Google is quietly rolling out Motion Assist, a feature that overlays moving dots on the screen edges to counter motion sickness while using a phone in a vehicle. The dots shift direction based on data from the accelerometer and gyroscope, mimicking how the outside world would appear to move if you looked up. It's appearing on Pixel devices running Android 17 through a staged Play Services rollout, with no separate app or update required.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-08-25
Waymo announced plans to expand its autonomous vehicle operations into Germany, marking its first move into the European market. The company will begin testing its self-driving technology on German roads as a precursor to potential commercial service.
tech.slashdot.org
· 2026-08-25
Several Google Home owners report that asking their smart speakers to add items to Google Keep lists no longer works, even though the assistant correctly recognizes the voice command. In some cases the device merely states how many items are already on a list instead of adding anything new, and one user found it worked for a list named 'Shopping list' but not others. Google has not yet confirmed the cause, and the Notes & lists settings in the Google Home app appear to hint that voice-based list access may have been altered or removed.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Amazon is currently selling Arlo's second-generation Video Doorbell 2K for $49.99, down from its $79.99 list price, a 38% cut. The device records in 2K with a 180-degree view, offers wireless or wired installation, and includes motion alerts, two-way audio, night vision and a built-in siren without requiring a separate hub.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Google's Android Developers account posted data claiming foldable phone owners spend roughly 14 times as much on in-app purchases as owners of regular smartphones. The company did not disclose specific dollar amounts or which categories of purchases—subscriptions, game currency, or otherwise—drove the gap. The post was framed as a pitch urging app developers to optimize their software for foldable screens, timed around the Pixel 11 Pro Fold launch.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Reports indicate OpenAI and Google are both losing key AI researchers to competitors and startups, though the departures are affecting each company differently in terms of scale and strategic impact. Separately, Nvidia has committed an additional $6 billion to support open-weight AI models, while rare-book dealers report a surge in sales tied to AI-era demand, alongside mixed feelings about that trend.
wsj.com
· 2026-08-25
Google Play awards points for purchases like apps, in-app purchases, movies, books, and eligible subscriptions, but many users never spend them. Those points can be exchanged for gift cards from retailers including Amazon, Starbucks, Best Buy, DoorDash, Walmart, Target, and Uber, priced at $5 for 750 points, $10 for 1,500, and $20 for 3,000. Unused points expire 12 months after the last account activity, with that window resetting each time points are earned or spent.
zdnet.com
· 2026-08-25
Google is extending Gemini's ability to generate interactive 3D models and simulations, first announced in April, to all Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users meeting age requirements. The feature lets users ask Gemini to visualize complex concepts—like DNA structures—as manipulable models rather than static images. It is available immediately in the Gemini app.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Amazon has cut the price of the Aurzen BOOM Mini Google TV projector to $249.99, a $100 reduction from its $349.99 list price. The device offers native 1080p resolution, 500 ANSI lumens, and a projection range of 40 to 200 inches, along with built-in Google TV streaming and voice control. It also includes autofocus, keystone correction, obstacle avoidance, dual 10W speakers with Dolby Audio, and multiple connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and HDMI.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
An Android Authority reader poll of nearly 1,600 Pixel 10 Pro owners found that 58% intend to keep their current phone rather than buy the newly released Pixel 11 Pro. Only 29.2% said they're upgrading to the Pixel 11 Pro, while smaller shares are switching to another Pixel 11 model or a rival Android device.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
A teardown of Google Translate version 10.32.66 uncovered hidden strings describing a new 'Listening area' setting built specifically for Android XR smart glasses. The feature would let users toggle Live Translate between a 'Front only' mode for one-on-one talks and a 'Surrounding area' mode that picks up speech from all nearby microphones.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
Perplexity introduced Portable Computer, a new variant of its Personal Computer AI agent that runs entirely on a user's own machine instead of the cloud. It performs the same agentic tasks and can still connect to services like Google Drive, Gmail, Slack and GitHub, but keeps files, models and processing local unless a task specifically requires going online.
zdnet.com
· 2026-08-25
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