Google recently launched the Android Auto 14.0 beta update, giving testers a sneak peek at what’s coming. While it doesn’t bring big changes you can see right away, the update hints at some handy features being built behind the scenes, like temperature controls and better alert settings.

Back in early March, we spotted clues in Android Auto 13.9—now available to everyone—that pointed to built-in temperature controls. The latest 14.0 beta keeps this going by adding options for front and rear defrost buttons. These aren’t active yet, but the code shows Google is working on it:

<string name=”control_defrost_front”>FRONT</string>

<string name=”control_defrost_rear”>REAR</string>

It’s still unclear how these will fit into the app, but they could make adjusting your car’s climate easier while driving. The update also hints at a new way to manage alerts from Google Maps in Android Auto. Specifically, it looks like you’ll soon be able to turn incident report notifications on or off. New code mentions an “Alerts” section in the settings, with a line saying:

<string name=”NAVIGATION_ALERT_SETTING”>Get alerts for reported incidents and other conditions that may impact your drive</string>

This could be Google’s fix for complaints about annoying pop-up alerts. People didn’t love how these notifications got in the way when they rolled out on Android Auto and CarPlay. A simple on/off switch might give drivers more control.

Android Auto 14.0 should hit the stable version soon—probably in a few weeks—reaching all users. Since there’s nothing major to notice right now, it seems Google is using this update to quietly fix bugs or set up bigger features for later. For now, beta testers get the first look at what’s cooking!

Google dropped a fresh Android 16 beta this week, and while it might not seem like much at first glance, there are some cool things brewing under the hood. Think custom app icon shapes, a redesigned notification area, and more!

So far, the early versions of Android 16 haven’t brought many obvious changes for users. There are small updates here and there, but nothing to get super excited about yet. However, digging deeper into Android 16 Beta 3, some big stuff is in progress.

One neat addition is notification summaries—little hints of this popped up in Beta 3’s code. Plus, Google seems to be giving the whole notification panel a makeover, as Android Authority noticed. The new design puts the time front and center at the top, styled like your lock screen clock.

There’s also a handy bar with buttons to clear all notifications, tweak settings, or check your notification history. It’s a big shift from what we have now, with a solid background behind everything. They’ve added new swipe moves too—swipe down from the top left for notifications, or from the top right for Quick Settings. No swipe to flip between them, though—just shortcut buttons at the top.

None of this is active yet, but it’s clear Google’s cooking up something big for Android. On top of that, there’s talk of bringing back custom app icon shapes for your home screen. Google had this feature years ago but dropped it in Android 12. Now, it looks like it’s making a comeback, pretty much the same as before.

Mystic Leaks on Telegram also hinted that Google might add shapes to the lock screen, like what Samsung’s One UI 7 or OxygenOS do. You might even get weather animations as an option. For now, these features aren’t live in Android 16 Beta 3, and we don’t know when they’ll show up. Google plans to roll out the final Android 16 around May or June, but that’s not the end. Android 16 QPR1 will bring lock screen widgets to more people, and another decent-sized update is set for later in 2025.

This week, we got a sneak peek at the upcoming Pixel 10 series, and it looks a lot like what we’ve seen before. But here’s the twist: Google seems to be adding a third camera to the regular Pixel 10, not just the fancy Pro version. That’s got people scratching their heads.

Since the Pixel 6 came out in 2021, Google’s phone lineup has followed a simple pattern. The Pro model comes with three cameras, more memory, and a bigger, nicer screen. The regular Pixel keeps most of the same goodies but skips one camera to keep the price lower by a couple hundred bucks. Then there’s the A-series, an even cheaper option under $500. Over time, things have shifted a bit—there’s a Fold now, release dates have changed, and the Pro even got a smaller size while the big one became an “XL.”

The differences between the regular Pixel and the A-series can sometimes feel blurry, but the lineup has mostly made sense—until now. Leaked pictures of the Pixel 10 series popped up online this week, showing that next year’s phones will look almost the same as the Pixel 9. That’s fine, but the regular Pixel 10 is said to be getting a third camera, possibly a telephoto lens for zooming in. This is weird because that extra zoom camera has always been a big reason to pick the Pro over the regular model.

So, what’s the Pro’s edge if the regular Pixel gets this too? I’ve been thinking about it, and maybe this new camera isn’t as fancy as it sounds. People say it’s a “periscope” lens like the Pro’s, but I doubt Google would put something that good in the cheaper phone. Instead, it might be a simpler version—say, a 3x zoom instead of the Pro’s 5x, or even a basic telephoto lens that’s not a periscope at all. That way, regular Pixel 10 buyers get a nice perk without stepping on the Pro’s toes.

Google could also keep the Pro special by boosting its storage (256GB would be a smart start for all Pixels), upgrading its main camera, or adding extras like faster charging or better face unlock. Without some differences, slapping a third camera on the regular model could mess up the whole lineup. The smaller Pro’s price would look silly next to the regular Pixel, and Google can’t just drop prices to fix it. The Pixel pricing has already been a puzzle lately. Last year, we pointed out how older models cost the same as new ones, with features that don’t always match the price tags. Adding more overlap now would only make it harder for buyers to choose.