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Tech News
Google has updated its Pixel Weather app to include a refresh button on the larger home screen widget, letting users manually pull the latest conditions instead of waiting for background updates. The company also removed the left/right arrow buttons previously used to scrub through hourly and daily forecasts within the app. The changes appear in version 1.1.20260716.979549101 of the app.
An Android Authority columnist reports buying his 14th iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro, and argues that Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra and Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL have largely closed the technical gap with Apple's devices. Despite that parity, he says Apple still draws outsized attention and loyalty because of how it markets and narrates its products rather than through superior specs.
A reader survey conducted by Android Authority found that camera quality and clean software topped the list of priorities for people buying new phones, ahead of performance and reliability. Ecosystem lock-in and customization options, features brands frequently tout, ranked far lower among respondents' concerns.
Google has removed the Pixel Tablet from its official store, with links now redirecting to the general landing page, even though the device will keep getting software support through 2028. The move effectively ends new sales of Google's only current tablet without an announced successor.
Google is rolling out a business chat feature in Google Messages that automatically texts users about new app features and updates. A poll of over 1,800 Android Authority readers found more than half consider it unwanted bloat, while roughly a fifth called it a promising addition and the rest are withholding judgment until they see how it works.
Android Authority found new code in Google Photos version 7.93.0 that adds direct Copy and Download options to the app's QR code sharing screen for albums. Currently, the app only lets users take a screenshot of the generated code to share it, but this hidden feature would let them save or copy the code directly instead.
Numerous Android users report that YouTube's full-screen video player is being partially obscured by suggested 'watch next' videos, blocking the progress bar and preventing scrubbing. The issue has reportedly been occurring since at least April, with a fresh wave of complaints emerging recently, including from Android Authority's own staff who saw it appear and disappear intermittently. Google has not publicly acknowledged the glitch, leaving users uncertain whether it's a bug or a UI experiment.
Android Authority released its weekly roundup of Android wallpapers for September 16, featuring submissions from readers and the site's own team. The collection offers a fresh batch of images that phone owners can download and set as backgrounds.
Beyond the usual OS and security update settings, Android devices include a distinct, less visible menu for updating individual system services like Google Play services. Depending on the manufacturer, these services may need to be updated separately from the main software update screen, and how they appear can vary between brands such as Google Pixel and others.
Android Authority highlights an open-source fork of the popular Shizuku app that solves its most persistent problem — failing to stay active in the background and not restarting after a device reboot. Because Shizuku grants other apps access to restricted system APIs, its instability has long forced users to manually relaunch it, breaking tools like uninstallers and adaptive theme switchers. The fork, built by developers working from Shizuku's GitHub repository, adds automatic recovery so dependent apps keep working without manual intervention.
Android Authority published its latest weekly collection of phone wallpapers, sourced from both readers and its own team members. The roundup continues an ongoing series that curates fresh wallpaper designs for Android users to download and use on their devices.
Motorola briefly ran a website pop-up teasing a device called the Signature 27, showing a close-up of its rear camera and the tagline 'A new perspective is coming' while collecting visitor emails. The pop-up appeared on Motorola's US, UK and EU sites before quickly vanishing, and a partially loaded 'Crystals by Swarovski' logo suggests a bejeweled variant is planned, similar to the original Signature phone.