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Android 16 Beta shows off new looks and features

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Android 16

Google dropped a fresh Android 16 beta this week, and while it might not seem like much at first glance, there are some cool things brewing under the hood. Think custom app icon shapes, a redesigned notification area, and more!

So far, the early versions of Android 16 haven’t brought many obvious changes for users. There are small updates here and there, but nothing to get super excited about yet. However, digging deeper into Android 16 Beta 3, some big stuff is in progress.

One neat addition is notification summaries—little hints of this popped up in Beta 3’s code. Plus, Google seems to be giving the whole notification panel a makeover, as Android Authority noticed. The new design puts the time front and center at the top, styled like your lock screen clock.

There’s also a handy bar with buttons to clear all notifications, tweak settings, or check your notification history. It’s a big shift from what we have now, with a solid background behind everything. They’ve added new swipe moves too—swipe down from the top left for notifications, or from the top right for Quick Settings. No swipe to flip between them, though—just shortcut buttons at the top.

None of this is active yet, but it’s clear Google’s cooking up something big for Android. On top of that, there’s talk of bringing back custom app icon shapes for your home screen. Google had this feature years ago but dropped it in Android 12. Now, it looks like it’s making a comeback, pretty much the same as before.

Mystic Leaks on Telegram also hinted that Google might add shapes to the lock screen, like what Samsung’s One UI 7 or OxygenOS do. You might even get weather animations as an option. For now, these features aren’t live in Android 16 Beta 3, and we don’t know when they’ll show up. Google plans to roll out the final Android 16 around May or June, but that’s not the end. Android 16 QPR1 will bring lock screen widgets to more people, and another decent-sized update is set for later in 2025.

Android

Android 15 grows slowly, while Google brings new AI tools to search and creators

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Android 15

Google has shared the latest Android version usage numbers, showing that Android 15 is still in the early stages of adoption. As of April 2025, only 0.1% of Android devices are using Android 15. This version is currently in its beta phase, mostly available on Pixel and select partner phones. Android 14 leads the way with a 35.2% share, followed by Android 13 at 17.3% and Android 12 at 15.4%. Android 11 still holds 12.4%, showing how long older versions stick around.

Meanwhile, Google is also making changes in its AI efforts. The Gemini AI “prompt bar,” first seen in the Chrome browser, is now being tested in Google Search. This new feature lets users type or click suggestions to ask questions directly using Gemini, making search more interactive. It’s rolling out to more people gradually.

In addition to that, Google introduced Veo, a powerful video generation tool for creators. Veo can make high-quality videos from simple text prompts, using advanced AI to understand scenes, emotions, and cinematic styles. Google is currently letting select creators try Veo through a waitlist.

Together, these updates show how Google is improving both its Android platform and AI services. While Android 15 adoption is just beginning, features like the Gemini prompt bar and Veo highlight the company’s growing focus on AI to enhance user experiences across devices and tools.

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Android

Pixel Watch gets better media controls, and Android tests bubble bar for phones

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Android 16

Google is rolling out two new updates that aim to improve the experience on Android devices, including the Pixel Watch and Android phones.

First, the Pixel Watch is getting upgraded media controls. With the new update, users can now swipe between different media apps like Spotify and YouTube Music more easily. Instead of going back and forth through menus, you can just swipe left or right to switch apps. The update also adds a shortcut to quickly launch the full media app right from the watch. This makes listening to music or podcasts much smoother and faster.

Meanwhile, Google is testing a new feature for Android phones called the “bubble bar.” This new feature is meant to replace or enhance the current taskbar and app dock. It looks like a small floating bar with app icons, similar to bubbles. Users can easily switch between apps without going back to the home screen. The bubble bar could be especially helpful for larger-screen devices like foldables or tablets, making multitasking simpler.

These updates show how Google is working to make Android more user-friendly across different devices. While the Pixel Watch update is starting to roll out now, the bubble bar is still being tested, so it may take a while before it becomes available to everyone.

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Android

Android Auto weather card not working for many users

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Android Auto has recently had a small but annoying problem—its weather card isn’t showing up for many users. Usually, this feature shows the current temperature and weather condition in the top corner of the dashboard, which is helpful while driving. But now, for a lot of people, it’s either missing or just showing a blank space.

Reports about this issue have been popping up on Google’s support forums and Reddit over the past week. Some users say the card disappeared after a recent Android Auto update, while others noticed it went away without any changes to their apps or settings.

What’s odd is that Google hasn’t confirmed if this is a bug or a planned change. As of now, there’s no official fix or update. Some users tried restarting their phones, clearing cache, or reinstalling the app, but these steps didn’t work for everyone.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Android Auto has had similar issues with the weather card in the past, which were usually fixed through updates. Until Google releases a fix or gives more info, users will just have to wait and hope the card comes back soon.

If you’re affected, it’s a good idea to keep your app and phone updated in case a fix rolls out.

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