#Android

#Android

On those rare occasions when I use AI, I always opt for a local version. Most often, that comes in the form of Ollama installed on a desktop or laptop. I've been leery of using cloud-based AI for some time now for several reasons: It consumes vast amounts of energy. There's no way to be certain it honors privacy claims. I don't want any of my queries or data to be used for training LLMs.

When was the last time you opened your contact app? Do you even bother with it? If you use email, chances are you also use your contact app -- perhaps without realizing it. However, not all contact apps are created equal. Some contact apps are very basic, while others are overly complicated. And then there's the sweet spot -- those apps with just the right number of features wrapped up in a well-designed GUI. Are you ready for this? Let's get connected.

As an avid book lover, I'm a sucker for a great e-reader. Yet many of these devices are way too limited to really become a companion device. This is why I loved the TCL Nxtpaper tablet so much; however, the new DuRobo Krono is here to address that tablet's single downfall: it's a pocket e-reader and productivity device that is finally available for preorder.

Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics' Lara Craft reboot that released on PC and consoles in 2013, is coming to mobile devices next year. The action-adventure game, which serves as the first entry in Crystal Dynamics' reboot trilogy of Tomb Raider titles, will launch on iOS and Android on February 12, 2026. The mobile port is developed by Feral Interactive, which also brought Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light to iOS earlier this year.

Now it will be easier for Android users to watch Apple TV content on their TV with the addition of Google Cast support. However, even after this update, Google Cast is only an option on the Android version of Apple TV, not the iOS version. Likewise, the Android version still doesn't support AirPlay. The addition of Google Cast adds a core feature that's been missing from the Android version of Apple's streaming app since it launched earlier this year.

Next is the ability to attach files in the new search bar for AI to translate, summarize, or explain. This includes support for PDFs and images. To attach a file, open the Ask AI interface, tap the "+" icon, and select a document or photo from your Android device. You can also click a picture with the device's camera and upload it directly.

Google is adding more AI features to Google Discover, specifically pushing people from articles in Google Discover into Google AI Mode. When you click on an article from Google Discover and then click on the three dots at the top right of the screen, you are given three options to go into AI Mode. The options include: Summarize with Al Mode Ask a follow up with Al Mode Dive deeper with Al Mode

If you've never heard of GrapheneOS, think of it as a privacy and security-focused mobile operating system that includes Android compatibility and is developed as a non-profit, open-source project. GrapheneOS, which began in 2014 as CopperheadOS, achieves its heightened security by way of sandboxing, exploit mitigations, and the Android permission model. This alternative mobile OS mitigates entire classes of vulnerabilities to make exploiting the OS exponentially more difficult.

We didn't want to just force a desktop experience onto mobile,

The company is bringing most of the desktop version's capabilities to Android. People can use Perplexity as the default search engine, and they can also mention tabs to ask questions to the assistant. They can also use the voice mode to ask questions about all open tabs. Plus, the assistant can summarize searches across all tabs. Perplexity said the browser can research and shop on your behalf as well, and you can look at what action the Comet assistant is taking.

"This is the first time we actually see the Predator really emoting and being vulnerable," said Fanning.

They said it "would allow the parties to put their disputes aside while making Android a more vibrant and competitive platform for users and developers." Epic, which makes the hit online game Fortnite, won a victory over the summer when a federal appeals court upheld a jury verdict condemning Google's Android app store as an illegal monopoly. The unanimous ruling cleared the way for a federal judge to enforce a potentially disruptive shake-up that's designed to give consumers more choices.

Boox - the brand behind the smartphone-sized Android e-readers is gearing up to launch a new entry with the P6 Pro. It's still as compact as a phone like previous entries, but it will be available with an optional color e-ink display and a SIM slot for 4G and 5G data connectivity. Boox P6 Pro One of the big missing features on the Boox Palma 2 was the lack of cellular connectivity so the P6 Pro is bringing a welcome addition.

The skins are also available for Samsung, Google Pixel, and Apple's phones, including the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 lineup. "When Tim Cook hand-picked the new Cosmic Orange colorway, he had no idea we'd be ripping it off for a colormatched skin," Dbrand said in its press release. "To be fair, we didn't think it'd be popular enough to warrant a ripoff. Now that it has, we're all too happy to turn your Android into a Temu iPhone."