… It wasn't long ago that every Android manufacturer preinstalled a different messaging app on their phones. While this wasn't a significant problem at first, the advent of RCS created a frustrating messaging experience. …
… Related Here’s how Android 17’s App Lock will handle notifications Android Canary 2601 spills the beans Ability to hide app names on the home screen Make your Pixel's home screen much cleaner Building on improving the home screen experience, with the release of Android 17 Beta 3 , Google has also i… …
… My Google Calendar, fitness, scheduling, and Maps apps have since been re-adjusted to reflect these changes. …
Rahul Naskar May 6, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT I have eight years of experience covering Android, with a focus on apps, features, and platform updates. I love looking at even the minute changes in apps and software updates that most people would scroll past, and sharing my opinion unabashedly. …
… Google has also given Gemini the power to control and handle apps without your input. However, one of the most interesting changes for me is that Google is now opening up Pixel's desktop mode to all users. …
Rahul Naskar Jun 3, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT I have eight years of experience covering Android, with a focus on apps, features, and platform updates. I love looking at even the minute changes in apps and software updates that most people would scroll past, and sharing my opinion unabashedly. …
… App locking is a separate feature found in Android's built-in settings or third-party apps. 06 / 8 Productivity Which launcher app is most commonly recommended as an essential install for users who want deep customization of their home and lock screen experience? …
… Related I tried replacing all Google apps with Samsung's defaults — only 2 were worth keeping The Samsung apps that finally beat Google What's changed with the new Samsung Browser? I appreciate that Samsung built on what already made Samsung Browser excellent. …
… Stylish apps live alongside frustrating bloatware. Handy tools like Now Bar live alongside useless tools like Now Brief. While I have plenty of gripes about the software experience on my Google Pixel phone, it provides a more consistent experience overall. …
… From my experience, keeping Privacy Display enabled all the time is not ideal, since the viewing experience can suffer and even the overall brightness is low. Instead, I recommend enabling the feature only in certain apps or under specific conditions. …