On the launch day of its Googlebook laptops, Google told Android Authority that while all Play Store apps are available on every device, a small number of complex apps or games may not perform smoothly on Intel-based models. The company said this is because many Android apps were built for Arm chips, and it is working with developers, Intel and Qualcomm to improve compatibility. Three of the five launch Googlebooks—from Acer, Asus and Lenovo—use Intel chips, while Dell and HP models use Qualcomm's Arm-based Snapdragon processors.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-05
Images posted by Android Headlines show the previously rumored Fitbit Edge, which appears to succeed the Charge line. The device reportedly features a small widget-capable screen, a seven-day battery, built-in GPS, an altimeter, and limited app support including Google Maps and YouTube Music.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-04
Pairing a phone with a rental car's entertainment system via Bluetooth can prompt a sync of contacts and other data, which may be stored on the vehicle's infotainment system indefinitely unless manually deleted. Using a USB cable with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead offers encrypted connections that don't expose this data. Rental companies like Avis state in their policies that customers are responsible for removing their own data and that the company isn't liable for information left behind.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-04
Google has introduced a feature called Motion Assist that aims to reduce motion sickness when using a phone in a moving vehicle. The feature requires Android 17 or higher and an updated version of Google Play Services, and is available on devices like the Pixel 11 and Samsung phones running One UI 9. Users can enable it by searching 'Motion Assist' in their phone's settings.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-04
An Android Authority reviewer spent two weeks testing the Motorola Edge 70, an ultra-slim smartphone, after initial skepticism about the form factor's trade-offs. The reviewer reports it avoided the compromises seen in Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge, which launched with a 3,900mAh battery, 25W charging, only two rear cameras lacking a telephoto lens, and a $1,099 price tag.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-04
An Android Authority writer returned to Duolingo after a year away and found the app pushing paid subscriptions more aggressively, including a prompt to upgrade before viewing past progress. The app also promoted a cross-promotional tie-in with Supercell's mobile game Brawl Stars, requiring users to complete Duolingo tasks to earn in-game rewards.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-04
Android Authority's Tushar Mehta has used the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 exclusively for about a month and reports that its squatter, wider cover-screen design has made him view taller, conventional-sized flagship phones as unwieldy by comparison. He says he no longer wants to use phones with displays larger than 6.7 inches, a size that has become standard for Android flagships.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-04
Nvidia has increased the price of its Shield TV Pro streaming box by $100 to $299.99, effective October 2. The device, which first launched in 2019, still uses the same aging Tegra X1+ processor, but Nvidia says rising component and memory costs industry-wide are responsible for the price jump.
wired.com
· 2026-10-03
Nvidia has raised the price of its Shield TV Pro streaming device from $199.99 to $299.99, a $100 increase despite no hardware changes. An Nvidia spokesperson told Ars Technica the hike, effective October 2, stems from rising component costs, particularly memory, across the industry. The company has also discontinued the standard Shield TV, leaving the Pro as its only Shield-branded device.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-10-03
Google's payment app has gone through several rebrands since launching as Google Wallet in 2011, becoming Android Pay in 2015, then Google Pay in 2018, before reverting to the Google Wallet name in 2022. The two names now refer to distinct but related products, which has caused confusion among users about which app does what.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-03
A tech guide lists ten practical second uses for retired Android phones, noting that even older devices retain working cameras, GPS, displays, speakers, sensors and Wi-Fi. Suggested uses include turning the phone into a kitchen display, hiking GPS unit, or retro gaming handheld. The guide recommends backing up data and performing a factory reset before repurposing a device.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-03
A longtime Gmail user who had relied on the service for about 15 years switched to Mozilla's Thunderbird email client earlier this year, using it on Windows and Android for roughly seven months. The user cites frustration with Gmail's promotional smart features, ads and AI-heavy interface, contrasting it with Thunderbird's local storage, which allows offline access to emails without an internet connection.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-03
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