, pushing the company into territory occupied only by Nvidia , Microsoft and Apple . The stock got a big lift in early September from an antitrust ruling by a judge, whose penalties came in lighter than shareholders feared. The U.S. Department of Justice wa

Gemini’s improved home screen is coming soon, and it could get new tweaks (Updated: Rolling out)

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR Gemini could be getting a refreshed home screen, as we’ve also seen before. Google has begun testing it with a small set of users using the latest beta version of the Google app. Google is also testing suggestions for queries based on your Google activity, although this is currently in the early stages of testing. Update, September 15, 2025 (10:10 AM ET): Gemini’s new landing screen, plus the new options button, is now rolling out to users in the stab

Here’s why usage of Gemini’s Nano Banana image editor is growing

Google Gemini is breaking out of ChatGPT’s shadow, likely on the wings of its Nano Banana image editor and the viral trend of AI-generated, lifelike figurines. Google launched Nano Banana in late August. It hyped the model as a way to “transform images in amazing new ways” inside the Gemini app. To get the “perfect picture,” you simply pop an image into Gemini and “tell it what you’d like to change,” the company said. Google’s suggestions include redecorating your house, giving yourself a ’60s

Your Pixel Watch could soon offer unprecedented control over your Pixel phone

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google is testing new functionality as part of the Pixel Watch Unlock feature, which allows you to unlock your Pixel phone using the Watch. The upgrade could enable you to not only unlock your Pixel phone using a Pixel Watch but also launch a specific section of the app. The feature is intended to work with a set of specific “Authorized” apps that you will be able to manage from the phone’s Settings. The Watch Unlock feature offers a convenient approa

Pixel’s At a Glance widget could soon work across more wallpaper choices

Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Pixel Launcher’s At a Glance widget may soon be upgraded for better text visibility. Google appears to be testing a new high-contrast background for the widget to enhance the readability of the text. Besides the home screen, these changes also show up on the lock screen. Google’s At a Glance widget for Pixel phones provides useful information, including weather updates, calendar events, upcoming flights, and even your fitness data, directly on your home s

Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users are now facing scary battery swelling problems

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR Pixel 7 and 7 Pro users are reporting battery swelling issues, with mixed responses from Google support. Google recently offered free battery replacements and cash/discount appeasements for Pixel 7a swelling problems. Battery troubles have plagued several Pixel models, including Pixel 6a units catching fire, raising pressure on Google to respond. Pixels are among the best Android phones you can buy, but they have also earned a notorious reputation for

Google’s 27th birthday bash comes with Pixel freebies and big discounts

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google is hosting a number of birthday deals on the Google Store. The company will celebrate its 27th birthday on September 27 this year. Offers include a $100 prepaid Mastercard with Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL purchases, money back with the Pixel Watch 4, freebies with the Pixel 8 Pro, $100 off the Pixel 9, and more. Google will celebrate its 27th birthday this year, on September 27. To mark the milestone, the company is hosting a number of birthday

Topics: 10 59 google pixel pro

Rolling Stone Publisher Sues Google Over AI Overview Summaries

Google has insisted that its AI-generated search result overviews and summaries have not actually hurt traffic for publishers. The publishers disagree, and at least one is willing to go to court to prove the harm they claim Google has caused. Penske Media Corporation, the parent company of Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter, sued Google on Friday over allegations that the search giant has used its work without permission to generate summaries and ultimately reduced traffic to its publicati