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Tech News
Samsung has begun rolling out a new update for the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, S24 Ultra, and S24 FE globally, carrying the September 2026 security patch that fixes 90 vulnerabilities. The update is roughly 450MB for the standard S24 models and 438MB for the S24 FE, but it does not include the stable One UI 9 build based on Android 17, which Samsung has not yet scheduled.
Google's Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1 update lets the Pixel 11 Pro's HiLight LED flash twice when a favorite contact sends a message, a feature previously limited to calls and Gemini activity. The option can be toggled under Settings > System > HiLight or set per-contact, though no new LED colors are included in this beta. A stable version of Android 17 QPR2 is expected in December.
CAD renders posted by Android Headlines and OnLeaks show Google's upcoming Pixel 11A budget phone in a new purple finish, keeping the flat, camera-bump-free design of the Pixel 10A. The leak also suggests the device will use the Tensor G6 chip, the same processor found in the pricier Pixel 11, rather than repeating the older chip used in last year's A-series model.
Google confirmed it has resolved a bug that caused the Google Photos app to freeze after users interacted with its editing tools. The company says the fix is included in the latest app update, version 7.94.0.988717361, available now on the Play Store.
Google released Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1, adding builds for the Pixel 11 lineup after last week's Beta 6 release omitted them. Pixel 6a through Pixel 10 devices receive build CP41.260831.007.A3, while all Pixel 11 models get build CP41.260831.011. Google notes Pixel 11 Pro Fold users may need to re-enroll Face Unlock for it to work properly.
Google is partnering with actor Henry Cavill to create a video game showcasing its new Googlebook laptops, which run Android rather than ChromeOS. The companies are targeting a November release, though Google has not disclosed the game's genre or other creative partners involved.
Motorola and Google are investigating a bug that prevents Android Auto from placing outgoing calls when clamshell foldables like the Razr or Galaxy Z Flip are closed. Incoming calls still work fine, and the issue only affects calls initiated while the phone is folded shut. Users say the problem began after Gemini replaced Google Assistant, with reports spanning several months into September.
Signal has released version 8.30, extending its end-to-end encrypted backup feature to iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux after debuting on Android nearly a year ago. Users can choose Signal-hosted backups, capped at 45 days of media for free accounts, or unlimited on-device local backups, both requiring a recovery key to decrypt. The update also unifies Android's backup format with other platforms, separates media storage from backup archives to avoid duplication, and lets paying users purge old media locally while retrieving it from hosted backups.
Google confirmed that existing Chromebooks will keep receiving regular updates and security patches under its Auto Update policy through mid-2034. After that, newer commercial Chromebook models with 10-year update support extending past 2034 will be eligible to switch to the newly announced Googlebook OS, though Google says more migration details are coming soon.
Amazon is selling the Retroid Pocket 5 for $219, down from its $249 list price, matching the lowest price seen since summer Prime Day. The device features a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 865 chip, Hall effect sticks, active cooling, analog triggers, gyroscope and vibration, and is rated 4.6 stars by reviewers.
Take-Two Interactive issued a cease-and-desist to developer Paralympics Productions, forcing the team to shut down its unofficial native ARM port of GTA V for Android by October 3, 2026. The project, led by a developer known as Mojso, also covered a native Nintendo Switch build, both of which will now be discontinued without any code release. The developer acknowledged the legal notice and confirmed the shutdown in a message on X.
Google is bringing the Contacts tab back to the bottom navigation bar of its Phone by Google app, reversing a change made last year that moved it into a sidebar menu. The change is currently visible only to some beta users running version 240.0.98, and it did not appear consistently across all devices tested by Android Authority.