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.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-07
An Android Authority writer found their Gmail account eating up 5.27GB of Google's 15GB free storage tier, largely due to accumulated email attachments rather than message count. Using Gmail's built-in 'Clean up space' tool, they identified and deleted large attachments, then cleared out Spam and Trash folders to recover storage without paying for Google One.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-07
A reader survey of 3,649 respondents found that 51.9% had a flawless experience with their Google Pixel phones, despite recent high-profile reports of battery drain, overheating, and bricking issues. About 23.1% reported problems with previous Pixel models, while 8% specifically cited issues with the new Pixel 11 Pro, and 17% of respondents don't own a Pixel at all.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-07
A comparison of the Pixel 11 series against five rival flagship phones shows Google's new Tensor G6 chip trailing significantly in CPU and GPU benchmarks, most notably against Apple's A19 and A19 Pro chips inside the iPhone 17 lineup. The Tensor G6 also falls short on battery efficiency and thermal performance compared to competitors that in some cases cost less than the $1,000-plus Pixel 11.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-07
Three men had to be rescued after getting lost overnight while descending California's Mount Shasta, a hike they had planned using Google's Gemini chatbot. Local authorities said Gemini advised the group to pack far less food and water than needed, a problem that worsened when their planned eight-hour climb turned into a multiday ordeal.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-07
Google Photos is expanding two features: a virtual wardrobe tool that scans users' photos to catalog clothing items and suggest outfit combinations, complete with an AI-generated try-on preview, and Manual Photo Stacks, which lets Android users group selected photos together for easier organization. The wardrobe tool had a slow initial rollout since April but is now being pushed more broadly across the US, while Manual Photo Stacks finally arrives on Android after being available on iOS for nearly a year.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-07
Xiaomi's new $500 Redmi Note 17 Pro Max includes full-resolution 50MP photo capture and a manual/pro camera mode, features absent from Google's $900 Pixel 11. Google reserves these tools for its pricier Pixel 11 Pro lineup, even though the base Pixel has hardware capable of supporting them.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-06
An Android Authority reviewer who tested every major US book-style foldable this year says Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, despite leading on specs like its Snapdragon chip and camera system, isn't the phone they'd actually choose to carry. Instead they'd pick Motorola's Razr Fold, with its 6,000mAh battery and large bright display, or Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold, even though both trail Samsung on raw performance.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-06
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.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-06
A reviewer chose the plain Obsidian colorway of the Pixel 11 Pro and found the matte metal rails a major upgrade over last year's glossy Pixel 10 Pro. The new finish resists smudges, skin oils, and slipperiness that plagued the previous model's shiny sides.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-06
Sideloading lets Android Auto users add apps Google hasn't approved, including video-capable YouTube clients, bypassing the platform's official restrictions. This method skips Google's security vetting, and Google itself notes that sideloaded apps carry over 50 times more malware than apps from the Play Store. Google plans to require developer identity verification for sideloaded apps starting in late 2026 to curb these risks.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-06
A researcher who previously exposed a similar Chrome bug in 2019 has found that Chrome version 152.0.7977.83 again exempts google.com from the 'delete site data on close' setting, letting Google cookies, local storage, and session storage persist after all windows are closed and even after relaunching the browser. The behavior was reproduced on two Macs, with sign-in and default search engine ruled out as causes, and appears specific to www.google.com.
lapcatsoftware.com
· 2026-09-05
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