Google all however admits Android TV is its uncared for ‘different’ working system on this week’s information

Android TV is easy to elucidate — it is a model of Android that is been optimized for the massive display screen — however issues get complicated if you throw Google TV into the combo. Like Samsung’s

One UI
and TouchWiz earlier than it, Google TV is an OEM pores and skin constructed atop Android TV, sprinkling an additional layer of Googley options over what was as soon as the corporate’s one and solely TV OS. It is the expertise you’d get on Chromecasts and choose third-party TV units, and now it is greater than half of the branding for the corporate’s flagship set-top field, the

Google TV Streamer
.

The week in cell noticed Google give its namesake TV OS a vote of confidence over its older providing by doubling the RAM differential between it and Android TV. We additionally bought wind of Android 16’s launch date, at the same time as Android 15 was simply getting its first safety patch. And the Galaxy S25 collection reared its slim, sparkly head — however the largest Android information might need been Google’s Pixel collection seemingly catching on with most people.

Google all however admits Android TV is its ‘different’ OS

Now Google TV is my finest buddy

On Wednesday, AOSP professional Mishaal Rahman uncovered some large modifications coming to Android TV: Now, Google is barely requiring 1GB of RAM for OEMs wanting to make use of the OS of their HD choices, down from 1.5GB. The minimal rely for 4K gadgets was additionally lowered, from 2GB right down to 1.5GB. In the meantime, Google TV gadgets keep the next 2GB minimal.

On one hand, Google TV does signify an additional layer of software program, which may justify the elevated necessities — however on the opposite, extra pragmatic hand, this could possibly be interpreted as Google delineating its TV choices. If a TV producer desires to make use of certainly one of these working programs, it is now inspired to look to Android TV for its cheaper choices, whereas saving Google TV for its extra premium merchandise.

In the meantime, it looks like Google is transferring to a biennial launch cycle for main Android TV OS updates. Contemplating Google TV makes use of Android TV as its base, these similar modifications ought to apply to Google TV gadgets as effectively.

Galaxy S25 leaks are wanting slim, svelte… and sparkly?

Who says Samsung has too many telephones anyway?

We anticipated the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, however the Z Fold 6 Particular Version got here out of nowhere with its slimmer construct and almost-invisible show crease. It seems Samsung will do one thing comparable with its Galaxy S25 collection, bringing the three standard suspects together with a possible slimmer fourth mannequin. We’re unsure what to name it but, however the title Galaxy S25 Slim looks like it would match.

This week, we discovered that the slimmer S25 may nonetheless sport an Extremely digicam, and that every one the brand new fashions may lastly assist seamless Android updates. And after seeing a number of the S25 collection’ coloration choices in latest weeks, together with two known as Glowing Inexperienced and Glowing Blue, we additionally bought a take a look at the Samsung-exclusive colorways — besides early renders of these Glowing colours aren’t wanting very sparkly.

Android 15 will get its first patch on Pixels

Swift November safety updates convey well timed December Characteristic Drops

Final month’s Pixel firmware replace introduced the secure channel onto Android 15. This week, Verizon let it slip early, then Google despatched out the primary batch of bug fixes and safety patches for the brand new OS on Pixel telephones. Many of the impactful modifications are particular to the Pixel 9 collection, however customers on older Google gadgets get a handful of goodies too.

Android 16 will get a probable launch date

Mark your calendars for June 3

Final week, Google let the world know that Android 16 was coming a lot ahead of anticipated — the one timeframe given, nevertheless, was merely “Q2 2025.” This week, the particular date leaked: We’re now anticipating a June 3 launch for Google’s subsequent OS. Not like this 12 months’s Android 15 launch, which hit AOSP weeks forward of constructing its approach onto any gadgets, the report says Android 16 will begin rolling out to Pixel customers on day one.

Google has an authorized hit on its arms with the Pixel 9

Double-digit market share is nothing to scoff at

When the primary set of Q3 smartphone gross sales figures have been printed by unbiased researchers, there was a pronounced spike in Google’s Pixel gross sales. We thought it could be a fluke at first, however extra experiences continued to pour on this week, and so they all present Google with a double-digit proportion of the US smartphone market share for the primary time ever.

Transport 12.9% of North America’s smartphones may not seem to be loads subsequent to Apple’s 51.3%, however for a model that had but to seize 5% of those self same shipments, it represents an enormous spike in curiosity for Google’s Pixel 9 collection. Possibly it has one thing to do with the ridiculous offers Google has on its latest telephones proper now (I do know my household accounts for at the very least a type of shipments with my spouse’s destructive $13 Pixel 9 Professional), however regardless of the cause, robust Pixel gross sales figures are a terrific signal for Android on the entire.