The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC. Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.

OpenAI has confirmed that it has filed for its initial public offering (IPO) just a week after Anthropic.

Welcome to episode 36 of The Sideload, a 9to5Google podcast. This week, Will is joined by Android Authority‘s Joe Maring to discuss Health Coach, Google’s latest fitness-focused chatbot launched alongside the Fitbit Air.

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At WWDC 2026, Apple announced Siri AI and a new wave of Apple Intelligence features powered by Gemini at the underlying level.

Beyond music and navigation, there are a lot of apps that might be useful on Android Auto, but a PDF app is maybe the furthest thing from anyone’s mind for an app to use in their car. Yet, Adobe Acrobat is now available on Android Auto.

Google is rolling out another Gemini for Home update, offering more detailed visuals to smart displays when you ask about the weather or media.

Your Monday afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to roll, including titles like The House of Da Vinci 3, AVARIS3, Roundguard, Hero of the Kingdom: Tales 1, Romopolis, Endurance, Mindcop, and more. We have Galaxy S26+ models at up to $530 off today as well as Galaxy Watch 8 up to $167 off and Samsung’s latest Galaxy Book 6 Intel Ultra 7 touchscreen Copilot+ PC at $900 ($550 off). The apps await below. 

Google’s accessories store page now lists a Google Stadium Soccer Ball, but it won’t ship until the end of June.

Google announced today that its AI Plus subscription is getting a price drop to $4.99 per month and now includes 400 GB of storage.

Google is giving NotebookLM a big upgrade today across the underlying models, outputs, and research made possible by Gemini 3.5 and Antigravity.

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by some notable Samsung gear, including all Galaxy S26+ models $200 off at Amazon, while Best Buy open-box units are up to $530 off (if you’re quick). You can also Galaxy Watch 8 at up to $167 off (open-box) or land a new one with a FREE $130 Withings Body Smart Scale, alongside Galaxy Ring at up to $274 off and the lowest price yet on Samsung’s latest Galaxy Book6 Intel Ultra 7 touchscreen Copilot+ PC at $900 ($550 off). Head below for a closer look.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a great foldable, but battery life has never really been its strong suit. Making matters worse, recent updates such as One UI 8.5 seem to have had a major impact on battery life.

Announced earlier this year, the new “Wardrobe” feature of Google Photos is starting to roll out, but only for paid subscribers and only on Android.

A new report reveals that OpenAI is planning a major redesign to ChatGPT that focuses on AI agents and coding, rather than its roots as a chatbot.

Google Maps is invaluable behind the wheel and one of the key reasons anyone would want to use Android Auto, but a frustrating bug has left a number of Android Auto users with their directions stuck in a blindingly bright light theme at night.

Ever since the Pixel 10 was released last year, Qi2 magnets have been a love-hate relationship – I love using them, but I hate that, somehow, the Pixel 10 is the only Android phone that has them. It’s crazy to me that no other Android brand has taken this feature seriously, and that we still have no word of that changing.

Ahead of its launch sometime later this year, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE has surfaced online early, showcasing a familiar, but slightly updated design.

Following the big Neural Expressive redesign at I/O 2026 last month, Google is rolling out some tweaks to the Gemini overlay on Android.

There are tons of earbuds and a growing number of AI-powered note-taking hardware, but what if they were combined into one neat package? That’s where Viaim and the RecDot earbuds come in.

After testing in March, Google Messages is now rolling out a new “Tap to draft” behavior for Smart Replies that helps prevent accidental sends.

If you’ve spent any time behind the wheel on Android Auto in the past couple of years, you’ve probably encountered the pop-up alerts on Google Maps and realized just how distracting they can be. Now, Google is rolling out a redesign and it’s a huge improvement.

The Gemini app’s latest first-party integration is with Google Contacts to provide “personalized insights and responses based on your contacts.”

The Steam Machine and Steam Frame have been hit by rising component costs even before launch, but Steam still seems committed to bringing the standalone PCs to consumers “this summer.”

With the Google Home Speaker likely shipping this month, the Nest Mini and Nest Audio are now out of stock on the Google Store.

Welcome to episode 103 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will make a mad dash through all the Google news coming out in a post-I/O world, including a new Android Drop, some new tools for avoiding deepfake phone call scams, the growing world of Fitbit Air accessories, and what just might be the silliest Pixel leak of all time.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Pixelated listeners can get started with Bitwarden’s free individual plan by clicking this link. Thanks to Bitwarden for sponsoring!

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Your Friday afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to go, including titles like MEGA MAN X, Ace Attorney Trilogy, GHOST TRICK, Slaps And Beans, Alien Shooter – Last Hope, Super Onion Boy 2, Crashlands 2, and more. Just be sure to dive into the now live early Prime Day deals as well as the ongoing Pixel 10 offers as well – regularly $799 Pixel 10 from just over $500 and Pro models at up to $600 off.

Google’s Pixelsnap Ring Stand grabbed attention when the magnetic Pixel 10 series launched last year, but I was never a huge fan of using it despite liking the actual concept. That’s where the OhSnap Grip Stand steps into the picture, offering the basic functionality of Google’s Pixelsnap Ring Stand while offering way more functionality and solving the problems found on Google’s accessory.

YouTube Premium’s previously-announced price hike is hitting customers this month, begging the question – will you cancel?

Microsoft Edge is ditching master passwords in favor of a more secure way to access the password manager.

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by a chance to score a regularly $799 Pixel 10 from just over $500 today alongside Pro models at up to $600 off. We also have Samsung’s entry Galaxy Tab S11 down at just over $600 and one of the best RTX 5070 Ti gaming PC deals at $551 off. Be sure to scope out the early Amazon Prime Day deals and more details on all of this month’s upcoming summer sale events right here. Head below for a closer look.

I’ve had a Pixel Watch of some sort on my wrist nearly every day for the past few years, largely because I’ve come to really value the tracking I get out of what is now Google Health. But, now, there’s another option in the Fitbit Air, a screen-less tracker that, for me, has come to serve as a brilliant little companion to my Pixel Watch.

A new report indicates the Meta Ray-Ban companion app is capable of face recognition and is designed to identify users from images and videos taken on its paired smart glasses.

While there’s been plenty of pushback, GM has stubbornly stuck with its decision to ditch support for phone-based Android Auto and CarPlay in its EVs from brands including Chevy and Cadillac, but a clever little adapter manages to bring it back – at least for now.

Google is in the early days of testing a new behavior in Chrome that sends users straight to AI Mode, bypassing the standard Search experience.

Google is shutting down its AI-powered Pixel Studio app less than two years after its debut and instead pushing users over to Gemini and Nano Banana for image generation.

The first big update (version 5.01) to the Google Health app is beginning to roll out with 16 additions and fixes to improve on the initial redesign.

Google Keep on Android is getting some tweaks to the FAB (floating action button) ahead of its new AI voice feature coming this summer.

The long, winding road to the Sonos Play takes us first through some unpaved paths, then to well-paved streets, which lead to wide open highways, at which point we run over a set of tire spikes, skid off the road and hit a tree at high speed, totaling the car in the process.

Now the vehicle is repaired, and we’re slowly inching our way onto the highway onramp, ready to hit those high speeds again.

Samsung is expected to launch its new Galaxy Watch 9 next month and, ahead of that, the Samsung Health app is getting a big redesign with lots of AI.

Google has completely rolled out its new gradient Workspace icons on Android, iOS, and the web.

The Workspace team is finally getting around to updating the Google Tasks widget on Android with Material 3 Expressive.

Gboard introduced a Material 3 Expressive redesign of shortcuts in January that is now seeing wider availability for beta users.

Your Thursday afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals awaits below, including titles like Is This Seat Taken?, Lia: Hacking Destiny, Maneater – Shark RPG, Exolotl : Zian, Through the Darkest of Times, Little Big Workshop, and more. We are also tracking some notable Google deals today, including a new Amazon low on the latest Nest Cam Indoor as well as the Nest Cam Outdoor at up to 47% off , the Google TV Streamer 4K down to $80, and an unbeatable deal on ASUS’ ROG Zephyrus G16 RTX 5090 OLED gaming laptop at $600 off.

If you’re an NBA fan, you’re familiar with the onslaught of YouTube TV advertising that has come with Google’s service being the presenting sponsor of the NBA Finals. That’s changing this year, though.

Digital photo frames offer a quick and easy way to display your family photos, and more in your home, and Google Photos integration is a no-brainer. However, changes from Google Photos last year resulted in Aura photo frames losing integration, but that’s now coming back.

If we read between the lines, the Googlebook is doomed to fail, right? I’ll be the first to admit that I had that sinking feeling right away, but I’ve thought about it, and I think, no, I’m not the target for this upcoming product lineup, and that’s okay.

Google today announced “Search profiles” as a new way for website owners and creators to “shape their presence on Search.”

According to a new leak, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 will be bringing back Snapdragon chips amid higher costs on the Exynos 2600.

Alongside the now live early Amazon Prime Day deals, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by some Google Nest gear at new all-time lows including the latest Nest Cam Indoor at $70 Amazon all-time low, or open-box units from $52 (47% off). You can also land the latest Google Nest Cam Outdoor at up to 47% off alongside the Google TV Streamer 4K down to $80 in both colors, to join the ongoing Google Pixel 10 series at up to $300 off. Head below for a closer look.

The Fitbit Air doesn’t replace your analog or digital watch, and that’s one of the biggest reasons it works. Naturally, some users are already strapping their automatic watches to Google’s fitness tracker.

New findings suggest that the first wave of Googlebook machines could include somewhere around eight new laptops with a variety of chipsets from Intel, MediaTek, and Snapdragon all on display.

The ability to take an ECG through Pixel Watch is a handy tool for keeping an eye on your health, and that app is now getting a slight revamp with a new icon and, well, the ability to actually work again.

Following a big redesign, Google Wallet is expanding Digital ID support to select regions in Europe and updating the online Google Pay checkout experience.

Although hinted at almost two months ago, it seems that Google Meet is now truly rolling out for Android Auto.

Following an early unveiling three months ago, the Honor Magic V6 is finally rolling out to global markets this month.

In its latest “Privacy on iPhone” ad, Apple goes pretty heavy-handed in its attempt to make Android phones look ancient and ugly.

Coming off using the L9Q from Hisense for a while in my theater space, it’s clear that the theater experience is getting smaller and smaller, with little to no trade-offs.

After introducing in the beta channel, the Phone by Google app is now letting stable users record custom Take a Message greetings.

After introducing custom stickers in February, Google Photos for Android now saves and stores everything you’ve created in a folder.

Amazon Music is an underrated Prime perk, offering ad-free music streaming as an alternative to Spotify and other paid services. Or, at least it was, as Amazon is now updating Amazon Prime Music to include ads unless users pay extra.

The deprecation of Google Assistant continues today with Gemini Go for Android Go devices that have entry-level specs.

Movies Anywhere is getting a boost with the addition of Lionsgate titles including some popular franchises such as John Wick, The Hunger Games, Knives Out, and more.

Your mid-week collection of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to roll, including titles like FrogBoy, Cultist Simulator, Front Armies [RTS], Deus Ex GO, Asdivine Menace, Rotaeno, and more. Be sure to dive into the early Amazon Prime Day deals as well as discounts on TCL’s TAB A1 Plus Android tablet, LG’s gram Book 15-inch touchscreen laptop, and Google Pixel 10 series at up to $615 off. The apps await below. 

Google today rolled out Android Canary 2606, with this preview build introducing expanded Dynamic Color theming options on Pixel devices.

AI can be useful in a lot of places, but there are many scenarios where it doesn’t make sense. Amazon, having been stuffing its app full of AI lately, is now going to use AI to generate images of fake products as you type in search terms.

Google Labs today announced an experimental Dreambeans app on Android and iOS to “proactively dream up personalized daily stories that cut through the clutter and connect you to what matters.”

There’s been a lot of pushback in recent months around the impact of AI data centers on local communities, with the use of water being a key issue for many. Google, in an expension of its “water stewardship” programs, is making commitments that include replenishing more water than it uses at its data center sites.

Samsung is planning two Galaxy Z Fold 8 models for launch this year, and one is confirmed to have “Ultra” in the name.

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by Amazon’s early Amazon Prime Day deals and the ongoing Google Pixel 10 series at up to $300 off right now – just keep in mind these open-box units are up to $615 off. We also have this deal on LG’s gram Book 15-inch touchscreen laptop at $550 ($150 off) and the now live Best Buy World Cup 26 sale – TVs $1,600 off, Beats, Ninja cookers, Plus memberships, more. Head below for a closer look at the details.

Ultrahuman’s user database was recently hacked, and the smart ring company says there was “no evidence of misuse.”

The new Lenovo Legion Tab (Gen 5) is a hard sell at $849, but a discount to $699 makes it a lot more palatable.

A new leak reveals Microsoft’s next-gen Surface Pro that’s powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite and due to be released very soon.

Following some previous appearances, the entire library of Pixel 11 wallpapers have now made their way online, but they’re pretty subdued and, frankly, a little boring.

Google cracked the code on making Android’s Quick Share feature work with Apple’s AirDrop, and the list of compatible devices continues to grow. Here’s every Android device currently compatible with AirDrop.

With coding having emerged as one of the best use cases for LLMs, Google is reportedly looking to train its AI models with code from actual Android app developers, but is at least paying them to do so.

Google announced today that it will let publishers determine whether their websites appear and are used by AI Mode and AI Overviews, independently of regular Search results.

Google is leaning into the Fitbit Air’s swappable pebble design to let anyone make their own accessories. This move is rather Google-y and reminiscent of the company’s earlier days.

Following the Now Playing redesign in April, the next big YouTube Music change moves Search to the bottom bar.

YouTube TV is offering members a 50% discount on the Google TV Streamer via a Google Store promo code.

Yet another Google Home update is now rolling out, bringing a Gemini-powered “Pet Memory” to Nest Cam owners, while also expanding on “Ask Home.”

Google on Wednesday afternoon announced a new software update for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Buds 2a.

• Related: Google Pixel Buds app update brings new gradient icon

Google today announced the latest spring features with the June Android Drop. At the same time, Google teased that “even more exciting updates [are] coming soon in Android 17.”

Phone by Google wants to combat the “growing threat of impersonation scams” and protect Android users against “sophisticated, AI-powered deepfake attacks” with fake call detection.

Your afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to roll, including titles like LIMBO, [Premium] RPG Armed Emeth, Thronefall, Data Defense, DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS, Slime Legends – Survivor, and more. We also have the first deal on Lenovo’s brand-new Legion Tab Gen 5 compact Android tablet at $185 off alongside its Tab Gen 3 Android tablet at $387 and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 1TB now $460 off – that’s $600 less than S26. The apps, however, await below. 

Amazon Prime Day is already around the corner, once again. Early deals are popping up, and the Google Pixel 10 series is one of the first Android devices getting a tempting Prime Day price cut.

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by the first deal on Lenovo’s brand-new Legion Tab Gen 5 Android tablet at $185 off as well as its Legion Tab Gen 3 at $387 ($163 off). We also have Anker’s display-equipped Prime Power Banks at up to 30% off and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 1TB at $460 off (that’s $600 less than S26). Head below for a closer look at the details.

It isn’t finding a Pixel Watch 5 in the ocean, but certifications are fun, too!

Motorola is gearing up to launch its new Edge (2026) mid-range device with a US release coming later this month for $599, a higher price for a device with a refreshingly smaller display.

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8, the wider one, continues to shape up to be a great addition to the lineup, with a new leak revealing that it fixes another problem with foldables – weight.

Getting your smart home kitted out with Google Nest hardware at the best price often means shopping around. With excellent return policies, quick shipping, and frequent discounts, Amazon is one of the best places to pick up smart speakers, displays, thermostats, and security cameras. With that in mind, here are some of the best early Summer Nest deals on Amazon to help automate your living space without breaking the bank.

Nintendo Music might be the strangest music app on the Play Store from a well-known developer, but you can’t say the company hasn’t given it the support it deserves. The gaming giant’s music app is getting a big update, and it means you’ll be able to roleplay Mario Kart in real life — hopefully while still following the rules of the road.

To celebrate the World Cup 2026, Google has quietly dropped a clever new limited-edition “Chrome Dino FC” Android figurine on its merchandise store. But depending on where you live, scoring this one might require some serious legwork.

As rumored, Walmart has quietly debuted a collection of Onn-branded TV sets that are all powered by Google TV, with prices starting as low as $248.

Google Photos is an excellent backup service for photos and videos, but it’s not necessarily the only thing you might want to use. Whether it’s mirroring your library on a local drive or anything else, Google Photos is adding a helpful new option to schedule exports, including only the exports of newly-added content.

Welcome to episode 35 of The Sideload, a 9to5Google podcast. This week, Will is joined by 9to5‘s Daniel Bader to discuss looking for positivity in gadgets, unplugging from the internet, the joys of Niagara Launcher, and much more.

Sponsored by NordVPN: Listeners to The Sideload can save up to 76% on a two-year subscription alongside four extra months for absolutely free by signing up for NordVPN using this link. Thanks to NordVPN for sponsoring this week’s episode.

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Anthropic has announced that the company has submitted official documentation to the SEC to start being publicly traded, beating OpenAI to an IPO.

According to a new report, Meta has plans to release several new smart glasses over the rest of 2026.

Ahead of the stable launch, Google is releasing Android 17 Beta 4.1 for Pixel devices. This “minor update” is a bug fixer.

If there’s one app I’ve always been jealous of from the iPhone, it’s Flighty, a super-useful flight tracker that not only logs your flight history, but puts all of the information you might need in a single place alongside a UI that’s far better than anything your airline is offering up. But it’s never come to Android. The launch of “Aviate,” though, is as close to “Flighty for Android” as I’ve seen.

The Monday afternoon collection of Android game and app deals is now ready to roll, including titles like The House of Da Vinci 2, Deus Ex GO, Hitman GO, Thronefall, 20 Minutes Till Dawn, Dungeon Tracer: Puzzle RPG, Afterplace, SENTINEL 519: SAGA – GENESIS, and more. On your way, scope out Samsung’s 32-inch M8 Smart Monitor while it’s 50% off, these official Google Pixel 10 Pixelsnap cases down as low as $23, and these giant Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 deals – 256GB at $779 off or the 512GB at $819 off. The apps await below.