Google is quietly rolling out Motion Assist, a feature that overlays moving dots on the screen edges to counter motion sickness while using a phone in a vehicle. The dots shift direction based on data from the accelerometer and gyroscope, mimicking how the outside world would appear to move if you looked up. It's appearing on Pixel devices running Android 17 through a staged Play Services rollout, with no separate app or update required.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-08-25
Google is gradually enabling a new Motion Assist feature on Android phones, starting with some Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 devices, ahead of the official September Pixel Drop. The feature displays moving shapes on screen that shift in sync with a vehicle's movement, using the phone's accelerometer and gyroscope, mirroring a similar tool Apple already offers on iPhone. Users can check for it under Settings > profile picture > All services > Personal & device safety.
zdnet.com
· 2026-08-25
Several Google Home owners report that asking their smart speakers to add items to Google Keep lists no longer works, even though the assistant correctly recognizes the voice command. In some cases the device merely states how many items are already on a list instead of adding anything new, and one user found it worked for a list named 'Shopping list' but not others. Google has not yet confirmed the cause, and the Notes & lists settings in the Google Home app appear to hint that voice-based list access may have been altered or removed.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Developers have released QuestStack, a new bootloader that chains known Android fastboot vulnerabilities to achieve full root access on the original 2019 Meta Quest headset. The exploit runs entirely through a web interface with no downloads required once the headset is connected to a PC.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-08-25
Google's Android Developers account posted data claiming foldable phone owners spend roughly 14 times as much on in-app purchases as owners of regular smartphones. The company did not disclose specific dollar amounts or which categories of purchases—subscriptions, game currency, or otherwise—drove the gap. The post was framed as a pitch urging app developers to optimize their software for foldable screens, timed around the Pixel 11 Pro Fold launch.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Google has released Play Services v26.33 and Play Store v52.9, adding a feature that lets Googlebook devices access apps directly from a paired phone. The update also expands Ask Play, the Gemini-powered search tool, to show video highlights for apps and games alongside other developer-facing changes.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
A ZDNET writer tested FydeOS, a free Linux-based operating system built to mimic ChromeOS, by installing it on an aging Windows laptop. The OS successfully replicated the Chromebook experience—fast boot times, background updates, and support for web, Android, and Linux apps—though selecting the correct build for the hardware proved confusing.
zdnet.com
· 2026-08-25
Google is extending Gemini's ability to generate interactive 3D models and simulations, first announced in April, to all Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users meeting age requirements. The feature lets users ask Gemini to visualize complex concepts—like DNA structures—as manipulable models rather than static images. It is available immediately in the Gemini app.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Samsung's One UI 9 Beta 6 update for Galaxy S26 devices introduces a new 'Touch and hold for AI select' switch under Display > Edge panels settings. Users had complained that lingering too long while swiping out the Edge Panel would accidentally freeze the screen and launch AI Select. The new toggle lets users turn off that long-press behavior while still keeping AI Select accessible as a shortcut icon in the Edge Panel.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
New CAD-based renders of the Galaxy S27 Ultra, produced by Android Headlines with leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer, show a colored, detailed model built from leaked case-maker measurements. The design departs sharply from the S26 Ultra's vertical camera stack, replacing it with a large, lopsided camera island, while the phone's overall dimensions (about 163.76 x 78.25 x 7.97mm) remain close to this year's model.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Amazon is selling the 256GB Galaxy S26 Ultra for $961, a 26% cut from its $1,299.99 list price, though the discount currently applies only to the Cobalt Violet color option. The phone has a 4.6-star rating and this is the lowest price seen outside of Prime Day.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
An Android Authority reader poll of nearly 1,600 Pixel 10 Pro owners found that 58% intend to keep their current phone rather than buy the newly released Pixel 11 Pro. Only 29.2% said they're upgrading to the Pixel 11 Pro, while smaller shares are switching to another Pixel 11 model or a rival Android device.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
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