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Android 16 Beta shows off new looks and features

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Android 16

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.

Android

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

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Google

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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Android

New updates for YouTube, Gemini, and Google Home apps

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Google

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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Android Feature Drop

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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