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Android devices include a developer options menu, accessible after tapping the Build Number field seven times in Settings > About, that lets users adjust animation speeds. Within this menu, setting the Window animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale to 0.5x makes system animations play twice as fast, a feature that has existed since Android 4.0.
Google's September software update extends its newer, more dimensional 3D emoji design to the Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4, matching the look already shipped on the Pixel Watch 5 and on phones running Android 17. The redesign adds shading and depth to emoji faces and objects, replacing the flatter previous style, according to 9to5Google.
New leaks detail Motorola's rumored widescreen foldable, the Razr Wide Fold, pointing to a 6.92-inch 165Hz inner display, a 5,000mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip. Physical mock-ups reveal a compact, stubby design with rounded edges that appears thicker than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, alongside dual 50MP rear cameras, a 32MP selfie camera and Qi2 charging, with a launch expected around mid-December.
Google confirmed via a Help Center post that many of its newest Chromebook models will be eligible to transition to Googlebook OS, the new Android-based laptop operating system unveiled this month. The company hasn't specified which devices qualify or when the switch will be possible, saying details on migration paths and eligibility will come later. Existing Chromebooks will keep receiving updates through their normal support window, and the first Googlebooks are set to go on sale next week.
Several Android features—including Clear Calling, Wi-Fi calling, VoLTE, Adapt Sound and Mic mode—can be adjusted to improve call audio clarity. These settings vary by device and manufacturer, since Android does not have a single unified interface across phones. Physical mic cleanliness also affects call quality.
Android Authority found code in a Google Messages beta build enabling voice notes to start with a single tap on the waveform icon, replacing the current two-step process of tapping and then hitting a microphone icon. The feature is reportedly in limited testing and not yet widely rolled out.
Google has acknowledged a bug in its Photos app that leaves the Share, Edit, Add to, and Trash buttons unresponsive after a user edits a photo. A company spokesperson told Android Authority the Photos team is working on a fix, and in the meantime recommended saving edits as a copy or using photos.google.com to share or delete affected images. Reports of the issue span multiple Pixel phone generations as well as at least one Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Google has rolled out a new setting in its Recorder app for Pixel devices called 'Allow recordings in other apps,' which is enabled by default. With it on, audio recordings now appear directly in a Recordings folder accessible through any file manager, rather than being sandboxed within the app.
Google has confirmed it is sunsetting Gemini Gems, with migration to its newer Skills feature beginning November 17. Existing Gems will remain usable until they're converted, and users will retain their customizations in the form of Skills afterward. A banner in the Gems manager announced the change, though Google's linked support page explaining details isn't yet live.
Google's new Pixel Search app, which expands the app drawer search bar to surface photos, emails and other content, ships preinstalled on the Pixel 11 series but isn't officially available for older Pixels. Android Authority found that the app can be manually sideloaded onto older Pixel devices, provided they are running the Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 update or newer; installation fails on stable Android 17 QPR1 builds.
Android Authority polled nearly 5,000 readers on their preferred alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, which costs $50 more than its predecessor with few added features. The Motorola Edge (2026) narrowly won with 25.6% of votes, edging out the Samsung Galaxy S26 at 25.4%, while the Pixel 11 placed third with 20.3%.
Android Authority found code in a recent Google Messages build showing Google testing a redesigned pinned chats experience. Planned changes include an animated Material 3 Expressive typing indicator that replaces the plain 'typing' text with a moving contact photo, plus thumbnail previews for images, videos and GIFs instead of generic labels. The teardown also revealed a feature to pin or unpin multiple contacts at once, though none of these features are live yet.