All articles tagged with #android apps
Google’s Android Pulse app is now showing up as a Play Store update; the background service watches for unusual resource usage—like battery drain, memory, or CPU spikes—to help Android detect problematic apps or processes and keep the system more reliable without user intervention.
Google's Android 17 expands per-app memory limits to more devices over the coming year, throttling or terminating memory-hungry apps to keep phones fast and responsive; the rollout starts on Pixel devices and will extend to devices with 4GB to over 16GB RAM, with new developer tools to help apps stay within limits.
Google has begun gradually implementing its advanced sideloading flow for apps from unverified developers, adding a restart and 24-hour wait before enabling sideloading (ADB remains exempt). Enforcement starts Sept 30 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, initially covering apps from Google Play and select app stores, with updates also affected and a grace period to re-enable the flow.
Android Authority reports that Google Maps’ Ask Maps, which already uses Gemini for restaurant recommendations, is being readied to actually place food orders on a user’s behalf. The exact mechanism (cloud-based Gemini versus device hardware) and any restrictions aren’t clear yet, and there’s no public rollout announced.
Commodore returns to phones with the Callback 8020, a privacy-focused flip phone running Linux-based Sailfish OS instead of Android. It offers broad Android app support (over 99%), with WhatsApp preinstalled and support for Signal, Telegram, and WeChat, plus an iMessage bridge. Specs include a MediaTek Helio G81, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, a 3.25-inch main display and a 1.77-inch outer screen, 48MP camera, removable 1550mAh battery, dual-SIM 4G, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Pricing starts at $499, up to $640 for Founder’s Edition, with shipments planned for this winter.
Google is expanding testing of its Gemini overlay bubble, which now lets conversations persist after dismissal by shrinking into a floating bubble that can be tapped to resume chat; the latest build adds a gradient Gemini-themed bubble and refreshed animations, but it isn’t yet available on stable Android 17 builds, signaling a staged rollout.
Google confirms the Googlebook will run truly native Android apps rather than emulated ones, delivering desktop-class performance and a smoother app ecosystem. Traditional productivity tools are on board for a premium hardware experience, while AI-native partners are set to deliver launch-exclusive features as the device hits shelves later this year.
Googlebook adds a true ChromeOS desktop with app icons, folders, and drag‑and‑drop Android apps, plus Gemini‑powered, Create My Widget widgets for personalized dashboards, delivering a more capable, bridge between mobile and desktop workflows while keeping a minimalist option.
Google’s Googlebook introduces an
Microsoft is expanding Windows 11’s cross-device resume beyond OneDrive sessions to hand off Spotify playback, Word/Excel/PowerPoint work, and Edge browsing from a phone to a PC; the feature, in Release Preview testing since August, brings macOS‑like Handoff to Windows and is complemented by MIDI 2.0, improved voice typing, and Windows Hello ESS in the same update.
The article highlights five new Android apps and games for January 2026, including a book quote widget, an expansive open-world RPG set in 10th-century China, an innovative e-book reader that displays text sentence by sentence, a sleep sound app that works offline, and a port of the visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club! for Android, offering a diverse range of options for users.
The article highlights four underrated Android apps—Nintendo Music for game soundtracks, Apple TV for streaming content, Blackmagic Camera for advanced video shooting, and Steam for gaming management—that offer significant value and are worth exploring beyond more popular options.
Google Play will soon warn users about apps that excessively drain battery by holding wake locks, with new thresholds and developer tools, starting March 1, 2026.
Samsung's Galaxy XR is a revolutionary standalone VR headset that replaces traditional monitors, TVs, and workstations by offering customizable virtual displays, seamless integration with Android and Windows, and versatile entertainment options, making it a powerful portable computing and entertainment device.
Google is rolling out its new Material 3 Expressive design language across various Android apps and devices, including recent launches like Pixel Watch II, Google Wallet, and Google Home, with many apps receiving updates to improve visual separation, containers, and animations, enhancing the overall user experience.