Gboard for Android is the latest Google app to hit 10 billion downloads on the Play Store. The listing says the app was released on June 5, 2013.

Over the past several months, the Nothing Ear (Open) have quickly become my favorite pair of earbuds thanks to their comfortable fit and ability to deliver excellent audio quality without blocking out the world around me. But the problem with open-ear headphones is that they’re only ever a secondary option, so price matters. That’s why this $80 alternative to the Nothing Ear (Open) has been so compelling.

Back in December, Google Messages rolled out the latest text field redesign and a new version makes it ever so slightly bigger.

Google is making a welcome tweak to Chrome for Android which will add a dedicated “Appearance” section that makes it easier to find two key settings.

The Galaxy S25 series has been a surprisingly exciting addition to Samsung’s similar yet barely different lineup of phones, and Now Brief is a big part of that. The function acts as a way for you to catch up on the day, with pertinent information summarized in one place. There’s just one problem — it’s incredibly bland.

We have hit the mid-week point and it’s now time for the day’s best Android game and app deals courtesy of Google Play. On your way down be sure to scope out the deals we are tracking on Galaxy Tab S9 FE models that have now dropped even lower alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra with the black Trail band at a new Amazon all-time low (or just $278 with S25 Ultra purchase) and Google Pixel Tablets from $231. As for the apps, highlights include titles like MONOPOLY, Drink Water Reminder, Runic Curse, and more. Head below for a closer look. 

Amazon just unveiled its new “Alexa+” upgrade for its long-running voice assistant which brings AI upgrades and a $20 price tag, but you don’t have to pay that if you have Prime, which is a much bigger, yet cheaper service.

Earlier this year, YouTube became the “most frequently used service for listening to podcasts in the U.S.” and it’s now seeing “1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content.” 

Amazon just announced its AI-powered update for Alexa, which delivers a host of new features and capabilties including the ability to read and remember your documents among many other things.

We are still tracking big-time savings opportunities on the Samsung Galaxy S10+ at $400 off with an S25 Ultra purchase (as well as the Galaxy Watch Ultra at $372 off), but today’s highlight deals are focused on Google gear and some laptops. You can now score the Google Pixel Tablet at $100 off in brand-new condition or open-box units with 1-year warranties down at $231 alongside some serious PC offers – Acer’s 2024 Chromebook Plus 516 GE Steam-ready Gaming Laptop is $230 off and Microsoft’s originally $1,600 Snapdragon X Elite Surface Laptop 7 with 16GB RAM/1TB SSD just hit the $999 all-time low. All of that and more awaits below. 

Loss of Pulse Detection was announced last August as the Pixel Watch 3’s latest safety feature, and it has finally been approved by US regulators, with a rollout set for next month. 

Digital keys are slowly replacing physical ones as more manufacturers add compatibility, but that’s somewhat of a process. Motorola has announced that BMW has added Digital Key access for two of its devices, including the Razr+.

Samsung’s next foldable flip phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 7, isn’t getting a thinner design like its book-style brethren, as a new leak reveals that the Flip 7 will be a slightly bigger, thick-as-ever iteration of the last model.

Samsung finally seems to be nearing its rollout for One UI 7 on Galaxy smartphones and tablets, with a new alleged rollout schedule hitting the web this week to offer insight into a list of Galaxy devices set to get the update, as well as a timeline that starts in April.

A common way for users to invite each other to play games is through the platform they’re playing on. Now, Xbox is allowing players to invite each other using a shareable link, which anyone can click on and open.

The latest Scam Detection features for Google Messages and the Phone by Google app are coming to Pixel with a March update.

Following prior leaks of the device earlier this month, a new set of Motorola Razr+ (2025) images show the foldable in a new colorway, as well as revealing that it has an extra button.

I think Google may have shared the future of smart displays, or at least an evolution of the form factor, earlier this year at CES: Google TV. 

Following the division behind Pixel, Android, and Chrome in January, Google today announced a new “voluntary exit” program for its People Operations, or HR, team.

The Google Pixel Watch series has delivered increasingly better hardware every year, but even the first generation is still supported and, now, you can get one for as little as $90 – but should you?