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Tech News
A review piece examines Google's preinstalled Clock app and argues it lags behind specialized alternatives like Alarmy, Chrono and NFC Alarm Clock despite its wide reach on Android phones. The author's top request is adding task-based alarm challenges—math problems, CAPTCHAs, QR or NFC scans, or sliding puzzles—that force users to physically engage before an alarm can be dismissed.
Google rolled out a new location metadata API for Android's Photo Picker in its August Mainline update, and Snapseed (version 4.1.5.970833206) is the first app to adopt it. The update adds a prompt asking whether to include an image's location info when selecting it, plus a floating toggle button to quickly enable or disable that metadata sharing.
Android Authority's Joe Maring initially planned to skip the Pixel 11 Pro, criticizing Google for making only incremental updates like Samsung and Apple. He instead upgraded after Google introduced a new modem in the Pixel 11 series and he secured the phone for under £200 through combined trade-in and pre-order discounts.
Google's latest Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4, released last Friday, makes it far easier to use a voice-broadcasting feature on Pixel phones that lets people speak or stream audio to nearby Bluetooth LE Audio devices, similar to a personal PA system. The capability, previously called Voicecast and buried in Developer Settings, can now be turned on instantly via a Quick Settings tile, provided Bluetooth is enabled, and supports password protection to block unwanted listeners.
Google's Android 17 QPR2 Beta 4 update for Pixel devices rolled out last week, but its official manual OTA download links are now returning 404 errors. Multiple Pixel testers on Reddit report being unable to download the full OTA package for days, with at least one user stuck in a reboot loop unable to recover their device. Google has not explained the cause of the broken links.
Google Maps has begun displaying Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for users in the United States, following an executive order signed by President Trump renaming the lake. Canadian users will still see 'Lake Ontario,' while users elsewhere will see both names listed together as 'Lake Ontario (Lake America).'
Google Maps has updated its display for U.S. users to show 'Lake Ontario' as 'Lake America,' following a formal change in the U.S. Geographic Names Information System. Canadian users still see 'Lake Ontario,' while users elsewhere see both names listed together. The shift has drawn mockery online, with Ontario's premier posting a billboard reasserting the lake's traditional name and MapQuest declining to follow suit.
Google Maps updated its US display of Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' following an executive order from President Trump, part of an ongoing tariff dispute with Canada. The change mirrors Google's earlier adoption of 'Gulf of America' for the Gulf of Mexico, following updates to the federal Geographic Names Information System. Google says users in Canada will still see 'Lake Ontario,' while those outside North America will see both names.
Google announced new Play Store requirements that will force Android app developers to operate within strict memory thresholds beginning in 2027, aiming to stop individual apps from hogging RAM and slowing down entire devices. Apps that fail to comply risk being throttled or removed from the store, and Google explicitly linked the policy to the ongoing memory supply shortage driven by AI demand.
Google has updated Google Maps to display Lake Ontario as "Lake America" for users in the United States, following a Trump executive order and a corresponding change made by the US Geographic Names Information System. Canadian users will still see "Lake Ontario," while users elsewhere in the world will see both names listed together. Apple Maps has not yet made the switch but is expected to follow, having previously adopted the "Gulf of America" relabeling.
Most smart TVs ship with limited internal storage that quickly fills up due to app caches, temporary files, and manufacturer-installed bloatware that can be difficult or impossible to remove. Users can clear app cache through settings for temporary relief or uninstall unused apps, though bloatware removal is often restricted by manufacturers. An alternative workaround is attaching an external streaming device like a Fire TV Stick, Roku, or Google TV Streamer, which brings its own storage and app ecosystem independent of the TV's built-in memory.
Google's newly released Pixel 11 lineup ships with several notable features—like the new Camera Looks color styles and Creator Suite tools such as a built-in teleprompter and social media grid overlays—turned off or set to basic modes by default. Reviewers note that getting the most out of the phone, particularly its camera customization and creator-focused options, requires manually digging into settings after setup.