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Tech News
F-Droid, the open-source Android app store, has released version 2.0 with a rebuilt interface using Google's Material Design and a full rewrite of the codebase in Kotlin. The update reorganizes navigation into three sections—Discover, Search, and My Apps—and overhauls search to include app descriptions, tags, and translated terms rather than tracking user behavior.
Google has unveiled a 'Live Avatar' capability, showcasing a real-time animated digital representation of a person. Commentary following the demo has focused on questioning how convincing and technically sound the feature actually is.
Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly rejected calls to join other AI developers in coordinating on safety measures, even as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google reportedly work toward forming a joint safety coordination body. The details of that proposed organization remain unclear, but its formation suggests some rivals are seeking common ground on managing AI risks.
Google has begun expanding Gemini's agentic capabilities with a '@Call for me' feature that lets the AI phone businesses to check hours, availability or pricing, or make reservations. The tool is limited by design: it cannot make payments or share credit card details, though it can share a user's name and contact information, meaning users must take over calls to complete sensitive transactions.
CNET details customization settings inside ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Claude AI that let users permanently adjust how the assistants respond, rather than repeatedly tweaking prompts. These options, found under menus like 'personalization' or 'personal intelligence,' allow control over things such as warmth, emoji use and how the tool addresses the user. ChatGPT uses toggle-based settings while Gemini's Personal Intelligence takes a more open-ended approach.
Code inside version 17.61.19.sa.arm64 of the Google app shows Gemini building its own light/dark mode switch that would override the phone's system-wide setting, without affecting the rest of the Google app. The same teardown also reveals work on a new notification history screen for Gemini.
Android Authority found a hidden change in the Android Auto beta that removes the navigation rail from GameSnacks, both in its main menu and while playing games. Currently GameSnacks keeps the rail visible on screen, unlike other Android Auto games such as Beach Buggy Racing, which already run full screen with swipe-down back and exit controls. The discovery follows Google's move this week to take Android Auto games out of beta and make them generally available.
Google has launched Live Avatar, a feature within Gemini 3.8 Live that pairs real-time video generation with speech models to give AI agents lip-synced, expressive on-screen personas. The avatars support 97 languages, can switch between them without quality loss, and use asynchronous tool calling to fetch data mid-conversation. The feature launches today exclusively for Gemini Enterprise subscribers, not general consumers.
Google is reportedly rolling out a new Tasks mode within the Gemini desktop app, according to TestingCatalog, which separates regular chat conversations from more autonomous, multi-step tasks. The update includes new Computer Use settings allowing users to specify which desktop apps Gemini can and cannot control, plus a more visible option to launch projects from local folders. A Gemini Live button has also been spotted inside Tasks, suggesting users may be able to talk to Gemini while it operates across the computer.
Google has pushed out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6 to Pixel testers, arriving sooner than the usual two-week cadence and carrying build number CP41.260831.007. Unlike Beta 5, this build does not support the Pixel 11 series, only extending to Pixel 10 devices, alongside a set of bug fixes Google outlined for the release.
Throughout 2026, Google added several new features to Google Wallet beyond payment cards, including a full interface redesign. New additions include package order tracking (requiring Gmail tracking to be enabled) and a June partnership with the TSA making Wallet the first digital wallet compatible with PreCheck Touchless ID at 65 US airports. Android Authority has reported the app may also come to iOS soon.
Just days after pre-orders opened on September 21, Google's US online store has run out of stock for its Acer, Dell XPS, and Lenovo Googlebook models, according to reports from Reddit users who checked the store multiple times. The laptops, which start at $899, remain available to pre-order at Best Buy ahead of an October 4 release date.