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Google is trialing a new Quick Settings panel inside Android Auto's beta version 17.6.663424, accessible from the notification shade at the top of the screen. So far only a single Do Not Disturb tile has appeared, letting drivers silence phone notifications without opening the full settings menu. The feature arrives alongside a new app icon and a raccoon-themed weather animation spotted in the same beta build.
Roku offers a free companion app for iOS and Android that lets users control their Roku devices directly from a smartphone, connecting over the same home Wi-Fi network. It replicates the core functions of the physical remote, including navigation, playback and volume controls, without requiring any purchase or subscription.
Android launched publicly in 2008 on the HTC-made T-Mobile G1, a bulky device with a sliding screen and awkward physical keyboard, built hastily to counter Apple's iPhone. Google had bought Android and its creator Andy Rubin in 2005 for $50 million, originally envisioning it as camera software before pivoting to mobile after the iPhone's 2007 debut spurred urgency.
A hidden feature in Android Auto beta version 17.6.66 shows a small animated raccoon, internally named 'Jimothy' after the viral social media character, hopping across the music player interface to display weather information. The widget also shows rain, clouds, or sun icons depending on local conditions, and currently only appears after manually switching the device theme in settings. Google has not confirmed a timeline or plans for a wider public rollout.
A teardown of Google app version 17.54.10 reveals two new buttons being developed for the Gemini home screen: "Chat," for standard conversations with Gemini, and "Assign," which routes messages directly to Gemini Spark. This follows an earlier discovery of a similar "Assign Task" feature that has yet to launch for users.
A Geekbench 7 listing for the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra (SM-X940) reveals it running MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 chip with 12GB of RAM and Android 17 preinstalled. The device scored 2,760 in single-core and 9,291 in multi-core, notably higher than a comparable Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra result.
Google has begun automatically inserting a Gemini AI shortcut into Google Messages, even though there is no dedicated toggle for it in the Connected Apps settings within Gemini itself. Users who don't want the floating AI icon hovering near their chat button can still remove it through an in-app setting, according to Android Authority.
Android Authority discovered a hidden feature in Google app version 17.54.10 that lets the Gemini overlay automatically shrink into a floating button while it processes a request. This would let users keep using their phone instead of waiting with the overlay locked on screen. The feature isn't live yet and appears to still be in internal testing.
Samsung has launched the Galaxy S26 FE with only minor spec upgrades over its predecessor, yet raised the price by $50/£50 for equivalent storage tiers, reportedly due to rising component costs. This narrows the price gap to the flagship Galaxy S26 to roughly $100, while that model offers a stronger chipset and better cameras.
Samsung has rolled out the eighth One UI 9 beta update for the Galaxy S26 lineup, starting with the Galaxy S26 Ultra in South Korea. The 513MB Android 17-based update carries firmware ending in ZZHM and the August 5, 2026 security patch, with the changelog citing only stabilization fixes for device operation. It arrives alongside the first One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S25 series.
Foldable phones from Samsung, Google, Motorola and Chinese brands still make up only 1.6% of global smartphone shipments despite years of hinge and display improvements, with 19.6 million units shipped last year according to Counterpoint Research. A commentator argues that Apple's expected entry into the foldable market will finally push the category into the mainstream, much as it did with smartwatches and wireless earbuds.
Google is rolling out a new live translation option within Gemini Live's voice settings, allowing the AI to translate spoken conversations between languages in real time with on-screen captions. The rollout also includes a smaller interface tweak, replacing the keyboard exit button with a clearer X icon and adding a 'Tap to interrupt' control, as part of a gradual server-side update following April's UI redesign.