Google's new Android-based Googlebook laptops are now available for preorder from multiple OEM partners, ahead of an October 4 launch. Five models will debut, priced starting at $899 with only one under $1,000, featuring OLED displays, metal chassis, large haptic trackpads, and an illuminated 'Glowbar' on the lid. The machines run either Snapdragon X Elite or Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips with NPUs delivering up to 45 TOPS.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-21
Google has revealed its Googlebook laptop lineup, built on a new operating system blending ChromeOS and Android elements, designed to pair tightly with Android phones and Gemini AI features. Five partners—Dell, Lenovo, HP, Asus, and Acer—will offer models with Intel or Qualcomm chips, premium materials like aluminum and carbon fiber, high-resolution OLED displays, at least 16GB RAM, and storage starting at 256GB. Pre-orders open now, with retail availability starting October 4 in the U.S. and October 5 in Canada, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, and Australia.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-09-21
Google has released its first Googlebooks, premium laptops running Googlebook OS, a new platform merging Android, Gemini AI, and ChromeOS's desktop and security features. Five models are available for pre-order now, arriving in stores October 4-5 across the US, Canada, UK, and other markets, with prices starting at $899.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-21
Google unveiled its Googlebook laptop standard at a New York event, with five inaugural devices from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus now available for preorder ahead of an October 4 launch. Prices start at $899, and each purchase includes a year of Google AI Pro service with 5TB of storage. The laptops run on Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite or Intel Core Ultra 3 chips and must meet strict hardware requirements set by Google.
wired.com
· 2026-09-21
Android Authority found beta code in the Phone by Google app referencing a feature codenamed 'Hedwig,' publicly labeled 'Call for me.' The Gemini-powered tool would let the Phone app dial customer support lines, navigate automated voice menus, and hold your place in queue until a human agent is available.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-21
An AI-generated hallucination produced a fabricated intelligence report that led US officials to draft plans for intercepting a Chinese ship, according to CNN. The incident surfaced as the Pentagon expands its reliance on AI tools for military decision-making, raising fresh concerns about accuracy safeguards in defense systems.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-09-21
A developer's Open Headunit app, priced under $4 on Google Play or free via GitHub, lets an aging Android tablet impersonate an Android Auto head unit, giving cars without built-in support a large touchscreen for navigation, calls and media. Testing found the setup imperfect but functional as a way to repurpose tablets that can no longer run modern apps well.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-21
Ireland's Data Protection Commission has imposed a €403 million ($463M) fine on Google following a probe into three features—Web & App Activity, Location History, and Location Accuracy—that operated during the GDPR's early enforcement window from May 2018 to February 2020. The regulator concluded Google failed to properly justify its processing of location data and kept that data longer than necessary, while also falling short on transparency requirements across all three tools.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-21
An Android Authority writer tested the new Apple Health app included in the iOS 27.2 developer beta, which adds an AI-powered 'Insights' tab and reworks how the app surfaces raw health data. The rebuilt app will only run on iPhones capable of Apple Intelligence, meaning iPhone 15 Pro or newer, while Google's competing Health app supports a much wider range of older devices. The writer, who previously switched from Apple to Google's Fitbit-based Health platform, says the new design has him reconsidering that move ahead of its planned public release later this year.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-21
A columnist reviewing to-do list apps in 2026 says Google Tasks remains missing fundamental features like sharing tasks or lists with other people, despite competing apps such as TickTick, Todoist and Notion offering far more functionality. Despite these gaps, the writer says a single standout feature keeps them from switching away from Google's stripped-down app.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-21
Google and five PC makers have unveiled the first Googlebook laptops, priced from $899 to $1,299 and available for preorder now ahead of an October 4th store launch. Each model bundles a year of Google AI Pro with 5TB of cloud storage plus trial subscriptions to YouTube Premium, Photoshop and CapCut, and Google says the machines will receive up to a decade of software updates. The Acer Googlebook 14, a convertible with an OLED touchscreen, starts as the cheapest option but Acer has warned its $899 price is a limited-time launch offer that could rise later.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-21
Android Authority tested Google Photos' new AI-powered digital wardrobe, which scans users' photo libraries to catalog their clothing and lets them virtually mix and match outfits using generative AI. The feature is rolling out gradually to paid Google One and AI subscribers in the US, Brazil, and India, but the reviewer found it plagued by inconsistent behavior, including problems tied to Google Workspace accounts. While the clothing-recognition AI performed impressively, the overall experience was described as unreliable and unfinished.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-21
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