Android 16 options leak, Google faces extra antitrust hurdles

One other week, one other heap of antitrust bother for Google. In a judgment within the long-running Epic v. Google case wherein Google was dominated to have created a monopoly on Android app distribution, Epic received virtually all the pieces it was asking for, together with, tentatively, the suitable to distribute its Epic Video games Retailer on Android by way of the Play Retailer. The US Division of Justice can be splitting Android and Chrome off of Google correct in a separate antitrust case.

It isn’t all authorized information, although. We noticed some new options anticipated to debut in Android 16, Ask Images began rolling out, and our desires of booting up ChromeOS from our smartphones have been completely dashed. That is the week’s most consequential Google information.

Welcome to Compiler, your weekly digest of the week’s Google and Android information you’ll want to know.

The Division of Justice is speaking about breaking Google up

In August, a US federal choose dominated that Google is “a monopolist” within the search engine market, asserting that the corporate has used its dominant place in on-line search to forestall would-be rivals from getting a foothold within the house. Days later, it got here to gentle that, amongst different potential treatments, the Division of Justice was contemplating breaking Google up.

Now, the DOJ has formally proposed options, together with one significantly drastic treatment: forcing Google to divest itself from Chrome and Android, successfully breaking the corporate up. The Division can be calling for Google to share essential information pertaining to look and feeds with rivals by way of APIs, amongst different concessions. You possibly can learn DOJ’s full proposal right here.

For its half, Google has characterised the DOJ’s proposals as “radical,” arguing that sharing information with rivals could possibly be detrimental to consumer privateness and that splitting Chrome or Android off from Google would “change their enterprise fashions, increase the price of units, and undermine Android and Google Play of their sturdy competitors with Apple’s iPhone and App Retailer.”

This case is bound to pull on, probably for years. We’ll be intently following all of the developments.

Epic wins huge in its go well with towards Google

The DOJ pushing to interrupt Google up wasn’t the one authorized bother the corporate had this week. Final 12 months, in a case introduced towards Google by Fortnite developer and pulbisher Epic, a California jury discovered that the Google Play Retailer constituted a monopoly on Android app distribution. The last ruling in that case got here on Monday, and it is extra unhealthy information for Google.

Per the ruling, Google must make critical modifications to app distribution: if nothing modifications, starting on November 1, Google must each permit various app shops (just like the Epic Video games Retailer) to be distributed by the Play Retailer, and provides these app shops entry to all the catalog of apps and video games obtainable by Google Play, amongst different treatments.

Epic introduced the same go well with towards Apple across the similar time, however that case’s outcomes weren’t fairly as far in Epic’s favor. Google has requested to delay the proposed modifications whereas it appeals the choice.

Extra Android 16 leaks

Outdoors of courtroom, enterprise continues as normal for Android. We noticed a few new leaks about 2025’s Android 16 this week. First up: new Precedence Modes may let customers create a number of completely different notification preferences and swap between them in Android’s fast settings panel. Precedence Modes could be broadly customizable, with user-defined names, 40 completely different icons to select from, and choices to outline which apps and contacts can notify you whereas every mode is energetic.

It additionally seems like Android 16 may permit any app to be put inside a floating “bubble,” the best way sure communication apps could be now. These bubbles would float over prime of the traditional cellphone UI, and when tapped, open the complete app in a windowed view. Appears like an awesome multitasking possibility.

Google denies declare Pixel 9 harvests and shares extreme consumer information

Earlier this week, a report from Cybernews steered that Google’s Pixel 9 telephones — and particularly, the Pixel 9 Professional XL — ship “personal consumer information” to Google as soon as each quarter-hour, together with location, cellphone quantity, e mail, and extra. In a press release, Google stated that Cybernews’s evaluation mischaracterizes the best way information is collected and what it is used for.

“This report lacks essential context, misinterprets technical particulars and doesn’t totally clarify that information transmissions are wanted for professional companies on all cell units whatever the producer, mannequin or OS, resembling software program updates, on-demand options and customized experiences,” a Google spokesperson informed Cybernews.

For additional context, Google factors to a assist web page that spells out what information is collected and why.

Our ChromeOS-on-Android desires have been shattered

This spring, Google demonstrated an app known as Ferrochrome that made it doable to launch ChromeOS on an Android system, an thrilling proposition that might’ve been critical competitors for Samsung’s DeX mode. Shortly thereafter, it got here to gentle that the undertaking was basically a tech demo meant to point out off the Android Virtualization Framework. Nonetheless, we held out hope it may see the sunshine of day ultimately.

Now, not a lot: Google has apparently ceased growth on Ferrochrome, with no plans to ship or keep its code. Working ChromeOS on an Android system remains to be technically doable, however I feel it is secure to surrender on seeing the function getting a mainstream launch anytime quickly.

Ask Images is lastly rolling out

Google’s anticipated Ask Images function, an AI-powered Google Images search expertise that goals to leverage Gemini to drag off advanced searches in your Google Images library, is lastly rolling out. First introduced at I/O 2024, Ask Images helps you to carry out extra particular searches and even ask questions that Google’s AI will attempt to reply utilizing your picture library and Google’s context about you (eg, “What did I eat for dinner on my birthday two years in the past”).

The function is probably not universally obtainable simply but, however I am seeing it on my Pixel 9 Professional. If you do not have entry but, you possibly can see a bit of Ask Images in motion right here.

Pixel Watch 1 and a couple of ought to get Put on OS 5 this 12 months

Put on OS 5 started rolling out to the first- and second-generation Pixel Watch in September. Just a few days later, after quite a few reviews of points with the replace, Google paused the rollout. Google addressed the state of affairs this week, posting on its Pixel Watch Assist discussion board that it plans to “resume the WearOS 5 rollout to those units later this 12 months, as soon as we’ve mitigated the noticed points. Google may even “share further updates with our group as they turn into obtainable.”

There’s solely a few months left in 2024, so “later this 12 months” is not actually all that lengthy to attend. Here is hoping Google will get it sorted quickly; the Pixel Watch 3’s new grid-style app drawer format is nice, and Put on OS 5 will deliver it to older generations, too.