Miscellaneous Jan 2026 updates from Google
- YouTube Music syncs queue: Queue should now sync seamlessly, the last play session will be prioritised
- Personal Intelligence in AI Mode: Rolling out to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S. via Labs
- Better AI Overviews for everyone: Powered by Gemini 3 and seamlessly continue the conversation (on mobile) in AI Mode
- Google AI Plus rolling out worldwide: Available for $7.99/month, 50% off limited-time offer for the first 2 months of the subnoscription; Google One Premium 2TB gets extra benefits that are offered in AI Plus
- Google Developer Program (GDP) for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers: $10/month Google Cloud credits for AI Pro; $100/month for AI Ultra, bundled in subnoscription
- Agentic Vision in Gemini 3 Flash: Capable of inspecting small details, annotating, and parse high-density tables in images with Python, available via Gemini API in AI Studio and Vertex AI
- YouTube Rewind is gone forever: All YouTube Rewind videos from 2010-2019 had just been made private after being unlisted last month.
- Gemini in Google Maps for walking and cycling: Talk to Gemini while you are on your way to somewhere safely.
- Pixel Tablet support extended: The tablet will receive guarantee updates till June 2028 (previously June 2026).

#Misc #YTMusic #Search #One #Gemini #YouTube @PixelHubUpdates

New Android Theft Protection fearures
Improvements coming to Android 16+
- A toggle for Failed Authentication Lock: Decides whether to lock the device after several incorrect authentication attempts (enabled in Android 15+ devices by default).
- Identity Check (utilize biometric authentication outside of trusted places) has been expanded to cover all services that use biometric authentication, including third-party apps.
- Lockout time has been increased after several failed attempts; identical incorrect guesses won't count towards your retry limit so you won't be locked out by mistake.

Miscellaneous
- Remote Lock let you add optional security question or challenge, so it can only be activated by the real owner, available for Android 10+ devices.
- In Brazil, Theft Detection Lock and Remote Lock is enabled by default for new Android devices.

More info: Google Security Blog
#Android @PixelHubUpdates

Gemini in Chrome: Side panel & Auto browse
Side panel
- Access Gemini from the side panel while browsing the tab you are currently on.
- Nano Banana is integrated into the browser so you can just share your screen and enter the prompt to get the image you want (clicking on the generated image open it in a new tab).
- Connected Apps feature is also available once enabled in Gemini settings, allowing for integrations across Google products.
- Personal Intelligence can give relevant answers that is uniquely tailored to you, available in the coming months.
- These features are arriving on Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS.

Auto browse
- Handle multi-step chores on your behalf after prompting Gemini.
- Once activated, a glow shows up around the webpage, with the instructions listed in the sidebar.
- Tasks like masking a purchase or posting on social media require your explicit confirmation.
- Available as preview for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S.

More info: Google Blog
#Apps #Chrome #Gemini @PixelHubUpdates

Android Distribution Usage as of December 2025
Android 16: 7.5%
Android 15: 19.3%
Android 14: 17.2%
Android 13: 13.9%
Android 12: 11.4%
Android 11: 13.7%
Android 10: 7.8%
Android 9 / Pie: 4.5%
Android 8.1 / Oreo: 2.3%
Android 8 / Oreo: 0.8%
Android 7.1 / Nougat: 0.4%
Android 7 / Nougat: 0.4%
Android 6 / Marshmallow: 0.4%
Android 5.1 / Lollipop: 0.3%
Android 5 / Lollipop: 0.1%

Source: 9To5Google
#News #Android @PixelHubUpdates

February 2026 Android 16 Pixel Update
- Build ID: BP4A.260205.001, BP4A.260205.002 (Pixel 9 series)
- This update excludes Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro
- Zero bug fixes, only one security patch related to VPU Driver is listed under Pixel Security Bulletin with high severity (CVE-2026-0106)

Download: Factory Images | OTA Images
Changes: Pixel Community | Android Security Bulletin | Pixel Security Bulletin
#Updates #A16 #Pixel @PixelHubUpdates

Alphabet's Q4 2025 earnings
- Q4 2025: $113.83B (up by $17.36B compared with Q4 2024: $96.47B)
- 750M+ monthly active users on Gemini App
- 325M+ paid consumer subnoscriptions

More info: Google Blog
#News #Alphabet @PixelHubUpdates

Pixel 10a announced: Pre-order starting February 18 in Google Store
#Pixel #Pixel10a @PixelHubUpdates

LineageOS 23.2 for Pixel 4 and newer devices
- LineageOS 23.2 based on Android 16 QPR2 is officially released; 146 (+1 from 22.2) devices previously on 23.0 are promoted.
- Among the devices are Pixel devices from Pixel 4 to Pixel 9 series, alongside Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.
- Eligible devices running 23.0 official builds will receive an OTA update as soon as it is available.
- With AOSP source code dropping every six months, LineageOS will only release a new point release every six months.

What's New
- Material 3 Expressive that was previously absent in 23.0, and all other goodies that were added in QPR1 and QPR2.
- The Updater app will be receiving a completely redesigned UI, improved update management, delightful animations and various bugs fixed.
- Additionally, Twelve (Music) and ExactCalculator also receive Material 3 Expressive UI design; other apps will be receiving it in the near future (specifically DeskClock).

More info: LineageOS
#News #LineageOS @PixelHubUpdates

Lyrics in YouTube Music may require a Premium subnoscription

Google is experimenting with locking YouTube Music lyrics behind paywall aka YouTube Premium Subnoscription.

Basically, YouTube music will only let you see the lyrics of the song "partially".
Users get only 5 free lyrics before they have to subscribe. When that happens, you’ll only see the first few lines, with everything else blurred and unscrollable.

Google told Ars Technica that no final decisions have been made about this feature, and the number of free lyric views will vary across the test. However, this "testing" has expanded considerably in recent days and lot of users are seeing the lyrics being paywalled now.

We are running an experiment with a small percentage of ad-supported users that may impact their ability to access the lyrics feature repeatedly. We often run experiments on YouTube Music to better inform our decisions around feature improvements. The majority of our global users will not see any changes to the lyrics feature.

Follow @TechLeaksZone

Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1
- Build ID: CP11.251209.009.A1, CP11.251209.009 (Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7)
- January 2026 Security Patch (December 2025 for Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro)
- Play Services: 25.47.33

Download: Factory Images | OTA Images | GSI
Changes: Android Developers
#Updates #A16 #Beta #Pixel @PixelHubUpdates

Android 17 Beta 1 announced
- Google has announced Android 17 Beta 1 is coming soon.
- If you want to receive Android 16 QPR3 stable release without wiping your data, you need to opt-out your devices from the Beta program, ignore the downgrade OTA update, and wait for the public release.
- Rest of the devices will automatically receive Android 17 Beta 1 once available and will only be able to opt-out without a data wipe until June 2026, the estimated time for Android 17 stable release.

Source: Reddit
#News #Android @PixelHubUpdates

Gmail for Android now lets you create labels
- Google finally adds a simple menu option which let you create labels on the go on the Android app.
- However, color customisation is still not possible within it.
- To edit or delete a specific label, head over to Settings > Gmail address > Notifications > Manage labels.
- Note: This feature is rolling out via server side.

#Apps #Gmail @PixelHubUpdates

Gemini 3 Deep Think: Advancing science, research and engineering
- Better performance and reasonings while dealing with maths and programming problems.
- Excels in scientific domains such as chemistry and physics.
- Capable of handling engineering tasks.
- Available for Google AI Ultra subscribers and select researchers, engineers and enterprises via Gemini API (early access).

More info: Google Blog
#Apps #Gemini @PixelHubUpdates

Google Pixel 10a official renders leak
- Colors (left to right): Berry, Fog, Lavender, Obsidian
- Box will include a USB- 2.0 cable (C-to-C), alongside a SIM tool.

Source: evleaks
#Pixel #Pixel10a @PixelHubUpdates

Android Canary 2602
- Build ID: ZP11.260123.011

Download: Android Flash Tool | Pixel Factory Images Tracker
More info: Android Developers | BetaWiki
#Updates #A16 #Canary #Pixel @PixelHubUpdates

Android 17 Beta 1
- Build ID: CP21.260116.011.B1, CP21.260116.011.A1 (Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro)
- January 2026 Security Patch (December 2025 for Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro)
- Play Services: 25.47.33

What's New
- Mandatory Large Screen Adaptivity: Apps running on large screens can no longer opt-out of resizing or orientation changes.
- Optimized Configuration Changes: No longer restarts Activities by default for specific configuration changes.
- Notification Restrictions: Strict size limits enforced on custom notification views to reduce memory usage.
- Dynamic Session Updates (Camera): Switch between use cases (e.g., Photo to Video) without closing the session or causing glitches.
- Constant Quality for Video Recording: Configure a constant quality (CQ) mode for video encoders.
- Background Audio Hardening: Audio playback, focus requests, and volume changes initiate silently (fail) if the app is not in a valid lifecycle state.
- VVC Support: Added platform support for Versatile Video Coding (H.266).

Download: Factory Images | OTA Images | GSI
Changes: Android Developers
#Updates #A17 #Beta #Pixel @PixelHubUpdates

Android 17 introduces Handoff
- A new feature and API that provides cross-device continuity for apps.
- Allows app activity on one Android device to be "transferred over" to another Android device.
- Runs in the background and surfaces available activities from the user's other nearby devices through launcher and taskbar.
- Capable of launching the app installed on the receiving device if available or open in browser as a fallback.
- P.S. This feature will requires developers to implement into their apps in order for it to work.

More info: Android Developers
#Android #A17 @PixelHubUpdates