Google introduced Googlebooks, a new laptop platform built on Android rather than ChromeOS, though it looks and functions similarly with the same app dock, Chrome browser and Play Store access. The system retains Chromebook staples like the Titan security chip and built-in malware protection, but adds deeper phone-to-laptop integration, including instant login syncing and app handoff features like 'continue on,' demonstrated with the music app BandLab.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-21
Google has released its first Googlebooks, premium laptops running Googlebook OS, a new platform merging Android, Gemini AI, and ChromeOS's desktop and security features. Five models are available for pre-order now, arriving in stores October 4-5 across the US, Canada, UK, and other markets, with prices starting at $899.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-21
A developer's Open Headunit app, priced under $4 on Google Play or free via GitHub, lets an aging Android tablet impersonate an Android Auto head unit, giving cars without built-in support a large touchscreen for navigation, calls and media. Testing found the setup imperfect but functional as a way to repurpose tablets that can no longer run modern apps well.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-21
Microsoft has filed a patent for a content management system that inserts ads into games during natural downtimes, such as after boss fights, during loading screens, or in menus. The game freezes while an ad plays, and watching it grants the player a fresh block of ad-free playtime before the cycle repeats.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-09-20
Microsoft has submitted a patent application, US 2026/0260258 A1, outlining a system that inserts ads into PC and console games at points the game itself flags as natural breaks—like after a boss fight, at the end of a cutscene, or during a loading screen—rather than on a fixed timer. Players would first get an ad-free window, either time-based or tied to progress, and watching an ad afterward would earn a 'credit' extending uninterrupted play.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-20
A Play Store app called Gadesk lets Galaxy Z Fold 8 owners run Samsung DeX's desktop interface directly on the phone's 7.6-inch inner screen, without needing an external monitor. The setup requires no rooting or sideloading, just installing the app and adjusting a few settings before DeX becomes usable standalone.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-19
Gerrit Graham, a veteran character actor recognized for cult roles in 'Phantom of the Paradise' and 'Child's Play 2,' has died. His career spanned decades and included guest appearances across multiple 'Star Trek' series and the lead role in 'CHUD II: Bud the CHUD.'
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-18
Google is rolling out a new way to trigger the Sidekick overlay in Play Games, letting users open it directly from the notifications panel instead of relying solely on the onscreen drag handle. The option appears under Settings > General > Google Play Games as 'Configure Sidekick access,' alongside the existing in-game-only setting. Evidence also points to a double-tap activation method still in development.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-18
Google has released stable versions of its AndroidX Security State and Security State Provider libraries, giving apps a way to check the security status of individual Android components rather than relying solely on the device's overall security patch date. Apps can now determine which specific fixes are installed, which updates are pending, and whether known vulnerabilities have been addressed, even if the broad patch level hasn't changed.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-18
Google has rolled out its Notebooks feature within Gemini to Workspace and Google Education account holders, months after it launched for regular Gmail users in April. The feature lets students, educators and enterprise users organize notes and web resources into notebooks to build reports, slide decks and study materials directly inside Gemini. Google also extended the ability to import books from Google Play Books into notebooks, a feature previously limited to consumer accounts.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-18
Boox has released the Note Air 6C, an update to its Note Air E Ink tablet line, featuring a processor up to 45 percent faster than its predecessor and a 40 percent boost in PDF page-turning speed. The 10.3-inch device runs Android 16 with full Google Play Store access, includes a fingerprint sensor on the power button, four microphones, and ships with the Pen3 stylus that needs no charging or pairing. It starts at $580, a $50 increase over the previous Air 5C model.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-16
Boox introduced three new Android 16-powered E Ink devices: the Palma 3, a palm-sized ereader now built with an anodized aluminum frame and support for the InkSense Plus stylus, plus a 6.13-inch screen, 128GB storage and a 16MP camera. The company also revealed the 10.3-inch color Note Air6 C with a Dual Notes feature and keyboard accessory, and the Note Mini C, an 8.52-inch color device aimed at mobile professionals with enterprise app access.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-16
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