🪙The Android IRS: How Google once tried to tax battery-sucking background apps

Android almost had its own IRS (seriously!) that would audit (no joke!) apps for their 🪫 usage.

Here’s how it would’ve worked 👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/the-android-resource-economy-retrospective-3611494/

This week, Google proposed sweeping changes to Android to settle its lawsuit with Epic Games.

The changes are a huge win for Tim Sweeney, but they'll also make the Android app ecosystem more competitive. Sadly, they won't do anything to reverse the sideloading restrictions.

My detailed breakdown of all the changes👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-changes-third-party-app-stores-3613409/

✨Ready or not, Gemini will soon replace Google Assistant

On this week's Authority Insights Podcast, we discuss Google Assistant’s demise, Android’s big app store changes, and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 benchmarks.

Listen👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/authority-insights-podcast-012-3613802/

📍Android 16 fixes a big privacy flaw in its 'approximate' location setting

Android 16 quietly introduced a new feature called "density-based coarse locations" that makes the 'approximate' location setting more secure.

Here's how👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-density-based-coarse-locations-3614048/

🎉The November 2025 Pixel Drop is here!

While it does NOT bring Android 16 QPR2, it does have MANY new features!

From new themes to AI notifications, here’s EVERYTHING new in the latest Pixel Drop 👇

1) The first Pixel theme packs are here! Three new themes based on Wicked: For Good are available.


2) Pixels can now summarize your notifications for you!


3) Android will now prioritize notifications from your Pixel VIPs.


4) Google Maps is getting a new Power Saving Mode to extend your phone’s battery life on long drives!

5) Your Pixel phone can now protect you from scammers in third-party messaging apps!


6) You can now remix images with Nano 🍌in Messages!


7) Google Photos is making photo edits even easier with ‘Personalized Edits’!

8) Scam Detection and Call Notes are coming to more regions!

9) Magic Cue & Pixel Recorder are now smarter on the Pixel 10 thanks to Private AI Compute!

10) Lastly, coming next month, select Pixel phones will use AI to organize your notifications!

🚨The wait is finally over: Android 16 QPR1's source code is now available on AOSP

After a 2 month delay, Google has finally released the source code for Android 16 QPR1!

Going to be digging through this shortly. LMK if you spot anything interesting!

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr1-source-code-available-3614853/

🚨Breaking: Google is partially easing its new sideloading restrictions!

Google will allow 'experienced users' to more easily install Android apps made by unverified developers.

More details 👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-power-users-install-unverified-apps-3615310/

🔋I tested the OnePlus 15, and its battery life blew me away

We might be entering a new era in smartphone battery life: the two-day phone.

I just wish the phone's camera was a bit better!

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/oneplus-15-battery-life-3614735/

📚Finally: Android 17 is building a new Contacts Picker to keep your address book private

Google is developing a new Contacts Picker tool that may provide a privacy-preserving way for apps to read your contacts.

More details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-17-contacts-picker-rumor-3615741/

📃First look: New Epic v. Google trial doc reveals how Android 17 will better support alternative app stores

We now have a mockup of how Android 17 will handle ‘Registered App Stores’.

In addition, the new document confirms that Epic will not bring its Game Store to the Play Store after all, that Google will prohibit OEMs from making Registered App Stores hard to install, and that all the mud-slinging between Google and Epic will end.

More details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-17-registered-app-stores-mockup-3616122/

🔥The OnePlus 15 needs a cooler processor, not a bigger battery

On this week's Authority Insights Podcast, we review the OnePlus 15, analyze Android 17’s contact changes, and speculate about new Android XR gestures.

Listen👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/authority-insights-podcast-013-3615784/

🎮Google is preparing big Android 17 gaming upgrades for fans of real controllers

Android 17 could finally introduce native game controller remapping and possibly a virtual gamepad!

More details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-17-gaming-features-rumor-3616027/

😛Secret no more: Android Canary confirms 'Cinnamon Bun' is Android 17's codename

In case you wanted some proof that it's Cinnamon Bun and not any other dessert that starts with the letter C.

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-17-codename-confirmed-3616448/

✨I used Google's new Gemini 3.0 AI to make Android apps and fine-tune my workouts

Gemini 3.0 Pro brings big improvements to reasoning and coding. I put the new model to the test by asking it 9 complex questions.

Here's how it went👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/how-good-is-google-gemini-3-3616644/

✨🖥Google debuts Gemini Agent: A digital sidekick built to handle your to-dos

Gemini Agent can plan, explore, and execute complex tasks on your behalf. It can even launch a full web browser to do things for you!

Here are some screenshots👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/google-gemini-agent-3616670/

🖼Google is fixing a major oversight in the Pixel's Live Effects wallpaper tool

You’ll finally be able to adjust the position and zoom level of the photo you’re applying a Live Effect to.

More details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-live-effects-pan-zoom-wallpaper-3617601/