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Nothing has revealed early plans for Nothing OS 5.1, a minor update that will let users remap the Essential Key found on some of its phones, currently tied to the Essential Space app. The company also confirmed it's beginning work on a larger Nothing OS 6.0 release planned for 2027, while Nothing OS 5.0 remains in beta on the Phone 3 ahead of a stable rollout expected in mid-October.
Google's newly launched chat theme feature in Messages, which lets users set custom backgrounds for individual conversations, is causing problems for some users just weeks after its August rollout. Reports include the feature randomly disappearing and reappearing, wallpapers taking one to two seconds to load, and occasional freezing when selecting themes. Google has acknowledged the issue on Reddit and pointed users toward a possible Play Store update fix.
Google has released the first software update for the Pixel Watch 5, moving the firmware from CD5A.260611.008 to CP3A.260905.002 while keeping the device on Wear OS 7 based on Android 17. The rollout includes September security fixes, but the accompanying changelog largely restates Gemini and gesture features that already shipped at launch rather than introducing new capabilities.
A screenshot spotted by Joe Lenington on X shows the Google Pixel Tablet running Android 17 now displays Quick Share's Apple-device file-sharing interface, previously limited to select smartphones. Google's official FAQ page hasn't been updated to list the tablet, but fine print confirms the feature covers tablets as well as phones.
Leaked sketches obtained by AndroidHeadlines suggest Motorola is designing a wide-format foldable phone that would join its existing flip and book-style foldable lines. The renderings show a horizontal triple-camera bar reminiscent of the Xiaomi 18 Fold, along with an easy-open hinge profile, a creaseless display, 3D glass, and an ultra-thin chassis. No launch date or specs have been confirmed, but the device is said to arrive within the coming months.
AT&T is offering Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE for as low as $2.43 monthly over a 36-month installment plan for customers who add a new line online, with no device trade-in needed. Business customers get even steeper discounts, including a $0-per-month option on a new line, plus perks like an Enterprise Edition with extended warranty and Samsung Knox Suite.
The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Special Operations Command have all turned off advertising tracking on government-issued phones and computers, according to a letter Senator Ron Wyden shared. The change, rolled out earlier this year with the Air Force following in July, blocks the advertising identifiers apps use to generate location data that gets sold to data brokers.
TECNO has unveiled a special version of its POVA 8 Pro 5G smartphone made in partnership with Italian lifestyle brand Tonino Lamborghini. The companies say the collaboration goes beyond cosmetic branding, with Lamborghini's design philosophy woven into the phone's hardware, software and overall character rather than just applied as a surface finish.
Android Authority discovered that Google Gemini's Android app, version 17.55.8, contains unreleased code for a redesigned camera interface that shrinks the viewfinder to roughly half the screen instead of taking up the full display, letting users see chat content behind it. The same build also reveals a reworked '@' menu meant to look cleaner and to automatically hide disabled Connected Apps.
MapQuest has rolled out experimental Android Auto integration, letting its navigation app appear on vehicle dashboards for the first time. The September 1 update also introduces crowdsourced incident reporting for crashes, closures, and speed traps. Early testers report bugs like a zoomed-out map view and leftover iOS-related code, including a stray CarPlay notification.
Android Authority uncovered a new animation in a Google app beta (v17.55.8) that replaces Search Live's current gradient effect with small, blurry colorful blobs at the bottom of the screen. The beta also shows a reworked control layout that drops text labels, centers the microphone button, and adds a waveform animation when users speak.
Google has integrated its Gemini Spark AI assistant with Google Photos, letting it perform multi-step tasks like editing, organizing, and sharing images from a single prompt. Spark can also extract text from photos, summarize events, build visual stories, and run recurring tasks such as weekly album updates sent automatically to family or friends. The feature is rolling out gradually and currently limited to US users 18 and older with a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription.