GoKawiil - Latest Tech News & Aggregated Headlines

Google Will Make All Android App Developers Verify Their Identity Starting Next Year

wired.com Ryan Whitwam 2025-10-27 03:17:33

Android’s open nature set it apart from the iPhone as the era of touchscreen smartphones began nearly two decades ago. Little by little, Google has traded some of that openness for security, and its next security initiative could make the biggest concessions yet in the name of blocking bad apps. Google has announced plans to begin verifying the identities of all Android app developers, and not just those publishing on the Play Store. Google intends to verify developer identities no matter where

Topics: android apps google play store

Shop Amazon

You can try Android 16's new lock screen widgets - if you have one of these phones

zdnet.com Artie Beaty 2025-10-27 23:05:00

Joseph Maldonado/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Lock screen widgets are returning to Android The feature is available now in beta for Pixel owners A public rollout is expected in December The latest Android beta is here, and it quietly dropped a pretty big surprise for Pixel owners. I've known for a while that widgets are returning to the Android lock screen, but they're officially back with Android 16 QPR2. Widgets are a staple of custo

Topics: android device lock screen widgets

Shop Amazon

How I easily transfer files between my Android phone and Mac - for free

zdnet.com Jack Wallen 2025-10-28 06:51:00

QuickDrop / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Sharing files between Android and MacOS couldn't be any easier. QuickDrop is a free app that can be used by anyone. A few extra steps to take on MacOS, but it's still quite easy. Any app that is designed to transfer files should do one thing and one thing well -- make the process simple. If it's not simple, the app shouldn't be considered for general usage. There are severa

Topics: android file files macos quickdrop

Shop Amazon

6 Android launchers that are better than your default home screen - and why

zdnet.com Jack Wallen 2025-10-28 07:52:00

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Android launchers let you replace your default home screen. Six top launchers offer unique features, styles, and pricing. A new launcher can make your phone feel fresh and faster. One of the main reasons I started using Android (version 1.5 with an HTC Hero phone) was because it ran a version of the Linux kernel. I knew that fact would lead to a thing I value: flexibility.

Topics: android home launcher phone screen

Shop Amazon

Google will verify Android developers distributing apps outside the Play store

theverge.com Jess Weatherbed 2025-10-28 07:02:47

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Google is increasing security measures around sideloading apps by removing anonymity for Android developers who distribute outside of the Play Store. Starting in September next year, Google will require developers in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand to verify their identities in order for their apps to be installed on certified Android devices via direct downloads or third-party app stores. This re

Topics: android apps developers google new

Shop Amazon

Pixel owners just got a big surprise with Android 16 - what's new

zdnet.com Artie Beaty 2025-10-28 11:30:07

Joseph Maldonado/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Lock screen widgets are returning to Android The feature is available now in beta for Pixel owners A public rollout is expected in December The latest Android beta is here, and it quietly dropped a pretty big surprise for Pixel owners. I've known for a while that widgets are returning to the Android lock screen, but they're officially back with Android 16 QPR2. Widgets are a staple of custo

Topics: android device lock screen widgets

Shop Amazon

Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps

engadget.com Unknown 2025-10-28 15:45:21

Google will implement a new safety feature that would require developers to verify their identity if they want Android users to be able to sideload their apps. The company said that it made the decision after recent analysis found "over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play." By verifying a developer's identify first, it hopes to better protect users from "bad actors spreading malware and scams." In its announcement, Google said that a

Topics: android apps developer developers google

Shop Amazon

4 apps you should use instead of Headspace

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-10-28 22:00:26

Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority Headspace is arguably the most popular meditation app around, with millions of users across 200 countries. I’ve used it extensively, and there’s a lot to like. It was one of the first super-successful apps in this category, paving the way for countless others that followed. However, Headspace isn’t perfect. For many, the cost is a major hurdle. It’s one of the pricier options available and offers limited free content beyond its initial trial period. I decide

Topics: android authority headspace meditation simple

Shop Amazon

Spotify and YouTube Music test out their sleek new look on Android Auto (APK teardown)

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-10-28 22:07:23

TL;DR Google introduced new media app templates as part of its Android for Cars App Library update. These templates bring a redesigned “Now Playing” UI with a new Material 3 Expressive seekbar. The templated media apps are currently in closed beta, but we’ve managed to get an early look at them on Spotify and YouTube Music. At Google I/O 2025, Google announced new media app templates that are now part of the Android for Cars App Library. Media apps can use these templates to provide a consist

Topics: android app google media new

Shop Amazon

This small change might kill emulation on Android phones next year

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-10-28 23:04:31

Nick Fernandez / Android Authority TL;DR Google will soon block the sideloading of apps from unregistered developers. Many emulator devs want to remain anonymous to avoid legal liability. This may mean popular PS2, Switch, and PS3 emulators will no longer be available. Yesterday Google announced a new program to keep Android devices safe, but it may have huge unintended consequences for emulation on Android. In an effort to keep users safe from scams and malware, Google will require develope

Topics: android developers google legal play

Shop Amazon

Google is testing new colors for Android Auto, again (APK teardown)

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-10-29 01:43:49

Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Google is testing a less vibrant, desaturated color palette for Android Auto. The change uses a “Primary Color” derived from the user’s wallpaper to avoid overly bright visuals while driving. These changes are still being tested and have not yet begun rolling out publicly. Material 3 Expressive is the season’s flavor, and many Google apps have adopted the new design language. Android Auto also took part in the Material 3 Expressive revolution, rolling ou

Topics: android auto color colors google

Shop Amazon

Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

news.ycombinator.com Abner Li 2025-10-28 12:18:18

To combat malware and financial scams, Google announced today that only apps from developers that have undergone verification can be installed on certified Android devices starting in 2026. This requirement applies to “certified Android devices” that have Play Protect and are preloaded with Google apps. The Play Store implemented similar requirements in 2023, but Google is now mandating this for all install methods, including third-party app stores and sideloading where you download an APK file

Topics: android app apps google play

Shop Amazon

Google to require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

news.ycombinator.com Sarah Perez 2025-10-29 15:05:14

Google is tightening security measures around Android app distribution, the company announced on Monday. Starting next year, Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their apps on Android devices, not just those who distribute via the Play Store. The changes will affect all certified Android devices once live, though the global rollout will be more gradual. The tech giant stresses that this does not mean developers can’t distribute outside of the Play Store through

Topics: android app developers distribution google

Shop Amazon

Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year

arstechnica.com Unknown 2025-10-29 15:52:55

Android's open nature set it apart from the iPhone as the era of touchscreen smartphones began nearly two decades ago. Little by little, Google has traded some of that openness for security, and its next security initiative could make the biggest concessions yet in the name of blocking bad apps. Google has announced plans to begin verifying the identities of all Android app developers, and not just those publishing on the Play Store. Google intends to verify developer identities no matter where

Topics: android apps google play store

Shop Amazon

Google to require developer verification to install and sideload Android apps

news.ycombinator.com Abner Li 2025-10-29 18:18:18

To combat malware and financial scams, Google announced today that only apps from developers that have undergone verification can be installed on certified Android devices starting in 2026. This requirement applies to “certified Android devices” that have Play Protect and are preloaded with Google apps. The Play Store implemented similar requirements in 2023, but Google is now mandating this for all install methods, including third-party app stores and sideloading where you download an APK file

Topics: android app apps google play

Shop Amazon

Google Nest Camera and Doorbell leak shows off new colors and 2K video recording

theverge.com Emma Roth 2025-10-29 23:54:18

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. According to a new report from Android Headlines, Google’s next-generation Nest Cams might get an upgrade from 1080p to 2K. Along with a series of leaked images that it says show off new colors for Google’s next set of devices, the report indicates the upcoming

Topics: android google headlines nest new

Shop Amazon

Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

techcrunch.com Sarah Perez 2025-10-29 23:23:12

Google is tightening security measures around Android app distribution, the company announced on Monday. Starting next year, Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their apps on Android devices, not just those who distribute via the Play Store. The changes will affect all certified Android devices once live, though the global rollout will be more gradual. The tech giant stresses that this does not mean developers can’t distribute outside of the Play Store through

Topics: android app developers distribution google

Shop Amazon

Google wants to make sideloading Android apps safer by verifying developers’ identities

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-10-30 03:00:38

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google will soon verify the identities of developers who distribute Android apps outside the Play Store. Developers must submit their information to a new Android Developer Console, increasing their accountability for their apps. Rolling out in phases from September 2026, these new verification requirements are aimed at protecting users from malware by making it harder for malicious developers to remain anonymous. Most Android users acquire apps from

Topics: android apps developers google play

Shop Amazon

My favorite iOS 26 feature is something Android has had for years

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-10-31 08:00:42

Ryan Haines / Android Authority The year is 2015. You plug your Android phone in to charge, and a helpful little timer tells you how long it should take. You pop on an episode of Narcos. Life is good. Your friend with an iPhone? Yeah, they plug in their phone too, waiting to fill their tiny, well-optimized cell. The difference? They have no idea how long it’ll take. Fast-forward to early 2025. You plug in your Pixel 9a and limit its charging to 80% of capacity to preserve battery health. Your

Topics: android battery iphone mode power

Shop Amazon

The days of custom Android ROMs are numbered, and Google is to blame

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-10-30 21:00:34

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Android used to be synonymous with freedom. If you didn’t like your phone’s interface or bloatware, you could simply install a custom ROM — the colloquial term for a forked version of the Android operating system. But that golden era is quickly disappearing, as yet another major Android fork has run into troubles. CalyxOS, a major privacy-focused Android distribution, announced a sudden freeze on future releases earlier this month. While the project isn’t di

Topics: android calyxos custom google phone

Shop Amazon

The Pixel 10 is unquestionably the best phone for people fed up with the iPhone

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-10-31 00:00:04

Google has tried for years to lure iPhone owners to Pixel phones. This has even manifested in the company’s Best Friends Forever series of videos, as well as an RCS messaging campaign targeting Apple. That’s in addition to features like the Android Switch app and wired transfer capabilities to help make it easier to move your data. Now that the Pixel 10 phones are here, though, they might just be the best Android phones for people coming from iPhones. And it doesn’t have anything to do with qui

Topics: android google iphone phones pixel

Shop Amazon

The Pixel Tablet 2 would’ve been great with Android’s new PC-like keyboard and mouse controls

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-10-30 05:00:39

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority Right after blowing our minds with the new AI-powered Voice Translate feature on the Pixel 10, Google went and dashed our hopes of seeing a new Pixel Tablet anytime soon. The company told Bloomberg that it has “paused development on a tablet overhaul until it figures out a meaningful future for the category,” which sure sounds like Google has given up on tablets once again. That’s a huge shame, though, because Android has gotten way better on tablets since Goo

Topics: android google new pixel related

Shop Amazon

Android 16’s new Wallet shortcut is missing on some Pixels, and Google won’t say why

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-11-01 11:09:07

Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Android 16 adds a shortcut to open Google Wallet with a power button double-press, but Google has limited this feature to the Pixel 8 and newer devices. Despite no apparent technical limitations, Google intentionally disabled the gesture on older phones like the Pixel 7 Pro, offering no clear reason for the decision. The feature was manually enabled on an unsupported Pixel 7 Pro and worked perfectly, suggesting the hardware is capable and the limitation is

Topics: android google pixel pro wallet

Shop Amazon

Android's latest update can force apps into dark mode - how to see it now

zdnet.com Artie Beaty 2025-11-01 19:28:46

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers. ZDNET's key takeaways A new Android feature can force dark mode on more apps. The feature also applies to app icons. The beta is open only to Pixel owners for now. If you're a dark mode user, you know how frustrating it can be when an app blinds you with brightness despite having dark mode on (I'm looking at you, Amazon). That frustration might soon be over, as the latest beta

Topics: android app dark feature google

Shop Amazon

I found the best app for Material 3 Expressive widgets; here’s how to use it

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-11-02 08:00:47

Zac Kew-Denniss / Android Authority Google is implementing a big redesign of Android with Material 3 Expressive. This updated design language will spread across apps and Android itself with the upcoming Android 16 QPR1 update. And despite updating most of its apps, Google is overlooking widgets again with this release, keeping the same old Material You design for several of them, while Apple and other Android OEMs like Samsung have taken widget design more seriously. But if, like me, you’d lik

Topics: android like material widget widgets

Shop Amazon

The best smart TV VPNs of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

zdnet.com Charlie Osborne 2025-11-02 08:15:18

A virtual private network (VPN) can allow you to access geo-locked content and streaming libraries on your smart TV. As a bonus, and perhaps the main reason I use a VPN on my own TV, is the ability to block ads. My favorites include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark, and I'm certain you can find a VPN that will fit you and your smart TV. When looking for a smart TV VPN, consider factors such as its impact on streaming speed and online connectivity, the availability of native smart TV apps -- w

Topics: android month smart tv vpn

Shop Amazon

New Android parental controls make it easier to manage kids’ devices your way

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-11-02 22:14:57

Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google has added a new Parental Controls hub in Android Settings, which is now rolling out in Android 16 QPR2 beta. The hub combines on-device, PIN-protected controls with existing Family Link features. On-device controls are more straightforward for quickly setting limits, while Family Link remains better for remote, multi-device management. Keeping kids safe on their phones can be tricky. Between screen-time battles and ensuring TikTok isn’t being s

Topics: android controls device google hub

Shop Amazon

Google is testing more nuanced punctuation options in Gboard (APK teardown)

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-11-03 17:12:27

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR The latest Gboard beta contains clues that separate toggles to hide the comma and period keys may soon be available. Back in March, we spotted a single toggle for both keys being tested. If rolled out, users could choose a cleaner keyboard interface. Back in March, we reported that Google was working on a Gboard option to hide both the comma and period keys. That change echoed Apple’s iPhone keyboard, where punctuation is hidden by default, but it di

Topics: android authority google keyboard keys

Shop Amazon

Jamboard escapes the Google graveyard with a new lease on life from LineageOS

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-11-03 22:56:07

Nolen Johnson TL;DR Google launched Jamboard back in 2017 as a digital whiteboard for teams. Official Jamboard support ended at the start of this year. Now that old hardware can run modern Android thanks to some unofficial LineageOS ports. What’s your favorite canceled Google hardware? The ill-fated Nexus Q? That one may have been a particularly spectacular failure, but far more devices just run their natural course and end up retired, replaced by newer solutions. Eight years ago, Google int

Topics: android google hardware jamboard just

Shop Amazon

In the works since Android 14, Android Canary finally offers upgraded screenshots

androidauthority.com Unknown 2025-11-04 12:19:31

TL;DR The latest Android Canary release lets you add URLs to captured screenshots before sharing them. Users simply have to tick a box to include the URL, no copy/paste needed. This feature works with apps like Google Chrome, YouTube, and Telegram. Google has been working on adding URLs to shared screenshots for a while now. In fact, we first heard about this capability two years ago as part of Android 14. It looks like the waiting might be over as the latest Android Canary release offers thi

Topics: android google latest link screenshot

Shop Amazon

Latest Tech News

Google Will Make All Android App Developers Verify Their Identity Starting Next Year

You can try Android 16's new lock screen widgets - if you have one of these phones

How I easily transfer files between my Android phone and Mac - for free

6 Android launchers that are better than your default home screen - and why

Google will verify Android developers distributing apps outside the Play store

Pixel owners just got a big surprise with Android 16 - what's new

Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps

4 apps you should use instead of Headspace

Spotify and YouTube Music test out their sleek new look on Android Auto (APK teardown)

This small change might kill emulation on Android phones next year

Google is testing new colors for Android Auto, again (APK teardown)

Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

Google to require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year

Google to require developer verification to install and sideload Android apps

Google Nest Camera and Doorbell leak shows off new colors and 2K video recording

Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

Google wants to make sideloading Android apps safer by verifying developers’ identities

My favorite iOS 26 feature is something Android has had for years

The days of custom Android ROMs are numbered, and Google is to blame

The Pixel 10 is unquestionably the best phone for people fed up with the iPhone

The Pixel Tablet 2 would’ve been great with Android’s new PC-like keyboard and mouse controls

Android 16’s new Wallet shortcut is missing on some Pixels, and Google won’t say why

Android's latest update can force apps into dark mode - how to see it now

I found the best app for Material 3 Expressive widgets; here’s how to use it

The best smart TV VPNs of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

New Android parental controls make it easier to manage kids’ devices your way

Google is testing more nuanced punctuation options in Gboard (APK teardown)

Jamboard escapes the Google graveyard with a new lease on life from LineageOS

In the works since Android 14, Android Canary finally offers upgraded screenshots

About GoKawiil

Privacy

Advertising

Latest Tech News

Trending Topics

Hot Now

Popular

Emerging

About GoKawiil

Privacy

Advertising