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A tech guide outlines how Google Maps' built-in tools—arrival-time planning, color-coded traffic updates, turn-by-turn voice navigation, and offline map downloads—can simplify driving for older users. The app is pre-installed on most Android phones and available free on both the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store.
Google has updated the Google Earth app icon on its Play Store listing to a more colorful, gradient-heavy design, replacing the old all-blue wavy-line logo with one blending lavender-blue and bright blue tones. The new icon currently appears only on the Play Store and the Google Earth Engine website, while the Google Earth website and the installed app still show the old icon.
Investigators uncovered a network of more than 400 apps and websites distributed through the App Store and Play Store that pose as ordinary tools—language tutors, pet photo editors, workout coaches—but secretly contain deepfake nudity generators. The apps display a normal interface after download but contact a remote server that decides whether to unlock the explicit feature, with the operators also running Meta ads showcasing explicit deepfake content to drive installs.
Google confirmed to Android Authority that a fix for the severe Pixel Watch battery drain issue is rolling out over the next few days. The bug had cut battery life to about 12 hours on largely idle devices across multiple Pixel Watch generations. Users can apply the fix immediately by manually updating their apps through the Play Store on the watch.
A hands-on review of the Dell XPS laptop running Googlebook OS praises the same screen, keyboard and build quality found on the Windows version of the XPS 13, crediting Dell's hardware design. However, the reviewer reports that the software experience is inconsistent, citing poor Android app support through the Google Play store, including a stripped-down Slack app and the complete absence of Evernote.
Google announced at its Android Dev Summit that the Play Store will begin evaluating how well apps and games perform on foldable devices starting next year, with better-adapted apps receiving increased visibility and prominent store placement. Detailed Play Store requirements for this evaluation will be released later this year. Alongside this, Google is rolling out updated developer tools, including Compose adaptive capabilities, to help apps adjust across foldables, laptops, and other form factors.
Google has begun accepting enrollment applications from third-party Android app stores for its Registered App Stores program, with a streamlined installation flow set to launch December 1. The program, available outside the US on Android 17 QPR2 and later, is optional for developers, and stores that don't enroll will see no change to their current installation process.
Google rolled out Play Store version 53.8 with a new Sidekick feature called Playbacks that lets users retroactively save the last 30 seconds of gameplay locally on their device. The update also adds video citations with timestamps to Ask Play answers and lets users share Play Shorts clips via links viewable on Android, iOS, and the web. Separately, Play Services is gaining support for connecting Android XR glasses to phones.
Android Auto users can install games from Google Play's Android Auto category or a curated collection, then access them via the dashboard launcher when connected by USB or wirelessly. Titles confirmed to work include Angry Birds 2, Candy Crush Soda Saga, My Talking Tom Friends, BB Racing 2, and the built-in GameSnacks service. Games are meant to be played only while the car is parked.
Android Authority surveyed over 1,400 readers on what matters most when choosing an Android tablet, with options including Google Play Store access, hardware quality, software support and price. Google Play Store access came out on top with 28.1% of votes, while hardware and display quality tied for second place alongside another option.
Android Authority reports that despite Google tightening sideloading rules this year—requiring a device restart and a 24-hour wait before enabling it—the platform still cannot natively install APK Bundle (.APKM) files. Users wanting to sideload these split-file app packages, a format introduced in 2018, must rely on third-party apps to do so.
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.