News
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC goes official, non-US devices to use it!

Qualcomm officially launched the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC, bringing some flagship-level features for premium mid-range devices. This new chipset is built on a 4 nm process with a 1+4+3 core configuration.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 packs one Prime ARM Cortex X4 clocked at 3.0 GHz, four Performance cores (2.8 GHz), and three Efficiency cores (2.0 GHz). The chip features “specially curated,” or selected, flagship features.
As the AI Phone era is booming, the new processor supports on-device generative AI, like Gemini Nano. Notably, the 8s Gen 3 differs from the 8 Gen 3’s 1+5+2 and trades an Efficiency core for another Performance core.
It also focuses on gaming (real-time hardware-accelerated ray tracing), connectivity (though it’s X70 support instead of X75), and audio (LE Audio with Auracast), as well as Snapdragon Seamless cross-device experiences.
Honor, iQOO, realme, Redmi, and Xiaomi will be using the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 over the coming months, with the first device announcement coming in March.
It’s reported that Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 would start appearing on the market soon enough, though not in devices readily sold in the US. Honor, iQOO, Realme, Redmi, and Xiaomi have all said that they’ll be using the platform.
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Gemini app now blocks kids’ access and Google Clock adds new alarm features

Google has updated its Gemini app to make it safer for kids. Now, children with supervised accounts through Google Family Link can no longer use the Gemini app or its chatbot on Android. When they try to open it, they’ll see a message saying the app isn’t available for their account. This change also affects the Gemini experience inside the Google app.
This move is meant to protect kids from AI tools that might not be suitable for them. While supervised accounts still work with some other Google apps like Search, Gemini is now off-limits for younger users. Google hasn’t said if this block will ever be lifted or if they’re planning a kid-friendly version of Gemini in the future.
At the same time, the Google Clock app has received a small but helpful update. Version 7.13 brings a new option called “Alarm display when device is locked.” When you turn this on, your upcoming alarm will show at the bottom of the lock screen. This makes it easier to check your next alarm without unlocking your phone. You’ll find this option under the alarm settings by tapping the three-dot menu.
Both of these updates show how Google is working to make its apps more helpful and safer for everyone.
Google tests tap-to-add card feature and easier emoji kitchen browsing

First, Google Wallet might soon let you add a credit or debit card just by tapping it on the back of your phone. This new feature uses NFC (Near Field Communication) and could make adding payment cards quicker and easier, especially for people who don’t want to enter card details manually. The feature was spotted in the latest version of the Wallet app with the message: “Try holding your card to the back of your phone to add it.” While it’s not active yet, it hints at a faster way to set up contactless payments.
At the same time, Google is making Emoji Kitchen easier to explore. Emoji Kitchen lets you combine two emojis to create fun, custom versions. Previously, it was hard to browse different combinations. Now, Google is rolling out a new “Browse” section in Gboard. This lets users scroll through popular emoji combos, like smiley face + cowboy hat, without having to guess which ones work. You can also tap one to send it directly in your message.
These updates show how Google is improving both everyday tasks like payments and fun features like emojis. The tap-to-add card option and improved emoji browsing are expected to make Android devices more user-friendly in future updates. Would you like me to notify you when these features officially roll out?
Android
Google Pixel Weather app now shows pollen info in the US

Google is adding a new feature to its Pixel Weather app. Now, users in the United States can see pollen levels in their area. This update is especially helpful for people who have allergies and need to know when pollen is high.
In the Weather app, there’s a new section under the daily forecast that shows pollen conditions. It uses simple labels like “low,” “moderate,” and “high” so it’s easy to understand. This new feature pulls information from the same source that Google Search uses for pollen updates.
However, the new pollen section in the Pixel Weather app is only available in the US for now. If you’re outside the US, you won’t see the pollen data yet. Also, not every user may get it immediately, as Google is still rolling out the update.
To use the feature, you need to have the latest version of the Pixel Weather app, which comes built into Pixel devices. Google may expand this feature to more countries in the future, but there’s no official date yet.
Overall, this small update can make a big difference for users who want quick and easy access to local pollen conditions without searching separately.
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