Google has introduced “Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking,” an experimental AI model designed to “think out loud” while solving complex problems. Built on the speed of Gemini 2.0 Flash, this model displays its reasoning process in real-time before providing an answer, improving performance in areas like physics and probability. It’s currently available in Google AI Studio and Vertex AI. This new model has quickly risen to the top of the Chatbot Arena LLM Leaderboard.

The Gemini app on Android is also receiving an update, widely rolling out access to the 2.0 Flash Experimental model for both free and paid users. This model is faster and more powerful than previous versions, offering a more helpful assistant experience. Users can select 1.5 Pro, 1.5 Flash, and 2.0 Flash Experimental within the app. While file uploads are not yet supported, 2.0 Flash is expected to become generally available for developers in January, with more model sizes coming. This update follows a similar update for the Gemini app on iPhone.

Android Auto is also getting a visual refresh with the 13.4 update. Google adds Material You accent colors to match the user’s phone wallpaper. This means system elements like buttons, toggles, and menus will now feature colors that adapt to the phone’s theme. While this feature is still refined and may exhibit some inconsistencies, it brings a more personalized and cohesive look to the Android Auto interface. This change is visible in areas like the Settings menu and notification center, but only if the setting for matching the phone’s wallpaper is enabled.

Android 16 introduces a new feature for Pixel phones, specifically the Pixel 9 series: fingerprint unlocking while the screen is off.

In Android 16 Developer Preview 2, a new setting called “Screen-off fingerprint unlock” lets users activate the fingerprint sensor even when the display is completely dark. This is a notable new feature in the preview, as other changes were largely visual tweaks.

This functionality appears exclusive to the Pixel 9 series, likely due to its new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Older Pixel phones use optical sensors, which emit light when activated. Keeping these sensors constantly active could lead to accidental light activation, especially in dark environments. Ultrasonic sensors don’t use light, making screen-off unlocking a smoother experience.

While always-on display (AOD) has offered similar functionality by keeping the fingerprint sensor active when the time is shown, this new option benefits users who prefer not to use AOD.

On Pixel 9 devices running Android 16 Developer Preview 2, the setting can be found in Settings > Security & privacy > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock.

In the Android 16 Developer Preview 2, Google Keep, the popular note-taking app, has become a system app. This means it can no longer be easily uninstalled like regular apps.

System apps are pre-installed and essential for basic phone functions. While usually uninstallable only by advanced methods like rooting (which gives users full control over the system), they can often be disabled.

On Android 15 and older versions, Google Keep is a standard app that can be uninstalled normally. However, in the Android 16 preview, it’s moved to a protected system area, requiring root access for removal.

This change suggests Google may be planning deeper integration of Keep with Android, potentially granting it access to core features or enabling new functionalities. One possibility is a tighter integration with a rumored lock screen note-taking feature, which has been anticipated but not yet released.