GoKawiil
Tech News
Google has removed the Pixel Tablet from its official store, with links now redirecting to the general landing page, even though the device will keep getting software support through 2028. The move effectively ends new sales of Google's only current tablet without an announced successor.
Google appears to be trialing Proactive Assistance, an AI feature originally exclusive to the Pixel 11 series, on the older Pixel 10 Pro XL through the Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5 update. YouTube channel In Depth Tech Reviews found the settings menu and permission toggles for the feature already present, closely mirroring what appears on Pixel 11 devices. The feature isn't fully working yet, with odd artifacts like a non-functional 'Android Easter Egg' entry in the assistant menu suggesting it's still in early testing.
Google is rolling out a business chat feature in Google Messages that automatically texts users about new app features and updates. A poll of over 1,800 Android Authority readers found more than half consider it unwanted bloat, while roughly a fifth called it a promising addition and the rest are withholding judgment until they see how it works.
A Reddit user known as ActualAerie1011 says they used Google's simulated fruit fly connectome to play the card game Balatro, reportedly achieving a roughly 20% win rate on the easiest difficulty with the default deck. The approach reportedly paired a custom seed-finding algorithm with reinforcement-style feedback, rewarding the model for good outcomes and penalizing poor ones. No code or technical documentation has been shared publicly, leading some commenters to question the claim's validity.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro launches at $1,199, a $100 increase over the iPhone 17 Pro, adding a variable aperture camera system for photographers. Google's Pixel 11 Pro also rose $100 to $1,099, gaining a larger 48-megapixel telephoto sensor with 30x optical-style zoom and a 120x AI-enhanced Pro Zoom mode. Beyond cameras, the two phones diverge sharply in design, colors and software, running iOS 27 and Android 17 respectively.
Google has published details on how it designed its new Noto 3D emoji set, first unveiled at I/O in May, and confirmed which manufacturers will bring it to their phones. Partners include Nothing, Lenovo, Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus, realme, vivo, iQOO, HONOR, TECNO, Infinix, itel, and Motorola, alongside stock Android 17 devices like the Pixel 11. Samsung is notably absent, as it maintains its own emoji designs.
Android Authority found new code strings in Android Canary 2609 revealing that Google's in-development AI clock feature will let users edit, delete, rate, and generate multiple custom lock screen clock styles. The strings also point to cloud backup and device-to-device transfer support, meaning custom clocks could carry over when someone switches to a new Pixel phone. The feature remains non-functional in current Canary builds, so it's still under active development.
Chinese startup Xteink is following up its compact X4 e-reader with the Xteink S4, a 4.3-inch E-Ink device that ditches the previous proprietary Linux OS for Android 11. This change lets users sideload apps like Kindle, Kobo, and KOReader instead of being limited to DRM-free EPUB files. The S4 also bumps up specs with 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, and a 1,400mAh battery, more than double the X4's 650mAh cell.
Zimperium zLabs identified a new Android malware family, RatHat, spread via malvertising, SMS and phishing sites offering APK downloads outside Google Play. It abuses Accessibility permissions and enables Developer Options and Wireless Debugging to gain shell-level control, installing companion agents that maintain persistence, log keystrokes, and steal banking or crypto credentials through fake overlays. Researchers link the operation to Chinese-speaking actors based on Chinese-language prompts found in its AI automation engine.
Android Authority found new code in Google Photos version 7.93.0 that adds direct Copy and Download options to the app's QR code sharing screen for albums. Currently, the app only lets users take a screenshot of the generated code to share it, but this hidden feature would let them save or copy the code directly instead.
Numerous Android users report that YouTube's full-screen video player is being partially obscured by suggested 'watch next' videos, blocking the progress bar and preventing scrubbing. The issue has reportedly been occurring since at least April, with a fresh wave of complaints emerging recently, including from Android Authority's own staff who saw it appear and disappear intermittently. Google has not publicly acknowledged the glitch, leaving users uncertain whether it's a bug or a UI experiment.
Multiple Reddit users report that the YouTube mobile app is restricting their playback resolution to a maximum of 480p, even though the platform normally supports much higher quality up to 4K. The bug affects both free and Premium subscribers, ruling out a paywall restriction, and some reports date back roughly a month.