If you’re currently sitting at a desk for work or gaming and feel that little ache in your back, you’re not along. Thankfully, LiberNovo has a solution in its Maxis and Omni chairs that are designed not only to be the ultimate ergonomic solution – Omni is the world’s first dynamic ergonomic chair and the winner of the Red Dot Product Design and iF Design awards for 2026, with GreenGuard Gold Certified on top of that – but also designed for you in mind, not just the “Average Joe.”

Welcome to episode 34 of The Sideload, a 9to5Google podcast. This week, Will is joined by 9to5‘s own Ben Schoon as he breaking his usual release schedule to bring you a guide on what to expect next week at Google I/O 2026.

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As we head into I/O 2026, Google is tweaking the Gemini app icon to be a touch more colorful.

Google’s new Gemini Intelligence push was announced this week and it has pretty steep requirements for Android devices to support the new features, cutting off the Pixel 9 series and even last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 due to one spec.

The Google Home app has largely taken over for most Nest users, but if you still prefer to access older hardware via the Nest app, a widespread outage has broken functionality for many.

Welcome to episode 100 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will celebrate the milestone by diving into Google’s latest Android Show announcements, including Android Intelligence, user-generated widgets, and, of course, Googlebook.

Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast.

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The 2026 Amazon Memorial Day sale is now live and we are starting today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break off with Samsung now offering $350 off all Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra models alongside the 512GB Galaxy Z Fold 7 at as much as $819 off. Just be sure to scope out Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey G50D QHD 180Hz gaming monitor down at $200 ($150 off) and this new Amazon low on the regularly $1,100 LG UltraGear 34-inch 240Hz OLED ultrawide monitor at $658. Head below for a closer look.

OnePlus has been in a rapid downward spiral over the past few months, with the latest blow being the removal of OnePlus devices from Best Buy stores in favor of Nothing Phones.

As Android XR glasses crest the horizon, Meta is looking to improve on its Ray-Ban Display glasses, opening up support for third-party apps.

Google has rolled out version 4.69 of Fitbit for Android as the last update before the Google Health rebrand.

The Honor Robot Phone is an interesting concept, but one that’s also felt a little like it might not be real. Honor says it’s actually happening, though, committing to a Q3 2026 release date for the Robot Phone and teasing imaging enhancements from its partner, ARRI.

While Android 17 itself wasn’t really a focus of “The Android Show” earlier this week, we did hear about a few new changes coming. One of those changes includes a redesigned 3D emoji set coming to Android 17 starting on Google Pixel phones. What do you think of the new look?

Google is giving developers of third-party calling apps the ability to integrate with Phone by Google and other system dialers.

Google today released Android Canary 2605, with this preview build adding much more blur to the system UI on Pixel devices.

In the ramp up to I/O 2026, Google has been working on adding a more advanced agent capability to the Gemini app. It now looks like it will be branded as “Gemini Spark.”

Your afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to roll, including titles like Subnautica: Below Zero, Subnautica, Kingdom Rush Vengeance TD Game, Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD, Iron Marines 2 – Invasion RTS, The Wild Case Adventure (Full), Aces of the Luftwaffe Premium, Angelo and Deemon (Full), and more. We also have Galaxy Tab S11 at $250 off, Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB up to $435 off, and new Amazon all-time lows on Galaxy S26+ – just be sure to check out this ongoing offer on 41mm Pixel Watch 4 at nearly $100 off. The apps await below. 

As a part of its latest Brandcast, YouTube has announced new features for the platform including the ability to buy products you see in a video directly from your TV.

What should a modern fitness tracker be in 2026? With smartwatches readily available — and for not much more than your run-of-the-mill Fitbit — it’s a tricky proposition, especially for brands like Google that live in both spaces. The Fitbit Air feels like an admission from Google that Whoop, the obvious competitor for something like this, is on the right path, offering a minimalist band that exists to gather data, not to serve as a miniature wrist-based computer. So far, I’m liking what I’m seeing from my time with the device, but not without some unsurprising concerns surrounding its AI coach.

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by Galaxy S26+ hitting new Amazon all-time lows at $235 off alongside Best Buy open-box units up to $465 off and Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB up to $435 off. We also have the now regularly $1,000 mid-range Galaxy Tab S11 at $250 off and the latest Retinal 4K Ring Wired Doorbell Pro back at its best price ever (2K model down at $50). Head below for a closer look at the details.

Yes, Sony actually seems to think that image you’re seeing above looks better after running through an “AI Camera Assistant.” In promoting its new Xperia 1 VIII, Sony is rightfully seeing backlash around the output of these new AI changes – and I can’t help but think about how this is just the worst possible form of the problem facing so many modern smartphone cameras.

Following last week’s launch, Snapseed 4.0.1 for Android is rolling out with a shortcut to quickly launch the new Camera experience.

Google has made a notable change to its account storage policy, limiting the usual 15GB of free storage only to accounts that are verified with a phone number.

Motorola’s new Razr foldables are now available for pre-order in the US, with flip phones and the book-style Razr Fold shipping later this month.

After a few years of flip phone-only foldables, Motorola is finally releasing a book-style device in the Razr Fold. I’ve been keen to use it after a couple of early looks at trade shows earlier this year and, now that I’ve been using it as my main phone for the past week, I’m sold – the Motorola Razr Fold isn’t just good, it might be the best foldable*.

Ahead of the upcoming release of Google Home Speaker, a new “Google Home Display” has appeared in Google app code, suggesting a new Nest Hub-esque device is in the works.

Google is using on-device AI to analyze how you use your Android phone and provide “Contextual suggestions.”

Google announced yesterday that its implementation of AirDrop support in Android’s Quick Share will be coming to more Android phones, including a list of what devices are confirmed for support.

Your afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to roll, including titles like Wind Peaks, Age of Dynasties: Premium, Laser Tanks: Pixel RPG, Farm Invasion USA – Premium, and more. Just be sure to also scope out the details on how to score an unlocked Galaxy Z Flip 7 today at nearly $400 off, Google’s latest Nest Doorbell at nearly $100 off, and Galaxy S26 Ultra up to $435 off. The apps await below. 

Google’s “Gemini Intelligence” updates for Android might arrive on Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and other foldables first, a new report claims.

Google’s refreshed emoji designs left many wondering if AI generation was involved, but Android 17’s 3D emoji are, in fact, “hand-modeled.”

Following yesterday’s Googlebook announcement, the company released a post aimed at existing enterprise and educational Chromebook users.

Sony’s latest flagship is here, with the new Xperia 1 VIII offering some powerful specs for the usual lofty price tag, this time with a major hardware redesign.

Joining the ongoing pre-order deals on the new Google Fitbit Air, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals are headlined by Galaxy S26 Ultra bundled with Galaxy Buds 4 Pro at $325 off (or up to $435 off open-box units without), and we have some details on how to score an unlocked Galaxy Z Flip 7 today at nearly $400 off. You can also grab Google’s latest Nest Doorbell at nearly $100 off alongside ongoing deals TCL’s 2026 TAB 10 Gen 4 Android tablet at $150 and what might be your last chance at the rare Philips Hue Bridge Pro deal. Head below for a closer look at the details.

A new report shows that, perhaps even more so than usual, Apple’s iPhone is dominating phone sales in the US market, but Google Pixel is apparently holding onto its sliver.

Samsung is rolling out the first beta update for One UI 9 which, for Galaxy devices, will bring Android 17 under the hood, and the changelog reveals that not much is actually going on here – at least not yet.

Adobe’s Premiere app is finally heading to Android, with Google providing a slightly more specific timeline compared to what Adobe previously left us with.

According to a new report, Samsung is set to bring its first pair of Android XR-powered glasses, “Galaxy Glasses,” and a new Galaxy Watch 9 to its July 22 event that will also launch the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and other foldables.

The Magic Pointer on Googlebook was built with Google DeepMind. The research team behind this underlying capability shared more about the premise of AI-enabled pointers.

Last month, Google said it was redesigning the ‘Home & Nest Community’ and we now know what it looks like.

Android’s upcoming desktop OS experience is set to power “Googlebook” laptops in the not-too-distant future, and a 16-minute video has revealed some of the features found in this platform including its Android roots, some familiar ChromeOS features, and desktop-style features like folders on the desktop and terminal.

Google’s Material You is finally getting an update everyone has been asking for – the ability to pick custom colors, as showcased in a new leak.

During The Android Show earlier today, Google revealed its “Googlebook” project that will replace Chromebooks, but with so much mystery around what’s to come, there are a lot of questions, but only a few answers. Here are a few additional details.

At The Android Show, Google today announced the latest security and privacy features for the mobile operating system.

Google is delivering some major Android Auto updates over the course of 2026, including support for video apps and new Gemini features.

Your afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to roll, including titles like Hyper Light Drifter – S.E., Friend of a Slime: Survivors, Laser Tanks: Pixel RPG, Sproggiwood, Ailment: dead standoff Premium, and more. We also have a new all-time low at $375 on Samsung’s already affordable 2026 Galaxy A37 phone and this  Google Pixel Watch 4 LTE at up to $104 off joining today’s Best Buy 24-hour Samsung flash sale, but all the apps are waiting for you below. 

In January, desktop Chrome gained an auto browse capability powered by Gemini. This is now coming to Chrome for Android with deeper Gemini integration.

Google might have its own Pixel ecosystem to continue building out, but it’s also working on knocking down barriers between platforms. Building on top of a relatively-successful push to establish RCS as an accepted messaging standard, the company has slowly been adding AirDrop support to Quick Share, beginning with its own devices and recent releases from Samsung. Today, we’re learning that’s just the start of Google’s plans.

It’s been nearly a decade since Google launched its suite of Digital Wellbeing tools on Android, but despite the occasional upgrade, I’m not sure how much its app timers and dashboard displays ever caught on with the general public. This year, Google is giving Digital Wellbeing a much-needed boost with Pause Point, which goes well beyond an app timer to deliver an experience that feels much more in line with modern times.

Reaction content is getting a boost with Google’s new “Screen Reaction” video tool available in Android 17. The announcement is followed by several Instagram updates in partnership with Google.

Google is introducing a new collection of emoji in Android 17 that delivers 3D textures for the entire catalog of emoji in Android and other Google products, but it’s abundantly clear that the beloved blobs are never coming back.

Google has announced an incoming redesign for Android Auto that, while not a major leap forward, improves support for car displays, brings in a bit of Material 3 Expressive, and supports widgets.

At The Android Show today, Google previewed Googlebooks as a new category of laptops that takes the best of Android and ChromeOS.

Like last year, Google is making most of its Android announcements a week before I/O 2026. At The Android Show, we got four sets of announcements.

Google today announced “Gemini Intelligence” as the overarching name for a new series of AI features on premium Android devices.

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by this Google Pixel Watch 4 LTE dropping back to Amazon all-time low pricing at up to $104 off alongside today’s Best Buy 24-hr. Samsung flash sale – up to $1,300 off TVs, Galaxy Tab S10 Lite $100 off, and more. We also have Samsung’s already affordable 2026 Galaxy A37 phone hitting the Amazon all-time low at $375 and Anker’s display-equipped 100W 7-in-1 charging station back to $60 today. Head below for all of that and more below.

Pebblebee is continuing its lineup of colorful Android Find Hub trackers, with the Clip 5 now getting a “Heatwave Hijinks” release that includes new orange and blue colors.

Spotify’s end-of-year “Wrapped” is a fun way to look back on the past year of tunes, but the app is now rolling out “Party of the Year(s)” as a recap of your entire streaming history.

Announced earlier this year, Moto Tag 2 has quietly gone on sale in recent weeks with UWB support in Android Find Hub and longer battery life.

New findings reveal that Walmart has yet another Google TV streaming stick launching soon, but this one doesn’t have any changes you as a buyer would actually care about.

Samsung will officially launch One UI 9, its Android 17 build, in beta for Galaxy S26 devices later this week.

Google Wallet is beginning to widely roll out a big redesign of the app on Android that upgrades the passes experience.

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.

Welcome to episode 33 of The Sideload, a 9to5Google podcast. This week, Will welcomes Phandroid‘s Editor-in-Chief Nick Gray to the show to discuss his time spent with Oppo’s Find X9 Ultra and Vivo’s X300 Ultra. They might not be on your wishlist for your next Android phone, but Nick discusses what makes their cameras so exceptional, what it’s like using an imported phone as your daily driver, and whether we’ll ever see some of the best aspects on display here come to North American devices.

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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Yet another Google Home update rolling out this week speeds up Gemini while adding “Ask Home” functionality to voice commands and more.

Google is rolling out an update to the Gemini overlay on Android that essentially lets you “Circle to Search” and focus your prompt.

Your Monday afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready for you, including titles like Conquistadorio, Homo Machina, Lara Croft GO, Paths & Danger, Sadhana, the spiritual journey, Vectronom, and more. Alongside the apps, the Crutchfield May Black Friday sale is now live with loads of notable deals on Android Auto in-dash units joined by Galaxy Z Fold 7 at $500 off via Amazon, and TCL’s 2026 TAB 10 Gen 4 Android tablet down to $150. The awaits below.

With the launch of iOS 26.5, end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS between Android and iPhone is now gradually rolling out in a process that will take place over the coming months.

Some Spotify users have noticed that Google Cast (Chromecast) devices are not showing up in Connect when trying to start playback on a nearby speaker, and the issue is under investigation.

Samsung has gotten much faster at software updates over the past few years, but One UI 8.5 is an odd case, only now rolling out after over five months in beta.

Alongside the ongoing pre-order deals on the new Google Fitbit Air, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by some affordable TCL Android tablets starting from $150 at Amazon alongside brand new condition mid-range 256GB Galaxy Tab S11 at $250 off and new condition Galaxy Z Fold 7 at $500 off (or $800+ off open-box). We also have up to $550 Lenovo’s Legion 5i OLED gaming laptop with RTX 5060/5070 GPU and the now live Crutchfield May Black Friday sale with loads of notable in-dash Android Auto gear and rare discounts on the latest Philips Hue Bridge Pro at $79. Check it all out below.

A new video generation model is apparently coming to Gemini, with “Omni” producing some pretty impressive inital results.

Samsung has a new feature for Galaxy phones that gives users the ability to easily block apps that are spamming your notifications with ads.

Nothing’s Ear (open) earbuds are now available in a blue colorway, and one that’s unique to Nothing’s lineup, for $99.

The hardware design of the Fitbit Air is quite straightforward, but there are two features that aren’t particularly obvious until you start wearing the wearable.

Alongside its new Fitbit Air, Google this week announced that the Fitbit app is dead, to be replaced by “Google Health.” If you’d told me this would happen a few months ago, I’d be worried, but the end result actually seems like an overall win for everyone involved. Let’s take a closer look.

Four generations in, perhaps the most annoying thing about Google’s Pixel Watch lineup is the lack of accessories and, in particular, charging stations. The appeal of a multi-device charging station that tops off your phone, earbuds, and smartwatch is obvious, but one that Pixel Watch owners are sadly left out of. Belkin is now showcasing what is easily the best Pixel Watch-compatible charging station I’ve seen, but Google’s seeming inability to stick with a decision basically ruins it.

A new leak showcases an incoming ability for Google Pixel phones to turn off the built-in search bar that has been a part of the Pixel Launcher for years.

Welcome to episode 99 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will tackle the latest rumors surrounding Google’s Pixel 11, which could arrive later this summer with new camera sensors, whatever Pixel Glow is, and a whole lot of downgrades. Then they turn to the long-awaited Fitbit Air and try to predict how the fitness tracker audience will react to a significantly cheaper Whoop competitor.

Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast.

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Your afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to roll, including titles like Seoul Exorcist 1111, TripleFantasy Premium, Ghost In The Mirror, WindWings: Galaxy attack Pro, Farm Invasion USA – Premium, Aeon’s End, and more. On your way down scope out the FREE extra band offers with Google Fitbit Air pre-orders as well as Pixel 10 Pro XL at nearly $500 off and 10 Pro at $415 off, on top of Lenovo’s latest Legion Go 2 Windows gaming handheld hitting a new all-time low today at $482 off.

Walmart is in the process of launching its new Google TV streamer lineup and, while I’m pretty intrigued by the Pro model, it’s the 4K streaming stick that was delivered first and, just as I hoped, it’s exactly the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) replacement I’ve been wanting.

In June of 2025, Google surprisingly released a major update for Snapseed after a long dormancy. After confirming at the start of this year that iOS exclusivity was set to end, Snapseed 4.0 is now rolling out to Android.

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by Best Buy offering FREE extra band with Google Fitbit Air pre-order deals (or score one for FREE with select trade-ins) alongside this giant discount on Pixel 10 Pro XL at nearly $500 off and 10 Pro at $415 off. We also have Lenovo’s latest Legion Go 2 Windows gaming handheld hitting a new all-time low today at $482 off, and this deep discount on Galaxy Watch 8 as low as $180 today. Head below for a closer look and even more deals.

Smartphone cameras are a “solved” problem. Just about any phone at any price point is capable of taking quality photos, with some having more shortcomings or strengths than others. But after spending a few weeks with the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, I find myself suddenly wanting more from my phone’s camera because, frankly, this device has raised the bar, and I’m not sure I can go back.

The YouTube app for TVs, including Google TV, is rolling out a new design for the sidebar that makes it easier to access your library while also showcasing some of your recently-watched channels.

The new OnePlus Nord CE6 launched in select regions earlier this week and, by all accounts, looks like a solid mid-range smartphone, but it also cuts its promised OS upgrades in half.

To celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, you’ll find a very special Easter egg featuring some of the biggest flora, fauna, and critters in Google Search.

After its introduction on the web, AI Inbox is coming to Gmail for Android and iOS. In the navigation drawer, “AI Inbox” appears below Inbox, just like on desktop. The more notable access point is in Gmail’s bottom bar.

Ahead of the Google Health app rolling out next week, the company has detailed what Fitbit features are going away or significantly changing.

Your afternoon lineup of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to roll, including titles like Hyper Light Drifter – S.E., Sproggiwood, Buff Knight: Offline Idle RPG, Candleman, Legend of Keepers, Wreckfest – Demolition Racing, Ninja Hero Cats Premium, and more. Today has also ushered in the  512GB Galaxy Z Fold 7 at a massive $819 off as well as the return of Samsung offering Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro at $325 off, a giant $1,000 discount on Lenovo’s fully-loaded RTX 5090 Legion Pro 7i OLED gaming laptop, and Google’s silver Pixel Watch 4 LTE at a new Amazon all-time low. The apps, however, await below. 

Google’s Fitbit lineup is remaining almost entirely unchanged after launching the screenless Air tracker. That means you can still buy flagship models outside of the Pixel Watch family.

Alongside the pre-order deals on the new Google Fitbit Air with $396 shipped Amazon all-time low – that’s $104 off and joinging the ongoing offers on Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 10 Pro Fold, and Pixel 10a at $449. Scope it all out below. 

Nothing’s Ear (open) earbuds are getting a refresh next week, with a new blue colorway dropping on May 11.

Google’s new Fitbit Air tracker is here and comes in a variety of different styles, but the best option might just be the special Stephen Curry edition.

I/O might still be a couple of weeks away, but it’s a big day for new Google announcements anyway. The company announced a rebranding of its Fitbit app to Google Health today, as 9to5Google initially leaked last month, but that still left the fate of the company’s other fitness tracking app up in the air.

Google’s display-less Fitbit Air is finally official, and today’s announcement comes with some great news for exercise-minded users who already own a Pixel Watch: you can use both wearables at the same time.

After months of Public Preview testing, Google is replacing the Fitbit app and launching “Google Health.” It’s meant to bring “together the best of Fitbit’s pioneering spirit with the helpfulness of Google.”

Spotify is launching deeper AI agent integration with “Personal Podcasts,” which can be saved to your account with personalized information such as calendar events.

Google today announced the Fitbit Air as a screen-less fitness tracker that has a low-profile and affordable $99.99 price.

An ongoing bug with Android XR has left Samsung’s Galaxy XR headsets in rough shape, with serious performance issues that Google is now rolling out a fix for.

While mid-range Android phones have gotten way better over the years, lag spikes are still remarkably common. With its new Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 chips, Qualcomm says lag should be cut down alongside some other improvements.