A Reddit user flagged a counterfeit WhatsApp listing appearing in a sponsored slot ahead of the genuine app on Google's Play Store, as first reported by Android Authority. The fake app, from an unknown developer called 'Agment Assets sallu,' has over 500,000 downloads and copies WhatsApp's icon, screenshots and description text. Google has not responded to a request for comment, and the listing remained live at the time of reporting.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-16
Google has launched Googlebooks, a new line of laptops that run Android natively rather than ChromeOS, positioning them as premium alternatives to Windows and macOS machines. The initial lineup features touchscreens, aluminum and magnesium bodies, biometric unlock, large trackpads, and a light-up accessory called the Glowbar that signals Gemini activation and battery status, but most models cost well over a thousand dollars.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-16
Sony has told UK customers it will not deliver the Android 17 upgrade it had promised for the Xperia 10 VI when the midrange phone launched over two years ago. The company cited a technical assessment that found the device's storage configuration couldn't support an adequate Android 17 experience. Sony says it will still provide security updates through June 2028 and that other Xperia models' update plans are unaffected.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-16
Code found in the latest version of the Google Wallet app points to two upcoming features aimed at improving how users add passes and manage payments. The specific functionality has not been officially confirmed or launched by Google.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-16
Anbernic has begun removing the option to buy its Android gaming handhelds with pre-loaded microSD cards, according to reports. The change comes just days after the company faced accusations that these bundled cards contained pirated games.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-15
Engadget's review describes the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro as a full Android tablet that defaults to Amazon's own apps—Kindle, Luna, Prime Video, Audible and Silk—while still allowing access to Google apps and the Play Store. The home screen includes an Alexa+ chat widget and a Google search widget, and the device reportedly handles video and Dolby Atmos audio well for its size.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-15
Google is rolling out AI-based scam defenses on Android, including cloud-based Gemini analysis of suspicious conversations in Google Messages and on-device Gemini Nano checks on unfamiliar links. The company says its existing detection already flags over 5 million suspected scam calls and texts monthly, and the new cloud protections are opt-in, while on-device chat notification detection expands beyond Pixel to more Android partners later this year.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-10-15
Amazon is selling the Razer Kishi V3, a USB-C mobile game controller, at $69.99, a 30% price cut from its regular price. The accessory is designed to clip onto Android phones and newer iPhones for console-style gaming.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-15
Tom's Hardware tested Googlebooks from Dell, Lenovo and HP, built on a new operating system called Googlebook OS that resembles Android more than Chrome OS. The platform aims to merge Android phones and laptops and includes AI features such as Rambler, with Acer and Asus also signed on as hardware partners. The reviewer found the hardware solid but said the OS still feels underdeveloped and centered mainly on the web browser.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-10-15
Google is shutting down Heads Up, an Android safety tool that warned users about looking at their phones while walking, according to reporting on the move. Separately, Google is developing a Gemini-based chat feature intended to help users navigate Digital Wellbeing settings.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-15
Ledger has introduced the Atom, a device running both Android OS and its own Ledger OS on a secure chip, intended to be used alongside a regular phone rather than replace one. Its eSIM supports data only, not calls or texts, and it includes a partnership with OpenClaw letting AI agents handle financial tasks while requiring physical approval for transactions. Two Atom devices can also exchange encrypted messages decrypted inside Ledger OS.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-15
Google has rolled out a US feature letting Android users install apps built in AI Studio through Google Play without publishing them publicly or using a computer. The apps remain private, invisible in search and listings, and accessible only to their creator with a standard Google account. Creators must still follow Google Play's existing policies, and the apps aren't automatically eligible for public release.
techspot.com
· 2026-10-15
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