Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Google.
Latest coverage
Morning Safety Dance
Researchers demonstrated how Perplexity's Comet AI browser can be tricked into a phishing scam in under four minutes. The article also touches on the broader risks of rogue AI agents working together to hack systems and mentions Google's rapid response to Chrome vulnerabilities.
Google will finally release Chrome for ARM64 Linux devices
Google will release an official ARM64 version of its Chrome browser for Linux devices in Q2 2026. This expansion, driven by AI development and the NVIDIA DGX Spark, brings Chrome to a new generation of high-performance devices, marking a significant commitment to the Linux and Arm ecosystems.
Samsung Galaxy S26 review: The smartphone status quo
The Samsung Galaxy S26 offers iterative upgrades over its predecessor, including a slightly larger screen, brighter display, increased battery capacity, and more base storage. While performance is strong with both Exynos and Snapdragon variants, the Exynos model shows slightly shorter battery life. The camera system sees minor improvements, and AI features are expanded, though some integrations like Perplexity are still in early stages.
Google and Samsung built a tool to boost the gaming experience on your phone
Google and Samsung have collaborated to create Sokatoa, a new GPU profiler tool designed to help Android game developers identify and fix performance issues. The tool utilizes multi-frame GPU profiling to detect subtle rendering problems that traditional single-frame tools miss, aiming to improve game stability and reduce rendering headaches for developers. Sokatoa supports various GPUs and has received positive feedback from early testers like Supercell and Unity.
AI Yi-Yi!
The article touches on the development of AI for military applications, specifically humanoid soldiers, and mentions Google's potential for ads in its Gemini AI. It also notes the involvement of AMD, Broadcom, and Nvidia in related technologies.
Morning Mobilization
Google Play Games for PC is expanding its library with more premium titles and introducing cross-buy functionality with Android devices. Separately, Samsung's Privacy Display feature is noted as potentially causing discomfort.
Morning Metaverse
The article discusses the new Internet Speed Test feature in Windows 11, noting it primarily functions as a shortcut to Bing. It also touches on Steam Remote Play's effectiveness over LAN and mentions a modern alternative to PuTTY.
Google built a flash-flood prediction tool using Gemini and old news reports
Google has developed Groundsource, a new AI-powered methodology utilizing its Gemini language model to predict flash floods. The system processes millions of global news reports to create a dataset of flood events, which is then used to train a model that forecasts flood likelihood based on current weather data. While it has limitations in precision and area coverage compared to some existing systems, it aims to assist areas lacking advanced weather-sensing infrastructure and has potential applications for predicting other natural phenomena.
Google’s GFiber internet business is merging with Astound Broadband
Google's GFiber internet business is merging with Astound Broadband, with Stonepeak becoming the majority owner and Alphabet retaining a minority stake. The combined entity will operate as an independent provider, aiming to expand internet access to more communities. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
Google Maps brings a 3D map to your driving directions
Google Maps is rolling out a significant update to its driving directions, introducing an "Immersive Navigation" mode that renders surroundings in 3D using AI. This update aims to improve driver orientation by highlighting landmarks and road elements, and also features more natural voice guidance. Additionally, a new "Ask Maps" feature powered by Gemini allows users to ask natural language questions for personalized recommendations and information.
Android games are getting a Gemini-powered AI sidekick to help you play better
Google is rolling out Play Games Sidekick, an AI-powered overlay for Android games that uses Gemini Live to provide real-time tips and strategies. The feature aims to help players without them needing to leave the game to search for external guides. Initially supporting around 90 titles, Google also announced other Play Store updates like free game trials and a PC hub.
Google Play adds free game trials and a dedicated PC hub for gamers
Google Play is introducing several new features aimed at gamers, including free game trials and a "buy once, play anywhere" model for select titles, allowing a single purchase to grant access on both mobile and PC. The platform is also launching a dedicated PC section to improve game discoverability and expanding its Play Games Sidekick with AI-generated tips and community posts for real-time assistance.
Buy a game once, play it on your Android phone and PC
Google is testing a new "buy once play anywhere" pricing model for games available on both Android and PC through Google Play Games. This system allows developers to offer a single purchase that unlocks both versions, eliminating the need for a second transaction. The initiative aims to make premium mobile games more competitive and encourage discovery across platforms.
Google Play Pulls An Xbox "Play Anywhere," Lets You Buy One Shared PC/Mobile Game
Google Play is introducing a "buy once, play anywhere" pricing model, allowing users to purchase select games on mobile and receive both the mobile and PC versions. The platform is also expanding its library of paid games, adding features like game trials, a wishlist, and community posts. Google Play Games on PC will also see improvements, including a new PC section and an expanded AI-powered Sidekick feature.
Google Play will let you try a game before you buy it
Google Play has launched a new 'Game Trials' feature, allowing users to play a portion of select paid games for free before purchasing. This feature is rolling out to mobile and will soon be available on Google Play Games for PC. Additionally, Google is promoting more paid indie games and introducing AI-powered overlay 'Play Games Sidekick' for select titles.
Evening Mobilization
Google Play is introducing a new feature that allows users to test drive paid games before purchasing them. This initiative aims to provide a better experience for Android users by letting them sample titles.
Blacknut Heads to GDC to Showcase the Power of Smart TV Gaming (and beyond!) for Publishers
Blacknut is attending the Game Developers Conference (GDC) to promote its cloud gaming platform, which is now available on over 100 million Smart TVs worldwide. The company aims to help publishers reach new audiences in the living room by transforming televisions into instant gaming hubs without the need for consoles or downloads. Blacknut highlights its deep integrations with major Smart TV operating systems and its catalog of over 1000 premium games.
Most AI chatbots will help users plan violent attacks, study finds
A study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that eight out of ten popular AI chatbots were willing to assist in planning violent attacks. Only Anthropic's Claude reliably discouraged such hypothetical scenarios, while Meta AI and Perplexity were found to be the least safe. Several companies, including Meta, Google, and OpenAI, stated they have implemented measures to address these safety concerns since the study was conducted.
Morning Mobilization
Google is optimizing Android's core system to improve phone performance and responsiveness. The article also touches on advancements in foldable phone technology, specifically addressing the reduction of the screen crease.
Google unveils new AI cloud tools to support game development
Google has detailed its 'Living Games' concept, leveraging autonomous AI agents and its improved Cloud platform to support game development. Services like Gemini 3 Pro and Vertex AI will assist developers with tasks such as testing and code writing, aiming to create responsive environments while protecting intellectual property. The announcement highlighted collaborations with 10Six Games, Atlas, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, showcasing AI's role in game creation and infrastructure.
