N e w s C e n t r a l

YouTube will exclusively stream an NFL game for free

YouTube will be streaming an exclusive NFL game in its entirety for free worldwide for the first time ever. After becoming the official home of<a href="https://www.engadget.com/youtube-nfl-sunday-ticket-deal-155108503.html"> <ins>NFL Sunday Ticket in 2023</ins></a>, YouTube has been pushing to expand its reach in the high-stakes, multibillion-dollar world of NFL coverage and broadcast rights.  The Google-owned streaming company<a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=f5e3d2ac-b2a6-4637-bd59-bf0273d985ac&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=daa42b21-2c0c-4779-bf67-26149e315e5b&featureId=text-link&merchantName=National+Football+League&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZmwuY29tL25ld3MveW91dHViZS10by1zdHJlYW0tMjAyNS13ZWVrLTEtbmZsLXJlZ3VsYXItc2Vhc29uLWdhbWUtaW4tYnJhemlsLXRvLXdvcmxkd2lkZS1hdWRpZW5jZS1mb3ItZnJlZSIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZGFhNDJiMjEtMmMwYy00Nzc5LWJmNjctMjYxNDllMzE1ZTViIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZmwuY29tL25ld3MveW91dHViZS10by1zdHJlYW0tMjAyNS13ZWVrLTEtbmZsLXJlZ3VsYXItc2Vhc29uLWdhbWUtaW4tYnJhemlsLXRvLXdvcmxkd2lkZS1hdWRpZW5jZS1mb3ItZnJlZSJ9&signature=AQAAAdbKf6tHSLKl9oyclQKeVkvtGDCxq86-qOCygUCDxZWS&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nfl.com%2Fnews%2Fyoutube-to-stream-2025-week-1-nfl-regular-season-game-in-brazil-to-worldwide-audience-for-free"> <ins>has secured the exclusive rights</ins></a> to broadcast one of the NFL’s opening week games on Friday September 5 live from Brazil. The São Paulo spectacle will take place the day after the Thursday night NFL KickOff game between the Eagles and the Cowboys. The 2025 NFL regular season will feature seven international games, a record for the league. In an<a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=f5e3d2ac-b2a6-4637-bd59-bf0273d985ac&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=daa42b21-2c0c-4779-bf67-26149e315e5b&featureId=text-link&merchantName=National+Football+League&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZmwuY29tL25ld3MveW91dHViZS10by1zdHJlYW0tMjAyNS13ZWVrLTEtbmZsLXJlZ3VsYXItc2Vhc29uLWdhbWUtaW4tYnJhemlsLXRvLXdvcmxkd2lkZS1hdWRpZW5jZS1mb3ItZnJlZSIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZGFhNDJiMjEtMmMwYy00Nzc5LWJmNjctMjYxNDllMzE1ZTViIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZmwuY29tL25ld3MveW91dHViZS10by1zdHJlYW0tMjAyNS13ZWVrLTEtbmZsLXJlZ3VsYXItc2Vhc29uLWdhbWUtaW4tYnJhemlsLXRvLXdvcmxkd2lkZS1hdWRpZW5jZS1mb3ItZnJlZSJ9&signature=AQAAAdbKf6tHSLKl9oyclQKeVkvtGDCxq86-qOCygUCDxZWS&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nfl.com%2Fnews%2Fyoutube-to-stream-2025-week-1-nfl-regular-season-game-in-brazil-to-worldwide-audience-for-free"> <ins>NFL press release</ins></a>, YouTube’s chief business officer Mary Ellen Choe said, "Streaming the Friday night game to fans for free around the world will mark YouTube's first time as a live NFL broadcaster – and we'll do it in a way that only YouTube can, with an interactive viewing experience and creators right at the center of the experience." Last year, fellow streaming giant<a href="https://www.engadget.com/netflix-will-stream-its-first-nfl-games-on-christmas-day-163407396.html"> <ins>Netflix streamed its first live NFL games</ins></a> on Christmas Day as part of a three-year deal with the league, though Netflix doesn’t have a NFL specific product to sell its customers like YouTube has with NFL Sunday Ticket. In the press release announcing YouTube’s coverage of Week 1 from Brazil, Mary Ellen Choe discussed the reach of NFL games on YouTube, saying, "Last year, people spent over 350 million hours watching official NFL content on YouTube, so it's both fitting and thrilling to continue to build our relationship with our partners at the NFL." This expanded partnership comes against the backdrop of other team-ups between YouTube and the NFL aside from NFL Sunday Ticket, namely a multi-year deal for the annual Super Bowl Flag Football game as well as additional international flag football games. The exact cost for the broadcast rights to the Brazil game is not known at this time, though it’s known that YouTube is paying over $2 billion per year over a seven-year deal for NFL Sunday Ticket.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-will-exclusively-stream-an-nfl-game-for-free-191519460.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Amy Hennig's 'Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra' is delayed to 2026

The adventure game Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra has been delayed until 2026, <a href="https://x.com/SkydanceGames/status/1922275645402337325">according to a statement by publisher Skydance Games</a>. The title was supposed to <a href="https://www.engadget.com/marvel-1943-rise-of-hydra-from-amy-hennigs-studio-arrives-in-2025-173514552.html">come out sometime this year.</a> What's the reason for the delay? The publisher says it's to "add more polish," which is never a bad thing. I'd rather a fully-finished game upon release than a buggy mess. The company does say it'll be available in the early part of 2026, so that isn't too long to wait. Still, it's disappointing news for eager Marvel fans. <div id="7a301f2e83a640a1a95afe78b307a820"></div> Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is a narrative-driven adventure game with four playable characters, including long-time icons like Black Panther and Captain America. As the name suggests, it's set during World War II in occupied Paris. It's being developed by <a href="https://www.engadget.com/amy-hennig-skydance-new-media-marvel-partnership-172714404.html">Amy Hennig and her new studio</a>, which is a subsidiary of Skydance. If her name sounds familiar, that's because she's best known for being a creative director and writer at Naughty Dog. Hennig <a href="https://www.mobygames.com/person/53703/amy-hennig/credits/">was the lead writer</a> on all three Uncharted games and was creative director for the Legacy of Kain franchise. She's got a fantastic pedigree, so this new Marvel game could be a heavy hitter.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/amy-hennigs-marvel-1943-rise-of-hydra-is-delayed-to-2026-185945301.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

TikTok just added an AI-powered image-to-video feature and it did some weird things to my cat

TikTok hasn't shoved generative AI features into every corner of its app the way Meta has with Instagram, but the company has still experimented with the tech in some interesting — if <a href="https://www.engadget.com/tiktoks-gen-ai-avatars-are-based-on-real-people-and-that-only-makes-them-more-creepy-130033649.html"><ins>slightly unsettling</ins></a> — ways. Now, TikTok is introducing a new AI-powered feature that feels even more meme-worthy. It's called <a href="https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/introducing-tiktok-ai-alive"><ins>AI Alive</ins></a> and it allows users to create short, stylized video clips from a static image. Right now, the feature only exists for TikTok's Stories feature, so it's meant for more ephemeral sharing than what you might typically post on the app. You start with a still image Stories post (accessed from the app's inbox) and choose the new "AI Alive" option, which prompts you to "make this photo come alive." TikTok will surface suggested prompts, but you can also come up with your own. You can see the feature in action in the video below. In all three cases, I started with an image of my cat standing on a railing and used prompts suggested by TikTok. The first was "bring this to life as an anime," the second was for him to walk "carefully" along the railing and the last was "style this like a retro game." <div id="4e9ddce5f4c54c9c980531032f2636e9"></div> As you can see in the clip, the results were somewhat mixed. The anime-esque effect came out a bit creepy and erased my cat's tabby stripes, though I suppose it more or less aligned with the prompt. The second animation also looks a bit odd: there are numerous AI artifacts and my cat's tail and paws look unnatural. The final "retro game" style clip, though, is downright baffling. Why did TikTok's AI decide that my cat should hold up two comically huge wine glasses? Nothing about it evokes any <a href="https://tech.yahoo.com/gaming/">video game</a> I've ever played. Still, like many generative AI features, it's a fun novelty and I can see TikTok users having a lot of fun coming up with their own, probably bizarre, creations.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktok-just-added-an-ai-powered-image-to-video-feature-and-it-did-some-weird-things-to-my-cat-184630740.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

President Biden's rule restricting US AI chip exports has been rescinded

<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/people/donald-trump/">President Donald Trump</a>'s administration has undone one of the last regulations set by his predecessor. Today, the Department of Commerce <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.bis.gov/press-release/department-commerce-rescinds-biden-era-artificial-intelligence-diffusion-rule-strengthens-chip-related"><ins>rescinded</ins></a> the AI Diffusion Rule implemented by former President Joe Biden, a policy that restricted the export of US-made AI chips to select international markets. The rule was introduced by Biden's administration in January and slated to take effect on May 15. Trump had previously <a href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/trump-executive-order-rescinds-bidens-ai-framework-012825311.html"><ins>walked back</ins></a> the broader AI guidelines adopted by Biden in October 2023 as part of his initial wave of executive orders upon taking office. Although the Department of Commerce is not enforcing the previous AI Diffusion Rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security said it will release a replacement policy at a later date. The press release included three additional actions from the BIS:  <ul> <li>"Issuing guidance that using Huawei Ascend chips anywhere in the world violates US export controls.</li> <li>"Issuing guidance warning the public about the potential consequences of allowing US AI chips to be used for training and inference of Chinese AI models.</li> <li>"Issuing guidance to US companies on how to protect supply chains against diversion tactics."</li> </ul> This sector may become increasingly relevant to the US's international affairs, including <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/general/us-and-china-agree-to-slash-tariffs-for-90-days-120050454.html"><ins>ongoing tariff negotiations</ins></a> with China and <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/business/economy/trump-chip-sale-to-emirati-ai-firm-g42.html">potential deals</a> in the Middle East. NVIDIA may be the bellwether for the current administration's approach to the exports of AI infrastructure. The company revealed last month that the federal government is requiring <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/nvidia-says-the-us-has-put-export-restrictions-on-h20-ai-chips-224822930.html"><ins>a license</ins></a> for the export its H20 chips to some regions, including China, Macau, Hong Kong and countries designated as D:5 under the <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.bis.gov/regulations/ear/part-740/supplement-1-740/country-groups">US Arms Embargo</a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/president-bidens-rule-restricting-us-ai-chip-exports-has-been-rescinded-183935847.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Toyota hopes for a smoother start with its redesigned bZ all-electric SUV

In an increasingly competitive EV landscape, Toyota hopes its newly redesigned and renamed <a href="https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-bz-all-electric-suv-adds-range-charging-and-exterior-updates-for-2026/"><ins>Toyota bZ</ins></a> can stand out. As brands from <a href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/the-2026-subaru-trailseeker-ev-has-solid-4x4-bonafides-but-mediocre-range-132516217.html"><ins>Subaru</ins></a> to <a href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volkswagen-is-unveiling-a-21000-entry-level-ev-in-march-150057140.html"><ins>Volkswagen</ins></a> continue to expand all-electric offerings, Toyota is placing its bets on a single EV model for the American market. The change in name may be partly in hopes of distancing the new model in consumers’ minds from the original bZ4X, which began stateside sales in 2022, only to be <a href="https://www.engadget.com/toyota-recalls-nearly-3000-bz4x-ev-over-potentially-deadly-wheel-defect-192025370.html"><ins>met with recalls</ins></a> and <a href="https://www.engadget.com/toyota-bz4x-ev-buyback-offer-202133046.html"><ins>buybacks</ins></a>. Toyota, for its part, <a href="https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-bz-all-electric-suv-adds-range-charging-and-exterior-updates-for-2026/"><ins>states in a press release</ins></a> that the branding change is just “simplifying the name for customers.” Toyota is hoping for a fresh start and has brought several key improvements to the table. The new bZ will have an estimated range of 314 miles, up from just 252 in the previous model. There is also a significant horsepower boost for all-wheel drive models, reaching 338 hp, and a modest 20-hp boost for front-wheel drive models, measuring in at 221 hp. This model will come equipped with the now-standardized North American Charging Standard (NACS) outlet, first developed by <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/organizations/tesla/">Tesla</a>. This brings fast-charging capability to the new bZ, which Toyota says will allow it to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. Toyota has also brought a number of other improved creature comforts and new features to this second-gen model including an updated X‑MODE system with Grip‑Control for improved off‑road traction. The bZ’s price at launch is set to be somewhere between $37,000 and $42,000, depending on the trim and configuration. This positions the model to compete with other smaller all-electric SUVs like the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-starts-selling-cheaper-model-y-evs-in-the-us-124506011.html"><ins>Tesla Model Y</ins></a>. Toyota expects the new bZ to begin arriving at Toyota dealerships in the back half of 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/toyota-hopes-for-a-smoother-start-with-its-redesigned-bz-all-electric-suv-182426253.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

The UK's House of Lords kicks back bill that let AI train on copyrighted content

The UK's House of Lords just voted to add an amendment to a data bill that mandates that tech companies disclose which copyright-protected works were used to train AI models, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/may/12/house-of-lords-pushes-back-ai-plans-data-bill"><ins>as reported by </ins><ins>The Guardian</ins></a>. The amendment faced government opposition but resoundingly passed with 272 votes to 125. The vote came just a few days after hundreds of artists and organizations joined together to urge the government not to "give our work away at the behest of a handful of powerful overseas tech companies." The artists involved in this push included Paul McCartney, Elton John and Dua Lipa, among many others. <div id="90276c70dd3b4d559939259efa7ee6b3"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Yesterday, the Lords asked the government to think again on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DataBill?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DataBill</a>, voting through changes on processing personal data, AI models, and the collection of sex data. ⬇️ Find out more <a href="https://t.co/5T0A3BvCe6">https://t.co/5T0A3BvCe6</a>— House of Lords (@UKHouseofLords) <a href="https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords/status/1922319744553636228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote> </div> The government's preferred position has been a provision that would force copyright holders to formally opt-out of being used to train AI models. Critics say this would be impractical and unworkable for many artists. The bill will now return to the House of Commons for another vote. If today's amendment is removed, it will likely lead to another confrontation with the House of Lords. “The House of Lords has once again taken the right decision by voting to establish vital transparency obligations for AI companies," Sophie Jones, chief strategist for the British Phonographic Industry, <a href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/uk-government-ai-plans-dealt-blow-house-of-lords-vote/"><ins>told </ins><ins>Billboard</ins></a>. "Transparency is crucial in ensuring that the creative industries can retain control over how their works are used.” This isn't the first time the House of Lords has demanded tech companies make clear whether they have used copyright-protected material when training AI models. Back in January, the body voted 145 to 126 in favor of adding amendments to the bill aimed at <a href="https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/uks-house-of-lords-votes-to-strengthen-copyright-protections-in-ai-dealing-blow-to-governments-plans/"><ins>strengthening copyright protections</ins></a>. "Creators do not deny the creative and economic value of AI, but we do deny the assertion that we should have to build AI for free with our work, and then rent it back from those who stole it," Baroness Beeban Kidron of the House of Lords said during a debate before this week's vote. <div id="6215ef2483e94bce8b56515062ba72c9"></div> There are some signs that Prime Minister Starmer is backing off the proposed "opt-out" idea that would force creators to petition AI companies not to use their work. The government recently added its own amendments to the data bill that include a commitment to conduct an economic impact assessment and to publish reports on transparency with regard to licensing. Technology secretary Peter Kyle has been looking into a new proposal that would, instead, create a licensing system for copyright holders and AI developers, <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=1e9b353f-2483-466c-93ba-e142a13fe4a3&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=ce5b3261-db92-4d14-a9f4-83538b5681d5&featureId=text-link&merchantName=The+Telegraph+UK&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy50ZWxlZ3JhcGguY28udWsvcG9saXRpY3MvMjAyNS8wNS8wNy9sYWJvdXItYXJ0aWZpY2lhbC1pbnRlbGxpZ2VuY2Utb3B0LW91dC1jb3B5cmlnaHQvIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJjZTViMzI2MS1kYjkyLTRkMTQtYTlmNC04MzUzOGI1NjgxZDUiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRlbGVncmFwaC5jby51ay9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDI1LzA1LzA3L2xhYm91ci1hcnRpZmljaWFsLWludGVsbGlnZW5jZS1vcHQtb3V0LWNvcHlyaWdodC8ifQ&signature=AQAAAbldNIGUi4X6X9YhJIoKb5oCMdMdrAyiFmYzPcbK-jw4&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fpolitics%2F2025%2F05%2F07%2Flabour-artificial-intelligence-opt-out-copyright%2F"><ins>according to a report by </ins><ins>The Telegraph</ins></a>.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-uks-house-of-lords-kicks-back-bill-that-let-ai-train-on-copyrighted-content-181540558.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Everything Google announced at The Android Show

<a href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-io-2025-what-to-expect-over-the-next-two-weeks-on-android-16-android-xr-and-gemini-203044392.html">Google I/O 2025</a> is still a week out, but Google shared a taste of the updates coming to Android and the larger Android Ecosystem at a separate event today, dubbed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3yDd3CmA_Y">The Android Show: I/O Edition.</a> Engadget followed along with the announcements as they happened <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/android-show-2025-live-updates-material-3-expressive-android-16-gemini-and-more-from-googles-pre-io-event-213327433.html">in our liveblog</a>, but for an overview, here are the changes Google has planned for Android, its visual design and Gemini. <h2 id="jump-link-material-3-expressive-is-going-to-make-android-and-wear-os-more-fun">Material 3 Expressive is making Android and Wear OS more fun</h2> <figure><img alt="Google's new design language in a few of its most popular apps." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-05/91bb63c0-301c-11f0-9ab1-55c3f6f7d139" style="height: 950px; width: 1738px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Google</div></figure> Material Design, Google’s design language for Android and Android apps, has been slowly evolving for years at this point, but <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/google-gives-android-an-animated-makeover-with-material-3-expressive-170045667.html">Material 3 Expressive</a> should be the biggest departure yet, adding new animations, typography and colors. Google believes these changes make Android and apps easier to understand, while making them more appealing to young people. Based on the screenshots and clips Google shared, using Material 3 Expressive on Android 16 and Wear OS 6 has made the OSes look bouncier, more playful and fun. On Android, that also comes with the ability to add more tools to Quick Settings and apps and widgets to your home screen app grid. How much of a difference the new design language actually makes in your day-to-day life will depend on how quickly developers adopt the new style. Google says you'll be able to check out the new look yourself when the Android 16 beta becomes available on select Android devices in June. <h2 id="jump-link-gemini-is-coming-to-even-more-places">Gemini is coming to even more places</h2> <figure><img alt="Gemini in Android Auto" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-05/44d2e010-3021-11f0-a7ef-6b053b6d3352" style="height: 614px; width: 1116px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Google</div></figure> Google made Gemini the default assistant on Android and offered the multimodal generative AI's smarts on the web and iOS. Now the assistant is making the jump to <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-is-bringing-gemini-to-wear-os-android-auto-and-more-170028033.html">even more of the surfaces Google already controls</a>, including Wear OS, the wearable operating system used by Samsung’s Galaxy Watches and Google’s Pixel Watches, Google TV and Android Auto. Gemini will be able to do all of the things Google Assistant could do, like setting timers or creating reminders, but with much more flexible, natural language interactions. In Android Auto and cars with Google Built-in, you’ll also be able to use Gemini Live, Google’s tool for having live conversations with the AI about whatever topic you choose. Google TV will leverage Gemini for TV and movie recommendations across your favorite genres, along with the AI assistant's basic ability to answer questions. You could, for example, ask it for recommendations for kid shows and get information about your favorite actor. Gemini will also be available on Google's new <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/google-lays-out-its-vision-for-an-android-xr-ecosystem-160001103.html">Android XR</a> platform, but Google suggested that more information about its mixed-reality plans are being saved for I/O on May 20. <h2 id="jump-link-android-is-getting-new-security-features-and-the-find-hub">Android is getting new security features and the Find Hub</h2> <figure><img alt="The logo for the new Find Hub Google plans to use to track lost items." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-05/1bbc3010-3020-11f0-bfab-156a27e73692" style="height: 974px; width: 1742px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Google</div></figure> A major component of each new version of Android is improved security features, and Google has <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/android-16-adds-new-features-for-scam-detection-and-device-finding-170037778.html">a few new features</a> planned for Android 16. The company says it's expanding its AI model for detecting spam texts and calls to account for new types of scams, like road toll scams. The next version of Android will also make it possible to grant accessibility privileges on a call with an unknown contact, and a new Key Verifier tool makes it possible to swap encryption keys to verify the person you're talking to is who they say they are. On top of those changes, Google is expanding its Find My Device network into the new Find Hub, which can track your Android devices, compatible accessories and trackers, all in one location. The big change in the move from Find My Device to Find Hub is broad support for devices with ultra-wideband radios, which offer more precise tracking. Devices in Find Hub will also be able to use your phone's satellite connectivity to make themselves findable even when you don't have cell service.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/everything-google-announced-at-the-android-show-174155773.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Google gives Android an animated makeover with Material 3 Expressive

Well, <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://9to5google.com/2025/05/05/material-3-expressive-leak/">the leaks</a> were right. Google is <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="http://blog.google/products/android/material-3-expressive-android-wearos-launch">updating the look of Android and Wear OS</a> to make its mobile and wearable operating systems more visually expressive and animated. Google has dubbed its new design system Material 3 Expressive, and plans to introduce it when Android 16 and Wear OS 6 launch later this year. Material 3 Expressive builds on the <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/google-material-you-android-personalized-redesign-182501466.html">Material You</a> design changes Google made with the introduction of Android 12 by adding "more natural, springy animations," a greater sense of depth, updated "dynamic color themes" and "emphasized typography." If you're familiar with <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/organizations/apple/">Apple</a>'s approach to animation in iOS, Google seems to be using a similar philosophy here, making software elements more reactive to each other and your input, and layering in haptics so you can feel them react, too. <figure><img alt="The new animations in Android 16 for working with notifications." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-05/a54783b0-2f72-11f0-bf7d-36dac70a8903" style="height: 1080px; width: 1920px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Google</div></figure> The company specifically calls out the way other notifications bounce and jiggle when you pull one out of a stack in the notification shade and the haptics you feel dismissing apps in the recent apps menu, but new animations should be noticeable throughout Android 16. That's along with what looks like an even more playful use of typography and color theming in Google's stock apps, and a tasteful blur in the background of contextual menus. For even more personalization options, Google says the Quick Settings menu can now be customized to fit more actions, not unlike <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/ios-18-gets-a-revamped-control-center-and-loads-of-home-screen-customization-options-172350046.html">iOS 18's Control Center</a>. On the lock screen, apps will also have the option to display a live-updating notification, a feature Google calls "Live Updates" that is equivalent to Live Activities in iOS. <figure><img alt="A gif showing the rounder and bouncier glances, app list and notifications from Wear OS 6." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-05/39d4d780-2f73-11f0-9f3e-9fe9f529dbe2" style="height: 608px; width: 1080px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Google</div></figure> Given the smaller screen real estate, Material 3 Expressive comes across as less of a major change on Wear OS, but there are still visual changes that should be noticeable once you update. That includes new animations when you scroll through lists and glances, dynamic color-theming that matches the rest of your watch to your watch face and tweaks to notifications that make them easier to interact with. That's on top of performance improvements that are supposed to give Wear OS 6 smartwatches up to 10 percent more battery life, according to Google. Material 3 Expressive adds more of the quirky pizazz that has made the company's software stand out in the last few years, but Google claims these changes are backed up by research, too. Material 3 Expressive is "the most researched update to Google's design system, ever," according to the company. There's <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://design.google/library/expressive-material-design-google-research?utm_source=android-blog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=IO25">a blog</a> digging into some of Google's findings, but of particular note is the idea that Material 3 Expressive apps are attractive to young people — the company claims up to 87 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds prefer expressive design — while being easier to understand for people over the age of 45. It remains to be seen whether developers take these changes in stride, but at the very least Android 16 and Wear OS 6 will be more visually exciting than anything Google's released in years.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/google-gives-android-an-animated-makeover-with-material-3-expressive-170045667.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Android 16 adds new features for scam detection and device finding

<figure><img alt="Android 16's new Advanced Protection feature simplifies the task of managing your phone's security settings." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-05/f1178e50-2f74-11f0-a8fc-567f8d63dcd6" style="height: 3852px; width: 3638px;" /><figcaption>Android 16's new Advanced Protection feature simplifies the task of managing your phone's security settings.</figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Google</div></figure> This summer's Android 16 release will add several new and updated security measures that should make it more difficult for criminals to scam Android users or take advantage of stolen Android phones. After <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-latest-android-update-includes-live-scam-message-detection-170040545.html#:~:text=First%20up%2C%20Google%20Messages%20now,and%2For%20block%20the%20conversation.">introducing AI features in March</a> that detect fraudulent messages based on common language patterns, Google is working on teaching its models to recognize a wider range of text scams, such as those <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/have-you-been-the-victim-of-a-text-message-scam-claiming-you-owe-money-for-unpaid-tolls-tell-us-your-story-173838497.html">unpaid road toll scams</a> you've probably seen this year. It's also adding faster pattern analysis to Google Play Protect so it can unmask malicious apps more quickly. Starting in Android 16, it will be impossible to grant certain accessibility privileges while on a call with an unknown contact. Meanwhile, the new Key Verifier feature prevents scammers from co-opting your known contacts, letting you and a trusted contact swap public encryption keys to confirm each other's identities. Android 16 also adds new ways to protect your phone against thieves. The Identity Check feature requires extra biometric verification to change sensitive settings outside user-designated safe locations. It <a href="https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/androids-identity-check-feature-is-rolling-out-to-pixel-and-samsung-galaxy-devices-193048987.html">launched on some Pixel and Galaxy devices</a> in January, but Android 16 will widen the rollout. These upgrades should help protect against <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=2f007401-3eaa-4237-b69b-54ccbe125502&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=c85019c0-e7ee-48b4-a6e5-39be424bddc0&featureId=text-link&merchantName=The+Wall+Street+Journal&custData=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&signature=AQAAAVfq-KhqBVaQm_VEw8dlmBuVc4OaG32jkgijl6xo27J2&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Fvideo%2Fseries%2Fjoanna-stern-personal-technology%2Fan-iphone-thief-explains-how-he-steals-your-passcode-and-bank-account%2FC37B4009-E548-4459-8D0A-22B7400C3FEA">"shoulder surfing" device thefts and bank account breaches</a>, in which thieves learn passcodes by watching targets unlock their phones, then steal and unlock the devices themselves. Such attacks have been vexing smartphone owners in bars and other crowded venues for years. New anti-theft features include a security question for deactivating remote locks and more restrictions on what can be done to a device after a factory reset. If a phone running Android 16 is not unlocked or connected to Wi-Fi for a while, the lock screen will hide two-factor authentication codes received through texts. Along with the new security features, Android 16 will centralize security under a single device-level feature called Advanced Protection. While the Advanced Protection switch is active, no feature under its umbrella can be turned off. As a final complement to the Android 16 security updates, Google is expanding its <a href="https://www.engadget.com/apps/googles-find-my-device-app-can-now-show-your-contacts-real-time-locations-154857019.html">Find My Device feature</a> into Find Hub, a dashboard that can locate basically any object with smart capabilities or a bluetooth tag. Find Hub can use ultra-wide band (UWB) on compatible devices to narrow down more precise locations, and can also communicate via satellite so its features work outside cell range.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/android-16-adds-new-features-for-scam-detection-and-device-finding-170037778.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Google is bringing Gemini to Wear OS, Android Auto and more

Google is bringing Gemini to more devices. During Tuesday's airing of <a href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/android-show-2025-live-updates-material-3-expressive-android-16-gemini-and-more-from-googles-pre-io-event-213327433.html">The Android Show: I/O Edition</a>, the company said its family of AI models would soon power the conversational experiences on Android Auto, Wear OS, Google TV and beyond. I know what you're thinking: don’t those platforms already come with Google Assistant? They do, but Google is promising Gemini will make every device it comes to more conversational. For instance, once Gemini arrives on Wear OS, Google says you won't need to get the wording of your request just right for the software to understand you. Instead, you can say something like "Remember I’m using locker 43 today," and Gemini will know to set a reminder for you. Google is promising similar enhancements on Android Auto, where Google Assistant has been an important part of the experience for years. "Soon, Gemini will upgrade that experience by understanding what you want while you're driving, through natural conversations," the company says. "So instead of focusing on the perfect prompt or tapping the right button, you can stay focused on the road ahead."  In practice, that means Gemini will be able to do things like summarize text messages for you and translate them into more than 40 languages. With its ability to "remember" things, you can do things like tell Gemini to always send messages to a specific friend in Spanish, even though you might not speak the language. Google will start rolling out Gemini to Android Auto in the coming months, with cars with Google built-in to follow later this year. Elsewhere, Google is building <a href="https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/google-lays-out-its-vision-for-an-android-xr-ecosystem-160001103.html">Android XR</a> from the ground up with Gemini built-in. "When the first headset from Samsung launches later this year, Gemini can help you do things like plan a vacation by surrounding you with videos, maps and local tips, creating an entire itinerary in minutes while providing a more realistic feel for the place you're researching," the company says. In the coming months, Google will also bring Gemini to Google TV. As you can probably guess, here Gemini will augment recommendations. Specifically, you can expect better age-appropriate suggestions for your kids. The model will also give Google TV the capability to answer any questions your children might have about what they're watching. Last but not least, Google says Sony and Samsung will bring Gemini to some of the new earbuds the two companies plan to release this year and into the future. No details yet on what to expect there, but like on Wear OS and Android Auto, presumably the addition of Gemini will help make those earbuds better at understanding what you say to them.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-is-bringing-gemini-to-wear-os-android-auto-and-more-170028033.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

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