apps-and-software54.625 min read
Google rolls out gradient-powered icons for Gmail, Drive, Calendar and more
8 days ago•Source: Android Central
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54.915 min•13 days ago
Cross-Platform Privacy Finally Arrives as iOS 26.5 Brings RCS Encryption to iPhone–Android Chats
Apple and Google are enabling end‑to‑end encrypted RCS cross‑platform messaging in the iOS 26.5 beta, embedding encryption into the GSMA’s RCS Universal Profile so iPhone and Android users can chat privately automatically when both parties are on a supported device and carrier; major carriers in the US and Canada are onboard, but it’s a beta rollout and may take time to reach all users.
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Google explains AICore’s temporary storage spike during AI updates
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Gemini Updates: Chat-Generated Files Now Downloadable as PDFs, Word, Excel
Android Central•25 days ago
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Google Workspace icons get a gradient refresh across Gmail, Drive, and more
Google is reportedly redesigning Workspace app icons—including Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and more—with a gradient style and color-shift away from the four-brand palette, giving a fresher look that hints at deeper AI integration; rollout hasn’t begun yet.
Five essential Android Auto tweaks for a safer drive
Android Auto can be improved with five quick tweaks: stop music from auto-playing when connected; minimize notification distractions by turning off the message chime or removing apps from the Android Auto drawer; prevent Android Auto from starting automatically (no direct setting—use the workaround to disable Start Android Auto while the phone is locked); create shortcuts in Customize Launcher for frequent actions; and enable Taskbar widgets to control playback from the taskbar, so you can stay focused on the road.
Gmail Gets a Fresh Start: Change Your Username Without Losing Your Data
Google is rolling out a feature that lets you change your Gmail username (the part before @gmail.com) without resetting your account data. Your old address remains available as an alias, and all data stays intact, with the option to switch back. Availability is currently limited to the US and India, and you can change your username only once per year (up to four usernames total per account, since you can change it three times after the original). Chromebook users may need to remove and re-add their Google account, and you may need to sign back into some apps after the change.
Google Photos adds video playback speed controls on Android
Google Photos on Android now lets you speed up or slow down videos (0.5x to 2x) inside the app; the feature is rolling out gradually and isn’t yet available on iOS, addressing a long-standing gap in the gallery app.
Floating Cursor Makes Giant Android Screens One-Hand Friendly
Android Central reviews Quick Cursor, an app that overlays a floating cursor and a tracker on your display to turn large smartphones into one-hand-friendly devices. You activate it by swiping from the screen’s bottom half; the tracker acts as a mini touchpad for tapping and swiping UI elements in the top half. Setup requires granting accessibility access. The app is freemium—the base features are free, with paid options for advanced gestures and customization. It's presented as a convenient alternative to shrinking your grip on bigger phones.
Gemini 3.1 Flash Live speeds up real-time AI voice assistance
Google's Gemini 3.1 Flash Live speeds up real-time AI help by delivering low-latency, voice-first responses with a larger context window, multilingual support, and improved acoustic nuance; it enhances Gemini Live/Search Live with real-time features like camera and screen-sharing and is accessible via the Gemini API and AI Studio for developers and enterprises.
Pixel's Now Playing graduates to a dedicated app with offline song ID
Google has turned Now Playing into a standalone Pixel app on the Play Store, moving it out of Settings to enable faster updates and greater visibility. The app still identifies songs entirely on-device using a fingerprint database (no audio is sent to the cloud), and Google is testing a refreshed UI with clearer album art and easier navigation between the song history and recognition features.
Pixel Launcher gets two subtle polish-ups in Android 17 Beta 1
Android 17 Beta 1 brings two small Pixel Launcher UI tweaks: a slimmer, customizable home screen search bar with swap-able shortcuts (e.g., Gemini Live, Translate, Song Search, Weather, Dictionary) and the ability to remove the At a Glance widget from the Pixel home screen. It also includes minor tweaks like a refreshed brightness icon in Quick Settings and clearer access to the volume panel.
Google expands AirDrop-style sharing to more Android devices via Quick Share
Google confirms Quick Share, its AirDrop-style cross‑platform sharing, will expand beyond Pixel devices to a wider range of Android phones (including Samsung and Nothing). Pixel 9/9 Pro will gain support as part of a platform‑level upgrade, not a workaround, enabling easier sharing with iPhones and Macs. A broader, multi‑OEM rollout with security audits is planned in the coming months, with key tech events likely to showcase the expansion.
Spotify's latest price hike nudges subscribers toward rivals
Spotify has raised US prices for its Premium plans (Individual $12.99/mo, Student $6.99, Duo $18.99, Family $21.99), with changes applying immediately to new subscribers and at the next billing cycle for existing ones. The move follows the rollout of Lossless streaming and positions Spotify as more expensive than Apple Music, Tidal, and YouTube Music, prompting readers to consider switching to alternatives that offer higher-quality audio or different value propositions.