Android
A fresh look at AT a Glance as an Android tool
Some folks want the option to ditch At a Glance from the top of their Pixel homescreen. I get why—it’s a personal choice—but I like having it there. It’s a handy spot for important updates, and I bet most people find it helpful every day. Still, in 2025, it feels like At a Glance could do so much more for Android users.
This feature sits in a perfect place—right at the top of your main homescreen and lock screen. It shines with things like calendar reminders, commute info, or a nudge to leave on time. Just wake your phone, and there’s useful stuff you can act on right away. It even helps travelers by showing things like which baggage claim to head to after a flight.
But here’s the thing: Google could jazz it up. Instead of plain text, why not use the whole space with visuals? Imagine a weather card that doesn’t just say “rain tomorrow” but shows a quick hourly breakdown. Simple, yet way more useful. Think of it as tiny widgets or those slick Wear OS Tiles. The Pixel Battery widget squeezes three devices into one line—perfect vibes for At a Glance.
Other cool fits could be a Google Home shortcut, a World Clock with a few cities, a Fitbit stats tracker, a quick note jotter for Keep, or even YouTube Music’s current song—all with see-through backgrounds. Let’s dream bigger: what if apps—Google’s or others—could pop little cards into At a Glance? Picture a weather one with the temp now and the next few hours, tappable to dive deeper. It already pulls in rideshare updates or workout progress, so letting more apps join could spark some awesome ideas from developers.
To take off, though, At a Glance should grow beyond Pixels and land on all Android phones. It’s already a basic widget in the Google app, showing weather, events, orders, and travel info. Imagine Android 16’s live updates—like delivery or navigation pings—popping up there instead of crowding your notifications. On Pixels, that top space feels made for it.
Samsung’s got its “Now Bar” and “Live Notifications,” which lean toward controls rather than quick info. That’s fine, but chasing Apple’s Dynamic Island might overcomplicate things for Android fans. Instead, let’s make At a Glance the new Google Now—a spot for smart, helpful updates for everyone. If Pixels prove it works, Android should roll it out wide and make it a win for all.
Google’s Find My Device network for Android has gotten a big boost, making it much quicker to locate misplaced items. Recent checks show it’s now four times faster than it used to be, keeping up with Apple’s AirTags in crowded spots like malls or events. For instance, at CES 2025, a tracker tucked in a bag updated its location just as fast as an AirTag nearby. This speed-up is thanks to more Android users turning on tracking for all locations, not only busy areas, which helps the system spot items more reliably.
In less crowded places, the network can still have trouble since fewer Android phones are nearby to share location signals. But Google’s working on this by nudging users through app alerts to enable tracking in quieter spots. Plus, recent updates to tracker software and apps have made connections more stable and accurate.
Looking ahead, Google’s gearing up to roll out ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. This will let you find items with pinpoint accuracy, even within a room, using cool augmented reality (AR) visuals, much like Apple’s setup. The Moto Tag, a tracker ready for UWB, is already available, just waiting for Google to activate this feature. Not all Android phones support UWB yet, but future models like the Pixel 10 might include it. These changes prove Google’s determined to make its Find My Device network a top choice for tracking lost stuff.
Google’s upcoming Android 16 update is bringing better security and some helpful improvements, especially for Pixel phone users. One of the main features in Android 16 is a new way to protect your phone’s data when it’s connected to a computer through USB. Right now, when you plug your phone into a PC or laptop, it can access all your data as long as you approve it.
With Android 16, Google is adding an extra security layer that only allows limited access unless you enter your PIN, password, or use your fingerprint. This will help protect your files if someone tries to access your phone without permission.
At the same time, Google is also working on a fix for a frustrating issue that some Pixel users have been facing for months — delayed notifications. After the April 2024 update, many users noticed that app alerts were not showing up on time, especially from messaging apps. Google has confirmed the problem and says a fix will be included in a future update, though it’s not in the current April patch yet.
Together, these changes show that Google is focusing on both stronger privacy and a smoother experience for Android and Pixel users. Android 16 is expected to roll out later this year, starting with developer previews.
Google is bringing several updates across its apps to make them more useful and easier to use. Google Translate is working on a new feature called “Practice.” It helps users improve their language skills by offering short exercises, like matching words or filling in blanks. Right now, it looks like it will focus on Spanish, but other languages may come later. This tool could be great for people who want to go beyond just translating words and learn the language.
Google Assistant’s Driving Mode in Google Maps is starting to shut down. Many users are noticing that the card-style dashboard is disappearing, and the Assistant voice command shortcut no longer works. Google hasn’t officially said why, but it seems they’re moving away from this feature, possibly to focus on other tools or experiences in Maps.
Google TV’s Freeplay app is now back with a fresh look. It gives users free access to over 100 live TV channels. The redesign makes it easier to browse channels and see what’s playing. The new layout also highlights what’s currently on, making it faster to start watching without having to dig through menus.
Lastly, Google Chrome is testing a new built-in PDF viewer. This upgraded tool makes reading and editing PDFs easier right inside the browser. It includes better zoom controls, a cleaner layout, and a page list view that lets users jump to specific pages more quickly. These updates show Google’s push to improve how we learn, drive, watch TV, and browse the web.
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