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Android Auto, used by roughly 250 million people worldwide, sometimes drops apps from its launcher without explanation. This typically happens because a phone's battery optimization feature deactivates the app in the background rather than removing it entirely. Users can restore hidden apps or manually hide unwanted ones through their device settings in just a few steps.
Reports say Apple is developing a privacy-focused home security and monitoring device that uses AI rather than video footage, tied to a new subscription service. Separately, executives including Eddy Cue are reportedly exploring ways to raise App Store margins and extract more recurring revenue from developers.
Digging into Play Store version 53.0, Android Authority uncovered and activated a hidden option that lets users pause and later resume app installs instead of only being able to cancel them. The outlet recorded a working demo showing a new 'Pause' button alongside a 'Resume' option, with the built-in download manager listing paused downloads for quick access. Google has not made the feature public yet, but the code exists and works with some manual tinkering.
Samsung has updated changelogs for its AR Doodle and Quick Measure apps on the Galaxy App Store, confirming both will be discontinued on December 31, 2026. The company says future versions of One UI won't support the apps, and they're already missing on newer devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Phil Schiller is leaving his role leading the App Store, becoming an Apple Fellow on unspecified projects. While Schiller cited wanting more time for family and philanthropy, Gurman says he also grew wary of plans by CEO John Ternus and services chief Eddy Cue to boost App Store margins and recurring revenue.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is exploring ways to boost App Store revenue and margins, an initiative reportedly led by new CEO John Ternus and services chief Eddy Cue. Gurman also links the effort to Phil Schiller's recent departure, noting Schiller opposed the push out of concern it would anger developers and regulators.
Chrono is a free, open-source Android alarm and clock app that offers more customization than Google's or Samsung's default Clock apps, including dark mode, Material styling, alarm tagging, and time-of-day icons. It isn't listed on the Google Play Store, so users must sideload it manually to install and update it.
KeyAlarm is an indie iPhone app that lets users designate keywords, like 'Dentist,' so any calendar event containing that word automatically triggers an alarm rather than a silent notification. Users can set multiple alarms per event, assign alarms to entire calendars, and customize how far in advance each one fires. The app relies on Apple's new AlarmKit framework and requires iOS 26.
Clucky is a new iPhone alarm app founded by former Fanatics engineer Adrian Angelo Abelarde that forces users to complete tasks like math problems, push-ups, or an AI camera challenge before the alarm can be silenced. It offers sound options ranging from a crowing rooster to gentle chimes, plus a group feature called 'Nest' or 'Flock' letting friends hold each other accountable for waking up together. The app is free to download with a $39.99 annual pro subscription.
A federal judge ruled that startup Operation Bluebird cannot use the 'Twitter' name for its new social platform, citing likely trademark confusion with X Corp. However, the same ruling found the company can likely use the word 'tweet' and the bird logo, since X appears to have abandoned both marks. The startup has since rebranded its waitlist platform from Twitter.now to Tweet.app, which already has over 172,000 signups paying to reserve handles.
Fender has released the Fender Audio app for iPhone, adding EQ presets and a custom five-band equalizer to its $299 MIX wireless headphones. The app also shows battery status and offers configurable Home Screen widgets for quick access to device settings.
A federal court granted Elon Musk's X a preliminary injunction stopping a startup called Operation Bluebird from launching a new app under the Twitter name. Chief Judge Colm Connolly found X likely to prevail on trademark infringement claims, largely because X's own App Store listing still describes itself as 'formerly known as Twitter,' showing the company hasn't abandoned the brand.