Google's Call Assist feature can screen unknown or suspicious calls before they ever ring through, either by prompting users manually or, on supported Pixel devices, handling the interaction automatically. If the call is identified as spam, the phone disconnects it; otherwise it rings and shows details about how the caller responded. The feature runs locally on the device without needing internet access, and Google says it doesn't store call audio or transcripts in user accounts.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-31
Multiple Reddit users report that Google Messages is inserting old texts from unrelated conversations into new ones, sometimes attaching them to photos or group chats and in some cases actually delivering them to unintended recipients. The bug spans both Pixel and Samsung devices, occurring regardless of whether RCS is enabled, and follows other recent Messages glitches like broken RCS delivery and duplicated threads. Google has acknowledged at least one report and passed it to its engineering team, but no fix has been announced.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-31
An Android Authority writer tested two third-party Android weather apps, Gradient Weather and Breezy Weather, after years of relying on Samsung Weather, Pixel Weather and AccuWeather. Both apps offered strong customization and usability, but the reviewer ultimately favored one over the other after weighing their strengths and drawbacks.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-31
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.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-31
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.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-31
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.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-31
Apple Arcade launched Retro Bowl College+ on August 6, a version of New Star Games' 2023 college football spin-off. The game lets players manage one of over 250 college teams using simple swipe-based controls for passing, running and kicking, while defense is handled by the game's simulation. Off the field, players must juggle roster morale, player ratings, facility upgrades and team budgets.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-30
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.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-30
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
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
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