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Google Photos bug freezes share, edit and delete buttons after cropping images

Users are reporting that the Google Photos editor's Share, Edit, Add to, and Trash buttons stop responding once a photo has been cropped or rotated. The issue appears across multiple Pixel generations, including the 8, 9, 10 and 11 series, and does not occur if the photo hasn't been edited. Google has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded publicly.

Google testing single-tap mute control for Pixel Buds during calls

Android Authority found new code strings in Pixel Buds app version 1.0.981607934 referencing a 'Mute & unmute' feature. The strings describe a single tap on either earbud to mute or unmute during a call, with a footer noting the feature would be limited to Pixel devices using the Phone and Google Meet apps.

Snapseed testing new collage-maker with layered templates in version 4.1.9

Android Authority found hidden code in Snapseed version 4.1.9 pointing to a new collage-creation interface, offering multiple aspect ratios, grid layouts, background customization, and slide management tools. The build also references a feature for sharing collage templates with other users via QR code or link.

New Android app C2PA Verify checks images for AI-generation credentials

Android Authority highlights C2PA Verify, an Android app that reads C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) metadata embedded in images to show details like the signer, creator, and editing timeline. The app is free and open source, but it cannot determine authenticity if that metadata has been stripped from a file.

Google Messages rolls out redesigned long-press menu to stable app

Google Messages is widely rolling out a redesigned long-press menu to users on the stable app, moving action items like Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete and Info into a floating list near the selected message instead of a top toolbar. The update also adds selective text copying, letting users drag selection handles to copy only part of a message rather than the whole thing. The feature had previously been available only to beta testers since August, and reports suggest it now appears on both Pixel and Samsung devices.

New Android app Hamilton aggregates health data without internet access

A developer has released Hamilton, an Android app that pulls health metrics from Google's Health Connect into a single dashboard without requesting any network permissions. The app supports data from Garmin, Withings, Fitbit, Samsung Health, Oura, Whoop, Google Fit and Strava, covering metrics like steps, sleep, heart rate and body composition. It avoids double-counting overlapping data (e.g., steps from both phone and watch) by selecting a single best source per metric per day.

Personal essay reflects growing fatigue with smartphone-centric life

A writer describes losing enthusiasm for smartphones after once being an eager early adopter who camped out for the first iPhone. The essay recounts a shift from excitement over device upgrades and platform debates to viewing smartphones as an unavoidable obligation rather than a choice, comparing them to a tax collected by companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google.

ATV Launcher v0.1.41 adds fixed row layouts and in-row widgets for Android TV

ATV Launcher's version 0.1.41 update introduces "Arrangements," ten preset home-screen row layouts including Spotlight, Bookends, Centre Stage, Marquee, and Hero Trio, some featuring double-sized highlight tiles. It also lets users embed widgets like Weather, Digital Clock, System Info, and Watch Next directly into app rows, alongside a refreshed Configure Tile dialog, new folder preview styles, edge-to-edge Watch Next cards, and a customizable status bar with pill styles and TV input switching. The developer also released a separate free companion app offering 15 digital clock widget styles.

How to capture screen recordings on Pixel, Samsung, and iPhone devices

A tech guide walks through built-in screen recording tools available on Android and iOS phones, starting with Google Pixel devices. On Pixel, users access the Screen recorder widget from Quick Settings by swiping down with two fingers, then adjust options such as showing touches, adding a selfie camera overlay, and capturing app or microphone audio before starting the recording, which saves to Google Photos. The guide also covers similar steps for Samsung Galaxy phones and iPhones.

Pixel Clock app alarm failures persist years after Google's fix claims

Users continue reporting that alarms on Google Pixel phones fail to sound, with the Clock app displaying a message that the alarm 'didn't fire for an unknown reason.' The problem has been documented since at least 2021, and though Google previously said it addressed the issue, new reports keep surfacing, including one case where an overheated device blocked the alarm and another where alarms fired silently despite the phone not being on silent mode.

Google adds lock-screen IMEI display option, raising security debate

Google has rolled out a Play services update that lets many Android 12+ phones show their IMEI number on the lock screen alongside emergency info like contacts and medical details. The feature is optional and can help prove ownership if a device is lost, especially as newer phones like the Pixel 11 series drop physical SIM trays that once displayed the number.

F-Droid Releases Version 2.0 Amid Google Developer Verification Concerns

F-Droid, the open-source Android app repository, released version 2.0 with automatic update installation and a unified installer that leverages a new pre-approval API enabled by EU Digital Markets Act rulings against Google. The release comes as F-Droid displays a banner warning users about Google's upcoming developer verification requirements, which could restrict distribution of unverified apps on Android devices.