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Amazon announced a new lineup of tablets called Alexa Tablets, departing from its traditional Fire branding. These devices run full Android with Google Play access and feature a complete redesign focused on hardware quality, with three models announced for release on October 14th. The flagship Alexa Tablet 12 Pro aims to compete with iPad Mini and standard iPads, emphasizing both performance and versatility.
Amazon has introduced the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, a $499 device featuring a 12.3-inch display with optional Nanomatte coating that significantly reduces glare. Unlike its Fire tablet lineup, it runs a full version of Android with access to Google Play, and is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8400 chip with up to 12GB of RAM. The device's aluminum body weighs 550 grams and aims to offer a more premium experience.
Android Authority polled over 1,800 readers about how they sideload apps now that Google has rolled out new sideloading restrictions, including advanced warnings and a 24-hour wait timer. More than 63% said they manually download APK installation files from sources like GitHub, while only 20.7% use third-party app stores such as F-Droid or Obtainium.
Google Play Store listings now display one of five badges indicating how well an Android app functions on Googlebook laptops. The tiers range from 'Made for desktop' and 'Optimized for desktop' for strong laptop experiences, down to 'Compatible with desktop' and warnings like 'Better on the website' or 'Built for mobile' for apps less suited to larger screens. The labeling system was spotted by a Reddit user and detailed by Android expert Mishaal Rahman.
Abxylute, known for its S8 mobile controller, has opened a Kickstarter campaign for two new gamepads, the M5 and M6. The M6 attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone, slides open Xperia Play-style to reveal a full control layout, and adds Bluetooth 5.3, capacitive thumbsticks, Hall Effect linear triggers, a six-axis gyro and a customizable macro-capable Z button, plus an optional grip attachment. The M5 is pitched as a slimmer alternative offering similar console-level controls.
Leaked details confirm Fitbit's upcoming Edge device will include a 1.34-inch always-on OLED display, running Fitbit OS with Google Play access. It features a range of sensors for health monitoring, GPS, and real-time coaching, with a battery life of up to seven days. The device is expected to launch in four color options and has an IP68 water resistance rating.
Samsung has introduced new watch faces for the Galaxy Watch 9, notably the Radial Dashboard, which displays extensive information in a clear layout, and the Premium Analogue, offering a traditional look with smart features. Users can select from these options via the Galaxy Wearables app or third-party sources, customizing complications to suit their preferences.
Google’s October System Services update introduces NFC functionality for Find Hub-compatible trackers, allowing users to tap a tag to access details or identify lost items. The update also simplifies setup by enabling naming, categorizing, and configuring features like Left-Behind Reminders during registration. Additional enhancements include displaying card artwork and payment logos in notifications and minor attribution changes for Google Maps integrations.
App updates on iOS and Android frequently patch security flaws, fix bugs and add features, but auto-update toggles don't always catch everything. Automatic updates can stall or fail, and may not always reach devices immediately, as seen with Android Auto requiring manual updates at times.
Chromebooks ship with built-in restrictions that keep most users confined to apps from the Play Store. Developer Mode is an optional setting that removes several of ChromeOS's default protections, granting root access, allowing kernel modifications, and enabling installation of software outside the Play Store. The guide walks through what the mode does, when it's worth using, and the steps to turn it on.
A new third-party app called Now On Wrist relays song-recognition results from a Pixel phone's Now Playing feature to a paired Wear OS smartwatch. It can display detected tracks via notifications, a watch face complication, or a dedicated tile, and tapping a result opens the song in apps like YouTube Music or Spotify. The app requires Wear OS 3.0 or newer and is available now on Google Play.
On the launch day of its Googlebook laptops, Google told Android Authority that while all Play Store apps are available on every device, a small number of complex apps or games may not perform smoothly on Intel-based models. The company said this is because many Android apps were built for Arm chips, and it is working with developers, Intel and Qualcomm to improve compatibility. Three of the five launch Googlebooks—from Acer, Asus and Lenovo—use Intel chips, while Dell and HP models use Qualcomm's Arm-based Snapdragon processors.