Gadgets
Block Spam Calls for Free on iPhone and Android
How to block spam calls using built-in iPhone and Android settings, combined with carrier tools at no cost.
Tags: Android
Dev
Unexpected Keyboard Offers Full Key Remapping as Gboard Alternative
Remap every key with Fn and directional input as open developer keyboard gains attention as Gboard alternative.
Gadgets
Pixel Lock Screen Shortcuts Put Focus Mode and Video Capture One Tap Away
Replacing Pixel lock screen shortcuts enables instant Focus mode and video capture without unlocking.
Internet Voices
F-Droid Releases 2.0 as Google Tightens Developer Verification
F-Droid releases its biggest update in a decade with 2.0 as it moves to survive Google's tougher developer verification.
AI
Microsoft Executive Calls AI Scraping Historic Theft in Unsealed Lawsuit Documents
Lawsuit filings reveal Microsoft executive comments and plunging search traffic as AI training copyright dispute intensifies.
Gadgets
Old Phone Becomes Android Auto Display for $4
A method to turn an old phone into a car display is introduced, covering steps and caveats for showing Android Auto via Open Headunit.
Gadgets
Gboard Errors Stem From Thumb Placement, Height Adjustment Improves Accuracy
Frequent Gboard errors on Pixel 8 stemmed from tap placement, not autocorrect. Height adjustment and dictionary cleanup help.
Gadgets
Android Battery Life Settings Guide | How to Extend Standby Time
A systematic guide to power saving and connectivity limits to extend Android standby time, from finding drain causes to model-specific tuning.
Gadgets
Motorola Signature 27 Headed for US Launch with 200MP Camera
Motorola Signature 27 to be announced on day one of Snapdragon Summit. A roundup of US launch hints, 200MP camera and what we know.
Dev
Serious Flaws in Flock Surveillance Cameras: Outdated OS and Hardcoded Credentials
Disk images from Flock license plate reader cameras were published, revealing outdated Android, hardcoded credentials, and other issues.
Dev
Google Releases Noto 3D Emoji: The Design Philosophy Behind 3,977 Characters
Google reveals the design process for Noto 3D emoji, open-sourcing 3,977 characters with a cognitive science-based approach.
Dev
The Capabilities of Two Open Android Apps That Break Free From Subscriptions
Joplin and Bitwarden as open Android apps usable without fees. We verify their sync and encryption designs.
Gadgets
Gboard vs SwiftKey Comparison | How to Choose and Set Up for 2026
Comparing Gboard and SwiftKey on conversion accuracy, voice input, and more, with tips on choosing and setting them up as of 2026.
Internet Voices
Google Play Store Prepares Pause and Resume Support to Improve Downloads
Teardown of Play Store v53.0 reveals pause and resume for downloads, improving use under data caps.
Internet Voices
Time Management Trick to Break Free from the Shorts Rabbit Hole with YouTube's Hidden Setting
A method using YouTube's time management tools to cap Shorts viewing and stop infinite scrolling is drawing attention.
Gadgets
Doubling Standby Time by Blocking Background Data for 90% of Apps on Android
Blocking background data for 90% of apps on Android doubled standby battery life. We explain the setup steps and side effects.
Gadgets
SwiftKey Beta Beats Gboard: Conclusion After Months of Testing
A longtime Gboard user compared keyboards for months and switched to SwiftKey Beta, fixing AI voice input issues.
Internet Voices
Streamline Restaurant Tracking with Google Maps Saved Lists
Shifting restaurant tracking from spreadsheets to Google Maps saved lists to organize visit history and ratings.
Internet Voices
Effective Ad Blocking on Android: Brave and DNS Combination Proves Effective
A practical setup combining Brave's aggressive blocking with Android Private DNS to curb ads and tracking, plus VPN and battery benefits.
Gadgets
Breaking Smartphone Addiction with Stock Android Features: A Guide to Focus Mode
Reconsidered just before buying a $300 dumbphone: stock Android features. How capable are Focus Mode and Bedtime Mode?
Gadgets
Notability Releases Android Version After Approximately 16 Years
The note-taking app Notability, exclusive to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS for 16 years, has entered Android. Launched on Google Play in August 2026, it meets the growing annotation needs in cross-platform environments.
Gadgets
How a Clipboard Manager on Pixel Revolutionizes Productivity
Addressing Android's default clipboard limitations via a third-party app, dramatically enhancing Pixel's workflow.
Gadgets
Samsung Apps 2-Week Report: Only 2 Replaced Google Apps
Galaxy smartphone users install many Google apps on new devices. After 2 weeks of using Samsung apps, two were found worthy of replacement.
Gadgets
Hidden Features and Efficiency Tips for Android Gesture Navigation
After years of sticking to 3-button navigation, the author switched to gestures upon adopting a Pixel. They explore the improved screen real estate and practical hidden functions, along with the technical background.
Dev
Sefirah: An Ad-Free Open Source App Alternative to Phone Link Reviewed
Open source app Sefirah, a Microsoft Phone Link alternative, is ad-free, supports all Android devices, and requires no account.
Gadgets
Used Android Flagships: 7-Year Support Changes the Value
Seven-year support like that for Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 has fundamentally changed the value of buying used Android phones.
Internet Voices
Google Maps Commute Optimization: 3 Practical Hidden Features
Android Police's Anu Joy shares her Google Maps commuting workflow, highlighting three features worth using even on familiar routes.
Gadgets
Settings to Try If Your Pixel Feels Slow: Tips to Restore Speed
Discover settings to disable on Google Pixel devices to address perceived slowdowns and improve performance.
Gadgets
Google Find Hub Adds Long-Awaited Device Deletion Feature
Google Find Hub now lets users remove unnecessary devices from their list—a long-requested feature that has finally been implemented.
AI
Open Minis Goes Fully Open Source, Democratizing Smartphone AI Agents
The smartphone AI agent "Open Minis" has released its full code as open source for iOS and Android, ushering in a new era where AI directly operates devices through an embedded Linux environment and browser automation.
Gadgets
Pixel 10 Pro XL Overheats to 118°F: Cooling Mistakes and Correct Countermeasures
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL overheated to 118°F (approx. 47.7°C) inside a car on a scorching day. Android Police's reporter shares her experience with overheating, debunks common cooling myths like using a fridge, and explains proper steps to take.
Dev
Scrcpy 4.1 Released, Expanding Android Compatibility with VP8/VP9 Support
The open-source Android remote control tool Scrcpy 4.1 has been released, adding VP8/VP9 video encoding support, enabling screen mirroring on devices without H.264 or H.265.
Gadgets
Android 17 QPR 2 Beta 1 Begins Rolling Out to Pixel Devices, Focus on Bug Fixes
Android 17 QPR 2 Beta 1 is now available for supported Pixel devices. It includes numerous bug fixes aimed at improving stability. However, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are not supported.
Gadgets
Why Giving Up Dark Mode Made My Screen Dramatically Easier to See
An Android Police journalist shares why they abandoned dark mode, citing practical reasons like lower outdoor visibility and missed notifications, and recommends switching to light mode.
AI
Google's Gboard Developing New Feature to Translate Sign Language to Text
Google's Gboard 'Sign-to-text' feature: converts sign language to text. Found in beta code. Claims on-device AI, but data may go to cloud.
Gadgets
Glowbar Brings Pixel Glow to All Android Devices for Just $1
The Pixel Glow feature, highlighted in the Google Pixel 11, is recreated via the $1 Android app "Glowbar." The free version offers visual effects only, while the paid version adds functional features like notifications and battery indicators.
Gadgets
Six Practical Ways to Leverage Your USB-C Port for Work
An Android smartphone's USB-C port isn't just for charging. From storage expansion with SSDs to connecting keyboards and mice for a desktop-like experience, or even wired LAN connections, we explore six ways it can shine in professional settings.
Dev
The Problem with Android Apps That Could Be Web Pages: Developer Analysis Highlights Industry Challenges
A developer reverse-engineered the travel itinerary app "Travelbound," proving its features could be fully replaced by a web page. This raises critical questions about how apps are developed.
Gadgets
Punkt MC03 Now Shipping, AYANEO Pocket Micro 2 Reopens for Pre-Orders, MINIX Launches New AI Mini PC
The privacy-focused, Google-free Android smartphone "Punkt MC03" has begun shipping. AYANEO Pocket Micro 2 reopens for pre-orders. MINIX introduces an AI mini PC with Panther Lake.
Gadgets
Android Backup to Count Toward Google Storage; Impact Limited
Google changes policy to count Android backup data against account storage. Average 40MB means minimal impact, but users are urged to review settings.