Android phones let users check which apps consume the most storage via Settings > Device Care > Storage > Apps, where apps can be uninstalled or archived. Archiving removes an app's core files and temporary data while keeping login credentials and personal settings intact for easy reinstallation. Android also offers an 'auto-archive' feature that automatically archives rarely used apps when storage runs low, which Google says can free up nearly 60 percent of an app's storage space without deleting its data.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-17
A Reddit user flagged a counterfeit WhatsApp listing appearing in a sponsored slot ahead of the genuine app on Google's Play Store, as first reported by Android Authority. The fake app, from an unknown developer called 'Agment Assets sallu,' has over 500,000 downloads and copies WhatsApp's icon, screenshots and description text. Google has not responded to a request for comment, and the listing remained live at the time of reporting.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-16
Google has rolled out a US feature letting Android users install apps built in AI Studio through Google Play without publishing them publicly or using a computer. The apps remain private, invisible in search and listings, and accessible only to their creator with a standard Google account. Creators must still follow Google Play's existing policies, and the apps aren't automatically eligible for public release.
techspot.com
· 2026-10-15
Researchers observed that orangutan mothers facilitate play dates for their young, deliberately bringing infants together with peers. The behavior suggests a level of social planning previously undocumented in wild orangutans, a largely solitary species.
nature.com
· 2026-10-15
Google has introduced a feature in Google Play that lets users build simple apps using AI prompting tools, often called 'vibe coding,' and distribute them privately to specific people rather than publishing them publicly. The apps run natively on Android devices through Play's existing distribution infrastructure, without requiring a full public store listing.
tech.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-14
Google Play is offering discounted digital gift cards through October 19th, including 20 percent off a $50 Barnes & Noble card, 20 percent off a $100 REI card, and 10 percent off a $100 GameStop card. The promotion also includes discounts on subscriptions like Calm and Duolingo and bonuses on in-app purchases in games such as Pokémon Go and PUBG Mobile.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-14
Google has introduced Googlebooks, a new line of certified laptops built on an Android-based operating system rather than ChromeOS. Partners including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo are producing Googlebook-certified devices with carbon-fiber chassis, high-end Intel or Snapdragon processors, high-resolution screens and Gemini built in, starting at 16GB RAM and 256GB storage with about 14 hours of battery life. The devices run Android apps natively via the full Google Play Store and integrate with Android phones running Android 17 or later, syncing passwords, notifications and files.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-13
Google is expanding its Ask Play chatbot into a broader AI-powered search tool for the Play Store, letting users ask questions and get app comparisons, with similar functionality coming to Gemini. The company also launched Game Finder, a recommendation engine using a 'Gamer DNA' profile built from usage data across 1.2 billion Android gamers, rolling out in the US now. Separately, Google plans to let users privately host and share apps they build themselves using AI coding tools through the Play Store.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-13
Google announced that users who build apps via prompts in AI Studio can now publish them for use on their own devices through a new 'personal library' in the Play Store, without needing a paid developer account. The feature targets users 18 and older in the US and select markets, and Google says it plans to add secure sharing with friends and family later. To reach a global audience, creators would need to upgrade to a professional developer account and pass standard Play Store safety reviews.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-13
Google announced that any standard Google account holder can now use AI Studio to create personal Android apps via text prompts, with no coding required. These apps install directly to a user's own device through a private Play Store channel rather than the public listing, and can be shared with others outside the formal app store.
zdnet.com
· 2026-10-13
Google announced that Android users can now build apps with AI in Google AI Studio and install them directly on their own device via Google Play, without publishing them to the public store. These private apps won't appear in search or listings and are visible only to their creator, though they must still follow Play's policies. The feature is launching first for users 18 and older in the U.S.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-13
Kelly Clarkson publicly accused Brooklyn curiosity shop Art of Play of treating her as if she couldn't afford a $15,000 singing bird automaton, saying staff offered her a 'comparable' item instead. Art of Play disputes her account, saying the bird named Molly is a fixed mascot, that it offered her an identical model for $15,000 plus a $2,000 alternative, and that her visit lasted about five minutes. Clarkson has rejected the shop's version, calling it 'rude' and a 'liar' and sharing a photo of the item's price tag.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-10-13
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