News

Google Extends Material 3 Expressive UI and New Audio Features to Older Pixel Devices

Google is rolling out its latest Material 3 Expressive UI to Pixel phones released since 2021, adding Live Effects, revamped contact cards, and a redesigned Quick Settings pane. The update also brings new audio capabilities, including LE Audio Auracast that lets multiple listeners share a Bluetooth stream, and upcoming features for Pixel Buds Pro 2 such as Adaptive Audio and Loud Noise Protection. AI enhancements arrive in Gboard’s on‑device writing tools and the Androidify experience, which lets users create custom Android mascots using AI. The rollout broadens the reach of recent Pixel innovations across the Android ecosystem.

Waymo Accelerates Global Expansion with New City Rollouts and Next‑Gen Vehicles

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous‑driving unit, is rapidly extending its robotaxi service across the United States and abroad. The company announced upcoming operations in Denver and Seattle, early testing in Dallas, and a renewed presence in New York City with autonomous pilots in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn. Waymo also outlined plans for Washington, DC, and Miami in 2026, while continuing its Tokyo pilot with local taxi partners. New vehicle partnerships—including Jaguar I‑Pace, Zeekr RT, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and a sixth‑generation driver system—are set to broaden the fleet’s capabilities, especially in challenging weather and freeway environments.

Google Refreshes Android with Redesigned Quick Share and Group Audio Feature

Google is rolling out a new set of updates for Android and Pixel devices that simplify file sharing and introduce a group‑listening capability. Quick Share receives a cleaner interface with a clear send/receive toggle and live progress indicators. A new Audio Sharing feature uses LE Audio and QR codes to let multiple listeners connect to a single phone and enjoy synchronized sound on their own headphones. The update also adds AI writing tools to Gboard, revives Androidify with generative AI, and brings theming and audio enhancements to Pixel hardware.

Human Behavior Raises $5 Million to Apply Vision AI to Session Replay Analytics

Human Behavior, founded by 20‑year‑old Amogh Chaturvedi and his 22‑year‑old co‑founders Skyler Ji and Chirag Kawediya, has closed a $5 million seed round backed by General Catalyst, Paul Graham, Vercel Ventures and Y Combinator. The startup leverages vision AI to watch user session replays, automatically generating insights that replace manual event tracking used by tools like Mixpanel and PostHog. Its early customers—fast‑moving Series A and B startups—receive daily summary emails on feature usage, bugs and churn. The founders aim to become the “Datadog of session replay,” expanding the platform into multiple products.

Warp Launches Warp Code with Diff‑Tracking and Agent Oversight Features

Warp has introduced Warp Code, a suite of tools that give developers real‑time visibility into AI‑driven command‑line coding agents. The new features include step‑by‑step diff tracking, inline commenting, and automatic compiler troubleshooting, all presented in a familiar interface with dedicated windows for instructions, agent responses, and change logs. With roughly 600,000 active users and rapid ARR growth, Warp positions itself against other AI coding platforms like Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, and Codex, emphasizing tighter feedback loops and greater control for developers.

PayPal and Venmo Offer Early Access to Perplexity’s Comet Browser and Free Perplexity Pro Subscription

PayPal announced a partnership with Perplexity that gives PayPal and Venmo users an invite to Perplexity’s AI‑powered Comet browser and a free year of Perplexity Pro, normally priced at $200 per year. The offer, available through the apps, includes one invite per PayPal account and excludes existing Pro subscribers. The deal builds on earlier collaborations that let users checkout instantly via AI‑driven searches and introduces a new subscriptions hub that helps users manage recurring payments, with a promotion that pays $50 to customers who link and pay for at least three subscriptions.

Judge Orders Google to End Exclusive Search Deal Practices in Antitrust Case

A federal judge has issued tentative remedies in the Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit against Google, requiring the company to abandon exclusive agreements that tie its search services to other products. While Google will not be broken up, the order mandates data sharing with qualified competitors and the removal of conditions that link Search, Chrome, Google Assistant, or Gemini to app distribution or revenue arrangements. The ruling aims to prevent further anticompetitive behavior and will be refined in a final judgment due later this year.

Emma Roth Finds Value in a Thrift‑Store Kenmore Vacuum

Emma Roth, a writer for The Verge, purchased a Kenmore Progressive 116 vacuum for $7 at a local thrift store. She praises its strong suction, versatile attachments, and ability to handle crumbs, pet hair, and various floor types. While the plastic has yellowed and the unit is heavy, she appreciates the ease of maintenance and the availability of replacement parts, preferring it over a cordless Dyson despite occasional frustrations.

Instagram Launches Long-Awaited iPad App

Instagram has finally released a native iPad app, arriving 15 years after the platform first launched. The tablet version opens directly to a Reels feed, lets users view posts and Reels in chronological order, and takes advantage of the larger screen with side‑by‑side comments and an integrated inbox in Direct Messages. The move follows earlier comments from Instagram head Adam Mosseri that the iPad market was not a priority, making the new app a notable shift in the company’s tablet strategy.

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PayPal and Venmo Offer Free Year of Perplexity Pro and Access to AI-Powered Comet Browser

PayPal and its mobile‑payment arm Venmo are rolling out a promotion that gives U.S. users a free 12‑month subscription to Perplexity Pro, the AI‑enhanced service from the NVIDIA‑ and Bezos‑backed startup. The deal also grants access to Perplexity’s new Comet browser, which embeds the company’s AI as the default search engine and runs on Chromium. Users can claim the offer through the PayPal or Venmo apps, and a $50 credit is available for linking three subscriptions via PayPal’s new subscription hub. The promotion runs through the end of the year, after which the Pro plan auto‑renews at the standard rate.

Google to Unveil New Gemini for Home Details and Nest Devices on October 1

Google announced that it will reveal additional information about its Gemini for Home platform on October 1, including new Nest hardware. The teaser suggests a fresh Nest camera and possibly a speaker, while confirming that Gemini will replace Google Assistant with natural‑language capabilities and both free and subscription tiers. Nest Aware subscribers who pay $10 per month are slated to receive early access to Gemini within Google Home.