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Google is developing a feature in the Contacts app that would let users embed their Calling Card image directly into VCF (vCard) files, according to a teardown of app version 4.88.28.981523105. This would allow people to share their personalized visual business card with someone new without first exchanging a phone call, though the recipient would need the Google Contacts app installed to actually see the image.
Android 17 QPR1, rolling out to Pixel devices, reportedly changes how the OS exposes developer and USB debugging status to installed apps. This means apps can no longer easily detect that a device has developer options or debugging enabled, a check many banking and finance apps use to block access.
Clicks has finalized specifications for its keyboard-first Communicator smartphone, increasing RAM from 8GB to 12GB and boosting battery capacity from a planned 4,000mAh to 4,350mAh rated for over 800 charge cycles. The device will ship with Android 17 preinstalled, with Clicks promising three major OS upgrades and five years of security patches. The phone begins shipping in December, and its $499 launch price is only guaranteed for orders placed before September 30.
Google is rolling out a new way to trigger the Sidekick overlay in Play Games, letting users open it directly from the notifications panel instead of relying solely on the onscreen drag handle. The option appears under Settings > General > Google Play Games as 'Configure Sidekick access,' alongside the existing in-game-only setting. Evidence also points to a double-tap activation method still in development.
Motorola released a new teaser confirming its upcoming Signature 27 flagship will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, though the exact chip remains unnamed. The device is set to debut on September 22, the same day Qualcomm kicks off its Snapdragon Summit where next-generation flagship silicon is expected to be unveiled.
Google has begun distributing Pixel VIPs version 2.0.97, delivering the redesign it previewed but did not fully demonstrate at the September Pixel Drop. The update introduces a floating navigation strip for quickly switching between VIP contacts, moves local updates like weather and time higher on the page, and applies Material 3 Expressive visual touches such as scalloped profile frames and outlined icons.
An Android Authority writer got hands-on time with Apple's newly unveiled iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, arriving over seven years after Android rivals entered the category. Despite weighing 254g—heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max—the device felt dense but well-balanced in hand rather than unwieldy, standing in contrast to the lighter, 201g Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Google has updated its Pixel Weather app to include a refresh button on the larger home screen widget, letting users manually pull the latest conditions instead of waiting for background updates. The company also removed the left/right arrow buttons previously used to scrub through hourly and daily forecasts within the app. The changes appear in version 1.1.20260716.979549101 of the app.
Some Android Auto beta users report that the cellular signal strength indicator, which vanished from the dashboard earlier this year, is reappearing after updating to version 17.8.1638. Users say the icon now shows up again beside the battery status indicator, though clearing the app cache may be required for it to reappear.
An Android Authority columnist reports buying his 14th iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro, and argues that Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra and Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL have largely closed the technical gap with Apple's devices. Despite that parity, he says Apple still draws outsized attention and loyalty because of how it markets and narrates its products rather than through superior specs.
Google has released stable versions of its AndroidX Security State and Security State Provider libraries, giving apps a way to check the security status of individual Android components rather than relying solely on the device's overall security patch date. Apps can now determine which specific fixes are installed, which updates are pending, and whether known vulnerabilities have been addressed, even if the broad patch level hasn't changed.
A reader survey conducted by Android Authority found that camera quality and clean software topped the list of priorities for people buying new phones, ahead of performance and reliability. Ecosystem lock-in and customization options, features brands frequently tout, ranked far lower among respondents' concerns.