Tag: Source: Androidcentral.com

The newest beta version of Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3, revealed at I/O 2026, brings improvements that enhance the smoothness, intelligence, and iPhone-like qualities of Pixel devices. This update, part of Google’s Quarterly Platform Release initiative, previews forthcoming Pixel Feature Drops, with anticipated changes set to be released in the September Feature Drop for compatible devices.

One of the most striking updates is the increased application of blur and translucency effects throughout the user interface, which improves the frosted-glass look in areas such as Quick Settings and the power menu. This visual update is in line with the ongoing trend toward a more subdued design, similar to Apple’s iPhone interface. Additionally, the update adds a new bounce-back animation in Quick Settings, mimicking the rubber-band-style motion effect recognized by iPhone users.

In addition to aesthetic changes, the update emphasizes practical enhancements. The screen recorder now automatically selects the last used app, simplifying the experience for streamers and gamers. Furthermore, the update includes bug fixes and stability upgrades, addressing problems that impact system performance and dependability.

Though the update doesn’t bring any extravagant AI features, it lays the groundwork for future Gemini-driven functionalities in Android 17, focusing on on-device intelligence and enhanced personalization tools. The beta is accessible for Pixel devices starting from the Pixel 6 series and newer, registered in the Android Beta Program. As Google continues to enhance Android, the equilibrium between visual improvements and performance upgrades remains vital for user contentment.

Audio-only glasses are impressive, but incorporating a display elevates the experience significantly.

Google I/O is in full swing, and after an exhilarating keynote, I had the opportunity to test some upcoming Android XR glasses and prototypes. Samsung and Xreal appear to be among the most committed players in this domain, and I experimented with both Xreal’s glasses and the latest prototype from Google, clearly influencing Samsung’s designs, showing how Android XR will integrate various eyewear.

Samsung intended to unveil Android XR hardware last year with the Galaxy XR, but that device was cumbersome and not practical for daily use. This time, they’re concentrating on sleeker glasses suitable for regular wear. These are what I got to experience, and though I look forward to the arrival of audio-only glasses, I am particularly enthusiastic about what Samsung and Xreal are developing regarding display glasses.

Xreal is exceptional

The first demo was arguably the most fascinating. Xreal showcased its Project Aura glasses last year, and I had the chance to try them out before their release later this year. These glasses feature dual OLED displays situated behind the lenses, one for each eye.

If you’re acquainted with Xreal products, the design will likely not surprise you. They are sturdy glasses positioned slightly away from your face to accommodate the displays. From an external viewpoint, I’m not overly fond of the design, but once they are on, the difference isn’t noticeable.

The Project Aura glasses come equipped with two side cameras for tracking and perception, while the center camera is used for capturing photos and videos. A single stem houses all the controls: volume button, Home/Gemini, and a dimming button to adjust the electrochromic lens dimming.

A separate puck connects to the glasses, containing the battery and processing unit (powered by Snapdragon). I couldn’t gather detailed battery life stats, but you could likely enjoy a complete movie while wearing them.

The puck also includes a touch panel to manage the glasses, which I found to be quite clever. True to Xreal’s philosophy, you can connect other devices, like laptops and phones, to display your apps and windows.

So, how was the glasses experience? Quite impressive! The visuals exceeded my expectations; text was clear, colors were vibrant, and the responsiveness was exceptional. Besides using the puck, you can control the glasses with gestures, similar to the Galaxy XR. A pinch and drag lets you select, move, and resize items.

Navigating the Android XR UI felt natural and reminded me of the Quest 3, allowing me to get accustomed to it swiftly, swiping through and resizing applications.

I first accessed a trailer for the Spider-Man 2 video game, and initially, the video seemed slightly washed out, which concerned me. However, after adjusting the electrochromic dimming, which has five levels, the video became incredibly sharp and vibrant, akin to watching it on an OLED display. I was genuinely astonished at the quality, and it maintained its position against a wall as I shifted around.

Next, I experimented with an app developed for the glasses using Antigravity. Essentially, I utilized my hands to paint shapes in a 3D environment by pinching my fingers. I could change the “paint” colors and modify the thickness by twisting my wrist. Once again, it stayed put as I navigated the space. I confess, this left me quite impressed.

Xreal describes Project Aura as an intermediate device that combines the power and functionality of the Galaxy XR (hence the external power puck) while adopting a more compact design similar to the Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses. Although I never tried the Galaxy XR, I found myself more excited about display glasses than ever before.

Advocating for monocular display glasses

I also had the chance to test Google’s prototype monocular display glasses, referenced for Samsung’s upcoming model. This wasn’t my first experience, but I got to explore some new features this time. For instance, there are new widgets accessible that you can scroll through by swiping on the touch panel.

One widget is the Translate option, which I activated with a tap to translate spoken Korean into English for me. Even as the speaker paused, the glasses continually translated, showcasing a small yet highly useful feature.

Moreover, I utilized Nano Banana on the glasses—which seems a bit unconventional on eyewear—but given their visual capabilities, it makes sense. I managed to capture a photo of myself with

Android 17 will soon be released, but will you install it on your device? Let’s explore.

Real-Time Updates and a fresh widget experience are the highlights of Google’s newest smartwatch enhancement.

Google is poised to transform online shopping with the introduction of its AI-driven Universal Cart, a feature crafted to enhance the shopping journey across major online merchants. This groundbreaking tool, driven by Google’s Gemini AI, will automatically monitor prices, stock updates, and promotions from various retailers, delivering users a smooth and intelligent shopping experience.

The Universal Cart is integrated with Google’s suite of services, including Search, Gemini, YouTube, and Gmail, serving as a continuous shopping center. Once an item is placed in the cart, the system operates in the background to keep track of price reductions, stock status, and price trends. It can even suggest alternatives prior to checkout, facilitating users in discovering the best offers.

One of the remarkable aspects of the Universal Cart is its capability to function across various merchants, enabling users to shop from Amazon, Walmart, Nike, and other outlets, all within a single unified cart. This cross-platform feature guarantees that users are not confined to one retail site, providing enhanced flexibility and convenience.

The association with Google Wallet further elevates the shopping experience by proposing the most beneficial saved payment option to maximize savings and rewards. For those in search of particular items, such as bespoke PC components, Gemini can offer compatible alternatives, ensuring that users make knowledgeable purchasing choices.

Google’s Universal Cart is anticipated to be launched across Google Search and the Gemini app in the U.S. later this summer, with additional integrations with YouTube and Gmail to come. The Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) will enable smooth checkout experiences, allowing users to finalize purchases with Google Pay in just a few taps.

This new feature is set to be a transformative force in online shopping, providing an all-encompassing solution that tracks prices and identifies deals across various platforms, making it a perfect substitute for current price-tracking solutions. With plans to extend UCP-driven checkout experiences to Canada, Australia, and the U.K., Google’s Universal Cart is ready to emerge as an indispensable tool for astute online shoppers globally.

Google Play is poised to experience major AI-driven improvements focused on enhancing app discovery and promoting developer advancement. Unveiled at I/O 2026, these enhancements will more thoroughly integrate Google Play apps with Gemini, Google’s AI platform, enabling apps to be found directly through Gemini on both Android and the web. This integration is anticipated to boost developers’ visibility by connecting with millions of Gemini users.

One of the notable features is Play Shorts, which brings TikTok-like vertical videos to the platform. This feature aims to assist users in discovering apps visually by offering a brief insight into an app’s interface and functionality prior to downloading. Currently, Play Shorts is being rolled out in the U.S. and is restricted to a select group of developers.

In addition, Google is upgrading its AI-powered developer tools. These enhancements include fresh capabilities for app translations, subscription oversight, and app publishing. A significant addition is the Gemini-enhanced Google Play Console experience, which will enable developers to tailor app listings using structured CSV files or Google Sheets, with Gemini automatically translating app listings into various languages.

Google is also rolling out new monetization features, including the allowance for low-risk users to temporarily maintain access to subscriptions after unsuccessful payments, while Google processes the transaction in the background. Moreover, developers can now create Android apps directly through Google AI Studio using text prompts, simplifying the app development process.

Overall, these AI enhancements are set to transform Google Play into a more vibrant and developer-friendly platform, improving user experience and app discovery.

Google AI Studio can now create comprehensive Android applications from a text prompt.

There’s a bit more for fans of AI-generated images with Google Pics.

Google I/O 2026 is in progress, and Google is revealing an extensive array of Workspace enhancements. Features like Gmail Live, Docs Live, and voice capabilities in Keep are on the horizon, allowing users to converse with the AI to create documents or locate items in their email. Google Pics is a new application coming to Workspace, built on its Nano Banana model to provide users with “accurate” control over modifications in their AI-generated images.

As I/O 2026 unfolds, Google’s wave of features dives into the Workspace environment to showcase the various ways its AI aims to assist.

Right from the start, Google announces that Gemini Spark, its latest personal AI agent, will be available on Workspace users’ devices. Whether you’re a Google AI or Workspace business customer, Gemini Spark is a digital assistant capable of performing tasks on your behalf—fitting its “agentic AI” designation. The company hints that the AI in Workspace applications can draft emails for you or add events to your schedule. Furthermore, Workspace business users can anticipate the arrival of Gemini Spark in the Gemini app “in the near future.”

Additionally, voice features are arriving at Gmail. This is something users are already familiar with, thanks to Gemini on Android. Google is elevating this experience, announcing that “Gmail Live” is forthcoming. Users will be able to inquire with Gmail Live about their flight’s gate number and any other relevant information. In a similar vein, “Docs Live” is the Google Docs variant, capable of listening to your speech and arranging your ideas into a well-structured document.

With additional permissions, Docs Live can utilize information from Gmail, Drive, Chat, and web searches to enrich your document. Google Keep is also set to benefit from these voice features. The announcement mentions that users can speak freely, and Keep will operate “in the background” to convert their musings into organized lists.

Voice features in Gmail, Docs, and Keep are set to roll out this summer for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, along with a “preview” for Workspace Business.

Google Pics introduces itself

What’s an I/O announcement without a fresh app? For enthusiasts of Google’s Nano Banana AI image generator, Google Pics could be the app they’ve been seeking. The company declares, “Creating with AI ought to feel like creative guidance, not a gamble.” Within Google Pics, users will discover “creative controls” to steer the AI, ensuring it produces their envisioned output.

Post generation, users can modify specific aspects of the image. They’ll have access to removal tools, resizing options, and transformation features. Altering one element of the generated image won’t impact another (unless you select it for change). Text becomes more adaptable as well, enabling users to choose any generated text and translate it into another language or modify the font.

Google Pics isn’t merely a standalone app. It will seamlessly integrate with Workspace, enabling image editing in Slides or Docs with the same ease as in the primary Pics app.

You won’t have to wait long, as Google Pics is available today (May 19) for a select group of Trusted Testers. However, later this summer, Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers can expect its launch, with Workspace Business users seeing it “in preview.”

A bit for AI Inbox

You may recall Google’s official introduction of Gmail’s AI Inbox back in early April. This feature was designed to spotlight important messages amidst the chaos and clutter of our emails. Critical items such as bills, appointments, and more are highlighted, but users can request the AI to surface something specific through a written query.

During I/O, Google announced enhancements for the AI Inbox. Currently rolling out are “personalized drafts.” If there’s an urgent message in your inbox that requires immediate attention, AI Inbox will notify you and provide a generated “contextual draft” in advance to assist. Users can review this AI-generated message, and if satisfied, they can send it. If an email from a client or colleague involves a file, users will not need to dive into the app themselves. When AI Inbox gives its summary, it will include a link to that file, so users can access it more quickly.

Maintaining calm and clarity is essential, allowing users to mark tasks as “done.” You can also dismiss an unhelpful suggestion from the AI or mark emails “in a certain topic” as read, to keep it out of your mind.

Now, Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers are gaining access to AI Inbox in the U.S. today (May 19).

Gemini Omni has the potential to render conventional video editing tools obsolete.

**Genie Collaborates with Google Maps for a Transformed AI Experience**

In a revolutionary step, Google has revealed the fusion of its Project Genie with Google Maps’ Street View, ushering in a fresh chapter of AI-enhanced interactions. This pioneering blend empowers users to reinterpret real-world sites with a creative flair, turning well-known locations into fantastical scenery.

**Essential Information:**

– **Project Genie and Google Maps:** Google’s Project Genie is continually advancing, now joining forces with Google Maps’ Street View. This combination enables users to choose a location in the U.S. and visualize it through AI suggestions, such as depicting Chicago as a desert.
– **Launch Date:** The new Street View functionality is being introduced to AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S. beginning May 19.
– **Imaginative Discovery:** Users can construct fictitious realms based on actual locations. This feature amplifies the creative possibilities of Google Maps, facilitating distinctive visual journeys.

**The Prospects of AI and Maps:**

This collaboration signifies a crucial milestone in Google’s AI aspirations, merging the generative capabilities of Genie with the real-life visuals of Street View. Users can navigate and engage with these AI-created worlds, providing an insight into the future of digital mapping and AI innovation.

As Google advances this feature, the opportunities for creative discovery and interactive engagement expand, setting the stage for a new age of AI-driven advancements.