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A teardown of Google Photos for Android (v7.95) by Android Authority uncovered a hidden 'Delete all' button for the Remember List, a feature tied to Ask Photos that stores information users share to improve search and editing. Currently the Remember List only allows deleting entries one at a time, and the new option would include a confirmation prompt before wiping everything at once.
Google Photos is developing a 'Regenerate image' feature that lets users redo AI-generated pictures of clothing and accessories in their digital wardrobe. Android Authority found the option in version 7.95 by enabling it manually; it appears via a three-dot menu on an item's details page and runs in the background once started.
Google confirmed it has resolved a bug that caused the Google Photos app to freeze after users interacted with its editing tools. The company says the fix is included in the latest app update, version 7.94.0.988717361, available now on the Play Store.
Google is bringing the Contacts tab back to the bottom navigation bar of its Phone by Google app, reversing a change made last year that moved it into a sidebar menu. The change is currently visible only to some beta users running version 240.0.98, and it did not appear consistently across all devices tested by Android Authority.
An unofficial Android app called MotoKey Plus reprograms Motorola's dedicated AI key into a customizable button, assigning distinct functions to single press, double press, and press-and-hold. Users can set actions like flashlight, screenshots, media controls, notifications, Quick Settings, Gemini, or any installed app, with adjustable timing for taps and holds. The app is currently sideload-only, though its developer says a Google Play release is planned.
Android Authority's Jerry Hildenbrand bought a Pixel 11 for $300 via Google Fi loyalty discounts but hit a boot loop during initial setup, taking nearly an hour to reach the home screen. He says the device then struggled to maintain a stable network connection, and a colleague reported similar boot loop problems on a Pixel 11 Pro roughly a month earlier.
Google has quietly updated its Find Hub app with a new 'Remembered' tab that uses Gemini AI to help users track items that can't carry a physical Bluetooth tracker. Users can tag an item, add a note and photo, and later recall where they placed it. The feature was highlighted by an Android Authority writer who has been using it for several weeks.
Google confirmed via a support page that Gemini Skills, previously limited to AI Pro or Ultra subscribers, are now available to all personal Google account users aged 18 and up. The change comes as Google prepares to migrate Gems into Skills starting November 17, addressing concerns about free-tier access after the switch. Google also plans to add features to Skills, including file imports from Google Drive and Gemini Notebook, and the ability to share Skills with other users.
Google's Gboard keyboard includes native features like translation, clipboard history, quick text-case switching, and a personal dictionary that replicate functions previously requiring separate downloaded apps such as Google Translate. A writer at Android Authority describes replacing four apps entirely by using these built-in Gboard tools instead, accessible through the keyboard's toolbar menu.
Google and five hardware partners launched Googlebook, an Android-based laptop line priced from $899 to $1,299, positioned as a premium alternative to Chrome OS devices. The machines run Android apps, Chrome, a Linux terminal, and Gemini, but early reactions from readers and Reddit users have been largely critical since launch.
Google has begun phasing out Google Assistant on mobile devices, replacing it with Gemini. Users report that the 'Switch to Google Assistant' option has disappeared from the Gemini app's account menu, following a company email last month announcing the rollout would begin September 4.
Multiple Pixel owners across the 8, 9, 10, and 11 series say contactless payments and transit passes have been working inconsistently since last week, with a restart being the only apparent fix. The cause remains unidentified, and reports include devices running the latest Android and Google Play Services builds.