Month: October 2025

Halloween season is a particularly weird one, and this time of year, even adults can get away with embracing the holiday spirit. If you’ve already outfitted your home with Halloween-themed smart speakers and smart cameras, what’s left but to spread some of that Halloween cheer at the office? Today we’re learning about some of the ways Google Meet is eager to help share in those spooky vibes.

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After all of this time, it’s hard to believe that Samsung first began teasing its extended reality (XR) headset — Galaxy XR — in early 2023. Since then, the tech giant has drip-fed us information about the device, with occasional glimpses at the actual hardware peppered in. Today, all that waiting pays off as the company makes it official and launches the Galaxy XR in the US.

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Is the Galaxy XR expensive? Yes. Is it frustrating that you have to pay an additional $500 to add both the controllers and the travel case? Also yes. However, at least it didn’t arrive with the same $3,499 price tag as the Apple Vision Pro, and we had always known it wouldn’t be exactly cheap. If you’re on the fence about throwing down the best part of $2,000 or more, this hefty dent in your bank balance can at least come with a multi-part silver lining, as early adopters of the device can score an “Explorer Pack” worth as much as $1,000.

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Update: October 20, 2025 (6:15PM ET): Google has started to roll out a new Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.1 build that fixes the issue with Desktop Mode.

Saying that Nova Launcher had a profound impact on the Android we know and love today would be an understatement. The launcher endured over a dozen operating system versions and opened up a universe of customization to users. Not only that, it also made app search and discovery a huge part of its functionality, forcing competing launchers to up their game. These smarts are largely thanks to Sesame Shortcuts.

Although Nova Launcher’s death knell has already sounded, my recent thoughts have turned to Sesame Shortcuts’ dim future. But, for now at least, you can still integrate the powerful search app in your new Android launcher. Here’s how to do it, why you might want to think twice about it, and what you should consider before doing it.

This week, Mishaal Rahman and C. Scott Brown dive into a suite of upcoming Google Photos features that could change how we create and remember our favorite moments. They discuss new AI-powered highlight video templates that automate editing, the controversial introduction of face-retouching tools, and the exciting prospect of reliving memories in a 3D spatial environment with a new generation of Android XR headsets.

The Authority Insights Podcast is a new weekly show from the Android Authority team hosted by Mishaal Rahman and C. Scott Brown. In each episode, we’ll break down the latest exclusive reports, app teardowns, and leaks from the Android Authority team.

The big Galaxy XR headset reveal is just around the corner, but Google seems unconcerned about syncing everything perfectly with Samsung’s timing. A section on the Play Store has popped up showcasing “immersive experiences made for your XR headset,” giving us a decent idea of what’s on the way for Android XR.

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