Google Home’s latest update is all about speed, control, and a sleeker interface

Google Home app stock photo 9

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • Google Home app version 4.3 is now rolling out to Android and iOS users.
  • The update introduces enhanced device controls, upgraded “Home” and “Away” automations, an edge-to-edge UI for Android, and several quality-of-life improvements.

Google has started rolling out version 4.3 of the Google Home app. The latest update is rolling out gradually to Android devices, while it appears to already be live for iOS users.

Google may finally let you boot At a Glance from your Pixel home screen (Updated: Confirmed)

TL;DR

  • Google appears to be working on a new option that would let Pixel users remove the At a Glance widget from their home screen.
  • We discovered the option in the latest Android Canary build.
  • The option completely hides the widget from the home screen while keeping it visible on the lock screen and Always-on Display.

Updated: November 12, 2025 (11 PM ET): After the release of the November Android Canary build, we can now confirm that toggling off the new “Show on home screen” option in Pixel’s At a Glance settings indeed hides the widget completely from the home screen while keeping it visible on the lock screen and Always-on Display. The screen recording above demonstrates how the feature would work, should it eventually be released in a stable build.


Original article: November 12, 2025 (4:30 AM ET):  Google could finally give Pixel users long-awaited control over the At a Glance widget. In the latest Android Canary build with Android System Intelligence version B.17.playstore.pixel10.825046611, we spotted a new “Show on home screen” toggle in the At a Glance settings, suggesting that you might soon be able to turn off the widget on your home screen while keeping it active on the lock screen.

Google app’s Pinterest-like ‘Images’ feed is now available to everyone in the US

Google app new Images tab

Credit: Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • The Google app is adding a new Pinterest-like “Images” tab that’s now rolling out to all users in the US on Android and iOS.
  • The tab offers a personalized image feed based on your interests, letting you browse, save, or search for visual inspiration.
  • You can share, save, or hide images, and use Google Lens for quick searches.

The Google app is finally getting the new Pinterest-like “Images” tab, months after the feature was made available to beta users for testing. The new tab is joining the existing “Home,” “Search,” “Notifications,” and “Activity” tabs at the bottom of the Google app screen on both Android and iOS.

Google Maps’ new Power Saving Mode won’t be coming to most Android phones (Updated)

TL;DR

  • Google Maps is introducing a new Power Saving Mode, but the feature is exclusive to the Google Pixel 10 series.
  • The mode displays a simplified, black-and-white layout on the Always-On Display to reduce power consumption.
  • This can extend battery life by up to four hours by leveraging the AOD’s ultra-low-power display state.

Update: November 12, 2025 (12:07 AM ET): We noted in our original article that the new Power Saving Mode in Google Maps might work for walking or using two-wheeler directions. However, Google’s support page now makes it clear that the feature is only available in driving mode and doesn’t support other travel modes, such as walking or biking navigation.

Once you start navigating, you can view a power-saving version of the navigation map right on your lock screen by pressing your phone’s power button. To exit this mode, simply tap the screen or press the power button again. If you want to return to the power-saving navigation view, just press the power button once more.

Pixel’s November security update brings bug fixes for camera, battery, and emergency calling

Software update screen on a Google Pixel phone.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • Google is rolling out multiple bug fixes and improvements to Pixel phones with the November 2025 security update.
  • The update is now available for all supported Pixel models, from the Pixel 7a up to the latest Pixel 10 series.
  • It could take a few days for the update to reach your phone, depending on your region and carrier.

Google has started rolling out the November 2025 security update for Pixel devices running Android 16. The update is available for all supported Pixel models, from the Pixel 7a up to the latest Pixel 10 series, with rollout continuing over the next week, depending on your carrier and region.

Nova Launcher just got another update despite being ‘dead’

Nova Launcher title close up

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • Nova Launcher is getting yet another update with version 8.1.6 beta.
  • The latest update resolves a bug that was causing the launcher to crash when performing a search in the app drawer.
  • These regular updates might seem like someone is still actively developing the launcher, but that may not be the case.

Nova Launcher is receiving yet another update, despite its founder, Kevin Barry, announcing in September that he would no longer be involved in its development. At the time, Barry had stated that he was the only one working on the third-party launcher and that with his departure from Branch, the analytics firm that acquired Nova Launcher in 2022, the project would no longer be maintained.

Google adds live video sharing to emergency calls in November update

Google Pixel Emergency SOS feature

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • Google is rolling out an integrated live video experience for emergency calls with the November update to Play Services.
  • The feature could be exclusive to Pixel phones initially and will allow them to share a live video with first responders during emergency calls.

Google is rolling out a new safety feature that lets users share live video with emergency services during an emergency call. The “integrated live video experience” is part of the November Google Play Services update, which has started rolling out and will reach more devices in the coming weeks.

Google is cracking down on apps that secretly drain your battery

Battery settings page on the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • Google has issued new app quality guidelines to prevent apps from excessively draining your phone’s battery life.
  • Starting March 1, 2026, if an app is found to be holding wake locks excessively, it will be penalized on the Play Store.
  • Apps responsible for excessive battery drain will display a warning label on the Play Store and may lose visibility on prominent discovery pages, such as recommendations.

Google just took some welcome steps to address apps that are particularly harmful to your phone’s battery life. The company has announced a new Play Store policy that will identify and penalize apps that cause unnecessary battery drain.

12 apps I urge non-techies to install on their Android phones

The Android apps that come preinstalled on a phone have several advantages. For one, they’re already there — you don’t need to visit the Play Store and sift through numerous options to find one that might meet your needs. Secondly, they’re usually from the manufacturer itself, which means they’re tightly integrated into the broader framework of your phone.

However, as is often the case in life, what’s easiest isn’t always the best, and this is especially true for smartphone apps that non-tech-savvy users might employ. These users might benefit more from a more approachable or supportive product that you or they would need to install.

YouTube TV is paying up: Here’s how to claim your $20 Disney blackout credit

YouTube TV logo on smartphone stock photo (4)

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • YouTube TV has started paying out $20 bill credits to users for the loss of Disney channels.
  • The credits need to be claimed manually if you subscribed to YouTube TV directly.
  • Disney network channels remain unavailable on YouTube TV, with negotiations between the two companies ongoing.

YouTube TV has started paying out the promised $20 credit to subscribers affected by the recent removal of Disney channels. The credit can be applied to your next bill, and users are receiving emails with details on how to claim it.

5 reasons why the next Kindle Scribe has my full attention

Amazon’s latest Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is officially out in the wild. Well, almost. The new e-reader is live on Amazon’s site but still listed as “Coming Soon,” giving us a peek at everything it’s packing without the satisfaction of an Add-to-Cart button. Based on the specs and details already published, though, I’m all in for five reasons.

1. A bright leap to color

kindle scribe color 1

Android 16 fixes a big privacy flaw in its ‘approximate’ location setting

Many Android apps ask for your current location to show you more relevant results or help with directions, but most don’t need your precise GPS coordinates to do the job. That’s why Android offers two levels of location accuracy: Precise and Approximate. These options are controlled by two different Android permissions and are intended for different kinds of apps.

If an app requests a precise location, Android provides the most accurate estimate it can, usually within 3 to 50 meters (about 10 to 164 feet). If an app requests an approximate location, however, Android will only provide a rough estimate of your device’s location, which may only be accurate to within 3 square kilometers (about 1.2 square miles). This is why navigation apps always require your device’s precise location, while most other apps can function perfectly well with either.

Gamers take note: Android’s best emulation frontend just got a significant update

TL;DR

  • ES-DE 3.4.0 is out now, adding support for PS3 and Steam gaming.
  • New time statistics let you track your most popular games.
  • Android upgrades include dual-screen improvements and ARMSX2 support.

For as fun as emulating games is, it can also get real messy, real fast. Juggling a bunch of different emulators, each targeting different hardware, makes gaming feel more complicated than we’d like — which is exactly why we’re fans of a good emulation frontend like ES-DE (you can even run it as your launcher). Today we’re getting a nice upgrade to start off our gaming weekend, as ES-DE delivers some useful new features and Android support for additional systems.

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NOOK GlowLight 4 lands in Ocean Teal ahead of the e-reader’s next refresh

TL;DR

  • Barnes & Noble launched a new Ocean Teal version of the NOOK GlowLight 4.
  • The device keeps the same hardware and $149.99 price as the classic edition.
  • New NOOK devices are set to arrive in 2026.

Barnes & Noble has added a new Ocean Teal colorway to its NOOK GlowLight 4 e-reader lineup. The refreshed model is now available through the company’s online store and offers a nearly identical experience to the existing classic black edition, just in a splashy look.

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Wordle’s latest update adds a whole new way to play with your friends

Wordle Dads Starting Words

Credit: Matt Horne / Android Authority
TL;DR

  • The New York Times has added a “Create Your Wordle Puzzle” feature for Games subscribers.
  • You can now design custom Wordles with your own word, screen name, and optional clue.
  • Created puzzles can be shared via a link and played by anyone, including non-subscribers.

Wordle has become part of many people’s morning routine, including me and my dad, with whom I differ on tactics. But now there’s a new twist for those who fancy themselves as question masters. Instead of only solving the daily word, you can make them yourself.

According to The New York Times, which acquired the game in 2022, it has added a new feature called Create Your Wordle Puzzle to its Games app on iOS or Android, or through the website. If you’re an All Access or Games subscriber, you’re able to design custom challenges using any four- to seven-letter word. You can then send it to your friends and family, who don’t need to be NYT Games subscribers to play it.

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