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Security researcher Robert Wiggins found a hardcoded database password buried in the source code of Applebee's Android app, which has over a million downloads. The credential granted access to a customer database containing names, emails, birth dates, phone numbers, ZIP codes and veteran status. Applebee's confirmed to TechCrunch it has fixed the issue, and TechCrunch verified the flaw before publishing.
A Reddit user known as u/mannumaster built a free, open-source tool called UnknownAuto that tricks Android Auto into accepting sideloaded apps by marking them as installed from Google Play. The tool was created after the developer hit roadblocks trying to run their own self-built app on Android Auto, which normally blocks apps not sourced from the Play Store.
Some YouTube users say videos are randomly dropping out of full-screen mode into the floating mini player, with audio cutting out entirely. Restoring sound reportedly requires restarting the video or the app, though one user said even that workaround failed. The issue was first reported on Reddit roughly two weeks ago and appears to still be ongoing.
Google is positioning its new Googlebook laptops around deep integration with Android phones rather than expanded app support alone. Key features include casting phone apps into resizable windows on the laptop, and transferring in-progress tasks like emails or browser tabs from phone to laptop with a single click.
New distribution data cited by Android Authority shows Android 17 adoption at under 1% of active Android devices, while Android 16 leads with 25.4% share. Roughly 40% of Android users remain on versions older than Android 14, with Android 13, 12 and 11 still running on a combined third of devices.
The Google Pixel 11 is currently selling for $699 on Amazon, down $200 from its $899 list price, a 22% discount. Amazon says this is the lowest price the phone has reached since its launch in late August. The Pixel 11 features a 6.3-inch 60-120Hz display, Google's Tensor G6 chip, 12GB of RAM, and the camera and software features typical of Pixel devices.
Apple has rolled out Apple Music 7.0 for Android following a month-long beta, introducing a Liquid Glass visual redesign along with a new app icon. The update changes the app's accent color to blue, adds a translucent floating bottom bar and undocked mini-player, redesigns artist pages and top bars, and modernizes the Settings page.
Google is developing two upgrades to Chrome's Find in Page tool, spotted in Chrome Canary by X user @Leopeva64. One adds a Match case button so searches can distinguish capitalization, while the other adds Previous and Next outside view buttons that skip matches already visible on screen and jump to results elsewhere on the page.
Code found in a Google Phone app beta (version 245.0.1006864670) reveals a new component called BeeslyTransitModeService, linking the Take a Message feature to Transit mode. Strings in the release reference automatically starting Take a Message when Transit mode is enabled and show a new notification reading 'Taking a message - In Transit Mode.'
Users running Android Auto 17.9 and newer, including some on Android 17, are reporting that notification pop-ups appear silently, without any accompanying sound through their car's speakers. The app does briefly pause playing music as though attempting to play the alert, but no audio comes through. Reports affect both Pixel and Galaxy device owners, and one outlet says the problem also appears on Android Auto 18 and its 18.1 beta.
Samsung has started pushing its Android 17-based One UI 9 update to the Galaxy A16 and Galaxy A35 in the US, according to SamMobile. The Galaxy A35 receives firmware A356USQUCEZJ2 while the Galaxy A16 gets A166USQUAEZJ5, bringing expanded Quick Panel customization, Samsung Notes tweaks, a redesigned Samsung Health app, and new background privacy indicators for microphone and location use.
Android Authority found hidden strings in the Google app (v17.71.17) referencing an 'Offline mode' for Gemini Live, with subtitle text reading 'Use Gemini Live without an internet connection.' The feature appears tied to the account switcher menu based on its naming, but it is not yet live for users.