Google is working on a new look for Google Maps on Android Auto. After a previous attempt earlier this year caused problems, the company is now testing a centered map again. This time, it looks like users might actually like the change.

Earlier this year, Google updated Android Auto to center the map instead of keeping it on the right side. However, the update caused the destination menu to block part of the route, which made it hard to see the road. Many users found this annoying, and Google quickly switched back to the old layout.

Now, the centered map is back in testing, but without the menu blocking the screen. Drivers can see their route more clearly, and navigation looks cleaner.

Image via Reddit (steelbreeze9)

Some users report that centering works automatically when navigation starts, though it may disappear sometimes. If that happens, it can be restored easily by tapping the three-pane button and then the Maps screen.

Centering the map helps drivers see more of their route and surroundings. Before, the main issue was the blocked view, but now that problem seems fixed. A centered map can make it easier to follow directions without constantly moving the screen around.

After a first attempt, Google may have finally found the right way to center maps on Android Auto. If it works well, Android Auto users may soon get a clearer, less cluttered map view. Stay tuned.

The post Google Maps preparing improved centered view on Android Auto – Here’s what’s new appeared first on Sammy Fans.

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Remember when ChatGPT launched and everyone predicted Google’s search empire would crumble? Yeah, about that. Here’s the reality check nobody saw coming. A massive new report from Datos, a Semrush company, just analyzed billions of desktop searches from millions of users across the US and Europe. The data reveals an unexpected AI search evolution: Google isn’t just surviving the revolution, it’s absolutely crushing it with a 95% market share in both regions.

And as for all those headlines about OpenAI killing Google with ChatGPT’s search features? Turns out they were way off base.

AI Was Supposed to Win. It Didn’t.

Don’t get me wrong. ChatGPT and its AI buddies have definitely made an impact. Usage has nearly tripled over the past year. More than 30% of US desktop users and over 40% of Europeans are now using ChatGPT. Tools like Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity have their loyal fans too.

On the surface, it sounds like Google might have just lost 30-40% of its users to AI. But here are some numbers to put it into perspective: AI tools only make up about 1.3% of total browsing activity.

Despite every tech pundit on Twitter declaring that AI would replace Google, it barely makes a dent in how people actually search for stuff online. AI isn’t replacing traditional search at all. It’s just another tool in your digital toolbox. You might ask ChatGPT to help you debug some code or brainstorm ideas. Then you’ll hop over to Google’s AI Mode to find that new Thai restaurant or check if your favorite shoes are on sale.

The Zero-Click Problem Nobody’s Talking About

Okay, so Google’s not dead. However, it does have one major issue that publishers are grappling with. Zero-click searches.

Almost 27% of Google searches now end without anyone clicking anything. This is up from 24.4% just a year ago. People are getting their answers right there on the search results page and calling it a day.

For anyone running a website or trying to drive traffic, this is kind of scary. You’ve done all your SEO homework, you put in the effort into crafting the best articles. All this just so you could rank number one on Google. But then you still get zero visitors because Google just answered the question itself. And the worst part is that these answers might have been scraped from your own website.

Google’s AI Overviews feature is a big part of this. These AI-generated summaries now show up in over 13% of searches, and that number keeps climbing. Some estimates say they could appear in more than 80% of informational searches soon.

In August, Google straight up denied that AI search was hurting website traffic. Publishers weren’t buying it. Multiple reports showed traffic tanking, especially for news sites, but Google said everything was fine.

Reddit Is the Real Disruptor

But if you really want to know what’s actually shaking up the search game, it’s not some fancy AI tool. It’s an oldie but goodie: Reddit.

The community-driven platform has absolutely exploded in popularity. It’s overtaken Facebook in desktop visits in the US and is catching up fast in Europe. Reddit now sits comfortably in the top five destinations people reach from search engines, right alongside YouTube, Amazon, Wikipedia, and Facebook.

This is because people are tired of reading polished, SEO-optimized garbage that tells them nothing useful. When you Google “best budget laptop Reddit,” you’re saying loud and clear that you want real opinions from real people, not some affiliate marketing nonsense. Reddit got so valuable that Google paid them $60 million for access to their data to train AI models.

This is actually a fascinating turnaround. In the past, websites strived to provide readers with neutral commentary and let them make the decisions themselves. But now? We’re missing the human touch so much that sometimes diving deep into an echo chamber like Reddit might yield more interesting (and controversial) opinions and perspectives that traditional websites might not have.

AI Can’t Kill What It Can’t Replace

While AI is stealing traffic from some sites, it’s completely failing to disrupt others.

YouTube remains untouchable. It’s the top destination from traditional search in both the US and Europe. It’s also the second-most visited site from AI tools.

But why can’t AI touch video content? Because watching someone actually do something is way more valuable than reading about it. You can’t replace a 10-minute tutorial on fixing your sink with a text summary. Try learning a new dance move from ChatGPT. Good luck with that.

This reveals something important about what AI is actually disrupting. Sites offering basic, factual, “evergreen” content are getting hammered. Wikipedia, for example, lost 5% of its human traffic year over year while bots and scrapers grew massively. Stack Overflow, Chegg, and similar Q&A sites are bleeding traffic.

But platforms offering fresh perspectives, community discussions, and video content? They’re actually thriving. YouTube’s citation rate in AI answers jumped from 37% to 54%. Reddit gets mentioned by ChatGPT as often as it gets cited. These platforms offer something AI can’t replicate: real human experiences and visual demonstrations.

The New Rules for Surviving AI Search

So, what does this mean for anyone trying to drive traffic or build an audience? It’s time to toss out the old playbook and start writing a new one. Creating generic “what is” articles and “how to” guides used to be a solid strategy. Now? AI just scrapes that content, summarizes it, and nobody ever visits your site.

Some publishers are already shifting their strategy. Instead of cranking out evergreen content that AI can easily replicate, they’re focusing on what AI can’t steal: original research, unique data, customer stories, and fresh perspectives that haven’t been said a million times before.

Think about it this way: ChatGPT can tell you what SEO is. But at the same time, it can’t tell you about the weird bug you just discovered in Google Search Console this morning. AI can explain Reddit. But can it spill the tea unfolding in your favorite subreddit right now?

From what we’ve gathered, the content that survives is either too specific for AI to care about, too fresh for AI to have learned yet, or too personality-driven for AI to replicate. As for everything else? Well, you might think of it like roadkill on the information superhighway.

We’ve Seen This Panic Before

The fear and resistance around AI search evolution isn’t new. We’ve watched this exact movie play out before.

There are strong parallels between how traditional artists reacted to the rise of digital art and how some content creators today feel about AI-generated content. When digital art first emerged, many traditional artists felt threatened, dismissed it as “cheating,” or questioned its legitimacy as “real art” because it offered new tools and shortcuts that made certain aspects of creation easier or faster.

Now, doesn’t that sound familiar?

Early reactions to digital art in the 2000s mirror today’s AI anxiety perfectly. Traditional artists viewed digital tools with skepticism, often calling it “not real art” because it lacked the physicality and manual skill associated with traditional mediums. Some artists felt that digital tools made art creation too easy, reducing the perceived value of the artist’s effort and skill. There was intimidation, as digital art allowed for rapid production and easy corrections, which contrasted with the more labor-intensive and irreversible nature of traditional art.

Just as digital art was once seen as a threat to traditional art, AI-powered search tools are now viewed by some as a threat to traditional websites and publishers. Both faced backlash for being labeled as “cheating” or “not legitimate,” often due to misunderstandings about the creative process and the skills required.

Over time, digital art gained acceptance as artists and audiences recognized that it required its own unique set of skills and creative decisions, much like traditional art. A similar evolution is happening with AI search right now. The tools aren’t replacing the craft. Instead, they’re expanding what’s possible.

So What’s the Verdict?

Google’s 95% market share isn’t going anywhere. ChatGPT’s search tools didn’t kill traditional search. They just gave us another option.

The real story of this AI search evolution isn’t about AI destroying Google. It’s about how we’re all learning to use multiple tools for different jobs. You’ve got Google for quick facts and finding stuff. You can also use ChatGPT for brainstorming and complex questions. Then, you can always hop on Reddit for real opinions, and finally, YouTube for how-tos.

Some things obviously need to be addressed. Zero-click searches are forcing websites to completely rethink their strategy. Generic content is dead, and community platforms and video are winning.

As for the AI revolution everyone predicted, it feels more like a gentle evolution in search. The reality is less dramatic than the headlines suggested, but way more interesting when you look at how people actually use the internet now.

So, maybe the future of search isn’t about one platform winning. It’s about all of them carving out their own space. Now, it’s up to content creators learning which types of content are worth making in an AI-powered world.

The post Everyone Predicted Google's Death in 2024, Google Hit 95% Market Share Instead appeared first on Android Headlines.

Halloween is a special time of year for many in the US, as it allows them a reason to acquire and scarf down copious amounts of sweets or hand them out to others to do the same, and it’s a reason to dress up in costume and hang spooky decorations, much like Google has recently done with its Android statues around the company campus.

Yes, Google is going all in on spooky season with the Android statues, placing decorations around parts of the campus, and draping ghostly or web-like decorations across statues. One statue now has a sheet over it to disguise the statue as a simple ghost. Meanwhile, another is wrapped in fake spider webs with a few rather sizeable fake spiders crawling all over it. Google has even thrown fake webbing over Stan the dinosaur while placing a few “trick or treat” signs in the ground around it.

Will Android statues get decorations for holidays other than Halloween?

Halloween is the perfect time to spread around some decorations, especially if it’s one of your favorite holidays. Seeing Google decorate its Android statues for Halloween begs the question of whether or not it would do the same for others. We couldn’t find any evidence of this being done before, but there’s no reason to suggest that it wouldn’t be done in the future. Seeing as how other holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are celebrated widely around the country, it would make sense for Google to decorate the Android statues during those times as well.

The images showing the Halloween decorations originated from a user named rafal_wziatek on Instagram, and were spotted by Search Engine Roundtable’s Barry Schwartz. While there are just these few images that were taken, it’s probably a safe bet that other statue decorations could be found elsewhere.

And if more decorations were abound, then there’s a good chance Google plans on being festive with the statues and around campus during other big holidays. This is just speculation, of course. But it’s fun to think about during these times, imagining statues of the Android mascot being dressed up to match the theme of the holiday.

The post Spooky season catches up with Google's Android statues appeared first on Android Headlines.

If you plan to capture more than just candy and costumes this Halloween, you’ll need a smartphone camera that performs well in low light, avoids grainy photos, and never misses the perfect shot.

The best phones of 2025 are practically tailor-made for this, offering pro-grade camera hardware, AI-assisted scene detection, and advanced software features that make them feel less like phones and more like pocketable photo studios.

Here are five of the best smartphones for Halloween photography this year, whether you’re taking portraits of carved pumpkins, filming haunted house scenes, or just trying to document your costume in cinematic quality.

iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro series takes low-light and portrait photography to an entirely new level, and that’s saying something, considering the bar set by the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro models. Both the Pro and Pro Max come with three 48MP sensors: wide, ultra-wide, and a telephoto that uses a next-generation tetraprism design with a massive sensor upgrade. The 100mm 4x optical zoom is ideal for framing those eerie, distant subjects, while the 200mm 8x zoom delivers the longest optical-quality reach ever on an iPhone.

It also helps that Apple’s new A19 Pro chip and redesigned vapor chamber keep things cool during extended 4K Dolby Vision shoots. The new 18MP square-shaped front camera supports Center Stage with AI-based framing, making it great for selfies that include everyone, even in motion. Add in the triple-layer scratch resistance and glare reduction from Ceramic Shield 2, and it’s clear this iPhone is ready for a night of haunted action.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra is the only device here that pairs a 200MP main camera with a pair of high-resolution 50MP zoom sensors, one ultra-wide and one periscope, and delivers consistent 10-bit HDR video. The telephoto setup with 5x optical zoom and 100x Space Zoom remains an asset when you’re trying to photograph the full scale of a haunted house or pick out mysterious figures in the background.

Samsung’s mDNIe-powered image engine helps manage dynamic range at night without aggressive noise reduction, and new AI editing features like Virtual Aperture and Audio Eraser let you fine-tune your Halloween memories after the fact. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and a larger vapor chamber ensure you’re not thermally throttled while shooting extended 8K clips. For anyone serious about mobile photography, it’s a true Halloween-ready flagship.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

The Pixel 10 Pro XL leans hard into computational photography, as expected from Google. But this year, it’s backed by the custom-built Tensor G5 chip and the new Gemini AI-powered Camera Coach. Whether you’re framing a foggy cemetery or a dimly lit porch, the Pixel 10 Pro XL can help suggest optimal settings and angles, acting as your night photography assistant.

The 48MP main, ultra-wide, and periscope sensors might not sound drastically different from the Pixel 9 series, but Google’s scene interpretation, HDR stack, and Night Sight algorithms are sharper and faster than ever. It even supports simultaneous dual-camera recording and 8K video. Magic Cue and Auto Best Take make sure that even your busy group photos turn out clear and well-framed.

OnePlus 13

The OnePlus 13 might just be the underdog Halloween hero. Its Hasselblad-tuned triple 50MP camera setup includes an ultra-wide and an upgraded tri-prism periscope telephoto that is both lighter and faster to focus than its predecessor. Its 2K+ BOE display offers excellent clarity even when reviewing night shots in the field, and the camera delivers balanced exposure with high dynamic range.

What sets it apart is how fast it shoots, processes, and saves. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, paired with UFS 4.0 and up to 24GB of RAM, gives it a speed advantage in handling 4K or 8K Halloween videos with minimal lag. Its IP69 rating and ceramic glass build also mean you can shoot in rain or fog without concern.

iPhone 17

If you don’t need the Pro camera setup but still want Apple’s best low-light tech in a compact body, the iPhone 17 is a solid pick. It now has a 48MP main and 48MP ultra-wide camera, and the front 18MP Center Stage camera has all the software enhancements found in the Pro model, like AI framing and Dual Capture.

It might miss out on the extra zoom flexibility, but for most Halloween needs, from night-time street photos to 4K cinematic clips, it delivers beautifully. And with ProMotion finally on the base model and a 3,000-nit outdoor display, you won’t be squinting to review your dark and dramatic highlights.

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The post The Best Smartphones for Halloween Photography in 2025 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Google is making it easier for people to understand app reviews on the Play Store. The company has started using AI to create short summaries of what users are saying about apps. Instead of reading hundreds of reviews, you can now get the main points in a single paragraph.

This feature has been in the works for a while, and some users have been trying it for over a year. Now, it is starting to appear for more people automatically.

When it shows up, you’ll see a bold heading called “Users are saying” in the Ratings and Reviews section of an app. The AI summary will highlight the most common positive and negative comments from users.

Below the summary, there are “chips” that let you click and read reviews about specific parts of the app. This makes it easier to find details if you want them. The summaries are appearing in version 48.5.23-31 of the Play Store. However, not everyone sees them yet.

Image via Android Authority

Using AI to summarize reviews is becoming common. Apple added similar summaries to the iOS App Store in April, and Amazon has been doing this for product reviews for a while. It is as simple as AI reads lots of reviews, understands the main points, and writes a short summary.

By adding AI-generated summaries, Google wants to make the Play Store easier to use and help users find apps faster. It shows how AI can be useful in everyday tasks, not just for new or complicated technology.

The post Google Play Store gets AI-powered app review summaries appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Maps is one of Google‘s most convenient and useful services. Street View, one of its most popular features, is extremely popular. With a few quick clicks, we can virtually drop into any neighborhood, scouting a vacation rental or checking out a new restaurant. But that same convenience comes at a cost to privacy: anyone in the world can virtually stand on the curb outside your home. Fortunately, there is a way to ask Google Maps to blur, or “ghost,” your home. This is ideal for homeowners uncomfortable with this level of exposure.

This action is not about deleting your home’s existence from the map. However, it will minimize the information available to strangers.

Here are the two primary ways to request a permanent blur. You can do it from your computer or the mobile app. However, one of the two methods is simpler and more convenient.

Method 1: From a desktop web browser (recommended)

Google Maps is available on every mobile device. That said, the process for requesting a blur is significantly easier and more precise from a web browser on a desktop computer.

1. Find Your Home: Open Google Maps in your web browser and search for your home address.
2. Enter Street View: Click the photo of your home to enter the Street View mode.
3. Report the Issue: Look toward the bottom-right corner of the screen and click the small link labeled Report a Problem.
4. Frame the Area: Use your mouse to adjust the red and black box so it clearly frames your house, driveway, or any other private object you want hidden.
5. Select the Reason: Under the options, select Your home.
6. Submit Details: Provide any necessary clarifying details, enter your email address for follow-up, verify the captcha, and click Submit.

This action will take you to a dedicated form where you must define exactly what needs blurring. Use your mouse and the zoom controls to adjust the image view. You need to ensure the red and black box clearly contains your house, driveway, or any other private object you want hidden. You then should select the reason for the blur—specifically, Your Home.

Method 2: From the Google Maps mobile app

While slightly more challenging for precise framing, the mobile app (iOS or Android) allows you to submit the request on the go.

1. Find Your Home: Open the Google Maps app and search for your home address.
2. Enter Street View: Tap the photo thumbnail to enter the Street View mode.
3. Report the Issue: Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) or a similar icon, usually located in the corner, and select Report a Problem.
4. Complete the Form: This step will likely open a web view of the reporting form. Complete the form by selecting your home as the item to blur and adjust the framed image as needed.
5. Submit: Provide your email address and submit the request.

A permanent decision

Google requires that only the property owner or tenant submit a blur request. This is because the decision is final and irreversible. Once Google approves the request and processes the blur, that digital distortion is permanent and will apply to all future Street View updates. Therefore, you must be absolutely certain about your choice before moving forward.

After providing a few clarifying details and a valid email address (necessary for status updates), submit the form. Google will review the report and respond via email, though the processing time can vary from a few days to a few weeks. By taking these steps, you successfully regain more control over your home’s digital footprint.

The post How to Permanently Blur Your Home on Google Maps Street View appeared first on Android Headlines.

Amazon’s third-quarter profits rose 38% to $21.2 billion, but a big part of the jump had nothing to do with its core businesses of selling goods or cloud services.

The company reported a $9.5 billion pre-tax gain from its investment in the AI startup Anthropic, which was included in Amazon’s non-operating income for the quarter.

The windfall wasn’t the result of a sale or cash transaction, but rather accounting rules. After Anthropic raised new funding in September at a $183 billion valuation, Amazon was required to revalue its equity stake to reflect the higher market price, a process known as a “mark-to-market” adjustment.

To put the $9.5 billion paper gain in perspective, the Amazon Web Services cloud business — historically Amazon’s primary profit engine — generated $11.4 billion in quarterly operating profits.

At the same time, Amazon is spending big on its AI infrastructure buildout for Anthropic and others. The company just opened an $11 billion AI data center complex, dubbed Project Rainier, where Anthropic’s Claude models run on hundreds of thousands of Amazon’s Trainium 2 chips.

Amazon is going head-to-head against Microsoft, which just re-upped its partnership with ChatGPT maker OpenAI; and Google, which reported record cloud revenue for its recent quarter, driven by AI. The AI infrastructure race is fueling a big surge in capital spending for all three cloud giants.

Amazon spent $35.1 billion on property and equipment in the third quarter, up 55% from a year earlier.

Andy Jassy, the Amazon CEO, sought to reassure Wall Street that the big outlay will be worth it.

“You’re going to see us continue to be very aggressive investing in capacity, because we see the demand,” Jassy said on the company’s conference call. “As fast as we’re adding capacity right now, we’re monetizing it. It’s still quite early, and represents an unusual opportunity for customers and AWS.”

The cash for new data centers doesn’t hit the bottom line immediately, but it comes into play as depreciation and amortization costs are recorded on the income statement over time.

And in that way, the spending is starting to impact on AWS results: sales rose 20% to $33 billion in the quarter, yet operating income increased only 9.6% to $11.4 billion. The gap indicates that Amazon’s heavy AI investments are compressing profit margins in the near term, even as the company bets on the infrastructure build-out to expand its business significantly over time.

Those investments are also weighing on cash generation: Amazon’s free cash flow dropped 69% over the past year to $14.8 billion, reflecting the massive outlays for data centers and infrastructure.

Amazon has invested and committed a total of $8 billion in Anthropic, initially structured as convertible notes. A portion of that investment converted to equity with Anthropic’s prior funding round in March.

Google has announced that its Clock app will no longer support non-Pixel smartwatches, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch. This means that if you own a Galaxy Watch or another Wear OS watch, you won’t be able to download the Clock app from the Play Store anymore.

If you already have the app installed on your Samsung Galaxy Watch, don’t worry, as you can still use it. However, the app will not receive any updates in the future. Only Pixel Watches will continue to get updates, and the Clock app will come pre-installed on these devices.

This change comes after users noticed issues with the app last month. Galaxy Watch and OnePlus Watch owners saw that the Clock app was missing from the Play Store, and for those who already had it, the Play Store said their device was not supported. Google has now confirmed this is not a bug, but an intentional change.

Google explains that most smartwatch brands already include their own clock apps, so a separate Google Clock app is not necessary for non-Pixel watches. For users who really want the Google Clock app on a Galaxy Watch, there is an option to sideload it. However, this has limitations as the app may not sync correctly.

So, if you own a Wear OS based Samsung Galaxy Watch, you will need to rely on the watch’s built-in clock app or find another app from the Play Store. Pixel Watch owners are unaffected and will continue to get the Clock app and updates as usual.

The post Google Clock app no longer available for Samsung Galaxy Watch appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Google is making a big change for Android users in the US. Starting October 29, 2025, people will be able to download apps and make payments outside of the Google Play Store. This change comes after a court order in Google’s legal case with Epic Games, which has been fighting for more freedom for app developers.

Until now, Google did not allow developers to tell users about other places where they could buy apps or make payments. Developers also couldn’t share links to websites offering cheaper prices or alternative payment methods.

With the new rules, they can now do all of that. This means users may find better deals, discounts, or even different versions of apps outside the Play Store.

Image via Google

Developers can use their own payment systems or other services like PayPal or direct credit card payments. The court’s order will last until November 1, 2027, giving users and developers more flexibility for the next two years.

Google says it still wants to keep users safe and will continue to follow its SAFE principles. The company promised to protect user data and security while following the court’s decision.

Also, it said that these changes apply only to US users for now. But it will share more updates in the future based on feedback from both users and developers. This new policy is a big win for both sides. Developers will have more control over how they sell their apps, and users will have more choices and possibly lower prices.

The post Google gives US users more choice and freedom on the Play Store appeared first on Sammy Fans.

A legal battle involving the Google Play Store has been going on for some time now. Now, we finally have a major victory for app developers and Android users in the United States. Following a multi-year legal saga with Epic Games (the creator of Fortnite), Google has been forced to open up its ecosystem, ending a practice that has defined the Play Store for years. Effective immediately for users in the United States, the strict requirement that app developers must exclusively use Google Play Billing (GPB) for in-app purchases is over, allowing third-party payment solutions.

You can now bypass Google Play Billing for cheaper in-app purchases

This big change is the result of an injunction issued by a US District Court. The Mountain View giant just updated its Google Play policies to comply with the ruling as of October 29, 2025. Previously, the company had argued the mandatory billing system was necessary to “preserve user trust and safety.”

The new policies grant developers two key freedoms that shift power away from Google. Developers no longer have to use Google Play Billing for transactions in their apps. They can now implement their own payment systems. This way, they can bypass the substantial commission (often referred to as the “Google Tax”) that the platform historically collected.

Furthermore, developers gain the right to communicate with users about options outside of the Play Store. Google will not prohibit a developer from providing a link to external transactions or even linking to where the app can be downloaded outside the Play Store. Plus, a developer can now offer a lower price if the user chooses an alternative payment method. This gives them the power to pass savings directly to the consumer.

The fight is not over

This change promises competitive pricing for consumers in the US. However, the fight with the tech giant continues.

Google has made it clear that while it complies with the current injunction, it will continue to legally challenge the ruling. The firm recently attempted to have the Supreme Court hear its case and pause these changes, but that request was denied.

For now, these newfound freedoms are strictly limited to the United States while the court order remains in effect. Users and developers in the rest of the world must still comply with the old Google Play restrictions. Other countries will have to wait and see if this landmark US ruling eventually forces a global shift in policy.

The post Google Play Store Finally Opens to Third-Party Billing in the US appeared first on Android Headlines.

Google is planning a new feature for Android Auto that music and audio fans will love. Soon, users will be able to see multiple media cards on the dashboard and switch between apps without having to reopen them every time.

Right now, Android Auto shows only one music or audio card at a time. If you are listening to Spotify and then want to switch to YouTube Music, the Spotify card disappears. To go back to Spotify, you have to open the app again and start playing music. This can be frustrating, especially while driving.

The upcoming update will change that. According to the latest beta version of Android Auto (via Android Authority), the dashboard will show more than one media card at the same time. Users can swipe through these cards and quickly switch between apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, Audible, or other audio apps.

This feature is especially useful for people who listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks during the same trip. For example, you might want to listen to music while driving on the highway and then switch to an audiobook in the city. With the new multi-card system, switching will be as simple as a swipe, without having to reopen apps.

Although the feature isn’t available to everyone yet, its presence in the beta version shows that it will likely arrive in a future Android Auto update. Along with other recent features, including Call Screening, Call Notes, and home screen widgets, Google continues to make Android Auto more helpful and easier to use.

This small change will make a big difference for anyone who uses multiple audio apps while driving. It gives them a smoother, more convenient experience on the road.

The post Android Auto may finally let you switch music apps without reopening them appeared first on Sammy Fans.

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Android Auto has been missing the home screen widgets feature for a long time now, but it seems Google is prepping it behind the scenes. The new feature, codenamed “Earth,” is reportedly in the works and allows you to add widgets directly from their mobile apps to Android Auto’s dashboard.

The new ‘Widget Companion’ menu in Android Auto settings helps you add home screen widgets

Folks over at Android Authority managed to get the feature working by tinkering the Android Auto app version 5.6.154404-release.daily (beta). So, how can you enable the feature? In the current test build, there’s a new menu in Android Auto settings called “Customize Earth.”

Once the feature is live, you’ll likely see an option called “Home Screen Widgets” instead of “Customize Earth.” Tapping on that menu opens a Widget Companion page, where you can add, scale, and remove widgets. When you click on the “+” icon, you’ll see a list of widgets that you can choose to add to Android Auto’s home screen.

Here’s what the widgets look like in Android Auto dashboard

After you select a widget, it’ll be visible on the Android Auto dashboard. Once a widget is added, Android Auto’s dashboard is divided into two halves. The widget panel, which you can see on the left, takes around 35-40 percent of the screen area. Whereas the regular stuff is visible on the right side, taking up to 60-65 percent of the screen area.

From the looks of it, we can tell that when choosing widgets for the Spotify app, you get all the playback controls. Since the widgets are designed for a horizontal layout, you won’t see track or artist names, at least that’s what is visible in the screenshots. You can also check what widgets from other Android apps look like below.

There are a few limitations as of now

As of now, there are several limitations related to Android Auto’s home screen widgets feature. First and foremost, you can only add a single home screen widget. That also means selecting a new one automatically replaces the existing widget. Next, you only have the option to resize the widget using a scaling slider.

Many widgets shown above don’t behave as intended when you give an input. The good news is that Pixel Weather widgets work best for now, with limited functionality working well for Clock, Weather, and Calendar widgets. By the looks of it, the feature appears to be in the early stages of development. So, it’s unclear when or if the home screen widgets feature will roll out to the masses.

The post Google is Prepping 'Home Screen Widgets' for Android Auto appeared first on Android Headlines.

Gemini on Android now looks even better with a new true black theme. The Gemini shortcut, which is part of the Google app, has replaced its old dark gray background with a deep, true black color. This small but welcome change is already rolling out to users with the latest version of the Google app.

In earlier versions, Gemini used a dark gray shade known as “eerie black.” It looked almost black but had a slight blue tint. Now, Google has replaced that with a true black background, which gives the app a cleaner and sharper look in dark mode.

This update might seem minor, but it makes a big difference for those who prefer darker themes. True black is easier on the eyes, especially in low light, and it can also help save battery life on phones with AMOLED screens. Many phone makers, including Samsung, already use true black in their apps, and now Google is finally joining in with at least its Gemini.

Image via Android Authority

The difference between the old gray and new black is subtle, so you might not notice it unless you compare them side by side. The new black theme feels smoother and gives the app a more modern appearance.

However, not everything has changed, as the input box still stays gray, which now contrasts more with the black background. But the new change shows Google is listening to users who prefer a pure black dark mode.

The post Gemini on Android finally nails the perfect Dark Mode appeared first on Sammy Fans.

A major conflict is brewing in the Android ecosystem over the future of app distribution. Google is about to tighten the security check for installing external APKs on Android. However, the company recently assured users that sideloading—the ability to install apps from sources other than the Google Play Store—”isn’t going anywhere.” That said, the alternative app repository F-Droid has publicly challenged that statement, calling Google’s assurances about Android’s upcoming app sideloading verification rules “clear, concise, and false.”

F-Droid Says Google’s promise about Android app sideloading staying is false

The core of the dispute lies in Google’s new developer verification system. This policy requires every app developer worldwide to verify their identity using government documentation and link apps to a registered Google account. F-Droid argues that while this process might technically keep sideloading alive, it fundamentally strips away the freedom and openness of the process.

F-Droid warns that this new requirement effectively puts all independent app developers and alternative stores under Google’s unilateral control. If Google doesn’t approve an app, users won’t be able to install it, regardless of where they obtained the file.

As F-Droid puts it, consumers purchased Android devices believing they were an open computing platform where they could choose their software. Starting next year, an OS update could irrevocably block this right. This will leave users “at the mercy of their judgment over what software you are permitted to trust.”

A name problem and safety concerns

The F-Droid community also takes issue with the very term “sideloading.” They argue that installing software should simply be called “installing,” regardless of the source. They also state that the term “sideloading” was coined to imply the process is inherently risky or sinister.

Google claims the new policy is necessary to enhance security. The company cited an analysis that allegedly found “over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play.”

F-Droid counters this security argument by pointing to recent news of large-scale malware campaigns and malicious apps being removed from the Google Play Store itself. They argue that instead, Google should focus on improving its own safeguards.

What this means for users and creators

This policy applies to virtually every Android Certified device globally. We are talking about basically over 95% of the market outside of China. It affects everyone, even those who use competing marketplaces like the Samsung Galaxy Store.

For creators, the promise of Android’s “openness”—a key historical advantage over the iPhone ecosystem—is vanishing. Developers can no longer create and share an app directly with their community without first submitting it for Google’s approval.

F-Droid warns regulators that this system centralizes too much power. It could cede “digital sovereignty” to a single unaccountable corporation. The platform urges both consumers and developers to advocate for keeping the Android ecosystem open to maintain user choice and market competition.

The post F-Droid Slams Google for Misleading Users About Android’s App Verification appeared first on Android Headlines.

Google appears to be playing it safe with its upcoming budget offering, the Pixel 10a. If the latest CAD renders are anything to go by, the tech giant is eschewing flashy design changes and opting for a predictable, if somewhat boring, overall design language. Almost nothing appears to have changed between the Pixel 9a and the upcoming Pixel 10a, as per the new CAD renders As per the CAD renders published by the X user OnLeaks on behalf of Android Headlines, the following can be easily concluded: As for the budget offering's rumored specs, the following is known at the […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/pixel-10a-cad-renders-show-a-pixel-9a-clone/

On app stores like Apple’s and the Google Play Store, there are certain applications that are designed for adults. Now, it looks like Google wants to implement age verification across the board, requiring users to show proof they are 18 or older to download certain “mature” apps from the Play Store.

Google Play Store needs proof of your age

This is according to a post on X by Artem Russakovskii, where he shared screenshots of the age verification system in action. Basically, users need to show Google proof of their age, if not they might not be able to download many apps from the Play Store. This is part of Google’s larger efforts at identifying the ages of their users on search and YouTube.

Based on the screenshots, users have several ways of verifying their age. This comes in the form of uploading a government-issued ID, taking a selfie, using a credit card, or using a third-party service. If you’re already using a credit card in your name to buy from the Play Store, we reckon this shouldn’t be an issue.

At the moment, it is unclear what kind of limitations users might face if they do not verify their age. Presumably, at the very least, they will be blocked from downloading apps designated for adults. However, if the limitations go beyond that, it is going to be very annoying.

Not Google’s fault

Now, you might think that this is just Google’s way of collecting more information on you. That was our first instinct too. However, according to Russakovskii, Google isn’t entirely to blame for this. According to him, Google is just adhering to the law. In the US alone, there are several states that have implemented age verification requirements. This is also true for other countries like the UK.

Google obviously needs to play nice with these states and countries if it wants to keep operating in them. However, for users, these extra steps will be a pain. It would be less of an issue if the process were seamless. But we’ve already seen Google’s reliance on AI has resulted in adults getting banned.

The post Age Check Hits Play Store: You Might Need an ID to Download Some Apps appeared first on Android Headlines.

A crew working for an unnamed wildlife photographer fed and used cellophane paper to lure a fox for the 'perfect shot' in Grand Teton National Park. Since the fox was conditioned to human food, park officials euthanized it. The photographer got his shot. The fox paid with its life. Learning about this event became the North Star for Arthur Lefo, an OM SYSTEM Ambassador who has spent almost a decade photographing iconic wildlife. Lefo believes that ethical wildlife photography isn't just about rules, but respect.

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Google is working to make its on-device security features more transparent and manageable for users. An analysis of a recent beta version of the Play Protect Service app indicates that the company is adding updates to its Live Threat Detection tool, which uses artificial intelligence models to identify potentially malicious applications on Pixel phones and Android devices in general.

The Live Threat Detection feature fully relies on local, on-device AI. This means all the processing happens entirely on the local hardware. This approach allows for quick threat detection without requiring sending sensitive application data to Google’s cloud servers. The result is a strong layer of user privacy throughout the scanning process. Now, Google is making it friendlier and easier to use.

Live Threat Detection upgrade for Android: See every flagged app in one place

Currently, Android’s Live Threat Detection issues real-time alerts when it detects suspicious app behavior. However, the feature offers limited visibility beyond those initial notifications. Google is now fixing this lack of a central hub. The recent findings (by Android Authority) point to the development of a dedicated new page for the security tool. This upcoming screen is expected to clearly list all applications that the system has flagged as potential threats. Moving the threat information from individual, potentially numerous notifications to a permanent, centralized report is a great move. It improves user control and makes the security status of the device significantly easier to check at a glance.

Additionally, Google is adding a new, specific alert type focused on data harvesting. Code strings reveal a future warning designed to explicitly inform users when an application deemed unsafe is detected monitoring the device’s location or activity. This alert directly addresses a major area of ​​concern for user privacy: applications that covertly harvest sensitive data or track user movement patterns without proper consent.

These changes aim to enhance the usefulness of Android’s security tools. The mainstream public often underestimates security improvements because they often act in the background. However, keeping your personal data safe from potential bad actors is key in today’s tech industry.

The post Android's Live Threat Detection is Getting Powerful Updates appeared first on Android Headlines.

Google Chrome browser has now adopted a complete Material 3 Expressive design. The deployment of new UI components was initiated in late August, and Google took almost two months to fully deploy the interface.

Samsung phones have also received the updated Chrome with new Expressive design elements. The leading internet browser app has turned a bit more visually appealing, thanks to Google’s brand-new design language.

Google’s Chrome app has tweaked its 3-dot menu and tab grid.

The 3-dot menu now has forward, bookmark, download, site info, and refresh buttons in circular containers at the top. In the screenshots attached, you can see the Chrome app’s 3-dot overflow menu in Light and Dark modes.

Next is the Tab Grid, which has painted the new tab “plus” icon into dynamic color. Depending on your phone’s theming settings, Chrome’s “plus” key within the Tab Grid will appear be it Blue, Pink, or Monochrome.

When you swipe to close a tab, a pop-up appears at the bottom that has adopted a shadow effect. Tabs in the Incognito mode and Group switcher are also tweaked with the addition of a separate container with a squircle button.

Some components on Samsung phones differ from Google Pixels, probably due to a staged rollout. You may notice even more differences if you’ve a color palette applied, so don’t consider it a bug or deficiency.

Get Chrome 141 to experience the complete Material 3 Expressive design.

Recently, Google has updated the Messages app with a full Material 3 Expressive design; head over here to see what changed.

The post Samsung phones get Chrome with complete Expressive UI appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Google has made it easier to create presentations with its Gemini app. The Canvas tool in Gemini can now take a document or even a short text and turn it into a complete slide deck in just seconds. This is perfect for anyone who has stared at a blank Google Slides page, unsure where to start.

With this new feature, you can upload a report, research paper, or any text file, and Canvas will automatically make a presentation for you. The slides are already organized with sections, visuals, and design formatting.

You can then export the draft directly to Google Slides and make any final changes. This saves a lot of time, as you no longer need to copy text, design slides, or look for pictures yourself.

Image via Android Authority

The feature is currently being rolled out for both personal and Workspace accounts. Early reports show that Pro subscribers are getting access first, but it should be available to free users soon.

This builds on Canvas’s earlier feature, which helped users write and edit text with the help of Gemini’s AI. Now, it goes further by turning written work into slides that are ready to present.

This update is especially handy for students, teachers, and professionals who often need to make presentations. Instead of spending hours designing slides, you can rely on Gemini to create a first draft and then tweak it to your liking.

The post Gemini Canvas makes presentation prep effortless appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Google is working on a new feature to make multitasking on Android tablets much easier. Tablets already have features like a taskbar, split-screen mode, and improved drag-and-drop, but they still aren’t as powerful as PCs when it comes to using multiple apps at once.

The new feature could let you open any app in a floating bubble. Right now, bubbles only work with messaging apps. But with this update, you might be able to open apps, such as YouTube, Chrome, or Gmail, in small floating windows. This would make it easier to use several apps at the same time, even on smaller screens.

Recent updates in Android 2510 Canary show signs of this feature. The Pixel Launcher, which manages the home screen and taskbar, includes a new tutorial.

It explains that you can “drag an app to the bottom corners to make it float.” An animation shows an app being dragged from the taskbar to the bottom right corner, opening in a small bubble instead of split-screen.

Image via Samsung

This new drag gesture is simple and fits well with how other multitasking features work. Instead of tapping a button, you just drag the app. Since Android already lets you add any app to the taskbar, it seems likely that this bubble feature will work with all apps, not just messaging.

Google hasn’t officially confirmed the feature yet, but the tutorial suggests it is coming. It could arrive in Android 16’s third quarterly release (QPR3) next March. If this feature launches, it would make Android tablets much easier to use for multitasking.

The post Android tablets may let you run apps in floating windows soon appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Google brought visual call customization to Android with the “Calling Cards” feature. However, one key piece of functionality has been notably missing. Android users could design unique screens for their contacts’ incoming calls, but they could not control what their own call screen looked like on a friend’s device. This omission was a significant one compared to rival operating systems. However, Google is now ready to address this long-standing oversight in Android‘s implementation with a new “My calling card” option.

Code spotted by Android Authority within a recent beta version of the Phone by Google app reveals work on an upcoming setting called “My calling card.” The description associated with this unreleased tool is straightforward. It will help you to “customize how you’ll appear when making or receiving calls.” While the feature is not yet functional in the public beta, the explicit text confirms that a true two-way customization system is actively in development.

Android Calling Cards could match iOS’ Contact Posters soon

This change would finally bring full creative control to users. It could allow them to define their visual identity on a remote device. The potential move could also bring feature parity in the competitive mobile space. However, it raises one interesting technical consideration: how will the system handle a potential conflict? What happens if the sender uses the “My calling card” feature, but the recipient has already created a custom card for that contact? Google will likely implement a dual-option system, perhaps giving the recipient the choice between displaying the card designed by the sender or the one they created themselves. This level of user control is necessary for a fluid experience.

There is no official timeline for the public rollout yet. But the discovery of the “My calling card” setting is a clear signal that Google is refining Android’s Calling Cards experience. Once this functionality arrives, Android users will finally gain the full creative control over their call identity.

The post Android's Calling Cards Will Finally Get Full Customization appeared first on Android Headlines.

The race to harness quantum computing just saw a major acceleration. Google recently announced a significant breakthrough using its Willow quantum chip and a new method called the Quantum Echoes algorithm. This achievement moves the field closer to what researchers call “practical quantum advantage.” The latter is the point where quantum computers can solve meaningful real-world problems that are simply impossible for the best classical supercomputers to handle in a reasonable amount of time.

Google’s experiment involved a complex physics simulation. It measured a subtle quantum phenomenon known as the second-order out-of-time-order correlator (OTOC). According to Google, its quantum device performed the calculation over 13,000 times faster than the Frontier supercomputer. Frontier is currently ranked as the world’s most powerful classical machine. To put that in perspective, the task took the quantum chip just over two hours, while the supercomputer would have required an estimated 3.2 years of continuous operation.

Quantum Echoes: Google demonstrates real-world quantum application

The key to this speed is the Quantum Echoes algorithm itself. The technique works by leveraging the unique properties of qubits—the quantum equivalent of binary bits—which can exist in multiple states at once.

The process is conceptually simple. The team sends a specific signal into the quantum system (the Willow chip), introduces a tiny disruption, and then runs the entire signal evolution backward in time. As the evolution reverses, the quantum waves create a moment of “constructive interference.” This magnifies the resulting “echo,” making the final measurement incredibly sensitive. The output reveals how information spreads and interacts across the quantum system.

This approach is powerful because the result is verifiable. Unlike some previous quantum speed demonstrations, the output of the Quantum Echoes algorithm can be repeated on other comparable quantum computers and, more importantly, can be cross-checked with real-world physical experiments.

A molecular ruler for science

To demonstrate the real-world utility of this method, Google partnered with researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. They applied the Quantum Echoes algorithm to study the structure of two different molecules.

They compared the quantum results with those from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. NMR is a method currently used in chemistry (and the science behind MRI technology). The data from both systems aligned perfectly. Crucially, the Quantum Echoes technique managed to extract structural information that standard NMR methods typically cannot reveal, effectively acting as a “molecular ruler” with unprecedented precision.

Full-scale quantum computers capable of completely revolutionizing medicine and materials science still require hardware with millions of highly stable qubits. However, Google believes this algorithmic breakthrough is a greater stride. The company remains optimistic, projecting that the first real-world quantum applications could arrive within the next five years. This research points to a future where quantum machines are also useful for scientific discovery, not just complex speed tests.

The post New Google Quantum Algorithm Outpaces Frontier Supercomputer 13,000x appeared first on Android Headlines.

Well, Anthropic's latest deal with Google Cloud is probably something we should've seen coming, considering the firm's enmity with NVIDIA, and how Jensen sees Google's TPUs as a 'formidable' ASIC rival. Anthropic's Latest Deal With Google Cloud Marks The Biggest External Adoption of TPUs For those unaware, Anthropic has recently announced its intention to expand its computing power by entering into a deal with Google Cloud, which will focus on employing up to one million TPU chips, marking the largest deal secured by Google for its custom AI chips. Anthropic, in this deal alone, would have access to "over a […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/anthropic-has-turned-up-the-heat-on-nvidia-with-the-latest-google-tpu-deal/

Google and Anthropic are both companies that have placed some big bets on the AI space, and now the two are working together through a partnership for a new cloud deal. Both companies officially announced the new partnership this week, and it has the potential to be a big money maker for Google. Google already makes a substantial amount of money from its cloud services, ad business, and other avenues, but this is shaping up to be what is likely an easy win for the search company.

According to the report, Google is providing Anthropic with Tensor Processing Units for Anthropic’s own endeavors. In other words, Anthropic is buying AI chips from Google to use in its future AI advancements. This deal is worth multiple billions, and is yet another way that Google is solidifying itself as a major player in the AI space. Google already operates and offers several AI-powered products and services from Gemini to NotebookLM and beyond. This deal with Anthropic allows it to stay within the AI space, but without many of the other hurdles it might have to go through if it were announcing a new AI product or service under its own umbrella. Essentially, Google is operating a little more like NVIDIA here. Providing the compute hardware, while Anthropic plans to use that for its own services.

Google will provide up to 1 million TPUs to Anthropic as part of the cloud deal

This is where things really start to add up in terms of revenue. Exact numbers haven’t been provided in terms of how many TPUs Anthropic is actually buying. However, it’s reported that the deal allows it to buy up to 1 million of Google’s custom-designed TPUs. The company is “expected to bring well over 1-gigawatt of AI compute capacity online” next year.

That 1 gigawatt could cost Anthropic close to $50 billion, and $35 billion of that is said to be the potential cost of the chips. So, Google could stand to make around $35 billion from this deal. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian praises Anthropic for recognizing the “strong price-performance and efficiency” of Google’s TPUs for several years.

The post Google enters multi-billion dollar cloud deal with Anthropic for Tensor chips appeared first on Android Headlines.