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Tech News
Android Authority published a list of nine Chromium-based browsers for Android that strip out Google's integrations, including Bare Browser, Brave, Vivaldi and others. The piece highlights options chosen for regular updates, distinct features, longevity, and ease of use, noting most require manual installation outside typical app stores.
Android Authority reports that despite Google tightening sideloading rules this year—requiring a device restart and a 24-hour wait before enabling it—the platform still cannot natively install APK Bundle (.APKM) files. Users wanting to sideload these split-file app packages, a format introduced in 2018, must rely on third-party apps to do so.
Google Wallet recently switched from a horizontal scrolling card layout to a new vertically stacked design, and reports suggest further features like receipt scanning and agentic capabilities may be coming. An Android Authority columnist argues the new stacked layout makes it harder to distinguish similar-looking cards from the same bank, since it removed the alias text shown under each card previously.
In a Reddit r/GooglePixel discussion, longtime Pixel owners explained their reasons for sticking with the phones, citing clean Android software, timely updates, and exclusive features like Call Screen and spam filtering. A poll in the thread found 38% cited clean Android and updates as the top reason, while others pointed to camera quality, ecosystem integration, or simply not finding a better alternative. Some users also voiced complaints about Gemini replacing familiar Assistant features, camera processing, battery life, and hardware value.
Google's new screenless Fitbit Air is being compared against Whoop's band lineup, with Whoop's newer 5.0 and MG models rated for 14+ days of battery versus up to seven days for Fitbit Air. Both offer companion apps with AI assistants for logging meals and building workout plans, but Whoop requires a paid membership to function while Fitbit Air can be used without a subscription for basic tracking. Whoop membership pricing starts around $149 for the first year, rising to $199 annually or $25 monthly, while Fitbit Air includes a three-month Google Health Premium trial.
A new analysis argues that Chrome's reputation for excessive memory use is largely an internet meme rather than a data-backed fact, comparing it to similarly exaggerated claims about Microsoft Edge being slow. The piece acknowledges Chrome does use RAM as needed, but says this has not been a significant practical problem either in 2016 or in 2026.
Google ended software support in October 2025 for first- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats, cutting them off from app connectivity, accessory integration, and updates after roughly 14 years of use. The devices still function for basic on-device temperature control and scheduling, and Google has offered discounted upgrades to its fourth-generation thermostat as an alternative.
Google revised its privacy policy effective October 16, 2026 to clarify that Gmail, Drive and Photos content remains excluded from ad personalization by default, but connecting those services to Personal Intelligence—an opt-in feature letting Google's AI search draw on linked apps—can change that. Google says the content itself is never shown to advertisers, and sensitive topics like health remain off-limits, but ads shown through AI Mode can reflect what a user's question and the AI's answer were about.
Google's privacy policy, updated October 16, now qualifies its longstanding promise not to personalize ads based on Gmail, Drive or Photos content. The exception applies to users who opt into Personal Intelligence, letting Gemini and AI Mode pull context from those apps, and Google's support page confirms that resulting summaries and inferences can feed into ad personalization. Google says advertisers still can't access the apps directly, and sensitive categories like health or religion remain excluded from targeting.
Meta has quietly released a version of Instagram for Apple TV, following earlier launches on Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, and Google TV. MacRumors noticed the App Store listing was updated on October 23rd to include Apple TV compatibility, after earlier versions as recently as October 18th only listed iPad and iOS support.
Android Authority published a roundup recommending five wearables as alternatives to the Fitbit Edge, which launches soon after its earlier announcement this month. The list includes the Google Pixel Watch 5, Fitbit Air, Samsung Galaxy Fit 3, Oura Ring 5, and Fitbit Charge 6, with the Pixel Watch 5 highlighted for its full Android Wear app support, larger display, and Google Gemini integration versus the Edge's simpler feature set.
Google has removed the Gemini Pro model from its $5-per-month AI Plus subscription, limiting those users to the Flash and Flash-Lite models instead. A longtime subscriber says Google notified them by email last week, offering a choice to keep AI Plus, upgrade to the pricier AI Pro tier to regain Pro access, or cancel outright. The subscriber opted to cancel AI Plus but continues using Gemini's free tier.