Android
Android 16 Developer Preview 2 arrives with enhanced features

Key Developer Highlights:
- Enhanced Haptics: New APIs offer finer control over haptic feedback, allowing developers to define precise amplitude and frequency curves for more nuanced tactile experiences.
- Adaptive Refresh Rate Improvements: Building on Android 15’s adaptive refresh rate feature, DP2 further optimizes display refresh rate adjustments to reduce power consumption.
- Cloud Search for Photo Picker: The system photo picker will soon include cloud search functionality for both developers and users.
- Health Connect Updates: A new ACTIVITY_INTENSITY data type (moderate or vigorous) has been added to Health Connect.
- Predictive Back Animations: New APIs support smoother, predictive back system animations in gesture navigation.
Android 16 DP2 is available for a wide range of Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8 series, and Pixel 9 series, as well as the Android Emulator. This release is primarily for developers and not recommended for daily use. The Android 16 Beta Program will begin next month.
Pixel 9 Gets “Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock”
A notable user-facing feature in Android 16 DP2 is “Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock” for the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL. This allows users to unlock their phone using the fingerprint sensor even when the screen is off, a feature made possible by these devices’ ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanners. Older Pixel models won’t have this capability.
New Emoji Support
Android 16 DP2 also introduces support for seven new emoji from Unicode 16.0: Face with Bags Under Eyes, Fingerprint, Leafless Tree, Root Vegetable, Harp, Shovel, and Splatter. This ensures that Pixel devices running the latest preview can display these new emoji correctly.
Android
Google’s May 2025 Android updates: better performance and messaging

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!
Android
New updates for YouTube, Gemini, and Google Home apps

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

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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