Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Google Messages is working on new support for custom chat wallpapers. In addition to the still wallpapers we’ve seen, it also appears this mode will support GIF animations. We’re also getting a first look at wallpapers in Messages dark mode. Last week, we brought you news of one of … Read More “Google Messages chat wallpapers have one more trick: animations” »
Joe Maring / Android Authority Google makes plenty of great Android apps, but that’s largely expected. After all, it is the de facto custodian of Android, and it really should lead by example in that regard. There’s a good chance, then, that many of your apps on your phone are made by Google. But can … Read More “Survey says this is our readers’ most cherished Google app” »
Adamya Sharma / Android Authority TL;DR Google appears to be developing an in-app search tool for My Pixel. In addition to helping you find features you want to learn more about, the tool should let you search Pixel devices and accessories for sale. For people who love learning about every last corner of their device, … Read More “Google’s My Pixel app is finally working on adding a search tool” »
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google is implementing a networking upgrade for Android that could make local file sharing and network access feel much more seamless. An upcoming Google Play System Update will let Android apps use certain standard networking ports typically reserved for system services. The change could improve compatibility with PCs, … Read More “Android may soon make local file sharing feel far less clunky” »
Stephen Schenck / Android Authority TL;DR Best Buy Canada has listed June 25, 2026, as the release date for the highly anticipated Google Home Speaker. Google still maintains that the speaker is coming in “Spring 2026” and hasn’t announced a specific launch date. When Android Authority recently asked about availability, Google said it would share … Read More “The new Google Home Speaker might finally arrive this month after a long wait” »
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Gearbox co-founder Randy Pitchford posted photos of what appears to be a Google Pixel Watch 5 that was reportedly found underwater near St. Martin. The back of the watch clearly shows “Google,” “Pixel Watch 5,” and health sensor markings, strongly suggesting it’s the real deal. Google hasn’t announced … Read More “An underwater Pixel Watch 5 just became the weirdest Google leak ever” »
Google’s smart home line-up has been in limbo since 2024, when the company introduced the Google TV Streamer and Nest Learning Thermostat. But on paper, the ecosystem has been stalling for far longer than that. We only had the Pixel Tablet, Nest Wifi Pro, and Nest Doorbell in the two years prior, and the last … Read More “This is a make-or-break year for Google’s smart home line-up” »
It’s been over a week since the Fitbit app transitioned into the new Google Health app, bringing with it a complete design revamp and the possibility of more integrations and a more centralized health experience that ties together Fitbit, Google Fit, and Health Connect. But, having used the app for a week, my personal opinion … Read More “Survey reveals 50% of users don’t like the new Google Health app” »
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority I’ve had the new Google Fitbit Air for about 10 days now, and from the moment I unboxed it, I’ve been wondering what it brings to my use case that my daily-worn Pixel Watch 4 doesn’t already provide. There’s the longer battery life and the quasi-certainty of knowing that, … Read More “I found a hidden way to wear the Fitbit Air that Google didn’t tell you about” »
Google is really testing its customers’ limits — quite literally. In a new experiment, the company is limiting some users to 5GB of Gmail cloud storage, expanding it to 15GB only after users add their phone numbers to their accounts. Google notes that this tweak is intended to bolster user security, as the phone number … Read More “Survey shows deep split between users over Gmail’s storage limits” »
