🫧 Chat bubbles finally get the big-screen revamp they deserve in the Android Canary release

The new bubble bar feature makes chat bubbles easier to reach on Android tablets.

Click👇for more details + images of the feature

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-canary-bubble-bar-3576893/

✨ The Gemini overlay is adding a handle that you can drag up to open the app in full screen

So far, I only have this on my Galaxy Z Fold 7, but let me know if you see it on your device!

More details 👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/gemini-new-full-screen-swipe-gesture-3576084/

📷 Google is rolling out a new UI in Google Lens

It adds a floating pill for the mode switcher and gets rid of the "Homework" option

I'm seeing this UI on two of my devices. LMK if you have it!

Screenshots 👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/google-lens-new-ui-3576595/

💻 Google confirms it's 'combining' Chrome OS and Android into a single platform

In November, I revealed that Google plans to unify its desktop OS efforts behind Android. Now, the President of the Android ecosystem essentially confirmed it.

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/google-combine-chrome-os-android-3577035/

✨This could be our first look at Gemini Space, which could be Google's version of Now Bar for Pixel phones.

Last month I reported on the existence of Gemini Space, now my colleague AssembleDebug has managed to get it partially working.

Images👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-gemini-space-first-look-apk-teardown-3577101/

Android's lock screen widgets are getting a slick new background blur effect

In the first Android Canary build, the lock screen widget page now shows a blurred version of your wallpaper

More details👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-lock-screen-widget-background-blur-3577218/

🔍⌨️ Android's screen magnifier can't zoom the keyboard, but a fix is finally on the way

Android’s new “magnify keyboard” option lets you zoom into the keyboard to see emojis and letters when you’re typing text

More details + short demo👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-screen-magnifier-zoom-keyboard-3577421/

🔎 Google is tweaking Chrome's new tab page to bring AI Mode front-and-center

Google is testing a new search bar in Chrome for Android that adds AI Mode and moves the other shortcuts below

Thoughts on this?

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/google-chrome-android-ai-mode-shortcut-3577296/

🖥 Android's Desktop Mode gets a handy shortcut to pin your favorite apps to the taskbar

A new “pin to taskbar” option now appears in the context menu for apps in Android’s desktop mode launcher, but only in the Android Canary release so far.

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-desktop-mode-pin-to-taskbar-3577417/

📁 Samsung fixes the Secure Folder flaw that let anyone see what apps you're hiding

One UI 8 fixes a flaw in the Secure Folder that let anyone with access to your device see your hidden apps and photos

Here's how the flaw worked & how it was fixed 👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-fix-secure-folder-flaw-3577852/

⌚️🔋The Galaxy Watch 8 gets a key battery health feature that more smartwatches need

The new battery protection feature in One UI 8 Watch keeps your Galaxy Watch 8 charged between 85 and 90%

Hopefully this will arrive on other Galaxy Watches👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-watch-8-battery-protection-3578152/

🎶 Get Apple's one-tap Ambient Music playlists on Android with this free new app

A new app brings Apple's Ambient Music relaxation playlists to Android so you can relax, work, or fall asleep

Click 👇for more details, screenshots, and the download link

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/apple-ambient-music-on-android-3578211/

📺🎧 Bluetooth pairing sucks on most Google TV devices, but Google wants to change that

There are only four Google TV devices that support Fast Pair, a feature that makes it easy to pair new Bluetooth accessories to your TV

More details 👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/google-tv-fast-pair-supported-devices-3578252/

📱➡️🖥 Samsung DeX turns the Galaxy Z Flip 7 into a pocket-sized PC, but it's missing one key feature

You can use DeX (wired & wireless) on the Z Flip 7, even when it's folded!

Sadly, you can't use the touchpad when folded...please fix this Samsung!

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-z-flip-7-dex-support-3578574/

Here are the new features for Pixels in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3

As some of you may have already discovered, Google released the GSIs for QPR1 Beta 3 about an hour ago.

Here's what I've found so far👇 will update w/ more info when the Pixel update drops!

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr1-beta-3-changes-3578641/

🖥 This is big: Android's Linux Terminal is available on the Galaxy Z Flip 7!

You can run full Linux apps in a VM. And with DeX, on an external display!

It's the first non-Pixel device to support it. Curiously, the Z Fold 7 doesn't have it. With the Linux Terminal + Samsung DeX...the Z Flip 7 might even be a better portable PC than the Z Fold 7? At least when it's docked!


Details👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-z-flip-7-linux-terminal-3578675/

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 is here to install with Google's latest bug fixes

This is the final major update in the QPR1 beta cycle. The build ID is BP31.250610.004, and it's available for the Pixel 6 and later.

More details👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr1-beta-3-3578635/

I've updated my Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 article with some more findings:

* The shortcut to pin/unpin apps to the taskbar is now here

* The bubble bar for tablets isn't available yet

* The blurred background for the lock screen widget page isn't available yet either

Google just shared its first official look at the Pixel 10!

—-

Here's EVERYTHING we know about the Google Pixel 10 series so far👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-10-3470386/

📱❤️🖥 Microsoft is testing new features to make your Android phone work better with Windows PCs

New Phone Link features allow users to remotely lock and access their PC’s clipboard from their Android phone

More details👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/phone-link-clipboard-remote-lock-3580203/