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Tech News
Google is rolling out a refreshed Android Auto app icon, replacing the familiar blue design with a green one featuring rounder corners, spotted in version 17.6.663424. The change appears tied to a broader Android Auto redesign expected in the coming months that will bring widget support, video playback, and a more fluid visual style.
Google has introduced a new slash command, /boost, in Antigravity 2.0 and the Antigravity CLI that triggers a multi-agent reasoning pipeline for difficult coding problems like race conditions, complex refactors, and subtle bugs. The feature works through a three-phase process where an orchestrator agent breaks down the problem and dispatches specialized subagents to isolated workstreams, then verifies results across multiple rounds. The command is restricted to paid plan subscribers.
The guide walks Android users through checking their OS version, applying pending system updates via Settings, and enabling or manually triggering app updates in Google Play. It also notes that some app updates require accepting new privacy permissions before installing.
A retrospective look back at Nintendo's GameCube console highlights how it became the company's second worst-selling system ever, moving just 21.74 million units. The analysis points to a limited game library, heavy dependence on first-party titles, and the omission of DVD playback as key factors behind its poor commercial performance.
Google is rolling out three new travel tools inside AI Mode in Search: a built-in airfare tracker that lets users set price-change alerts, a hotel search-and-compare tool that supports direct booking through partners like Booking.com, Marriott, Hilton and Expedia, and a feature to help travelers understand the value of points and miles. The rollout begins in the US in English, with global expansion planned.
Google confirmed that Device Help, a Gemini feature that lets users describe what they want their phone to do and have Gemini adjust settings automatically, isn't limited to the Pixel 11 series. A Google employee showed the feature working on other Pixel devices running Android 17, and said support will expand to additional devices over time.
Multiple Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL owners say their screens wake up on their own from minor vibrations, like something being set down nearby or driving over a bump, rather than actually being picked up. The only current fix reported is disabling the 'Lift to check phone' feature entirely, and some users say the feature feels far more sensitive than on earlier Pixel models.
Brave has rolled out a new 'email aliases' tool in its browser that lets users generate disposable email addresses which forward messages to their real inbox. Users can create up to five free aliases by verifying their main email through Brave's settings, then right-clicking any email field on a website to generate and insert an alias.
Google Search is now showing some AI Overview answers fully expanded by default on desktop, complete with an 'Ask anything' box that launches AI Mode conversations. Previously, this prompt only appeared after users clicked 'Show more' beneath a summary. The change, spotted by an SEO consultant and unconfirmed by Google, currently seems limited to desktop searches for definitions and similar queries.
Google has raised the price of its 4K Google TV Streamer to $149, a $50 jump from its original $99 launch price. The change is already reflected on the Google Store and at Best Buy, though Amazon still lists the device at its older price. The streaming box, which launched in 2024 and also functions as a smart home hub, joins a wave of price hikes across Google's product lineup, including the recently released Pixel 11 phones.
An analysis of moving from Windows to macOS notes that while web apps have made the transition smoother, Macs still differ in fundamental ways, starting with the absence of a native right-click and unfamiliar app installation steps outside the App Store. The piece traces the single-button mouse legacy to Steve Jobs, who reportedly resisted multi-button designs to keep interfaces simple.
JMGO has released its Iris Ultra Max Google TV projector outside China, featuring a dual-iris optical design that the company says delivers a 10,000:1 native contrast ratio. The device combines a triple-laser engine rated at 6,500 ISO lumens with 4K resolution at 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and Dolby Vision HDR support, plus a motorized gimbal, optical zoom, and extensive lens shift for flexible placement. Preorders start today at $2,999, with a full retail price of $3,499 and shipping set for October 19th.