OSRobert Haba
Google prepares Face Active Illumination for Pixel phones in low light
Code in Android 17 reveals Google's Face Active Illumination, a setting designed to brighten Pixel screens for biometric unlock in the dark.
Robert Haba is the founder and editor-in-chief of Droid Tools. A lifelong gadget enthusiast with over a decade following the Android ecosystem, he built this publication to cut through the noise and give readers honest, real-world coverage of the tech they actually use.
Code in Android 17 reveals Google's Face Active Illumination, a setting designed to brighten Pixel screens for biometric unlock in the dark.
Google phone number verification reportedly links saved phone numbers across all signed-in Google accounts on an Android device without prompts.
Samsung updated its Members app banner, signaling possible One UI 9.5 beta preparations that could lead to a December release for Galaxy S26 phones.
Some Samsung Galaxy S24 and S25 users report One UI 9 battery drain after the Android 17 update, though reports indicate the issue remains isolated.
B&H Photo Video discounted the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds to $238 from $330 in a reported one-day sale featuring LDAC support, ANC, and 36-hour total battery life.
Google Messages Enhanced Protection may replace the single spam toggle with three security options, including cloud link scans, per a new leak.
Samsung tests the 2nm Exynos 2700 for the Galaxy S27 series, aiming for 12% faster speeds and lower processor costs than Qualcomm components.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII Android 17 update is rolling out in Europe with desktop mode and visual tweaks, though it omits the newer AI Camera Assistant.
TSMC is reportedly targeting 2028 to produce Apple 1.4nm chips, leaving 2027 iPhones on a refined 2nm process as AI chip demand surges.
A OnePlus 16 global launch may be in development as software tests surface for India and global markets, though US and European releases remain unlikely.
The Samsung One UI 9 update based on Android 17 is expanding to the Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36 5G, Galaxy S23 line, and foldables in select regions.
Qualcomm denies Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 overheating claims in Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra testing, though questions about the Extreme model remain unresolved.
Honor Win 2 appeared on Geekbench 6 with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip and 16GB of RAM ahead of its planned October 21 launch in China.
Hirudo Android malware replaces legitimate banking apps with modified copies to bypass checks and steal credentials, according to ThreatFabric.
Amazon offers Samsung Galaxy S26 discounts of up to 32 percent following October Prime Day, with markdowns concentrated on 512GB storage models.
Samsung Galaxy S26 price increases of $100 to $200 have appeared online, pushing the 1TB Ultra model to $1,999 amid broader component cost pressures.
A Google Messages update introduces swipe gestures for timestamps and expanded long-press options, though availability remains limited during rollout.
Google's Pixel 11 is a very good phone, but it is not a very new one. That is the takeaway from WIRED reviewer Simon Hill, who scored the $899 handset 8/10 and called it a slick, refined step forward from the Pixel 10, though only a small one. The short version If your phone is
Quick Share for Windows transfers files from Android to your PC over Wi-Fi at rates up to 100MB/s, bypassing email and third-party cloud uploads.
The Honor Win2 series, made up of the Win2, Win RT2, and Win Turbo 2, is scheduled to launch in China next week. Honor revealed the designs and color options of all three phones yesterday, and it has now confirmed several of their key specifications. Honor has confirmed that the Win2 will run on the
