Google was one of the first to offer face detection on its Nest cameras in 2017. The popular feature came to Nest Hello (Google's doorbell) and was pretty unique until Amazon started offering Familiar Faces too, more recently.

Google is expanding the skills that Google Home offers, and included in that is more advanced Familiar Faces functionality. This includes additional markers to help identify who is at the door.

For those paying for the Advanced plan, that will now also use clothing to help identify a person when their facial details aren't visible. The expansion is outlined in the release notes for Google Home, while a greater explanation is given on the Familiar Faces page.

Google says: "We also use additional non-biometric signals (body size, clothing colour, etc.) to help make Familiar Faces work better when a subject's face is not visible."

Familiar Faces works by asking the user if they recognise a face and allowing them to store those faces that they do know. This allows for identification of frequent visitors, so they can be announced to the homeowner when they come to the door.

The expansion should mean that the camera can recognise people when their face is covered. Whether it will be able to recognise people in fancy dress will take some testing, but it's likely to be designed to add peace of mind for those relying on the service but find it less effective in some conditions – for example in bad weather.

This isn't the only way that Google identifies clothing: the company also recently added the identification of clothing in an outfit to Circle to Search, the idea being that you then go on to buy those things.

Beyond that, Google also offers Google Photos Wardrobe, where it will recognise clothing that you own to help you piece together a new outfit and try them on virtually.

However, features like Familiar Faces raise a number of privacy concerns, surrounding the lack of consent for those who have their faces captured and stored digitally. Indeed, that's seen Amazon facing a class action lawsuit as a result.

While clever AI features might sound great, privacy remains a big problem, with the UK government outlining that using security cameras that capture those outside your property would see the owner bound by General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).

Following the announcement of its Google Home Speaker, Google has officially discontinued its Nest Mini and Nest Audio devices. This probably comes as no surprise to some, but if you’re an existing Nest Mini and Audio user, this is what the discontinuation means for you.

Google launched its first ever smart speaker back in 2016, and added to its portfolio with the Nest Mini in 2019, and the Nest Audio in 2020. After these launches, Google didn’t announce any new speakers or plans to expand the collection, until leaks started to appear in 2025 about its upcoming Google Home Speaker.

After months of speculation, the Google Home Speaker was officially announced last week, and it’s currently available for pre-order. Not only does the Google Home Speaker have a completely new design that the brand hasn’t used before, but it also uses Gemini for Home instead of Google Assistant.

Following the launch news, it was announced that the Nest Mini and Nest Audio speakers would be retired and replaced by the Google Home Speaker. As quoted by a Google spokesperson in conversation with TechRadar about the future of its smart home, “As part of this evolution, we have ended production of the Google Nest Mini and Google Nest Audio.”

What this means is you can no longer buy Google Nest Mini or Audio devices from Google, as it shows as ‘out of stock’ on their website. Some third-party retailers do still sell them though, but if you want a Google speaker, you’re better off buying the new Google Home Speaker when it comes out.

But existing Nest Mini and Audio users don’t need to worry. Google will continue to fully support the devices with regular software and security updates, so you don’t need to replace your speaker if you don’t want to.

What’s better is Gemini for Home – which replaces Google Assistant on the Google Home Speaker – is compatible with existing Google devices, so it’s still accessible on your Nest speakers.

With the Steam Deck and other gaming handhelds soaring in price (the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is a staggering $1,800) you might want to turn to a device that's already in your pocket.

Android games are moving much closer to their console counterparts these days, while emulation apps – such as GameNative – allow you to play almost the entire Steam PC catalogue on an Android smartphone or tablet.

Google clearly recognises this and, as part of its forthcoming Android 17 update, has included a new mode that will turn a foldable phone into a clamshell gaming handheld.

Foldable Gaming Mode will work with devices such as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. It effectively turns them into a full gaming phone by utilising the bottom half of the internal display as a controller, while running the game in the upper.

This makes the experience more like a clamshell handheld, such as the Android-powered Retroid Pocket Flip 2, although the controls are touchscreen rather than physical.

I'm not so keen on touchscreen controls, especially during fast-action games that require quick, responsive inputs. I'll often miss a button if I can't feel it, and that can be the difference between dodging or taking a rocket to the face in an FPS.

Be wary...

There's also a major caveat – foldable displays aren't always as sturdy as their single-screen counterparts. As they need to fold, they are normally covered with a softer material rather than glass, and so you could run the risk of damaging your screen if you get over enthusiastic.

Still, it's an interesting concept, especially as Google claims on its blog that the control pad will be dynamic. That means developers can give you the controls you need for their specific game, so the pad can change in style per title.

Android 17 will also improve the use of external controllers, it is said, with native controller remapping. And frame drops and stutters will be better managed though more efficient memory cleanup.

Foldable Gaming Mode will be available as part of Android 17 "in the coming months".

If you're using a Google Pixel handset, you could be in line for a decent suite of upgrades pretty soon. That's because a new set of adverts have been spotted, which seem to showcase the next edition of features coming as part of the Pixel Drop series.

That's expected to arrive pretty soon based on the historic schedule for such releases, meaning we could see it any day now. So, what exactly is coming?

As reported by DroidLife, there are a few different ads being shown at the moment, which each point towards a different feature. Those are Screen Reactions for Creators, Gemini Omni and Music Generation.

As noted in that report, the latter two features are already available as part of the Google Gemini offering. That does suggest that there's something more to this, though it's not something they were able to gleam from the videos. Sadly, they've since been removed.

The Screen Reactions feature essentially enables the user to react to what's on their screen with a cutout of their face from the selfie camera. That does appear to be a feature exclusive for Pixel devices, and will be handy for capturing reaction content.

The report does also note a small – but potentially significant – change in terminology. Previously, the new features for Google Pixel devices were unveiled as part of something called the Pixel Feature Drop, but now appears to only be dubbed the Pixel Drop.

Whether or not that's significant remains to be seen, but it's certainly worth keeping an eye on. Regardless, it's exciting to see some new features coming to these handsets after a few months without a new arrival.

With new devices anticipated towards the end of the year, there should be a lot to look forward to for fans of the Google Pixel range before 2026 draws to a close.

A new feature has started to arrive on select Google TV models that would have made my life so much simpler over the years.

You can now use voice control to direct Gemini to adjust a TV's picture settings, and even fix picture or sound issues. And as it uses advanced AI, you can use conversational language to do so – you don't even have to know what settings to change.

As the former deputy editor of Home Cinema Choice, I've tested my fair share of TVs over the years and one of the biggest time sucks was switching between picture modes and tweaking them. It also means I'm a stickler for getting the picture just right at home too – across the multiple models in my house.

That includes individual tweaks for different types of content, even specific movies, TV shows or games. And on most TVs, that means multiple clicks on the remote just to get to the right settings.

However, this new Gemini feature will allow you to change settings like brightness, contrast and picture mode, plus sound options through simply chatting with your TV. Just press the mic button on your remote and say, "Set picture mode to Movie," for example. Or, "Improve the dialogue."

You can also troubleshoot issues by telling your Google TV that the picture is too dark, etc.

And Gemini can be used to tweak and calibrate images, such as making the picture more cinematic just by asking it to do so. You won't need to go into specifics if you don't want to.

There's just one catch to all this – it's only available on a handful of TCL TVs at present, and exclusively in the US. It'll be rolled out to additional Google TV models worldwide over time, but for now it's just for the TCL QM9K, X11L, QM9L, QM8L, and RM9L.

If you have one of those sets, you need to head to system updates in your settings to check if the latest software is available (if it hasn't automatically installed).

The rest of us will have to wait a bit longer, which is fine – I've been waiting a couple of decades for something like this, what's a few months more?

You'll need to have been living under a rock for the last 24 hours to have missed the news of Siri AI. Apple's long-awaited AI-powered personal assistant is finally ready to launch, and was showcased at the WWDC 2026 event.

Now, Google has also made an appealing change to one of its AI-powered offerings. That sees the AI Plus subscription plan become much more appealing, with the double-whammy of a price cut and a storage boost.

Here in the UK, that sees the platform drop to just £4.49 per month with 400GB of storage. Those in the US will pay US$4.99 for the same storage level.

However you spin it, that's a great deal. You're getting twice the storage for less cash – not quite half price, but not too far from it – allowing you to make even more use of the features.

For those not familiar with Google AI Plus, the plan is designed to offer a more appealing prospect than standard Gemini for those seeking more from their AI. Users will get twice as much usage from Gemini, with greater access to Gemini 3.1 Pro and Deep Research in Gemini.

You'll also enjoy more access to image, music and video generation platforms, and more access to features in NotebookLM. And, of course, there's 400GB of cloud storage on offer, too.

It's a compelling package. If you've dabbled with the base level of AI platforms like ChatGPT or Gemini, and are looking to move to the next level, this subscription will give you a decent upgrade.

The brand also offers higher levels again, with Google AI Pro offering more usage, up to 5TB of storage and other perks like YouTube Premium. For any real hardcore users, Google AI Ultra offers 20TB of storage, substantially more access to different Gemini models and early access to new innovations.

Google has opened up the Fitbit Air ecosystem in a move that could lead to a wave of third-party bands, mounts and accessories for its new screenless fitness tracker.

The company has published detailed hardware specifications, accessory design guidelines and 2D CAD drawings for the Fitbit Air to let independent makers, accessory brands and even home 3D-printing enthusiasts create their own compatible products.

The company's new wearable uses a modular design, with the tracker itself a small, sensor-packed "pebble" that slots into a removable sleeve or band, separating the health-tracking hardware from the accessory wrapped around the user's wrist.

Google says the newly released files include precise dimensions, tolerances and attachment specifications to help creators build accessories that fit correctly and maintain accurate health tracking.

The company has also published guidance on sensor placement, skin-contact requirements, and suitable materials for products that come into direct contact with the wearer.

Opening the toolbox

According to Google, the move is designed to encourage experimentation and customisation from both established accessory makers and independent designers.

The company says the Fitbit Air community has already started developing new ways to wear the tracker, including alternative mounting solutions beyond traditional wristbands.

The announcement is particularly notable because few major wearable brands provide this level of access to hardware specifications.

While Apple, Garmin and Samsung largely maintain tightly controlled accessory ecosystems, Google is effectively inviting third parties to help shape how Fitbit Air is worn and used.

The screenless revival

Launched in May, the Fitbit Air marks Google's return to dedicated fitness trackers after several years focused primarily on smartwatches.

The wearable is a lightweight, screenless device designed for 24/7 health tracking, offering features such as heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, and skin temperature monitoring, as well as automatic workout detection.

The tracker has often been compared to models such as the Whoop MG, thanks to its display-free design, although Fitbit Air differs by offering core tracking features without requiring a subscription.

It is also significantly more affordable than many screenless health trackers currently on the market.

By making the hardware specifications publicly available so soon after launch, it appears to be encouraging the creation of a broader accessory ecosystem that could help the device evolve beyond a standard wrist-worn tracker.

You can find the CAD drawings here.

[via 9to5Google]

We've hit that point where Android Auto moves to a new version number, with Android Auto 17 now rolling out to users. It's part of a phased roll-out, so although it's available, it won't immediately appear in Google Play for all.

The exciting thing about Android Auto 17 is that it paves the way for one of the most highly-anticipated features coming to the in-car app – support for video, with YouTube expected to be the first service available.

That change has been in the works for well over a year, but Google confirmed support for Full HD 60fps video was coming during The Android Show, as well as demoing the changes at Google I/O.

Google has said that if you already have an adaptive video app then you don't need to do much to get it to appear in Android Auto, so hopefully, we'll see a number of services available to watch on in-car screens.

That's only going to be possible when the car is in park, but for those now spending time sitting in cars while charging, the introduction of video will make a big difference to the experience. As an extension, if you start driving, the video can switch to an audio stream and continue playing – if the app supports it.

Now we come to the bad news: actual support for video isn't quite here yet. While Android Auto 17 will support it, it'll take another software update before that feature lands with drivers.

Video support is only expected on phones running Android 17, so for most people that's going to mean waiting for another update before video playback will be supported. For Pixel owners who will get Android 17 first that might not be a cause for concern, but other brands could be waiting for months before it's supported.

As we move into summer 2026, we're expecting Android 17 to go gold and roll out as an update for Pixel phones, while we already know that Samsung's update is well in development too. It's expected that Samsung will announce its first Android 17 device on 22 July, with updates for Galaxy S25 devices to follow soon after.

So, while today is the starting point for video in Android Auto, it's going to take some time to get to the finish line.

Android Auto is also expected to get updates to the design, customisable widgets, Dolby Atmos, new audio widgets, as well as deeper Gemini integration, including Gemini Intelligence.

There's plenty to be excited about, but like all things Android Auto, a little patience will be needed before they arrive.

Google has upgraded Gemini for Home, and it’s just made your security camera smarter than before. Thanks to this new update, Gemini can trigger specific smart home routines, based on what your Nest and other compatible security cameras can see – here’s how it works.

Gemini for Home has gifted Google device users with some serious improvements, making their smart home experience smoother and more intelligent than ever. The latest improvement is for Nest Cam users, as Gemini can now create automations based on what your camera can see.

Previously, Gemini for Home has been able to identify specific events, like dogs barking, glass breaking, familiar faces, and someone dropping off packages. But now, these visual events can trigger your smart home automations and routines.

According to Google, almost any event can be a trigger as long as Gemini recognises it through your security camera. To set up your smart home automation, users need to use simple, natural language prompts to describe events, and select which cameras to look for them.

To give you an example, if your security camera spots a wild animal rooting through your bins, it can trigger your outdoor lights to turn on to scare them away. Other examples include quick notifications being sent to your smartphone if your camera notices a parcel that’s been left unattended or if you’ve left your car or garage door open.

Alongside this camera update, Google has improved Gemini for Home’s reliability, making users’ plain language commands much easier for the AI assistant to understand. Gemini for Home should also be able to perform multiple actions at the same time when asked in one single request, and execute basic tasks like setting alarms and timers much quicker.

These latest Google Gemini for Home updates are available to all existing users.

Google announced changes to its subscription plans on stage at Google I/O and while the focus was on a new $100 AI Ultra plan, it's the changes coming to the Google AI Pro plan that's got users up in arms.

The details were delivered via email to subscribers, outlining that changes to the usage limit on the AI Pro plan where changing, effective immediately.

That sees "compute-based" usage limits on the plan which take into account the complexity, features and length of the chat. This limit is refreshed every 5 hours up to your weekly limit.

This plan has 4x the usage limit of the free tier, while the Ultra tier has 5x the usage limit, according to Google's subscription page.

Those usage limits also apply to Flow and Antigravity with the 1000 AI credits that used to be included no longer included in the plan - with the option to buy AI credits if needed.

You can find your own usage under settings in the Gemini app, both in the browser and in the app, under Usage Limits. There it will tell you the percentage of use that you've reached, when it resets, and where you are on your weekly limit.

It's worth remembering that the AI Pro plan is what a lot of Pixel owners are on, because new Pixel devices come with a "free trial" of the service. The regular price for the 5TB AI Pro plan costs £18.99 / $19.99 a month.

While access to Gemini models, features and storage doesn't change, it's the usage that users are reacting to.

Over on Reddit, there are plenty of users commenting that the subscription just got a lot worse. Other users comment that for video generation it's basically unusable, while some say that switching to Claude is now an easier decision.

Google's focus for I/O was on Gemini's new skills - including Gemini Spark, the 24/7 digital assistant designed to run in the background and take on a wide range of your organisational tasks.

While the demos were impressive, Google made a point of saying that it was starting as a beta for Google AI Ultra subscribers and it raises doubts over how well it will run if you're at risk of exceeding usage limits.

While little was said about subscriptions, Google was pleased to announced the $100 AI Ultra plan - and that's $100 / £79.99 a month. For hardcore AI users who are using it for business that might be viable, but as a consumer proposition, it might not be.

Nothing lasts forever and for the original Google Chromecast, it seems its time is done. There are reports that the teenager is finally set for the scrap heap as users claim their devices are failing.

First released in 2013, the Chromecast was different to other streaming devices of the time – there was no front-end or user experience, for starters, and it relied on your phone rather than a remote control.

Innovatively though, unlike Apple's AirPlay, casting video (or music) to the Chromecast enabled it to stream the content from its source, not your mobile device. That meant you could continue to use your phone, tablet or PC as normal.

The concept lasted for several generations of dongles before being replacement by the Chromecast with Google TV, where Google opted to follow its rivals in offering a full UI. And while casting content is still a thing today, across many third-party products too, the original Chromecast was consigned to the past.

Or so we thought. I turns out it's been operable for the last 13 years – until now, that is.

There are reports (via 9to5Google) that the original Chromecast is failing to stream for some and stopping working completely for others.

A Reddit thread is full of comments by users that have experienced issues with their older devices. It seems the game is up.

"I have two Gen 1s that no longer cast anything," writes Dude_Man79.

Chantastic adds that YouTube no longer streams from the Android app or a Chrome browser. Nor do HBO Max, Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

And SparkysAdventure has had trouble streaming Prime Video via their Chromecast: "Prime Video stopped working a couple days ago and Disney+ never worked for me."

Sadly, as these issues are said to have occurred very recently, it could be your own Chromecast dongle is on its way out.

The good news though is that this doesn't seem to have affected the second-gen models and beyond, so you could have a few years left for those. Still, it's probably worth considering an update. And if you don't fancy the Google TV Streamer set-top device, there are other options that support casting – including the Thomson Go Cast 152, which is keeping the Chromecast form factor alive.

There's a trend for journalists to approach new technology with a sense of cynicism. It comes from that predisposition to look beyond the marketing to what lies underneath. That left me with serious doubts about Google's fancy new Gemini Spark.

Google I/O introduced the next evolution of Gemini, not just in terms of the underlying language models in Gemini 3.5, but in the consumer-facing entry point. Gemini Spark is described as a 24/7 AI agent, designed to "navigate your digital life".

I followed the Google I/O Keynote in detail and while Gemini was definitely the star of the show (Gemini is basically everywhere) Gemini Spark was the new product that really jumped out.

What is Gemini Spark?

Gemini Spark aims to deliver Google's long ambition to have an "agentic AI". An agentic AI is something that can complete tasks on your behalf, so rather than just asking it to find you a restaurant, it can find that restaurant, book a table and email your friend the details, without you having to open any apps other than the AI app.

"Getting things done" is the mantra of agentic AI, and it's seen as the holy grail of AI, because it takes us beyond rapid information discovery and processing, into action.

This is what Gemini Spark is designed to do: it's designed to work autonomously in the cloud, with access to your Google services. Here's how Google introduced Gemini Spark:

What can Gemini Spark do?

Google outlines that Gemini Spark runs on dedicated cloud servers, so it can be running in the background without you needing your laptop or phone to be connected. That means it can work on things without you being there to prompt it or monitor it.

It works with Google's tools at the moment like Gmail and Google Docs, with third party integrations promised in the future. We already have integration in Gemini for services like Spotify and WhatsApp for example.

The idea is that you can start a Spark task to compile all the information in the last week about an event and summarise it. Rather than sitting waiting for that to happen, that can run in the background while you get on with something else - you'll return to a summary with everything in it.

The second example we've seen is arranging a street party along the same lines, creating a spreadsheet of information from replies that have come in via email - which is all live, because Spark is actively working on that, rather than it being a one-time prompt.

What it's actually doing is creating custom data workflows, but with simple conversational prompts rather than more complicated coding.

That all sounds great doesn't it?

It sounds great for people who want to pull together data from within Google's systems, but it also rings alarm bells. If Spark is doing this compiling for you, where is the accountability? Who monitors the AI to make sure that you're actually getting the results you want, rather than just accepting the results you're given?

Look at it this way: we're all used to driving with satnav and we all agree that it's easier than the previous option, which was driving using maps. In those days you had to plan a route, perhaps write instructions, and then follow them.

The result is that satnav driving is easy - but you never really know where you're going. You don't really know the route, you don't know what's along the route, you're just following instructions and no longer thinking.

Gemini Spark will allow you to stop thinking.

I'm currently planning a family holiday, which is perfect for something like Spark. Indeed, Gemini has already suggested a couple of routes, where to stay, what to avoid and what to do. It was simple - but I have literally no idea what my options are, because I've not actually done any research, I've just been handed a solution.

This is why I have doubts about Gemini Spark as a personal AI. It might be able to keep track of tasks, but as soon as you stop doing that for yourself, you'll only know what Gemini tells you - because you stopped doing the thinking yourself.

If you're a fan of tech developments which don't revolve around AI, last nights Google I/O event didn't have too much for you. Indeed, the first 92 minutes of the 111 minute presentation revolved entirely around AI and its implementation across the Google suite.

Still, it seems there's a lot of other news arriving around the periphery of the event, including some interesting automotive developments. As the show was happening, we heard about a new project with Volvo, to bring context-aware AI into your commute.

Now, there's news of another update, which should affect a few more users. As reported by 9to5Google, there's an update coming to the Android Auto Car App Library, which is going to let media apps make some fairly major design changes.

In a blog post, the brand explained, "We're increasing the modularity of existing templates to give developers more flexibility and options for laying out content. These improvements include expanded headers for better visual emphasis, such as on detail pages, spotlight sections that can be placed in scrollable areas to highlight specific content, and grid item variations to support different content types and states."

Any developers interested in making these changes will be able to apply for a beta programme, but there are a range of popular apps which are already making changes. That includes Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more.

It's a great update, and a real opportunity for the brands to return a little of their own personality to the platform. Prior to this update, a lot of the different apps felt quite cookie cutter, with a relatively strict set of requirements on how the apps should appear.

We're expecting more and more developers to take the plunge over the coming weeks and months, so keep your eyes peeled if the one you use most often isn't included yet.

Volvo has just unveiled a new 'world first' collaboration with Google, designed to make driving even easier. The partnership is said to bring together the best of the two brand's respective technologies, making particular use of Google Gemini and the latest advances in AI technology.

In essence, this shift allows Gemini to see and understand the surroundings in real time, from the perspective of the car. That makes use of the cameras and sensors in the car, and relies entirely on the permissions of the driver.

That could help to make some of the more frustrating parts of driving easier. For example, the system could read road signs around you, allowing you to garner information about parking restrictions or other information which flies past as you travel.

Another use case makes sense of lane markings, which sounds like an excellent idea. I've driven in Swindon before, and this would be worth its weight in gold in arenas like that.

This era – being called contextually aware driving – is also coming for your navigation system. Immersive Navigation in Google Maps is used here to help make navigation easier than ever.

Perhaps the most noteworthy addition is the use of context in directions. Rather than simply saying "take the second left", this model will be able to pin directions on the local environment, for example, "turn left after the library."

Speaking about the launch, Patrick Brady, Vice President of Android for Cars, said, "In the future, Gemini will make your drive more helpful by allowing you to learn more about your surroundings while on the road. And with Immersive Navigation, we’re bringing Google Maps’ biggest update in over a decade to our drivers.”

The new features will be available first on the Volve EX60, EX90 and ES90 models. Those on site at Google I/O will be able to test the features first hand.

As heavily rumoured in the build up, Samsung and Google have partnered for a new smart glasses venture, with Ray-Ban and Meta firmly in their sights.

The new range will be called Intelligent Eyewear and has been created in collaboration with spectacles brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.

As with the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, Intelligent Eyewear pairs with a mobile phone and gives wearers access to AI features through voice commands. There is no display (not initially anyway), while the glasses can come in sunglass or clear lens styles.

Each pair will keep the wearer informed with notifications from their phone, guidance through Gemini – such as directions or local attractions – and real-time translations. One neat feature is that the translation will match the speaker's voice, using AI speech.

The glasses feature speakers in the arms, plus a camera unit on the front of the frame – this will see what the user sees, to better enable advice. It can also be used to take photos and, we assume, video.

The Samsung Intelligent Eyewear collection will run on the Android XR platform and will hit stores "this fall". Additional details, including price and exact availability will be announced "in the coming months".

"This intelligent eyewear marks an important step in Samsung’s vision for AI,” said Samsung's head of consumer experience, Jay Kim.

“With this new AI form factor, we are further expanding the Galaxy device ecosystem, where each device is optimised to deliver unique AI experiences that best fit each form.”

The glasses are naturally a direct competitor to the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 that are available now. Other brands are also starting to release their own rivals, including L'Atitude 52°N with its Berlin pair having gone on pre-order today.

It's likely to become a busy market soon, especially with additional fashion labels lurking in the background and waiting to unveil their own smart creations.

A new Android feature could be the best in years when it comes to helping you fight doom-scrolling. While this shows just how bad doom-scrolling has become – that Google itself is adding features to protect you – it also shows there is hope in the fight to hold onto our attention spans.

The new feature, called Pause Point, does as its name suggests. This will require a 10-second pause from you each time you open an app which you have already labelled as potentially distracting.

The idea here is that those 10-seconds will be enough time to give you pause to consider if you really want to go into that digital world. It adds a buffer between a habitual notification or icon press to open the app, and the reality of actually wanting to get into all that.

In short, Pause Point has been created to help give you back your choice in the moment to make healthier decisions.

This update comes from Google and could even apply to its own algorithm based apps of enticement, like YouTube. While this was a decision to help users, it also comes after Google has been under pressure from all the news and even new laws around restricting or banning minors from using social media.

The impact of these apps are starting to be taken seriously as damaging and so, at last, the company's behind them are having to offset that damage – at the least – with options like this.

Pause Point pauses the app launch, and the dopamine rush that follows, allowing you the space to actually think rather than being at the mercy of the chemical rush these apps can create.

That pause time isn't just dead space though. The Pause Point feature can also be set to suggest other more healthy app choices like a favourite fitness app, audiobook app or the like.

You can also choose to scroll through your favourite photos, perhaps to inspire activities to do other than doom-scrolling, an outdoor walk for example or meeting friends.

Pause Point requires a phone restart to turn it off – helping add a further layer of effort to keep you from taking the easiest path of least resistance to that dopamine hit.

Google I/O is the Mountain View company's annual developer event which has wide-ranging impact on the digital world we inhabit. Google not only powers billions of devices with Android, but Search, Gemini and a whole lot more fall under the Google I/O umbrella.

The past few years have all had a distinct theme – artificial intelligence. While Google used to talk about DeepMind and LLMs in a sort of abstract sense five years ago, we're now living that reality.

We've already been exposed to some of Google's plans for the near future. The recent Android Show revealed changes coming to Android 17 with Gemini Intelligence, Googlebook was introduced, the evolution of Android in the car was previewed, and a whole lot more.

We learnt a lot, but that leaves us with questions that the Google I/O keynote is expected to answer.

Here then are three big announcements I'm expecting at Google I/O next week:

Gemini, Gemini, Gemini

Of all the AI systems we're faced with, Gemini seems to be the most progressive. It's not just about image and video creation, or witty chatbot retorts, it's about device-wide integration.

Google has an advantage that many others don't, in that it can place Gemini right in the centre of its computing platforms.

Gemini will take centre stage at Google I/O as we move towards an increasingly agentic experience. That means it can carry out tasks on your behalf, with deeper integration expected into a full range of third-party services. I'm expecting a big step beyond the simple stuff it can already do, like add things to your calendar.

We've already seen Omni leak, which appears to be an evolution of Veo video creation, and I'd expect Omni to get a full introduction. I'm also expecting Gemini to become properly multi-modal from a single prompt.

We might also get a mention of plans for Gemini powering Apple Intelligence.

Aluminium OS

Google has long had plans to unify Android and Chrome OS. Small steps have been taken in that direction over the past years, but there's been an expectation that something new was coming.

Indeed, Sameer Samat, Google's president of Android, and Rick Osterloh, SVP of devices and services have both talked about bringing the two platforms together on numerous occasions over the past year, and the first fruits of that appear to be in Googlebook.

But Googlebook was announced with an unnamed operating system, which is where I'm expecting Google I/O to give us more. It's been dubbed Aluminium OS for some time, but that's not (yet) an official name.

The evolution of Aluminium OS (or whatever it's called) means more seamless interaction between mobile and laptop, a shared intelligence through Gemini and should mean that developments for Android can benefit PCs too. Chrome will continue, but Googlebook will likely accelerate the experience.

Android XR

Google's wearable platform is younger than others and while we've seen Galaxy XR make the debut of Android XR, we're yet to see Google's efforts in smart glasses in a commercial device.

There have been rumours that Samsung will announce Galaxy Glasses in July and we know that Samsung is a key development partner on Android XR, so I'm expecting to hear a lot more and hopefully see some real products.

While Samsung might be allowed to keep its product for its own launch, there's a chance that Gentle Monster and Warby Parker's involvements will have more prominence, while Xreal's Project Aura could also get some time on stage.

Android XR glasses are coming in 2026 and Google I/O is the perfect time to fill in the gaps and show us what we're going to be getting.

How to watch Google I/O

Google will be streaming all the action from Google I/O, with the action starting on 19 May at 10am PT, which is 6pm BST.

There will also be extensive coverage here on T3.com, with a live blog of the action, where we'll get under the skin of the announcements and what it all actually means.

I’ve been waiting years for a new Google smart display, and now it seems one might finally be on the way. Ahead of the Google I/O event which is taking place next week, analysts have spotted Google app code which suggests a ‘Google Home Display’ is on its way – here’s what we know so far.

Much to my dismay, Google hasn’t released a new smart display since 2021 when it debuted the second generation of the Nest Hub and the Nest Hub Max. Since then, there’s been little to no news about new Nest Hubs aside from a vague hint that new Nest displays would be down to the evolution of Gemini for Home.

In late 2025, Google Home’s Chief Product Officer stated that “the smart display does present itself as an incredible form factor to interact with something like Gemini for Home”, and went on to credit its microphone and screen as a great way to interact with and visualise information. But that’s all that was really said – until now.

In the Google Home app for iOS, there’s a list of Google devices, including old and new smart speakers, displays, Chromecasts, cameras and more. Within this Google Home app code, MacRumors analyst @aaronp613 on X spotted references to a ‘Google Home Display’.

The reference to the Google Home Display sits above pre-existing displays and devices, including the Nest Hub Max, the Google Home Mini and the Google Home Speaker which was unveiled last year. Aside from the name being similar to the speaker, there’s not much news surrounding the potential new display, so I’ve taken some guesses about what we could expect.

The most obvious ‘new’ feature of the potential Google Home Display could be the Gemini for Home integration. As Gemini is being slowly introduced to old and new Google devices, this seems like a given that the new Google Home Display would have Gemini already on there.

Another area I would like to see is the Google Home Display coming in multiple sizes. Previously, the Nest Hub displays have been in seven or 10 inch display sizes, which is considered small now next to Amazon’s Echo Show range which goes up to a massive 21-inch screen. While I wouldn’t want a display that big, a potential 12 or 15-inch Google Home Display could be interesting.

As always, we’ll just have to wait and see what will be announced at Google’s next I/O event.

Samsung has announced the One UI 9 beta program for Galaxy S26 users, built on Android 17, giving owners the first chance to experience the latest from Google and Samsung itself.

Of course, before you jump in, it's important to understand that this is still part of the beta program, so this isn't finished software and if your S26 is your main phone then you might not want to upgrade.

Android 17 is still in development: we're expecting to hear a lot more about new features for the platform at Google I/O next week – some of which will be Pixel exclusive – but Samsung will also be making tweaks of its own for Galaxy phone owners.

Android 17 is expected to make its debut on Pixel some time in June or July 2026, with Samsung debuting One UI 9 and Android 17 on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 – expected to launch on 22 July.

Samsung explains that the software includes a couple of new features, including new tools in Samsung Notes, an updated Quick Panel for greater layout controls with independent brightness, sound and media adjustments.

There are also some tweaks to DeX and Game Booster, new accessibility settings and options for physical keyboard and mouse. Basically, a lot of background stuff that Samsung doesn't mind sharing with you now.

What else is coming with One UI 9?

There will be other tweaks and improvements from the Android 17 side, while many of Samsung's core new features won't be delivered until the new phones are launched.

That's because the top features will be getting a lot more fanfare on stage at the launch of the new devices and Samsung doesn't want to spoil the surprise early. That's likely to include access to Gemini Intelligence, the new AI system from Google.

For those wanting to sample the new software, you can join the One UI 9 beta program through the Samsung Members app on your phone.

Here there's the option to opt in, pushing the beta update to your device. It's a limited roll-out at the moment with Germany, India, Korea, Poland, UK and the US getting access this week.

While many Samsung owners might not be ready to jump onto the beta to try One UI 9 and Android 17 right now, the fact that this is happening tells us a couple of things.

First, it indicates that Android 17 is progressing well and that we're getting close to final release from Google. And second, it tells us that Samsung's work is well underway and it's likely that the Galaxy S26 will move to new software fairly soon after it's introduced at Galaxy Unpacked.

In the past we've seen some really long delays from Samsung – hopefully, the move to Android 17 will be much faster.

Google has just announced Googlebook, designed as a new category of premium laptops built on the intelligence that Gemini has brought to Android. But the company has also confirmed that support for Chromebooks remains in place.

Chromebooks have been something of a breakthrough in the affordable segment of the laptop market, great for basic computing tasks and avoiding the expense and complication of a full laptop OS.

That's made them popular with educational institutions, for example, the very same budget-limited places that might be concerned that they've invested in obsolete hardware.

There's no need to worry though: Google has come forward to confirm that ChromeOS will continue to get 10 years of automatic updates, despite the evolution of Googlebook.

For those with a large fleet of Chromebooks, these can still be managed by the Google Admin console.

Finally, Google has also confirmed that it's going to be facilitating the move over to the "new experience" that comes with Googlebook, which integrates Gemini Intelligence to make for a smarter computing experience.

So, while those with an existing Chromebook will continue to enjoy that experience, fully supported, some will move to something newer and smarter.

At the moment it's not clear which models will move to the Googlebook experience, but I don't think it would be too much of a surprise if it includes models from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo, the very same brands name-dropped in the Googlebook announcement.

At the Googlebook announcement – part of The Android Show – Google showed off new powers that will come through the OS, including some really clever Gemini-powered skills.

The platform leans on Gemini Intelligence to join the dots, while working to seamlessly integrate Android, allowing instant access to your Android device.

The launch window for Googlebook is later in 2026, when those brands above are expected to release commercial devices, but there are still a few unanswered questions, like what the OS is actually called, and if Google will have its own model, something it has done in the past with Pixelbook, Chromebook Pixel and Pixel C.

What will be next? The Pixel Googlebook?

Samsung could be the first brand to roll-out Gemini Intelligence, ahead of Google's own Pixel phones. That could see the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 as the debut devices for Google's new AI system.

Google has just introduced its next-gen AI system that's coming to devices, calling it Gemini Intelligence. It takes Gemini from the chat-based system that we currently have to something that's more personal and integrated with agentic powers.

However, it looks like Google is once again handing the baton to Samsung for the announcement, rather than letting it make its debut on the Pixel 11.

This isn't the first time that Google has turned to Samsung for such an occasion: we saw Samsung lead the way with Circle to Search in the past, using Samsung's huge platform to announce the feature on the Samsung Galaxy S24 before pushing it to Pixel phones.

That seems to be the approach that Google is taking with Gemini Intelligence, too. According to Seoul Economic Daily, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 will come with One UI 9 including Gemini Intelligence.

Indeed, during The Android Show and the announcement of Gemini Intelligence, Mindy Brooks, VP of Android platform, had name-dropped Samsung within the first minute, saying "starting with Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel later this summer".

Samsung's new foldable phones are expected to be announced on 22 July at a Galaxy Unpacked event in London. And it's here we'll likely see the new tech's first outing.

Although, as Google has already confirmed that it's coming to Pixel phones, it's likely that Google will push Gemini Intelligence as an update soon after. This could be within days or weeks, without the need to wait for new devices.

Gemini Intelligence will span all Android platforms including phone, watch, glasses, car, laptop and tablet, making smarter links between your apps, your information and what you want to do. Google calls it "seamless automation", designed to handle "the tedious stuff".

A key part of Gemini Intelligence is to act through other apps, to find and organise information. If you don't have the apps, it can also use Chrome, with Google putting the emphasis on "getting things done".

The idea is you spend less time heading to a specific app to do things and have Gemini do it instead. For example, Gemini can find your course books from a list you've been sent and add them to a shopping cart for you to buy, or it can plan a holiday for you - leaving you to make final checks and then hit the buy button at the end.

Gemini Intelligence will also handle things like form filling, able to extract information from places on your phone, while it will also clean up voice inputs to remove the "ums" and "ahs" as you talk for a cleaner message.

While Pixel phones are expected to get Android 17 in the early summer, it's unlikely to be tied specifically to that version of Google's software. Instead, we expect Samsung to showcase Google Intelligence on its new phones, before Pixel executes a much wider update.

Google is bringing advanced lane guidance to select cars with Google built-in, allowing more precise instructions on when to switch lanes.

The enhancement, announced at The Android Show, takes advantage of deeper integration between Android Automotive and the car's hardware.

This means that Immersive Navigation can use the front camera on the car to assess the roads and tell you when and where to switch lane. This is great for junctions, but rather than being a default "left lane" voice guidance, for example, it will tell you when to move over.

This isn't a feature that will be in Android Auto, because it depends on the hardware in your car, so it draws out a point of differentiation between those using a smartphone-based system and those with Google built-in with Android Automotive.

Google emphasises that live lane guidance all happens in the car, so it's not dependent on other data sources – everything comes from the car itself.

That should make driving smoother, making sure you're in the right lane all the time and avoiding those last-minute switches and fighting with other traffic.

Google live lane guidance will be car specific

Live lane guidance will only be supported on compatible vehicles, but Google hasn't shared what those models are yet.

Elsewhere, Android Auto is going to get more customisable and benefit from the Immersive Navigation too, allowing 2D maps to get 3D enhancements, so things like buildings and bridges will be more obvious, to make navigation at a glance easier.

The Android driving environment will benefit from the enhancements that Gemini Intelligence will bring, able to serve up contextual information without having to search everything out, so it's easier to get things done.

Also, entertainment is finally coming to Android Auto, with support for video apps providing Full HD 60fps video to watch when parked.

hat's also going to include a transition to audio-only modes when you start driving when using compatible apps. That's great for things like podcasts, switching from watching video to listening to just the audio.

Video features will be coming to BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes, Renault, Skoda, Tata and Volvo. Google has also confirmed that Dolby Atmos will be coming to a number of models, supported in Android Auto, where previously it was only available through Apple CarPlay.

After months of speculation, Google has confirmed the phase out of Chromebooks in favour of an Android-based laptop platform.

Googlebook will replace its current portable computing solutions and uses a blend of Android, Chrome OS and Gemini to make an all-new, AI-powered MacBook Neo rival.

Unveiled during The Android Show on Tuesday, Googlebook has Gemini and agentic AI built into its heart. As with Chromebook, devices will be built by third-party manufacturers, including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo, but they will have to adhere to strict standards.

Every Googlebook, says Google, will be made using "premium craftsmanship and materials" – although they'll come in all shapes and sizes. And there will be a "unique glowbar" on the front of each, with RGB LEDs highlighting the laptop.

As well as its own software and applications, Googlebook will be able to run Android apps from the Play Store, but it's biggest USP is baked-in Gemini Intelligence.

Even the cursor will be AI-powered, becoming a new Magic Pointer. This will enable you to simply wiggle the cursor and it will turn into a Gemini tool that will understand the context of where you move to and click.

That will then give you suggestions of things you might want to do with that specific window or content. Point it at an email, for example, and you might be asked if you want to set up a meeting or action a response. Or point it at two images and it could combine them to make a single picture.

You will also be able to create your own widgets through Gemini prompts, and use agentic AI to create workflows through multiple apps in the one window.

There's a lot still to learn about Googlebook – not least its availability and pricing plans – but it certainly looks like it'll be gunning for Apple's MacBook Neo as a student's next best friend.

We could find out more during Google I/O next Tuesday, 19 May 2026.

Google could be about to shift up its AI-powered video creation with the introduction of Gemini Omni. The new service is thought to be an extension of the existing Veo offering, with access part of Google's paid AI Pro plan.

The current Veo model has been evolving, currently sitting on version 3.1, with audio introduced to the video creation process with version 3.

The new model is expected to be called Gemini Omni, although details leaking out have suggested that it's an extension of Veo, with familiar leaker Max Weinbach sharing metadata that labels it as "VEO_MODE_OMNI".

Shared by 9to5Google, it appears that some Gemini users have had early access – shared via Reddit – although the user sharing these details has also said that it has been revoked, with Gemini reverting back to the previous Veo experience.

In the first instance, a pop-up invitation suggested "create with Gemini Omni", before going on to say: "Meet our new video model. Remix your videos, edit directly in chat, try a template, and more."

Some of the shared results are impressive too, with photo-realistic depictions showing that this AI experience has mastered things like text, while people and their movements look realistic too – if just a little too perfect.

While there are some great results from what we've seen so far, it's still a little artificial, it shows progress towards an AI video model that's more believable – if that's something you actually want.

Part and parcel of Omni appears to be usage limits, determined by the AI plan that you subscribe to. That will allow power users to create more videos, while those on cheaper tiers are still likely to have access.

This leak comes on the eve of Google making its big announcements through Google I/O, where we're expecting a full announcement to detail the advancements of Gemini, with Omni likely to be a part of that.

We're also expecting the latest on Android, with Android 17 expected to be introduced through The Android Show later today. It looks like video creation is going to play a big part in Google's AI future – after all, "omni" means "everywhere".

Google has updated one of its photo apps, bringing new powers to Android phones – and this isn't a Pixel exclusive, because everything is accessed through an app.

The update has come to Snapseed, one of the best photo editors of yesteryear that's now been fully updated for Android.

The move comes after iOS got Snapseed 4 earlier in the year – and now Android phone owners can benefit from the same features.

Snapseed was one of the standout apps of the last decade, offering multiple editing controls well in advance of them being offered natively by apps like Google Photos.

That relationship flipped in latter years, with Google pouring AI into Google Photos to make it a one-stop shop for all things photo editing, while Snapseed fell by the wayside.

Arguably Google Photos in now more confusing than it's ever been, and so Snapseed has made a surprising return – and it doesn't matter what brand of Android phone you use, because it's available to download from Google Play.

Snapseed now offers both a camera with lots of filters – based broadly around vintage film types – but it's the editing that's always been the most fun in Snapseed.

The app allows easy core image tuning by scrolling up or down through various settings, while swiping left or right to change the values. That's a great starting point, but there's a lot more that's offered.

There's a full selection of tools to comprehensively edit your images, changing just about everything imaginable. There's also the option to apply those filter options after the fact – and in reality, you don't need to use the Snapseed camera, you can use any image on your device.

For portrait fans, there are lots of settings to make yourself look "better", easy options to crop and flip images, and loads of other effects you can apply, either to correct the image to make it more realistic, or to make it more dramatic.

Google highlights that there's a new user interface, non-destructive and batch editing is offered, there are pro features like smart masking, while new tools include Bloom and Halation.

Best of all, there's something decidedly manual to Snapseed. While the last few years have felt like AI is making all the decisions, Snapseed is a good reminder that doing it manually can be a lot more fun. It's smooth and fast to use and best of all, it's free.

Google could offer Pixel owners the option to turn off the search bar in Android 17, removing a key feature of the Pixel Launcher.

For many years, Google has included the search bar on the home screen of its Pixel devices. Although it's a widget, you can't remove it from the launcher, so it has been omni-present, and a key feature for some time.

In Android 17, there could be the option to turn off the search bar, meaning that apps on the home screen sit closer to the bottom of the page.

The details were shared by Mystic Leaks on Telegram (via 9to5Google) having been uncovered in an unreleased Android 17 build.

A toggle to turn the search bar on and off seems to have been added, in addition to the customisation options that already exist in Android 16.

That will please some users who want greater customisation or don't find it useful, but over time, the search bar has become a key feature of Google's home screen offering.

Google's search bar isn't just about accessing Google and through the years that it's been part of Android, it has offered many features, so it might be that not many people want to remove it.

In addition to searching Google as you'd expect, it also searches your device, bubbling up apps in addition to returning search results. It also integrates shortcuts for Google Lens, as well as voice searching (which can also toggle song identification).

There's the option for another shortcut too, which by default is AI Mode. While this is still a part of Google Search, it takes you straight into an AI chat.

There's an argument that it's a duplication of features with Gemini elsewhere on the phone and that's true: search for your closest chicken restaurant and both Google Search and Gemini will give you the same results (in my experience), although Search is typically faster.

For many people, the search bar is a first port of call for finding information that's not already on their phone, but it is slightly confusing when Gemini is presented as a separate experience elsewhere.

While Gemini is only a swipe, button press or "Hey Google" away, I've always found the search bar handy for those quick interactions – and when not using a Pixel phone, I often choose to add it as a widget for convenience.

We're expecting to hear more about Android 17 at The Android Show this week.

Google is tipped as building a Gemini AI style agent that's made to be your personal assistant.

According to sources of Business Insider – that revealed an internal document – Google is developing an AI agent codenamed Remy.

Remy is currently being tested with employees, it's claimed, from within the staff-only version of the Gemini app. It was described as a "24/7 personal agent for work, school and daily life".

The idea here is that the AI works to help you in your life in a more integrated way. So rather than being like Gemini, that you can speak to about things, this will actually help carry out actions for you.

What is Google Remy?

Google's Remy is expected to be able to carry out actions for you, monitor areas you need covered, handle complex tasks, and it will do all this while learning about your preferences over time.

Google has not publicly commented or given any information on this project, yet.

But doesn't the AI idea itself sound familiar? Yup, this appears to be Google's play to offer something similar to the popular OpenClaw free open-source AI agent.

OpenClaw is able to respond to messages for you, manage your files, carry out research and even automate tasks across your computer without you needing to do anything. So popular was this that the Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang, called it "definitely the next Chat-GPT".

Claude Cowork is a similar offering, allowing the AI to handle your PC tasks automatically – only with less awkward complexity than OpenClaw when it comes to setup.

So, Google getting in on that action – and offering a seamlessly simply solution – makes a lot of sense.

When will Google Remy arrive?

At this point Google has not commented on Remy publicly, suggesting it's still not at the ready-to-even-tease stage.

The race to offer an AI agent is now well and truly on, so expect Google to unveil this sooner rather than later.

Google has finally brought back the Fitbit brand with its first device in years. The last product for adults was the Fitbit Charge 6 back in 2023, but now there's a new fitness tracker on the immediate horizon and it's as feature-packed as it is affordable.

The Fitbit Air is a super-lightweight band that's designed to be worn 24/7. It works with the Google Health Coach to track data across multiple health and fitness areas, including heart rate, heart rhythm monitoring with Afib alerts, SpO2, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep stages and duration.

It promises up to a week's worth of battery life per charge, with the ability to get a day's use from just five minutes of charging time, and several band styles can be worn during the day or night.

There's a performance loop band, which comes with every Fitbit Air in the box. This is made from recycled materials and has a fabric-style finish.

There's also an active band, which is made from silicone for sweat and water resistance. And finally, there's an "elevated modern band". This is more watch-like, with a trio of colour options that match Pixel phones.

A last option is a special edition band designed for NBA star Stephen Curry, who has been teasing the band for the last few weeks. This is in the loop band style, but in orange and brown – two of the trend-setting colours for the last year.

The Fitbit Air is available to pre-order now for £84.99 / $99.99. It includes a three-month trial of Google Health Premium and will ship from 26 May. It'll work with both Android and iOS.

The special Steph Curry edition of the Fitbit Air is also available to pre-order today, albeit only in the US. It's priced at $129.99.

Google has confirmed that The Android Show is returning with a special Google I/O edition. It should give us some juicy details on what's next for Android ahead of I/O itself.

In 2025, The Android Show served as a way for Google to showcase some big parts of Android that it didn't want slowing down the main keynote. That included a reveal of Material 3 Expressive, the new design language for Android 16.

A short teaser video for The Android Show: I/O Edition sets the date for 12 May at 10am PT (6pm BST), before Google I/O kicks off on 19 May and we're expecting to hear a lot more about Android 17's new features.

The content of the teaser video has raised some concerns, however. It shows the green droid jumping around and pulling a light switch. It then appears to turn transparent, a visual that's being used elsewhere in I/O teasers.

That has led some to think that Google might be about to implement a "liquid glass" effect like Apple, although that's been flatly refuted by Sameer Samat, Google's president of Android. Replying on X, Samat confirmed that it was "not happening".

What we might see is increased transparency, in keeping with what we see in a number of third-party skins on Android. Others have suggested that it might be something to do with jelly animations instead.

What might Google announce at The Android Show?

Samat said to expect the "Biggest. Android. Updates. Ever", without revealing exactly what that might be. But there's plenty that we're expecting.

It's been said that new widgets, new home screen customisation, transparency and multi-tasking bubbles could be introduced. The latter is common on other Android brands, allowing any app to pop-out into a window for multi-tasking.

Personally, on a smartphone, I find that windowed use doesn't help because there's not enough space, but with Google's focus on larger screens, that could be a useful native feature.

That might go hand-in-hand with a proper desktop mode to rival Samsung DeX, again making big screen Android use better.

Talking of bigger screens, we've previously heard Samat talking about the advent of the Android PC, likely as a post-Chrome device. Aluminium OS is thought to bring Chrome OS onto the Android technology stack – and mostly to benefit from the AI gains that have boosted Android.

Talking about AI, the move to make Gemini a proper agentic AI platform has been talked about for a long time, but really hasn't come to fruition yet. We also know that Google wants Android to have more automations, powered by AI, for a smarter user experience.

I'm expecting to hear a lot about Gemini at Google I/O – whether Google would use The Android Show as a warm-up for agentic AI remains to be seen.

Volvo has confirmed that it has started to roll-out the update that will bring Gemini to many of its vehicles, replacing Google Assistant. The news comes hot on the heels of GM announcing its own plans to update its in-car voice assistant.

What makes this update important is that Volvo was one of the first major manufacturers to deploy Android Automotive, Google's native in-car platform.

Volvo has stayed committed to the Google experience, allowing for seamless integration of things like Google Maps navigation, familiar Android apps and of course, Google's voice assistant.

While Google Assistant did a lot to take in-car voice control forward (especially compared to manufacturer-developed systems), the evolution of Gemini over the past couple of years has left the old system in the dust.

It allows for much more natural voice interactions, moving on from rigid commands. Gemini can interpret what you are saying, while also being able to have much more informed discussions with you while driving.

The experience of Gemini on Android Automotive will match that of Android Auto (the smartphone-based experience) which is something that I've personally used and found to be really useful – especially for long-term planning.

For example, on a recent drive, I asked Gemini to help plan a family trip down to Italy and it detailed the route options I had available, suggested overnight stop locations, as well as advice on what to see – and what busy summer tourist spots to avoid.

That's an experience that will now be available for Volvo drivers. Although the deployment of Gemini will start in the US, Volvo has confirmed that it will spread to other markets "in the weeks ahead".

Because of Volvo's long use of Android Automotive, there's a wide range of models supported, dating back to 2020. It includes the C40, EC40, EX40, XC40, S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, V90, V90CC, S90, XC90, EX90, ES90, EX30, and the recently-launched EX60.

"Drivers will enjoy cutting-edge AI that reduces complexity, keeps their attention where it matters most, and makes every drive a little easier," said Patrick Brady, vice president of Android for Cars at Google.

The update to Gemini comes on the back of Volvo's recent Volvo Car UX update that was pushed in March 2026.

We've all been there: standing in front of a wardrobe packed with clothes, absolutely convinced we have nothing to wear. Well don’t worry, because there's a fix coming for this daily issue, and there’s a good chance you won’t even need to download a new app to take advantage.

Google has announced its Photos app will be getting a new AI-powered feature this summer that will transform your existing photo library into an organised digital wardrobe. Rather than requiring you to manually log every item you own (thank god, I’d be there all day), the update will see the feature automatically scan through your photos and pull out the clothing you've been snapped wearing over the years, cataloguing it all into a dedicated wardrobe collection.

Once your digital closet is assembled, you can browse everything at once or filter by category – think tops, bottoms, jewellery and more – which will no doubt be very handy for rediscovering pieces you'd completely forgotten about. Remember that shirt you bought on holiday three years ago and then buried under seventeen other shirts?

What else will the 'wardrobe' feature be able to do?

The feature goes beyond a simple inventory tool, though. You’ll be able to mix and match items to build outfits and save them to themed digital moodboards. You could have separate boards for work looks, summer weddings, or an upcoming holiday for example. For those who have multiple Pinterest boards full of various outfit ideas, this feature will likely be a dream come true because it should allow to you plan outfits with clothes you already own.

That’s not all either. The feature’s party trick is virtual try-on. You’ll be able to select the pieces you want to combine and tap "try it on" to see a preview of how the outfit will actually look on you before you commit to getting dressed. Virtual try on features have gradually been appearing in online shopping apps for years, but this feature will at least lets you do it with your own clothes rather than tempting you to buy new ones.

The Google Photos wardrobe feature will roll out on Android first, with iPhone following later in the summer. We will keep you posted on exactly when.

Google will soon start to roll out a whole bunch of new features to its Google TV platform, which will improve many smart TVs and streaming devices.

That will include the Google TV Streamer, of course, but also TVs from the likes of Philips (older models), TCL, Sony and Hisense. There are other devices that run on Google TV too, including the Thompson Go Cast 152 in the UK and the Onn 4K available through Walmart in the US.

The new Google TV update will include new content on the homepage in the form of vertical videos. Starting with YouTube Shorts, US Google TV users will be able to browse and play videos straight from the menu screen.

A new rail will give you a personalised feed of vertical clips, which could also incorporate additional services over time – such as Instagram and TikTok. Both Disney+ and Netflix will also be introducing vertical videos to their respective platforms soon.

In addition, the new update will add a wide selection of AI tools for photo editing and creation, as well as the ability to make your own video clips using Veo – Google's AI-powered video maker.

Nano Banana will drive photo creation, with Personal Intelligent tech also tapping into your Google Photos library to help you make custom images featuring family members and pets.

The same is true with Veo, you'll be able to make video clips starring your own family, for example. All you have to do is describe the action and who you want in it, then Veo will hunt through your Photos library to find the person's likeness.

What else is coming to Google TV soon?

Other new features that are coming soon include the ability to search for specific photos in your library using your voice. And once found, you can then use Google Photos Remix to turn them into different art styles.

All of these new creations and the original photos will be available to view in a new dynamic slideshow, or you can easily set them to be your screensaver.

The update will roll out to US Google TV devices first – sometime this summer – with other regions to follow after. It also depends on your manufacturer on how many of the new features will be adopted and when.

While we’re expecting the Google Pixel 11 to have much the same design as the current models, the move to a new Tensor chip is more exciting. So far, we've heard little about the Google Tensor G6, but a new leak furnishes us with new information.

The Google Tensor G6 is expected to feature some of the latest ARM cores, including a C1-Ultra clocked at 4.11GHz, four C1-Pro cores at 3.38GHz, and two C1-Pro cores at 2.65GHz.

So that looks like a 1+4+2 configuration, weighted towards performance, which is a slight shift in positioning from previous Tensor chips. This might be because Google wants more raw power for intensive tasks in future Pixel devices.

It could mean that the Pixel 11 feels significantly faster than previous phones, which will be great for users. There is a suspicion in the back of my mind that this could be future-proofing, perhaps with the intention to roll the chip over to products for a longer time window.

I say this because we saw the Pixel 10a run with the same chip as the Pixel 9a rather than get updated – perhaps Google is planning more of this type of multi-generational use.

While that's just speculation, there's another part of this equation: the GPU is said to be the PowerVR C-Series CXPT-48-1536, which according to 9to5Google is a couple of years old.

That might see the Tensor G6 equipped with some of the very latest CPU cores, but a GPU that lags behind. This might just be because it's not being pitched for graphically intensive tasks, or perhaps this is an outdated part of the configuration.

While for many users this won't be a concern, it might be that despite the additional power, the Tensor G6 devices aren't as universally powerful as those powered by the latest Snapdragon hardware – something that's been true since Tensor's inception.

While these details are all a bit on the technical side, we're unlikely to hear what Google has in store for the Pixel 11 and the new Tensor hardware until the new device launches – expected to be around August 2026.

Google's Gemini is coming to millions of vehicles, with GM announcing the rollout of the Google AI on many of its Android Automotive models.

The move marks a new phase in the deployment of Gemini in cars, something that's taking a little longer than originally expected.

Gemini was first announced for Android Auto at The Android Show in May 2025, with the update officially starting in November 2025 – but it seemed to take a long time for the new voice assistant to arrive, with some Android Auto users complaining that Google Assistant was becoming unusable.

That position has mostly changed, with many who use Android Auto now having access to the AI agent. Android Automotive is slightly different, because this is the system that runs natively in the car, rather than on a smartphone, which is why this news is significant.

Android Automotive is in over 50 different car models, with big names like Volvo and Polestar using the system heavily, as does the General Motors group. GM says there are over four million Android Automotive cars in the US alone that are now in line for the update to Gemini.

What does Gemini add to your car?

The move will bring support for much more natural language, meaning you don't have to use precise phrases to prompt Google into giving you the result you want. You can have a conversation with the car, and it will have a memory of what you've asked it.

I've used Gemini in my own car and it allowed me to have longer discussions about choosing routes for navigation. It's just a better way to get the things you want, removing some of the frustration that came with Google Assistant when driving.

There's a lot more information available – conversationally – so I also used it to ask to explain to other people in the car the relationship between pitch and tempo in analogue audio sources, compared to digital media. It's a random request, but it was part of the conversation.

When driving, the core skills of messaging, finding the right music and choosing a better route come more naturally with Gemini, with its wider skills just the icing on the cake.

Gemini will be rolling out to models from 2022 and newer, across Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick and GMC models in the US, with GM saying it will take several months to deploy.

Later in 2026, the car manufacturer is promising a more integrated AI solution through GM Forward that will know all about your vehicle and your driving preferences to make for an even deeper experience.

If you've ever grown frustrated with how Gemini is unable to remember details of a previous conversation, there's good news for you. Today, the brand has launched 'Memories' – a feature which allows the AI-powered assistant to recall information from previous conversations.

The brand suggests its "like an assistant who is already up to speed" and I can't really think of a better way to put it. Rather than needing to give context each time you use the app, Gemini will be able to pull on known interests and preferences to offer relevant solutions.

Say, for example, you've previously spoken about your literary interests, Gemini will be able to recall this when you ask for new recommendations. That should empower its choices, but also ensure there are fewer overlaps in what it suggests.

The new feature will be on by default, though users can opt to turn it off at any time in the settings menu. That's handy for anyone who doesn't want the app to have full and unfettered access to the many various things they might chat about.

That's not the only change, either. The app is also gaining a memory import feature, which allows users to take their conversations from one AI-powered assistant and import them into Gemini.

Gemini will then be able to learn from and contextualise the information within those conversations as if it had happened natively, giving you full, context-aware assistance even when you've used other apps. The system will allow people to change their allegiances on the AI assistant front.

It can even import your preferences and settings from those apps, meaning first time Gemini users can quickly get the app setup exactly how they want it without hassle. It's a really cool feature, and should help the app to gain a few new users who have previously made use of apps like ChatGPT.

Samsung TV owners have famously long lived without a few features found on televisions from rival brands – Dolby Vision, for one. Another that comes as more of a surprise is Google Cast.

Samsung's smart TVs have not had native support for Google Cast, with the manufacturer favouring its proprietary Smart View feature instead. Built around Miracast, it has basically offered a similar experience, allowing you to mirror your phone's screen, but it's not quite the same.

However, that's all changing. As well as finally supporting Google Cast on its new, 2026 smart TV models, Samsung has started to roll it out as an upgrade to older sets too. That includes TVs made from 2023 on.

According to XDA Developers, the One UI Tizen v2115 update is now available across multiple Samsung smart TVs released in the last few years. And it includes Cast support.

There is a caveat – your TV needs to have been made and sold from 2023 and run on Tizan OS. But if compatible, you'll find a much better streaming option waiting.

That's because Google Cast is universal – it works across pretty much every Android phone and tablet you can think of, iPhone and iPad too. You just have to tap the Cast icon when you're in a streaming app (if supported), select your TV and away you go.

Perhaps the biggest benefit over Samsung's own Smart View is that Google Cast doesn't technically mirror your device's display. Once Cast, the content is streamed by the TV from the internet directly, leaving your phone to perform other tasks with no slow down or interruption.

You can use your mobile device as a remote, but the video is streamed independently.

This is a big deal for Samsung smart TV owners, many of which have bemoaned its absence over the years. It also allows you to stream from apps that might not be otherwise available on your TV.

Many other brands have offered the service for years – especially those that run Google TV or Android TV – which Samsung owners and others have had to add a Chromecast device for the same functionality. You won't need that any longer.

If your Samsung TV doesn't currently run Tizen v2115.3 or later, check your settings to see if an update is available. It might take a bit longer to reach all the supported models, depending on your region.

Google just updated Gemini for Home with a long-awaited feature that users have been asking for. The Continued Conversation feature is available for early access users, and allows you to have longer chats with Gemini.

Gemini for Home is still relatively new, as it only launched in October 2025. Since then, it’s had many updates, new functionalities and – sadly – bugs, but this new feature is definitely one that will get lots of users excited.

Continued Conversation allows users to have longer, uninterrupted conversations with Gemini. In an effort to make communicating with Gemini easier and more natural, Continued Conversation means you can keep talking to and asking Gemini questions without having to say “Hey Google’ repeatedly.

Continued Conversation keeps the microphone on your smart speaker or display active for a few seconds after Gemini has given a response to your question. From there, you can ask another or continue the chat without Gemini ‘turning itself off’ or you having to say its wake up phrase again.

To show that Gemini is still listening, the lights on your smart devices will stay lit and pulse. Not only does this show that Gemini is still active, but it also means it remembers the context of your conversation so you can continue a natural chat with it.

Gemini’s Continued Conversation also has Side-Talk detection, meaning it can tell the difference between your command or next question, and other conversations that may be happening in the background. This is often something voice assistants have issues with if there’s too many voices at once, so you should be able to continue a chat while other interactions are happening around you.

Continued Conversation isn’t exactly a new feature. A similar feature was available with Google Assistant but as Gemini is becoming Google’s new assistant, it was a function that was initially ‘lost’ when the changeover occurred. So, if you liked the old feature from Google Assistant, you’ll enjoy Gemini’s Continued Conversation.

Continued Conversation is available for Gemini for Home’s early access users. It doesn’t require a subscription, and is available in all Gemini languages and regions.

It’s been a while since we have seen a Fitbit branded fitness tracker appear on the market. The last one to launch that kept the Fitbit name separate from Google was 2023's Fitbit Charge 6. However, rumours have been swirling for a couple of months regarding a new Fitbit tracker, with the latest speculation only appearing last week.

Now we have yet more evidence on a new Fitbit tracker, with 9to5Google not only claiming to know what the device will be branded, but a couple of the features it will offer too.

What do we know about the Fitbit Air?

According to the site, the Fitbit device that has been seen on the wrist of NBA star Steph Curry in videos and social media campaigns will go by the name "Google Fitbit Air".

You will notice the Google name creeping in, but the Fitbit name is also present, making it different from the likes of the Pixel Watch 4. That has no mention of Fibit in the product name despite offering the Fitbit software experience.

And speaking of the software, the 9to5Google report also goes on to say there will be a move away from Fitbit Premium (the subscription service that delivers AI features to Fitbit and Google wearables), with Google said to be rebranding the service as Google Health.

The site went on to add that the personal health coach that is currently in public preview and known only as "coach", will be called Google Health Coach when it launches officially.

There’s currently no word on exactly when the Google Fitbit Air device will launch, but it is expected within a few weeks. With Curry having now teased it multiple times, it surely can’t be too far away.

Google is expanding the powers that its Gemini AI has in image creation, leaning on what the company calls "Personal Intelligence". The idea is that because Gemini knows all about you, it will be able to more accurately produce the image that you're looking for.

This means Nano Banana 2 and Google Photos have access to that Personal Intelligence, so rather than having to provide a long contextual prompt to get the right image, Gemini will know your preferences and likes.

The example that Google gives is asking Gemini to "design my dream house", which it will be able to create using information it already knows about you.

Personal Intelligence leans on linking Gemini with Google apps, something that enhances the AI experience because it gives access to things like calendars, so that you can just ask Google if you have any free time and to schedule new appointments.

How can Personal Intelligence improve Gemini image creation?

As you'll already know, Google Photos is a mine of information about you. You have probably sorted photos to create event albums, you've labelled important people and animals, and it also shows all the places you've been and the things you love doing.

Once connected to Gemini, this can enhance the Personal Intelligence it has about you, meaning you can create images of you and your loved ones, for example. Because Gemini is great at creating different styles, you can apply those to your whole family.

Changing images is easy, because you can just ask Gemini to make particular adaptations and if things really don't look right, you can upload an image to help Gemini get the right style.

While some of this is already available – it's possible to create images in Gemini already – this extends the skills beyond what's currently possible. It will be rolling out to users in the US first, specifically those with AI Plus, Pro and Ultra.

It will be expanding to more in the future, but Google is keen to point out that it doesn't train its model from your Google Photos so your privacy will remain protected, and you won't find others able to create images from your private images.

Code referring to something called "Pixel Glow" has been revealed in Android 17 beta code, suggesting that the new feature will be coming to future Pixel devices.

Accompanying the details, there's a description that explains more – it "uses subtle light and colour on the back of your device to inform you of important activity when it’s face down."

It's also said that Pixel Glow will illuminate when talking to Gemini, something that is currently indicated by a pattern on the screen.

Pixel Glow, it seems, is a light-based notification system that will use both flashes and colours. It sounds a little like Nothing Phone's Glyph Interface, which also uses flashing lights on the back of its devices, too.

Where does "Pixel Glow" come from?

What's interesting about this leak – discovered by 9to5Google in Android Canary and Beta builds – is that this feature will be available on both phones and laptops.

In the settings page that the source was able to access, it checks whether this is a desktop or not. There are fewer details of exactly how the system will work on a laptop, but there is an icon suggesting it is a very real laptop experience.

That raises a whole lot of questions: integrating coloured lighting into the back of a phone is relatively simple, although there isn't anything obvious on the Pixel 11 renders that have leaked so far.

But, on a laptop that's less obvious. It's not the first time that Google has used coloured lighting on laptops however – the Chromebook Pixel way back in 2013 had that feature, as did the Pixel C.

The pairing of Pixel Glow with laptops suggests that Google has a new model in the works, something that will run Android and feature a light bar on the lid in some form.

As for phones, it seems more of an obvious thing to include, although it has to be said that just because a feature appears in beta software, there's no guarantee it'll definitely appear in a production device soon.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a new Fitbit launch. After being bought by Google in 2021, there have certainly been fewer launches than there once were. If you don’t count the Pixel Watch models, the last official Fitbit to launch was the Fitbit Charge 6, which landed in 2023.

But, it looks like that could change soon. It’s previously been reported that Google is working on a screen-less Fitbit, not too dissimilar from Whoop, after the band has been seen multiple times on Google’s Performance Advisor Steph Curry's social media videos.

What else do we know about this new Fitbit device?

A report by Droid-Life back in January noted that Curry had been wearing the device since the start of the year, in a grey and orange colour way. Based on those images and videos, it appears to be rather slim – around the same width as the Fitbit Alta. And based on what I can tell, it's slightly slimmer than the likes of Whoop.

A subsequent report by 9to5Google has since claimed that the unannounced device continues to be hidden in plain sight. The band looks like it will be similar to Google’s Performance Band for Pixel Watch in terms of finish and materials, but without the watch element.

There is something a little extra adding to the tease for this new device, too: an image of the Fitbit app running on a Pixel phone has appeared in a behind-the-scenes vlog ahead of the NBA All-Star Weekend.

It was again spotted by 9to5Google and shows a "Live Data" screen. This displays Fitbit’s Cardio Load metric, alongside heart rate, energy burned and elapsed time, but there is no extra context at present.

For now, there is no word on exactly when this new Fitbit band might launch, but it’s certainly being teased more and more.

Android Auto is adding support for Google Meet, meaning drivers will be able to join scheduled voice calls while driving, or place calls to contacts. The feature was previously rolled out to Apple CarPlay.

Google's pace of evolution on Android Auto is often seen as a little slow, as Google looks to focus on the core experiences of navigation, music, calls and messaging, to keep you connected on the way to your destination.

Sticking with the driving focus, Meet on Android Auto won't allow for video calling, presentations or anything else – and at this stage, it doesn't yet support work profiles, according to Android Authority.

That will come as a relief for those spared a corporate meeting because they were on the road. Instead, this update seems to be about advancing Meet as a tool for keeping up with friends and family, with some using it for calling, rather than placing a conventional voice call.

More details on how Google Meet works on Android Auto is covered in the support pages, detailing exactly what you can and can't do.

The timeline for the rollout isn't clear: on checking devices in the UK I didn't have access to Meet, so it's probably a phased rollout as most Android Auto updates are.

While Android Auto has been rather static for a while, we've recently seen wider distribution of Gemini in Android Auto, providing a much fuller experience in the car than the previous Google Assistant.

Thanks to Gemini's conversational abilities, it's possible to have much longer conversations while driving, rather than it just being basic commands. That allowed me, for example, to plan various aspects of a forthcoming road trip, with the whole conversation saved in my Gemini for later access.

While some recently complained that Google Assistant had become unusable, we're likely approaching the point where more people have Gemini than don't, which is for the better in my experience.

The addition of Google Meet in Android Auto brings another Google service into the fold, making the driving experience a little more complete, giving drivers another communication option.

If you're not enjoying the experience of your Google TV, you're not stuck with the interface, you can change it. Thanks to a new launcher called Arc, you can now get an interface that looks a lot more like Apple TV.

Android has always been about flexibility and that doesn't just apply to phones and tablets - there are also freedoms within other Android platforms to switch things around, including on Google TV.

Whether you're using the Google TV Streamer or a TV that runs Google TV, changing the launcher is an option.

The advantage of switching to a new launcher is that you can fully customise it to your preferences, it can be completely personalised, avoiding adverts and recommendations that come from Google.

The most popular of these is Projectivity Launcher, which can be found by searching on Google TV and then installing the app from Google Play. However, if you fancy something that looks like Apple TV, then Arc might be a better bet (via Android Authority).

This option isn't as advanced as Projectivity in that it's not an app in Google Play, so you'll need to be a little more advanced to get everything going. However, it's freely available on Github, which also points out some of the things that don't work and gives advice on button mapping to get Arc to launch.

The result is a cleaner interface that uses less RAM than the standard launcher (so it feels faster) and it looks like the frontend of Apple TV 4K.

The developer says that it was tested on Chromecast with Google TV (so install it at your own risk) and that in future it's looking at video wallpapers, channel support and more.

It isn't the full Apple TV 4K experience, of course, so while you can have the Apple TV app (which again has a cleaner design) you won't get all the features that Apple TV itself offers.

Currently, Apple's TV box is over three years old and while there haven't been many changes in the TV industry to warrant an update, it's still a little long in the tooth.

It's rumoured that there could be an Apple TV 4K update in 2026, with a faster chip and new Siri powers, although the slow roll-out of Apple's advanced AI could have put the brakes on a new box. Still, if you don't want to wait, you can make your Google device look like it instead.

The Google Pixel 11 could be the first phone to use Samsung's latest display technology, with a new version of its OLED screen being prepared for premium devices.

According to a report from ETNews in Korea, Samsung's new M16 display will be supplied to Google, expected to appear as the "Actua" display that Google uses in its Pixel phones. The first phone likely to use this new tech will the Pixel 11.

Although Google hasn't outlined a launch timeline for the new devices, they are expected to be announced in August 2026 – months ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro.

Samsung is also the biggest display supplier to Apple, with the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Fold expected to use the Samsung M16 display too. It's said that Samsung will ship 50 million display units for the iPhone 18 Pro models, with 10 million supplied for the iPhone Fold.

In both cases – Google and Apple – this might see those brands using Samsung's latest display tech before Samsung itself gets it use it in the Samsung Galaxy S27 next year.

What to expect from Samsung's new OLED tech

The previous generation of display – known as M14 – was used for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 models, as well as the Galaxy S26, so we can expect this display tech to be in place for a couple of years.

But, if you're expecting this new screen to come with Privacy Display you might be disappointed. As far as we know, it's not part of the basic display specification, with no indication of other phone models getting access to the tech that currently a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra exclusive.

Samsung's M16 display is said to boost the brightness, colours and lifespan of the panel, while also offering greater power efficiency.

While the Pixel 11 is expected to debut this new display, we're not expecting huge design changes from the new phone.

We are expecting a shift to the latest 2nm architecture for the new Tensor G6 chip, however, while we've also heard that Google will be boosting security credentials on the new phone.

It's not expected that any of these devices will appear until the second half of the year.

If you've ever listened to a recording of yourself and disliked the amount of filler words you use, there may finally be an app for you. That's because Google has launched a new app called Google AI Edge Eloquent, and it's designed to make you sound smarter.

In essence, it's a relatively simple dictation app, which makes use of AI to remove the unnecessary fluff and filler, as well as correcting mistakes. That means, if you correct yourself midway through a sentence, the app will be able to recognise and change that in the transcription.

Beyond just transcribing your words, the app can convert your speech into different formats. That includes things like a key points summary, formalised speech, as well as long and short variations.

It's also not just a generic experience, with the ability to add a custom dictionary to add words and phrases you use often. It can also learn your vocabulary over time, which should enable it to be more accurate as you use the app more frequently.

Everything runs locally on the device, which means nothing is sent off to the cloud. That's a really noteworthy point, as it should offer added security for those concerned with their data privacy.

You'll even find tools within the app which allow you to track things like word count and speed of speech. That could be handy if you're using the app regularly, where it will give you a chance to learn about yourself from different speeches over time.

Currently, the app is only available to users of an iPhone, though it seems likely that a version will launch soon for Android phones. Personally, I'm a big fan of the way it operates. Anything which helps to turn speech into coherent text is a winner in my book.

In rather unexpected news, there's a new variant of the Google Pixel 10a which has launched. That features a new colour variation, which is likely to be a popular one.

The Isai Blue model comes to market in addition to standard colours like Lavender, Berry, Fog and Obsidian. There is just one issue for most people – it's an exclusive launch for the Japanese market.

That means anyone who doesn't find themselves located in the land of the rising sun will have to make do with the standard suite of colour options. For anyone who isn't able to get their hands on one, the Lavender is the next best option, offering a blue-purple hue.

The limited edition Android phone will only be available from the 20th of May, according to Android Police, so there's a little bit of a wait for those seeking to snag it. Those who do manage to get their hands on one won't just have the limited edition phone, with a unique box as well as stickers and a case.

There's even a wallpaper and theme pack offered, to ensure the limited edition notion goes at least a little more than skin deep. It's good to see – most brands would simply slap the colour on the back and call it a day.

The remainder of the handset is identical to the standard version. There's no boost to the internal hardware here, which some might have hoped for in a limited edition model.

Still, it's a pretty capable handset, with a Tensor G4 processor, 8GB of RAM and a minimum of 128GB of storage on board. You'll also enjoy a capable camera system complete with great zoom and a slew of dedicated features for shooting in different scenarios.

Right now, there's also another alternative for those seeking a gorgeous blue hue. The base model Google Pixel 10 is currently reduced to just a hair more than the Pixel 10a on Google's site, and comes in the Indigo colour. Opting for that model will snag the newer Tensor G5 processor, and a much more advanced camera system.

Google Gemini’s Expressive Lighting upgrade is here, and I can’t wait to try it. This latest Google Gemini update has just made it easier to change the colour of your smart lights, and identify your different lighting devices.

Gemini for Home started rolling out at the end of 2025 as part of its Public Preview and Early Access programme in the Google Home app. Since then, Google has updated the Home app with new Gemini features, including improved device and location context, ‘Live Search’ and routines.

But this new Gemini update might be my favourite yet. Designed to improve your smart home controls and responses, Google has introduced its ‘Expressive Lighting’ feature so you can ask Gemini to change the colours of your lights without having to know the exact colour name.

Previously, voice assistants found it difficult to adjust the colour of your smart lights if you didn’t know the name of the colour. Now using natural language, Gemini can better understand what colour you want by you simply describing it. For example, you can ask for ‘the colour of the ocean’ and even the ‘colour of my favourite sports team’ and Gemini will automatically change to the right colour.

Aside from ‘Expressive Lighting’, Google has introduced another Gemini update which makes it easier for Gemini to identify your lighting devices. Thanks to this upgrade, Gemini should be able to better differentiate between lights, bulbs and lamps and respond in a more accurate and snappy way.

Google has also expanded its large appliance precision controls for devices like ovens. Users can now set humidity or temperature levels on heating and cooling devices, and can accurately adjust the temperature of your oven if you request things like “Preheat the oven to 350”.

After a not-so smooth adoption process, it looks like Google Gemini is making some serious advancements. I’m sure there will be some trial and error involved in its Expressive Lighting feature – some people’s interpretation of colour is different from others and likely a smart assistant, too – but I can’t wait to see it in action.

While smartwatches have become a core part of mainstream culture, there are many people still looking for alternatives. The prevalence of scree-free wearables like smart rings showcase that emerging market.

For those who don't like to wear rings, there are devices like the Whoop or the Polar Loop. Those are designed more like a bracelet, with tracking capabilities inside akin to what you'd find in a smartwatch.

Now, it appears that Google is preparing to enter that space, with a Fitbit-branded product. That was spotted on the wrist of NBA legend, Steph Curry, in an Instagram post.

The video clip shows Curry training with a band on his wrist, and says "a new relationship with your health," before displaying the Google logo at the end. The official Fitbit account was quick to comment, too, fuelling the idea that this will be part of that umbrella.

The band itself appears to be quite slim, with a grey central potion flanked by orange sides. It's difficult to get too much more information from the brief appearances it makes, though it looks like it might sit quite proud on the wrist.

Even so, I'm really excited by the prospect. As someone who wears a lot of traditional watches, I struggle to wear a smartwatch without looking a little silly.

That doesn't mean i don't want the ability to track my health and fitness, though, which makes devices like these really appealing.

There's no word yet on the pricing or even when the device will be available. Based on the pricing for other devices in the Fitbit range, I'm hopeful that this will be a more budget-friendly piece of kit.

According to a report from Bloomberg, the model will include basic features out of the box, with a paid subscription tier which can unlock extra functionality. That's slightly disappointing for anyone who has become disillusioned with modern subscription culture, but probably not unexpected.

It feels like just moments have passed since the Google Pixel 10 range debuted, yet already attentions have switched to its successor. Today, we've seen a suite of renders for the Google Pixel 11, showing off the handset in all its glory.

If you were hoping for a revolutionary Android phone design, this probably isn't it. Instead, the brand has made some very subtle tweaks to a design which has already won them legions of fans.

The leaks come courtesy of OnLeaks and Android Headlines. That seems to be a combination made in heaven right now, as the pair also leaked imagery of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide last week.

So, what do these images tell us about the impending handset? Well, the first thing is the bezels, which appear to be slimmer than the current model.

The other notable change comes on the camera bar, which is depicted in all black. That's in contrast to the current model, which has a colour matched portion around the flash unit.

Like I said, it's not exactly a drastic redesign, though it does at least help to make the rear panel feel a little more balanced. If this does end up being an accurate representation of the device which is launched, I'm sure there will be some criticism.

We've seen this kind of design for a few years now, though that's really nothing too uncommon in the tech space. When something works, brand's tend to stick with it – look at the iPhone, which has been in a relatively similar state for the better part of a decade at this point.

These renders really don't point to anything major with regards to the internal specs, either, though we can make some educated guesses in that department. It's likely to include an as-yet-unreleased Tensor G6 processor, likely paired with 12GB of RAM.

Google has announced the next step in Android Automotive's progress, which will see the in-car Android software able to control more than just infotainment functions.

Android Automotive was introduced in 2017, making its debut on the Polestar 2 in 2020 and going on to power a number of vehicles since. It is slightly different to Android Auto in that it's the built-in software platform in the vehicle, allowing Google's apps and services to run natively, rather than a smartphone-based system.

Google's latest confirmation outlines how Android Automotive is moving beyond just powering those customer-facing functions, like music, messaging and mapping – all ably supported by Google Assistant (and slowly being replaced by Gemini). Instead, Android Automotive will be able to control a lot more of your car.

The aim here is to provide car manufacturers with the tools they need to develop in-car systems, including the seat controls, climate control, mirrors, cameras, and telemetry.

Often, car manufacturers will be working with a number of different components with a number of different software platforms for all these features, and Google is repositioning Android Automotive – or the Android Automotive OS Software Development Kit (AAOS SDK) – to do it all.

This is about leveraging Android Automotive as an open platform to make it more useful and easier to work with, which should speed up vehicle development as the software is easier to manage.

Google's aim is to be central to the "software defined vehicle", where instead of the car being defined by mechanical systems, there's much more emphasis on how the software controls the vehicle. This allows for changes through the life of the vehicle, including things like bespoke customisation or additional paid-for options after the point of sale.

To showcase that this is more than just wishful thinking on Google's part, Renault is one of the first to be leveraging the power that the AAOS SDK offers, using it in the development of the Renault Trafic Van E-Tech.

One of the examples that Renault gives is by highlighting that, in the past, a vehicle used to have a number of different computers, but this is now centralised into one power computer to control all these different functions. This is where a brand like Qualcomm (also a partner on AAOS) comes into play.

Not only will Android Automotive support better on-screen experiences, but there's the opportunity to have Android Automotive OS monitor key component wear to better manage maintenance schedules, while also allowing things like custom software running on the vehicles display rather than on a separate device. This could be useful for delivery service vehicles, for example.

For the average customer, we could see many more car systems integrated into Google's platform in a more natural way, which might also lead to a more seamless experience when controlling your future car from the driving seat.