Android Authority outlines five foldable phones that could serve as alternatives to Google's new $1,899 Pixel 11 Pro Fold, including Motorola's Razr Fold and Razr Ultra, plus Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. The comparison highlights that despite the Pixel 11 Pro Fold being thinner and lighter than its predecessor, it has a smaller battery than last year's model and faces stiff competition on price, charging speed, and battery capacity.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-30
Android 17 introduced Pause Point, a Digital Wellbeing tool that makes users pause before opening distracting apps, but Google restricted it to the new Pixel 11 series. A reviewer found a free third-party app called Stroll that offers a similar function on any Android phone, requiring users to walk in order to earn time on time-wasting apps.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-30
Google has dropped the infrared temperature sensor first introduced on the Pixel 8 Pro, leaving it out of the newly launched Pixel 11 series. In its place, the company added a new notification light feature called HiLight, shifting the phone's differentiating hardware trick from a thermometer to a lighting cue.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-30
A tech writer at Android Authority compiled ten practical features in Google Chrome for Android that they use regularly, including customizing the toolbar shortcut to open new tabs instead of Gemini, sharing links to highlighted text on a webpage, and forcing websites into dark mode. The list draws on years of personal use to surface settings many users may not know exist.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-30
The GrapheneOS development team says it could not finish porting its security-focused Android build to Google's new Pixel 11 phones because the devices lack support for Arm's memory tagging extension (MTE), a hardware-level security feature. Developers say they built a partial port after a week of effort but had to halt the project, calling the omission an apparent cost-cutting move by Google. As a result, the team may abandon future support for Pixel devices and focus instead on Motorola hardware.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-30
Google has made Dreambeans, an AI-powered app that mines Gmail, Calendar, Photos, YouTube and search history for personalized suggestions, available to free Google Account holders in the US after previously charging for it. The app uses Google's Personal Intelligence feature to generate a limited daily set of 10 to 14 story-like recommendations, each illustrated with AI-generated artwork rather than stock photos, and includes a chat tool for follow-up questions and feedback controls to refine future suggestions.
tech.slashdot.org
· 2026-08-30
Google has published troubleshooting guidance for Android Auto users experiencing connection issues, covering both wired and wireless setups. The advice includes checking cables and ports for damage, using data-capable cables under six feet, and toggling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to force a manual reconnection.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-29
After a federal judge twice rejected requests for search warrants targeting the YouTube accounts of journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon, the Department of Homeland Security pursued the same information through an administrative summons under a customs statute (19 USC 1509) that requires only internal DHS sign-off, not judicial approval. DHS also obtained six months of Fort's phone records without notifying her or giving her a chance to contest it. The customs law is intended for verifying import duties, not for investigations unrelated to trade.
theguardian.com
· 2026-08-29
The piece explains how Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), built for AI workloads in data centers, differ from GPUs and NPUs. TPUs are now replacing NPUs in Google's upcoming Pixel 11 phones, with Google claiming up to 3.5 times faster AI processing at up to 3.5 times less energy use. GPUs, meanwhile, remain versatile chips handling gaming, 3D rendering, AI training and crypto mining.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-29
Engadget rounded up its recent reviews, including senior writer Daniel Cooper's take on the Pebble Time 2 smartwatch alongside coverage of Google's Pixel 11 lineup. Cooper praised the Pebble Time 2 for deliberately avoiding heavy AI features, calling it a refreshing option for users who want simpler wearables.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-29
A hands-on comparison of Google's new autonomous AI assistant Gemini Spark against Perplexity Computer finds that Spark's main advantage is deep native integration with Google Workspace apps like Gmail and Drive, letting it execute multi-step tasks without external connectors. However, the reviewer identifies at least one area where Perplexity's approach outperforms Spark, based on extended use of both tools.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-29
Google's Android Auto works on nearly any Android device released since 2018 running Android 9 or newer, with the app built into the OS starting with Android 10. Phones on Android 9 must download it manually from the Play Store, and it only functions over a wired USB connection to a supported vehicle, of which Google says there are now more than 500 models.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-29
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