A user there noticed that Google had changed the status of almost all Chromecast devices and that they had “reached end of life today or yesterday.” They didn’t say what exactly changed, but I’m assuming they noticed a switch from “Yes” to “No” in a column that showed the status of a device “Currently receiving critical security updates.” According to their post, the Chromecast (2nd gen), Chromecast Audio, Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast (3rd gen), and Chromecast with Google TV (4K) were all moved to “No,” signaling that they were no longer expected to see critical security updates. The only device not mentioned was the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) model.

However, they didn’t include proof of the change, but we went to confirm moments ago and all of the Chromecast devices on the list currently say “Yes,” that they are all still receiving critical security updates. The only device not is the original Chromecast (1st gen).

And since Google foolishly killed off Google Cache a few years back, finding these minor changes is almost impossible today unless you are actively tracking the page. This is not a page we track, so it’s tough to say what Google changed here.

Here’s a current screenshot of the page:

You can view the Google support page yourself, but we included the bottom portion starting with Chromecast (3rd gen) that still says “Yes.” You can also see the same status for Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast Audio, and Chromecast (2nd Gen). The “Yes” column is the “Currently receiving critical security updates” column.

My guess is that a Googler mistakenly changed these and has since flipped them back after the change made headlines.

I miss Google Cache.

Read the original post: False Alarm on Google Killing Updates for Chromecast Devices

Today, they rolled out the first new style since that initial launch. The newest option is called “Disco,” and yes, it very much turns your icons into little disco ball, sparkly icons. It’s cute.

To get to these, you’ll long-press on your home screen, choose “Wallpaper & style,” Icons, and then hit the Create button. Once in the Create menu, you should see the Disco option, as well as the others that were previously released. Tap on Disco, then the “Download” button the top right corner, and it’ll then download the pack, customize it to your phone, and let you apply it.

Thoughts on these? Don’t we all really just want Google to allow us to load in 3rd party icon packs? They probably won’t ever, but that’d be nice.

Oh, and by the way, the Spongebob theme from March is now gone. Any guesses on what’s next?

Read the original post: Google Adds Disco Icons to Your Pixel Phone

There was token bragging, a joke about “tokenmaxxing” that only landed with 20 too-plugged-in people, and a mention of quadrillion somethings that had me crying tears of the final droplets of water in nearby drying lake beds. We danced from Antigravity to the 2.0 version to a dozen products under the Gemini umbrella, many of which came with a flashy demo you’ll never end up seeing because you need to pay $100 per month to Google if you want access. Prior to the I/O keynote, that price was $250 per month, but they cut us all a deal.

It was all a lot and very much nothing. Again – empty. Shit, I really need to stop using the em dash. I promise, I write everything here and always will.

Anyways, I/O wasn’t fun because all of the fun stuff came the week prior. Google’s “The Android Show: I/O Edition” landed and gave us a peek at the future of Android, what’s coming to cars, and previewed upcoming hardware like the I/Os of old with a Googlebook announcement. There’s some genuinely cool stuff on the way.

The fun that used to be Google I/O feels so far in the past. Media and developers used to gather and the headlines were about whatever the next version of Android was or which app was getting a makeover or where Google’s hardware focus was turning to. It was a playful experience that also delivered something new for us to touch or use or update to. It was all straight-forward because the focus was always about products or features we could easily adopt or that were already a part of our lives. While it might have been targeted at developers, Google was so good at presenting everything in a way that brought us all together.

It’s not that way anymore. Now, it’s tokenmaxxing.

Enough from me, the inspiration for this post came from a couple of reddit threads that should not be ignored. In the Android subreddit, the first post came from someone who said that “Everything announced at Google I/O 2026” makes them “want to sell [their] phone.” They argued that they don’t want opt-in by default, AI reading their emails, the new Google Search box, or interactive follow-ups from YouTube. All fair responses.

The thread now sits at 1,700+ upvotes with hundreds of comments, most of which are in agreement. The top comment rightly pointed out that one of the demos for Google Docs Live (here) was quite gross, as it involved someone headed to their high school’s career day to give a speech (that they forgot about until the day before!), but they relied on Gemini to write it out for them and even asked that it include “funny analogies.” We’re that far gone that an important speech like this is not only forgotten about, but we’re supposed to be fine with AI taking out the humanity and care from something that could have a deep impact on the lives of the kids listening?

Since the thread is long, I’ll suggest you read through it yourself, as the points brought up do come from both sides. Many argue that it’s time to switch to an iPhone, others noted that if you aren’t in the US you might not have to worry (because the US is AI unregulated hell and the early testing grounds for it all), and there were plenty showing concern over privacy.

That wasn’t the only thread, though. Another popped up yesterday (300+ upvotes and counting) to call Gemini “the new Copilot of Android,” which is pretty funny. The comments are similar to that first, with many arguing that this is all too much. One joked that “We’re about 2 years away from my calculator asking if I want an AI-generated summary of 7 + 5.” Don’t give them ideas, pal.

Others were quick to point out that so much of Gemini has been locked behind the paid tiers I mentioned above, so a lot of it isn’t available to you anyway. That said, Gemini is embedded within everything and has access to so much of your life. There are some controls for blocking some of that access, as long as you know where to go looking.

You tell me – (em dash!) is this what you asked for?

Read the original post: Google’s Gemini Takeover of Everything Finds Properly Big Reactions

The rollout of these One UI 8.5 updates for Samsung’s best devices first started with the Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z Fold 7 a couple of weeks ago. It then spread to the Galaxy S24 series and Galaxy Z Fold 6. It makes sense that these devices would be next in line.

As for what’s new, we have a couple of changelogs for you to look through. First, this is the official One UI 8.5 changelog from Verizon’s update page. We also have the One UI 8.5 beta changelog that is even longer and more detailed.

Unfortunately for all of these devices, they were not listed originally as in line to get support for AirDrop on Android. Verizon has a changelog that mentions it for the Fold 5 and Flip 5, so if you have those devices, you’ll want to test for yourself.

READ: How to AirDrop on Samsung Galaxy devices

The new builds to be on the lookout for are as follows:

• Galaxy S23 Ultra: S918USQU7FZE2
• Galaxy S23+: S916USQU7FZE2
• Galaxy S23: S911USQU7FZE2
• Galaxy S23 FE: S711USQU7FZE2
• Galaxy Z Fold 5: F946USQU7GZE3
• Galaxy Z Flip 5: F731USQU7GZE4

To check for updates on Samsung phones, head into Settings>Software update>Download and install.

Read the original post: Samsung Sending One UI 8.5 Updates to Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Fold 5

Since arriving at the beginning of 2026, Samsung has continued to offer the biggest Galaxy S26 Ultra discounts through their best-in-industry trade-in program. We’ve also seen some straight cash discounts from other retail partners. However, the trade-in program remains the best way to save on Samsung devices.

Current Best Galaxy S26 Ultra Deal (5/21/2026)

Samsung’s best Galaxy S26 Ultra discount will almost always come by way of trade-in. If you’ve been in the space for any amount of time, you know that Samsung gives you an instant discount for the value of your trade. If your current phone is worth $900, they give you that discount off the price you pay today, you just send them your phone later to confirm the phone. It’s the best discount program in the business.

As of today, Samsung is doing up to $720 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra with an instant trade-in discount. To get that price cut, you would need to trade-in a Galaxy S25 Ultra. There are other phones worth up to $480 off, but that’s the top value.

At $720 off, you could pay as little as $579 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra with 256GB storage. That same discount on the 512GB model would drop it to $779.

Check your trade value through this link below.

Samsung Deal Link

NEW: If you don’t have anything to trade, you would want to find the precise moment that Samsung has increased the straight-cash discount on their best phone. Today is looking like one of those days.

Right now, you can get $250 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra and no trade-in is required. Samsung has simply discounted all Galaxy S26 Ultra models by $250, giving us prices of $1,049 (256GB), $,1249 (512GB), and $1,549 (1TB).

Again, nothing else is required in order to get those prices, you simply add one to cart and buy it.

Samsung Deal Link

The third and final option to save big is going to be through Samsung’s store as a first responder, military, health care worker, educator or student with a .edu email, or if you work for a company that offers Samsung discount. I will also point out that AAA members can see significant discounts as well.

The way to get those discounts, which can vary, is to access the Samsung Offer Programs page and type in your email to verify that you qualify. For AAA members, you’ll login to your AAA account, head to the discounts page, find Samsung, and then click through several links to unlock. My current Oregon AAA discount saves me an extra $130 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Samsung Offer Programs Link

Galaxy S26 Ultra Deal History

As we mentioned earlier, Samsung hasn’t brought out the big promos we have seen from previous Galaxy launches. They cut back in a big way, but still have offered decent trade-in discounts from select devices. Overall, though, Samsung went cheap for the Galaxy S26 Ultra launch.

$900 off with trades: The best deal we have seen was through the pre-order period where Samsung was offering up to $900 instantly off with trade-ins. That discount only came if you traded a Galaxy S25 Ultra or Galaxy Z Fold 6. From there, the discounts fell to $800 off with a Galaxy S24 Ultra.

$930 off in total savings: Shortly after pushing out those pre-order deals, Samsung sweetened the launch deal a bit with $900 off from trades, plus a $30 bonus credit to apply towards accessories. There was a PayPal $50 discount that briefly showed up too. These deals were a mixed bag that not everyone qualified for.

Free storage upgrade: One of our favorite Samsung promos from previous years is a free storage upgrade that could get you 512GB storage for the price of the 256GB model. They used to run this regularly for past launches, but for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, they’ve only given it to us once, briefly.

UPDATE MAY 21 – SAMSUNG DROPPED THE PRICE WITHOUT TRADE-IN BY $250.

Read the original post: Samsung Slapping $250 Off Galaxy S26 Ultra

The May patch is the only item included in the changelog, but if you spot something else, feel free to let us know.

UPDATE: Samsung is actually rolling out the May patch to other devices. We've added them below.

Updated Software Version Numbers

• Galaxy Z Fold 7: F766USQSABZE3
• Galaxy Z Flip 7: F766USQSABZE3
• Galaxy Z Fold 4: F936USQSAIZE2
• Galaxy Z Flip 4: F721USQSAIZE2

Go snag it.

// Verizon

Read the original post: Samsung May Update Rolling Out to These Devices

To get started, once you’re on a call, dial *87* and your conversation will be translated in real-time. And during the beta period, the service is completely free. That said, the fact that T-Mobile says it’s free means we could see the carrier charge for the service at a later time.

The beauty is, or maybe more of the privacy concern aspect, is that none of the computing takes place on your device and it’s done all via the network.

Traditionally, advanced AI features depend on powerful processors inside high-end devices. That approach limits innovation to the latest smartphones and drains battery life as complex models need to run locally. With Live Translation, we’ve moved that heavy computing lift off the device and into the network itself.

It’s an intriguing technology, useful in plenty of cases.

Dial *87* to get started, T-Mobile customers.

// T-Mobile

Read the original post: T-Mobile Live Translation Beta is Now Live

In an update to pre-order holders that showed up this morning, the Clicks team has given two big updates.

The first is about software, which they say will be Android 17. Android 17 will most certainly be out by the time the Clicks Communicator launches in Q4, so they appear to be doing the right thing and getting ahead of software rather than launching already behind. Companies like Motorola are notorious for launching with old software and then never catching up again, all while disappointing at every software turn along the way. Here’s to hoping that Clicks doesn’t do the same, but this is a good start.

The other update note is on battery capacity. The Clicks Communicator will now have a 4,450mAh silicon-carbon battery, which is an increase from the 4,000mAh battery they initially announced.

And that’s the news for Clicks. They are still aiming for working samples by next month. The rest of their recently updated timeline hasn’t changed, at least that they’ve communicated.

You can still reserve this phone with a $199 deposit (here).

Read the original post: Clicks Communicator Launching With Android 17, Bigger Battery

Google is making Gemini for Home a full stack AI offering. On a basic level, this just means that service providers, hardware manufacturers, and developers can bring their products to the full Gemini experience and access its powers.

What does that look like? For developers, this would mean accessing richer camera intelligence that provides more details, access to Ask Home, and a potential piece of the Home Brief.

For service providers, companies like AT&T are using Google Home APIs to integrate Gemini features into their own Connect Life app and security service.

And for hardware makers, Google has created a “Google Home Gemini built in Program” with reference designs for those looking to make smart cameras or smart speakers.

That’s pretty much it. The takeaway here is that Google is opening up Google Home and Gemini for Home to more partners in order to super-charge the Gemini at Home experience or to make other smart home services you use smarter.

// Google

Read the original post: Gemini for Google Home Prepares for More Partners, New Hardware

The base plan is $15/month and includes unlimited text, talk, and 1GB of data. To add more data, you start with 5GB for $5, up to Unlimited data w/ UHD at $35/month. That selection replaces the 1GB that the base plan comes with. Then you can add Hotspot data should you want it, up 50GB for $20.

The plan is not stuck in any particular way. AT&T lets you change it based on your monthly needs, so if you need more data for an upcoming trip, you can add it. If you no longer want Hotspot data, remove it. It’s all very customizable.

Looking at this and then looking at my current T-Mobile bill, this sounds pretty nice.

Build-A-Plan Launches May 27

Read the original post: AT&T Launches Build-a-Plan, Starts at $15/Mo

Magic Cue gets a new design?

The first thing that caught my eye popped up at the 24:00-mark and certainly appears to be a new design for Magic Cue, which is currently only on the Pixel 10 series.

You know Magic Cue as the service on your Pixel 10 or Pixel 10 Pro that tries to surface info you may need at the precise moment you may consider going to look for it. This could be someone’s phone number that was requested, an address, information about a location, a shortcut to make a calendar items, a confirmation number while on a phone call, etc.

During the “What’s new in Android” talk, the speakers were talking through several proactive features of Android and then showed the image above for Magic Cue. Can you see what’s new?

First off, the image is of Magic Cue working in Snapchat, which Google confirmed is because Magic Cue will soon expand to more apps. So that’s neat! But the change in design here, with the Magic Cue option listed as a floating button at the bottom of the screen, is new.

Google must be evolving Magic Cue to overlay on top of apps, down where Gemini lives. This actually seems like a better spot for it, rather than it changing locations and showing in an area that might not be as easy to spot. This looks like a bit of a pop-up that also includes an “X” to be able to close it off.

New Continue On feature for Android 17

At the 42:30-mark, Google showed off a new feature called “Continue On” for Android 17 that very much feels like something they could have announced at the I/O Android pre-show.

They talked briefly about it, but the idea is pretty straight-forward. Continue On allows you to start a session in an Android app on one Android device and then transition to another device while continuing where you left off. To start, this will work in mobile-to-tablet transitions, but Google envisions it working bidirectionally between all types.

An example of this would be a Google Docs session on your phone that transitions to a tablet with Continue On. As you switch devices, you would see a taskbar suggestion for that Docs experience on the tablet. A simple tap on the shortcut would open it just where you left off on the phone.

You can see how this would look at this Continue On developer page.

The talk also ran through the new Wear OS 7 update that we detailed for you, Android XR updates, new media apps for cars that are being worked on (like Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and more), Gemini Nano 4, a new style for Live updates (Metric Style), unified call history for multiple apps (WhatsApp, Meet and Phone all in the same history), and more.

We’ve included the session below if you want to dive into more.

Read the original post: Google Saved a Couple of New Android Secrets for I/O

We shared a brief write-up yesterday about some of the changes you can expect once your Fitbit app has become Google Health. We’ve also talked through Google Health Premium vs. Basic plans and wrote out a full overview of Google Health. All of those are worth looking at if you are hesitant to be among the first to update your Fitbit app.

For those who updated as quickly as they could, how are things going? How was the first day with Fitbit no longer a part of your health and fitness journey?

What has Google Health brought that you like? What are you already missing?

Read the original post: You Updated to Google Health From Fitbit: How is It?

We learned a bit about Googlebook earlier this month, and honestly, we expected to learn more about it yesterday during the company’s keynote. They didn’t mention it at all, focusing more on AI and Gemini products. Regardless, we have more information thanks to a dedicated landing page for the product, catered for app developers.

The page says, “Googlebook provides a high-performance, large-screen canvas for your apps, allowing users to transition seamlessly from quick mobile interactions to deep, focused sessions on a laptop.”

• Design for Desktops: Leverage a larger display to maximize productivity with higher information density.
• Comprehensive Input Support: Optimize for precision and versatility by supporting keyboard, mouse, trackpad, stylus, and game controller interactions.
• Contextual Cursors: Enhance usability by implementing custom cursors that provide visual feedback and text entry, resizing, and specialized tool interactions.
• File and Print Management: Support file-level interactions and printing, ensuring your app handles document management and export tasks natively.

What we take away is this: Googlebook is very much a laptop experience, not just an Android-powered tablet with a keyboard. However, it’ll be important for apps to support a user switching between both devices, the Googlebook and an Android phone, as well as for Android apps to run beautifully on the Googlebook.

Google wants the highest quality apps to support drag and drop, multi-instance for seamless multitasking, as well as widgets on the desktop experience.

We still don’t have a launch date or an idea on pricing from Google, but it seems possible that we could see launch later this year. Google is already teasing the hardware, so something is coming eventually.

Are you ready for Googlebook?

// Android Developers

Read the original post: Google Wants App Developers Prepared for Googlebook Launch

Below you can find the details of the new AI Ultra plan, but the highlights include Gemini 3.5, priority access to Antigravity, 20TB of cloud storage, plus a YouTube Premium individual plan.

Google also cut down the price of its highest tier plan, from $250/month to $200/month. All Ultra plans comes with first access to Gemini Spark, the company’s new 24/7 AI Agent, but Project Genie access is limited to those who pay for the $200/mo option.

Gemini Omni: The latest model available for Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers. It can create anything from any input, starting with video. As Google describes it, “It combines Gemini’s intelligence with our generative media models for a new level of world understanding.”

Inside the Gemini app, simply upload a video or photo from your camera roll, then take advantage of built-in templates or speak your truth to have Omni transform your media. For a more detailed look into Gemini Omni, view Google’s blog here.

YouTube Premium: Google announced that paid AI Pro subscribers will be getting a YouTube Premium Lite subscription added to their account, adding $8.99 of value to your plan. Premium Lite offers ad-free YouTube videos, as well as offline and background play support. Health Premium and Home Premium are also included in AI Pro and Ultra subscriptions at no additional cost.

So. Much. AI.

// Google

Read the original post: Google Updates AI Subscription Plans, Highlighted by New $100 AI Ultra Plan

That’s really the whole story here too. If you decide to search for something, but keep coming up with the same videos that might not quite be what you are looking for, this more advanced search can potentially filter out the stuff you don’t want and help you refine with follow-up questions.

For those wanting to try it out, you can right now as a YouTube Premium subscriber. Just head to youtube.com/new and sign-up. It’s the featured called “Discover a new way to search on YouTube.”

Ask YouTube should then roll out more broadly to all YouTube users “soon.”

// YouTube

Read the original post: YouTube’s “Ask YouTube” is AI-Powered Search