Google market share dips as competition heats up and Android Auto update tackles SiriusXM glitches

For over a decade, Google has reigned supreme as the undisputed king of search. Its name became synonymous with finding information online, a verb in its own right. However, recent data suggests a subtle but significant shift in the digital landscape. Google’s dominance, while still substantial, appears to be facing growing challenges, with its global market share dipping below the 90% threshold for the first time in nearly a decade.
This development, observed over the past three months, marks a notable trend. According to data from StatCounter, a widely recognized web analytics service that tracks millions of websites worldwide, Google’s search market share has retreated to levels not seen since early 2015. While data from such sources isn’t entirely immune to occasional inaccuracies, the consistent trend observed over this period points to a genuine change in user behavior.
So, what factors are contributing to this apparent decline? Several forces are likely at play, creating a perfect storm of competition and evolving user preferences.
One of the most significant catalysts is the rise of generative AI. This technological leap has spawned innovative search experiences like Perplexity and even integrated into platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. These tools offer users a different way to find information, often providing more concise and direct answers compared to traditional search engine results pages. This shift in how people seek information naturally impacts the established players.
Another potential factor is the growing emphasis on online privacy. As users become more aware of how their data is collected and used, they may be turning to alternative search engines that prioritize privacy. While StatCounter’s data doesn’t provide granular details on this specific trend, it does indicate slight gains for competitors like Bing, Yahoo, and Yandex, suggesting a possible redistribution of users seeking different experiences.
Furthermore, the way younger generations seek information is evolving. Platforms like TikTok are increasingly becoming a primary source of discovery, especially for visual content and quick answers. This trend is so significant that TikTok has even experimented with linking directly to Google Search within its app, and Google itself began incorporating TikTok content into its search results in early 2024, acknowledging the platform’s growing influence. This suggests that the very definition of “search” is broadening, encompassing new platforms and formats.
This isn’t to say that Google Search is suddenly irrelevant. It remains a powerful and widely used tool. However, the data paints a picture of a changing digital ecosystem, where users are exploring new options and demanding more diverse search experiences.
Fixing the Road: Android Auto Update Tackles SiriusXM Glitches
Beyond the world of general web search, another digital experience has recently seen improvements: in-car entertainment through Android Auto. For months, some users have encountered frustrating issues with the SiriusXM app within the Android Auto interface, hindering their ability to enjoy satellite radio while on the road.
SiriusXM, a popular satellite radio service, is often integrated into modern vehicles. However, the dedicated Android Auto app provides a convenient way for drivers to stream their favorite stations and seamlessly switch between navigation apps like Google Maps and other in-car applications. Unfortunately, for many users, this seamless experience was disrupted by persistent bugs.
Reports surfaced on Google’s support forums as far back as November of the previous year, detailing how the SiriusXM app on Android Auto had become effectively crippled. Users described how the app’s menus were unresponsive, rendering touch controls useless. This meant that the only way to navigate the app and select channels was through voice commands, a less-than-ideal solution, especially while driving.
This issue persisted for a considerable time, causing frustration for affected drivers. Thankfully, a recent update to Android Auto, version 13.4, has finally addressed these problems. Google has confirmed that this update includes the necessary fixes to restore full functionality to the SiriusXM app. Users are also advised to check for updates to the SiriusXM app itself through the Google Play Store to ensure they have the latest version.
Android Auto 13.4 began its rollout in mid-December, notably introducing Material You dynamic coloring to the car display, further integrating the Android aesthetic into the in-car experience. This followed the implementation of Material You theming within Android Auto’s phone settings earlier in 2024. The latest version, 13.5, is currently being released in beta and stable channels, with minor language and branding updates but no significant feature changes.
This resolution of the SiriusXM issue on Android Auto provides a welcome improvement for drivers who rely on the app for in-car entertainment. It highlights the importance of ongoing software updates in maintaining a smooth and enjoyable user experience, even within the complex environment of in-car technology.
Google One AI premium now includes enhanced notebook features and student discount

Google One AI Premium has rolled out exciting new features with the addition of NotebookLM Plus, making it easier for users to manage and interact with their notes. Additionally, there’s good news for students in the US, as they can now enjoy a 50% discount on this premium service.
NotebookLM Plus brings significant upgrades over the basic version:
- Increased Audio Overviews: Users can now generate 20 audio summaries per day, up from the original 3 in the free version.
- More Notebooks: You can create up to 500 notebooks, a jump from the 100 allowed in the free tier.
- More Sources per Notebook: Each notebook can now include up to 300 sources, compared to just 50 before.
- More Chat Queries: The daily chat query limit has been increased to 500 from the previous 50.
With the premium subscription, you also get access to exclusive features:
- Controlled Sharing: You can share notebooks in “Chat-only” mode, where others can chat with the notebook but not see your sources or notes unless you allow it.
- Customized Chat Experience: You can tweak your chat settings to get responses in your preferred style, like ‘Guide’ or ‘Analyst’, and choose how detailed or brief you want the answers to be.
- Notebook Analytics: After sharing, you can track how many people have viewed your notebook and how often they interact with it.
Google previously enhanced NotebookLM with updates like Gemini 2.0, a new three-column layout, and an interactive mode for audio conversations. These features are now also accessible for business, education, and enterprise through Google Workspace and Google Cloud.
The Google One AI Premium service costs $19.99 monthly, offering 2 TB of storage, advanced AI features with Gemini, extended Google Meet capabilities, scheduling in Google Calendar, and special perks in Google Photos and the Google Store.
For students aged 18 and over in the US, Google offers this premium access at just $9.99 per month for the first year, which could be a great tool for handling schoolwork, custom study aids, and efficient email management. More details on eligibility can be found on Google’s official site.
New Android Auto update brings fresh app features

Google has just released a new update for Android Auto, version 13.7. This update doesn’t bring many changes that you can see, but it does some work under the hood. This is the second update for Android Auto in 2025, and while there aren’t big changes you can see right away, there are some small tweaks to how things look with the Material You design. However, these tweaks are so small you might not even notice them.
Like most updates, this one mainly focuses on fixing little problems behind the scenes. Google hasn’t said exactly what they’ve fixed, though. But something is interesting if you look closer at the update’s code. There are new messages about new apps coming to Android Auto. One message says an app is now available for use in Android Auto, and another says an app is available but only when the car is parked.
These messages read:
- “Now available in Android Auto”
- “Now available in Android Auto while parked”
We’ve seen similar messages before, but this time, it might be connected to Google’s new push for “Car ready mobile apps.” Google updated a page in January saying they would start helping developers make their apps work well on car screens from February 2025. This includes apps that work when the car is parked.
However, this February rollout is only for cars with Android Automotive OS, not for Android Auto on your phone, which will get these updates later. This update started rolling out late last week, so by now, it should be available for most users. Keep an eye out for new apps that might make your drive or your parked time more enjoyable.
Big trade-in deals for Samsung’s new Galaxy phones

Samsung is making it easier and more rewarding for customers to switch to their latest Galaxy phone, the Galaxy S25, with impressive trade-in offers. Even after the pre-order period, Samsung is keeping the trade-in values high and has expanded the list of eligible devices to include the Pixel 9 series.
Previously, you could trade in for top dollar on older Samsung models, but now, the Galaxy S25 series offers even better deals. During pre-orders, Samsung gave up to $900 for certain devices when trading for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, a jump from the $750 offered for the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Now that the Galaxy S25 series is out in the stores, those high trade-in values are still available on Samsung.com. This is surprising because usually, such offers decrease after the initial launch buzz.
A new addition to the trade-in program is the ability to exchange your Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro for a Galaxy S25. Previously, only up to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were accepted. The trade-in value for a Pixel 9 Pro can go up to $650, which is about 65% of its original price, and for the Pixel 9, you can get up to $550, which is just under 70% of its retail price. These values are quite competitive, matching what you might get selling privately, especially since these models were only released in August.
Here’s a quick look at what you can get for trading in different models:
- Google Pixel 9 Pro: Up to $650 for the Ultra, $400 for the S25+
- Google Pixel 9: Up to $550 for the Ultra, $300 for the S25+
- Older Samsung and iPhones: Values range from $100 to $900 depending on the model and the new phone you’re buying.
Remember, these trade-in values are exclusive to Samsung.com, and they might not last forever. Besides the trade-in, Samsung is also offering additional credits and larger storage options for each Galaxy S25 model. The starting price for the new phone is $799. So, if you’re thinking about upgrading, now might be a great time to do so with Samsung’s generous trade-in offers.
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