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Google Maps gets EV-friendly updates, Android Quick Settings overhaul, and new Tensor chip plans for Pixel Watch

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Google and Ford are collaborating to make Android Auto more EV-friendly, specifically for Ford’s electric vehicles (EVs). A series of new updates brings features like estimated battery levels, charging station navigation, and better integration with Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.

One of the key updates includes showing the battery level upon arrival at a destination directly in Google Maps, allowing drivers to plan trips more effectively. This feature has been available on Android Automotive systems and is now integrated with Android Auto, allowing users to see estimated battery status for every stop on a planned route.

Another useful addition to Android Auto is the display of charging stations compatible with North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors, which include Tesla Superchargers. This update is available with the latest Android Auto version, 12.9, enabling more charging options for Ford EV users equipped with NACS ports.

Additionally, Ford EVs can now precondition their batteries en route to a charging station, ensuring efficient and faster charging upon arrival. Ford owners should update their vehicle software to access these improvements fully.

Other helpful tools include showing nearby amenities at charging locations and offering minimum recommended charge levels for various destinations, making long-distance planning more efficient.

Meanwhile, Android’s Quick Settings in the upcoming Android 16 could be seeing an overhaul, allowing users to resize tiles for a customized layout. This feature, which has been hinted at in recent Android betas, will offer options to adjust tile sizes in 1×1 and 1×2 formats, enhancing layout options for different user needs. The change might eventually separate Quick Settings from the notification tray, following a trend seen with other manufacturers like OnePlus and Samsung, who are expected to introduce similar customizations.

Additionally, a recent leak hints that Google is developing a custom Tensor chip for its Pixel Watch, potentially launching within the next few years. This shift could bring advanced features and longer battery life to future Pixel Watches, following Google’s trend of integrating Tensor chips in Pixel smartphones.

The proposed design includes a mix of Arm Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores, possibly built on TSMC’s 3nm process. While the design uses some older cores, the manufacturing process could still give it an edge over Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ in terms of power efficiency and performance.

These updates reflect Google’s ongoing push to create a more connected and seamless experience across Android Auto, smartphones, and wearables, showing significant strides in software and hardware innovation.

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Android

Google’s May 2025 Android updates: better performance and messaging

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Google’s May 2025 Android updates bring exciting changes to improve how your phone works and how you message. These updates focus on making devices faster, safer, and more user-friendly.
One big change is to Android’s memory system. By increasing the memory page size from 4KB to 16KB on newer devices, apps can load quicker and use less power. This helps phones, especially those with modern chips, run smoothly and save battery life. Older devices will stick with the smaller page size to avoid issues.

The Google System Updates for May also add new features. Google Wallet now supports more card types and makes transit passes easier to use in apps like Google Maps. The Play Store now shows video previews of apps, helping you decide what to download. There are also fixes to improve battery life, storage, and network performance, making your phone more reliable.

For Google Messages, a new “delete for everyone” feature lets you remove sent messages from group chats within 15 minutes. This works for both RCS and SMS, so you can fix mistakes easily. Other messaging upgrades include better scam detection and the ability to send high-quality photos and videos. These updates show Google’s effort to make Android devices faster, more secure, and better for communication. Keep your phone updated to enjoy these improvements!

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New updates for YouTube, Gemini, and Google Home apps

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Google is rolling out exciting changes to its YouTube, Gemini, and Google Home apps, making them more user-friendly and packed with cool features. These updates, announced in May 2025, aim to improve how you watch videos, edit images, and control your smart home.

The YouTube app for TVs is getting a fresh look. You’ll see better video previews, easier ways to subscribe to channels, and a smoother interface for browsing playlists and comments. Autoplay will also work smarter, keeping you hooked on your favorite content without extra clicks. These changes will hit your screens by summer 2025, perfect for binge-watching on Google TV or Android TV.

Meanwhile, the Gemini app now lets you edit images like a pro. Want to change a photo’s background or add fun elements? Just type what you want, and Gemini’s AI makes it happen while keeping the original picture intact. It even adds a small “ai” watermark to show it’s edited. This feature is available in the U.S. and works on both uploaded and AI-made images, with more countries getting access soon.

The Google Home app (version 3.32) is also stepping up. It now supports more smart devices, like cameras and doorbells, and offers quicker controls for lights and thermostats. A new “Activity” tab lets you see what’s happening with your devices in one place, making your smart home easier to manage.

These updates show Google’s focus on making its apps simpler and more powerful, whether you’re streaming, creating, or managing your home. Keep an eye out for these changes to enhance your daily tech experience

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Google Pixel phone and watch update for May 2025 brings fixes and a fresh app look

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Google is rolling out its May 2025 software update for Pixel devices, making things smoother for phones, tablets, and the Pixel Watch app. This update is all about fixing bugs and adding a small but nice change for Pixel Watch users. It’s available for devices running Android 15, like the Pixel 6, 7, 8, 9 series, and Pixel Tablet. The rollout started on May 7, 2025, and will reach devices over the next week, depending on your carrier.

For Pixel phones and tablets, the update tackles three key issues: better microphone recording, improved Bluetooth pairing, and general performance tweaks. It also includes 28 security fixes, with one possibly being targeted by hackers, so updating soon is a good idea. If you have a Pixel 6 or 8, note that this update locks the bootloader, meaning you can’t go back to older software versions.

On the Pixel Watch side, there’s no major device update this month, but the Pixel Watch app on Android now has a light theme option. This gives the app a brighter, cleaner look, making it easier to use in different lighting.

Google might share more about Wear OS at I/O 2025, but for now, the app’s new style is a welcome touch. To get the update, check your device settings. Pixel users can expect a notification soon, but you can also manually check for it. Stay updated for a better, safer experience.

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