An Android Authority writer switched from Google Messages to QUIK, an open-source SMS app descended from the discontinued QKSMS, after growing frustrated with Google Messages' rigid spam filter. The writer says Google Messages often misflags legitimate texts from banks and carriers as spam while letting real scam messages through, with no settings to adjust the behavior. QUIK, available via F-Droid, is described as a basic but functional SMS-only app without RCS support.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-25
Android Authority's Joe Maring reflects on two years of using Google's TV Streamer, the 2024 device that replaced the Chromecast line with pricier, more premium hardware. He notes Google has added features like customized content recommendations, easier Bluetooth headphone pairing, and an 'apps only mode' resembling Roku's simpler interface, but says he remains uncertain whether the overall strategy shift has actually improved on Google's previous approach.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-25
Samsung's One UI 9, running Android 17, delivers a smooth experience and timely security patches on the Galaxy S26 Plus, according to an Android Authority reviewer. However, the reviewer says Galaxy AI features like Now Brief and Now Nudge continue to underdeliver, with Now Brief failing to surface news matching the user's stated interests even after customization.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-25
Google's 2024 rollout of AI Overviews, which places AI-generated summaries above traditional search links, has altered how readers interact with search results. Investigations by the Press Gazette found the feature appearing in roughly a quarter of news-related searches by May 2024, with effects on publisher traffic becoming evident by August. The News/Media Alliance had warned the change could severely hurt web traffic for news outlets.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-25
Google's support documentation confirms that any verified phone number on an Android device is now automatically linked to every Google account signed into that device, including accounts added later or numbers from new SIM cards. The company and carriers periodically re-verify these numbers, a process that can incur carrier charges, and the linkage can only be adjusted from the phone itself. Verification also enables features like phone number sign-in, lost device location, emergency services, Quick Share, and a newer account-recovery tool launched in October 2025.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-24
The UK government has launched the AI Biosecurity Lab (AIBL) under its National AI Biosecurity Initiative, committing £100 million ($134 million) in funding. OpenAI and Anthropic are each contributing £100 million in model credits, while Google DeepMind and UK firm Basecamp Research will also collaborate on the project. The lab will operate as an independent non-profit, pairing biosecurity and life sciences experts with frontier AI tools to detect biological threats and speed up vaccine and treatment development.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-24
Google has made Gemini Notebook, formerly known as NotebookLM, available as a Connected App within the Gemini chatbot. Users can type @Gemini Notebook or use natural prompts to create, edit, and manage notebooks, add or remove sources, and pull answers from notebook content without leaving the chat. The feature is rolling out to Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and personal Google account users.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-24
The Boox Palma 2 Pro is a $400 smartphone-sized E Ink reader running Android with Google Play access, letting users install apps like Kindle, Kobo, Libby and audiobook apps. A reviewer tested it for two months, praising its adjustable warm/cool front light, low-brightness dimming for nighttime use, and its 175-gram weight, which made it lighter and more comfortable than a phone.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-24
A review piece from Android Authority outlines how the author disabled several default Google Photos features—including memory notifications, print promotion alerts, and auto-generated collages—to make the app less intrusive. The adjustments are made through the app's Notifications and Create tab settings.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-24
Apple's new Apple TV 4K 2026 has launched priced at $299, more than double the $129 starting price of the previous generation, matching the recently hiked Nvidia Shield TV Pro. Android Authority highlights five alternative streaming boxes, including the Google TV Streamer 4K, which despite its own price rise from $99 to $149 still costs about half as much while offering 4GB of RAM and strong performance.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-24
A hands-on comparison tests the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max, which uses a triple 200-megapixel camera system, against Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL, which gained upgraded main and ultrawide sensors plus a larger 5x telephoto lens this year. The reviewer finds the two phones' main cameras produce very similar color, detail, and low-light results despite OPPO's much higher on-paper resolution and sensor size.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-24
Google Flights has released guidance on when travelers should book tickets to secure the lowest fares for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods. The company notes that airfare during these peak travel dates typically rises well above prices for the same routes at other times of year due to surging demand.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-24
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