40+ min ago (186+ words) A Reddit user has shared a new trick that reportedly forces Gemini onto Google Home devices, even though the feature hasn't fully rolled out yet. The "hack" is surprisingly simple and requires users to enter the following into Chrome's address bar and select the option with the globe (second option) next to it. Several Reddit users claim that this trick has worked for them, while many report that they only received Gemini's voice and not the full Gemini for Home experience. Some never received the email that the OP mentioned. Meanwhile, the OP recommends force-stopping and clearing the cache of the Google Home app, then retrying the trick until the Google Home Premium prompt appears. Even then, no one seems fully sure whether the devices will actually update to Gemini for Home. The update may take up to 48 hours to…...

13+ hour, 46+ min ago (1278+ words) Many of these features originated as musings of indie developers but have now gained enough popularity to be incorporated into Android. To commemorate them, we're highlighting eight such features, even though we could make a much longer list. Nonetheless, while the surge in AOD followed the adoption of more AMOLEDs on Android devices, there was a time when the feature wasn't natively available. When LCDs were still the popular form of display, even on flagships, Android users had to rely on third-party apps to get a similar functionality. I used and vehemently attested for AcDisplay because it added a faux always-on display featuring a dark gray background with monochrome icons on my now-deceased Google Nexus 4. The screen lit up every time a new notification arrived, allowing me to stay on top of things, which was fun back when I didn't…...

14+ hour, 46+ min ago (303+ words) Book titles used to have vibes. Personality. A little mystery, even. Now, some sound like they were drafted by a marketing intern getting paid per keyword. Kindle users say the trend is impossible to ignore, and the result is a browsing experience that feels like scrolling through an overcrowded search engine. One Redditor explained it succinctly:" "Indie authors have to game the Amazon algorithm harder" they don't have the money or reach publishers do.Another got straight to the point:" "If a clean, normal title gets buried but a keyword-stuffed one gets boosted, Amazon is basically encouraging it. Authors aren't trying to ruin anyone's Kindle browsing experience; they're trying to survive inside the tools Amazon provides. Many indie writers put in the same level of craft you'd expect from traditional publishing. Keyword stuffing isn't a reflection of the writing. It's…...

15+ hour, 45+ min ago (305+ words) Finally, Google's project to merge ChromeOS and Android into a next-gen PC platform has a name (or at least a codename) " Aluminium OS. I'm cautiously excited about the prospects of my favourite mobile OS on bigger screens, though we won't see it in consumers' hands until sometime in 2026, and there's still a lot we don't know. Building a great modern laptop OS isn't easy. Google will need to get the UI right, ensure excellent driver and peripheral support, make software easy to find and install (including tools outside its ecosystem), and work with reliable hardware partners. That's a lengthy checklist " and we won't know how well it's been met until products hit the shelves. Regardless of how you feel about the seemingly unstoppable AI hype train, this is the way the wind is currently blowing. But so far, no one…...

16+ hour, 46+ min ago (845+ words) However, over the past year I've gained more of an appreciation of good software. This is partly due to my experience with a phone that forces split notifications, as well as how impressed I was with my experience of Samsung's One UI 8. In fact, three pre-installed Samsung apps have impressed me so much that I honestly wish more brands would copy them. I have sung the praises of Samsung's Clock app before. I rely on the app so much that even though I've switched my primary smartphone, I always make sure that I have a Samsung phone in bed. This is down to some simple features and customization that Clock has that I haven't been able to find in other alarm apps. Firstly, Samsung's app supports a snooze interval of up to 60 minutes, whereas most other apps max out at…...

17+ hour, 16+ min ago (279+ words) Zac fell in love with Android when he bought his first smartphone, a Samsung Galaxy S2, back in 2012. What started then as posting his findings in Android betas on Google+ and getting sourced by various sites, including The Verge, quickly turned into a job. Zac has been a tech journalist for five years, joining Android Police in 2020 before moving to Android Authority at the end of 2024. While Zac focuses on Samsung hardware and software, he loves Android in general and has experience with Google and Motorola devices. Outside of phones, Zac has written about and reviewed power banks, headphones and earbuds, and phone cases. When he isn't writing about tech, you'll find him rewatching Transformers One for the billionth time, listening to Fall Out Boy, or replaying the same RPG on his Steam Deck, PS5, or custom gaming PC. Zac is also…...

17+ hour, 46+ min ago (637+ words) I love my Pixel, but it's missing a few important features I mentioned in my post that was published yesterday. That got me thinking that I should perhaps switch back to a OnePlus phone, after years of using Pixels. I don't need the latest and greatest, and I don't want to spend more than around $600 on a phone, so the OnePlus 15 is out of the question. But there is an upcoming phone from OnePlus that has a lot of the features I want and fits within my budget, and I'd be willing to trade my Pixel 9a for it " but there are three things holding me back. The OnePlus 15R is expected to be a rebadged version of the OnePlus Ace 6T " coming on December 3 " and will officially be announced on December 17. While not all specs and features of the upcoming phone have…...

1+ day, 13+ hour ago (725+ words) Don't let Google know, but I'd be quite lost without YouTube. I use the video platform daily for background noise during the workday and for enjoying my favorite creators' content in the evenings. The platform doesn't offer the best user experience, at least not one that prioritizes the content. Constant interruptions and visual clutter within the app have prompted me to seek alternative ways to watch YouTube. And you don't need to put up with them, either. There are various ways to use YouTube interruption-free. What follows are your options. You don't necessarily need to use an app to view YouTube content; Android browsers will serve just as well. Some browsers are more adept at displaying and controlling video than others, though, and while the likes of Google Chrome seem like an excellent fit for a fellow YouTube product, there…...

1+ day, 14+ hour ago (807+ words) I have a long list of software features I want to see on Pixel phones, including improved gestures " like those available on OnePlus phones " contextual app selection triggered by a Bluetooth connection, and more. An extra button means more custom shortcuts, and I'm all for it. I already appreciate being able to bring up Gemini on my Pixel 9a with a press and hold of the power button and opening the camera with a double press. I use that almost on a daily basis, but I want more. I'd like to see a completely customizable button that works with a single, double, and even a triple press for maximum utility. Personally, I'd set it up so that a single press brings up Google Wallet, as I use that frequently to pay in stores. It's far faster to bring up the app…...

1+ day, 15+ hour ago (554+ words) To get a complete picture of my health, I need to wear a smartwatch or fitness tracker to bed for sleep tracking " something that proved to be trickier than expected. After trying almost every category of tracker from brands like Apple, Samsung, Google, Whoop, and Garmin, I came up empty on my search for something I could comfortably wear to bed. That is, until the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 came out. The Galaxy Watch 8s odd redesign solved my comfort issues, and with Samsungs growing health software in tow, the watch quickly became my favorite for sleep tracking. Heres why. By now, you probably know that Samsung switched to a squircle chassis for the Galaxy Watch 8 series, following in the Galaxy Watch Ultras footsteps. The screen itself is still circular, creating a controversial look. The squircle case takes up more space on…...