AllYouCanTech

Google Maps Navigation Now Fueled by Gemini AI

Here’s how Google Maps is utilizing Gemini while you drive.

What you should know:
– Google is officially substituting Google Assistant with its newer Gemini AI within the Maps application, beginning with the navigation microphone.
– Gemini will manage intricate voice commands for route modifications (such as avoiding tolls) and respond to inquiries about weather or local attractions, all without leaving the navigation view.
– A broader rollout appears to be on the horizon, as Google continues to integrate its ecosystem under Gemini and phase out Assistant.

Google is subtly altering Google Maps, indicating its intention to replace Google Assistant with Gemini across more of its services. The team at Android Authority has detected Google’s AI assistant carefully taking over Google Assistant within the Maps app, marking one of the most definitive indications that Gemini is assuming control for navigation.

In the most recent beta version of Google Maps (25.41.03.815390258), the publication observed that pressing the mic icon during navigation no longer invokes Google Assistant. Instead, it triggers Gemini, complete with the new spark-shaped emblem that replaces the recognizable four-color microphone.

Gemini subsequently manages voice commands for route adjustments, such as circumventing toll roads or highways, without the need to navigate through menus. It can also respond to queries regarding the weather, local locations, or even general subjects, all while keeping you within the Maps interface.

The update connects directly to the Gemini app, allowing users to modify the AI’s configurations from there. While the feature is still undergoing limited beta testing, the latest finding suggests that a broader release is on the way.

Google’s larger objective:
This aligns with Google’s extensive plan to consolidate its ecosystem under Gemini, gradually retiring older Assistant-based functionalities. Late last year, Google unveiled a revamped search experience inside Maps that enables you to pose more natural questions like “Locate 4-star restaurants open right now” or “Display parks with playgrounds nearby” with assistance from Gemini. The shortcut for this feature is being introduced right alongside standard categories like “Restaurants” or “Gas.”

The timing aligns perfectly with Google’s choice to discontinue Assistant’s Driving Mode earlier this year, which had already been stripped of most of its functionalities in 2024. With Gemini now managing calls, messages, and even media playback across Android devices, it is only logical that navigation is next on its agenda.

There are initial indications that this AI integration might extend to Android Auto as well, enabling you to inquire about local restaurants or traffic conditions directly from your vehicle’s dashboard.

Pixel Buds 2a and Pixel Buds Pro 2 Come with Swappable Cases

An inquiry indicates that the cases for Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Buds 2a can be interchanged. A video illustration demonstrated that users can interchange the earbuds between the cases of both models while still maintaining charging capabilities. Although this compatibility is not officially acknowledged by Google, the video verifies that each earbud fits and charges in the alternative case. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 recently underwent a major update, introducing features such as Adaptive Audio, Loud Noise Protection, and Head Gestures, improving the overall user experience. This unforeseen compatibility emphasizes a possible transition towards more universal accessory designs, akin to the common use of USB-C chargers across various smartphone brands.

ChromeOS Flex: An Alternative to Windows 10

There is still hope, and you can keep your wallet closed.

Annual Purchasing Occasion: Black Friday

What is Black Friday and when is it this year?

Black Friday always occurs on the final Friday of November and follows immediately after Thanksgiving. It marks the beginning of a weekend filled with promotions from various retailers.

However, merchants often don’t wait for the official date to begin their promotions. For many, discounts start appearing as early as October and can continue beyond Black Friday. It’s essential to keep an eye on these offers as they represent some of the most sought-after bargains of the year.

How we are going to assist you this year

The Android Central team is dedicated to monitoring incoming deals and will ensure that we highlight the finest offers that deserve your attention. We have several hubs and promotions that activate daily leading up to Black Friday, so don’t hold off until the weekend to begin your shopping.

While some promotions are already live, we can’t assure that those prices will decrease further during the actual Black Friday weekend. However, if this does occur, we will do our best to keep you updated.

Continue to check this page, and visit our home page for all the top deals currently available.

Remember, we’ll also be sending out daily newsletters so you don’t miss any updates, so be sure to sign up.

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is always the Monday that comes right after Black Friday. This year, it takes place on Monday, December 2, 2025.

Cyber Monday primarily targets online digital retailers rather than brick-and-mortar stores. Many of these discounts expire when Monday concludes, although sometimes these deals will linger throughout the week.

The promotions are usually comparable in price to those offered during the Black Friday sales, but certain items may even experience additional discounts. We will keep you informed about all the Cyber Monday offers as they arrive.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold Bursts During JRE Durability Examination

**Becoming the First Phone in a Decade to Actually Detonate on Camera, According to Zack Nelson**

In a shocking development, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has emerged as the first smartphone in ten years to detonate on camera during a durability assessment carried out by Zack Nelson, the host of the well-known YouTube channel JerryRigEverything. Renowned for his thorough testing techniques, Nelson subjected the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to various durability tests, culminating in a disastrous failure.

**What You Should Know:**
– The Pixel 10 Pro Fold underwent Nelson’s notorious durability examination, leading to an explosive malfunction during the bend assessment.
– In spite of assertions of IP68 dust and water resistance, the hinge’s performance raised alarms after encountering abrasive conditions.
– The distinctive bend test resulted in the device breaking and releasing smoke, signifying a catastrophic durability result.

**The Test Overview:**
Initially, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold performed as anticipated, with its cover display (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) revealing scratches at level 6 on the Mohs Hardness Scale and deeper marks at level 7. However, the inner display showed susceptibility to scratches from a fingernail, indicating the necessity of a screen protector. The phone’s outer edges also lost their color coating when scraped.

In the dust-resistance trial, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s inner display exhibited dust-proof features, yet the hinge struggled with sand particles. The real excitement unfolded during the bend trial. Despite Google’s assertions of a sturdy hinge mechanism, the phone fractured along the antenna lines rather than at the hinge. Nelson admonished Google for not moving these lines, which played a role in the malfunction.

As Nelson endeavored to bend the device further, it started to emit smoke and ultimately exploded, marking the first instance of a smartphone exploding in his ten-year testing history. Despite the explosion, Nelson persisted in evaluating the device’s other panel.

**Conclusion:**
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s explosive malfunction during the durability assessment serves as a stark warning about the potential hazards linked to foldable technology. While the device offers remarkable features, its durability under extreme conditions remains in doubt. Users are advised to treat their devices with caution and seek professional help if their phones exhibit any signs of damage.