Noticias
Have you got Gemini’s new compact UI?

What is your favorite Android launcher?
The beauty of Android has always been its customization, and that often starts with your launcher. While the third-party launcher has lost some of its prominence in recent years, popular options like Nova Launcher, Action Launcher, and Niagara Launcher are still pushing things forward.
Which mobile browser do you use, and why?
I moved away from Chrome once I caught wind of Manifest V3 and how it would hobble ad blockers. Sure, lite versions of ad blockers have popped up since Manifest V3 was implemented in Chrome, but I was already well-established with Firefox, my current browser of choice. I can sync all of my data across all of my Firefox installs across my operating systems, just like Chrome, but of course, I have the ability to block ads across every OS without having to worry about the shortcomings of Manifest V3.
But what about you? Which browser do you prefer, and why do you prefer it? From Samsung Internet to Edge to Brave to Chrome, there are plenty of choices, so which do you prefer for your web browsing needs?

How often do you use the Google Play Store?
Back when Android was still young, the Google Play Store (at the time called Android Market) was actually fun to explore. It wasn’t filled with endless advertisements yet, it was a simple list categorized into genres. Heck, there was still a new release section back then, which is now so embarrassing that Google removed it from the website. Things have changed, and not for the better. The Play Store is a chore to navigate nowadays, to the point I know I go out of my way to avoid it. It’s a cluttered mess that would rather push apps you don’t want instead of actually using your years of data to showcase actual interests.
So are you also sick of the Play Store, like me, and avoid it at all costs? Or are you fine with the clutter as long as you can easily install new apps and games? Hit the comments to share, and let’s commiserate.
Have you used your Pixel’s astrophotography mode?
Taking pictures of the night sky isn’t something that ever occurred to me. I’ll use my phone to take quick shots of interesting things while out and about around town, but that’s about as much use as my phone cameras get. But, since I purchased a Pixel 9, I figured why not give its astrophotography mode a shot. And so I’ve dabbled a few times with mixed results. I can’t say it’s something I’ll go out of my way to use.
This got me wondering how many others out there make use of the Pixel’s astrophotography mode. So, if you’re a night sky shooter thanks to your Pixel, sound off in the comments below, and if you have a slick shot to share, all the better.
What’s your favorite phone of all time?
I know what mine is; it is the Pixel 5. Perhaps an obvious answer, but it truly is the phone that stands out to me the most over my many years of buying and using smartphones. Sure, HTC offered some very slick devices back in the Windows Mobile days, but if I were hard-pressed to name the one phone that stands above all others, at least in my opinion, the Pixel 5 is it. It was incredibly affordable while offering stock Android, which was a big deal at the time of bloated UIs from the competition, and frankly, it was the perfect size, pocketable yet useable, something I truly miss even in 2024.
But after all of these years, what phone stood out to you as your favorite? What still sticks in your memory as the phone no one has been able to beat?
Show us your favorite AI generated wallpaper
Say what you want about AI, but it does appear to have one use that anyone can enjoy, and that’s wallpaper creation. I know I’ve dabbled with image creation in Gemini and Pixel Studio and have come away with some quality results. But there are still some issues with AI, like the inability to spell words correctly or show the correct amount of fingers. But if you stick to images without words or people, you’ll definitely find better results.
So, have you been playing with AI wallpaper generation, and if so, are you finding the results worthwhile? Hit the comments to share your favorite AI-generated wallpapers, and let’s see who is getting the best results with their creations.
What’s the one Pixel feature you can’t live without?
In order to make Pixel Phones enticing to the masses, Google tucks away its best Android features into its high-end Pixel line. But out of all of the features, surely there is one that stands above all others. Is it the call screening? Because I know that’s my favorite, never having to answer calls myself. Or maybe it’s message transcript, another handy feature that allows us to easily ignore contact with the outside world. Whatever it is, hit the comments below to share your favorite Pixel feature.
Which One UI 7 features are you most excited about?
While we still don’t know when the first One UI 7 beta will drop, it’s coming nonetheless. Some screenshots have already leaked, and plenty of rumors are swirling about incoming features, as the UI is expected to see a major design overhaul. One leak suggests there will be a split notification panel, and another hints at live activity in the lockscreen and status bar. More or less, big changes are expected, so even though it is early days with little nailed down, there are already some possible features to look forward to.
So, what leaked feature has you most excited for One UI 7’s incoming drop? Hit the comments to let us know. For me, the split notification panel sounds like it could be a great addition.
Has Google Maps seemed a lot less reliable to you lately?
Google Maps — or mapping applications in general — might be one of the least appreciated aspects of our modern age. By the time I got my license, I already had a smartphone with Maps preloaded out of the box, but I have distinct memories of helping my parents get to new locations using printed directions from MapQuest, to say nothing of our dedicated TomTom GPS unit.
But as good as navigation apps might be, when they fail, it can be stressful. Missed turns, wrong exits, scrambling to fix a frozen app while flying down the interstate — anything going wrong with Google Maps can be cause for alarm, and lately, I’ve been noticing a lot going wrong. From trying to take me down one-way streets going the opposite direction to sending my fiancée in literal circles while leaving her job’s parking garage, the last year or so with Google Maps has caused me a lot of friction. Yet, any time I think about swapping apps — maybe to Google’s other app Waze, or even to Apple Maps on the iPhone — the ex
Google finally fixed the Pixel’s camera app and I’m so pleased
Last year, the Pixel 8 debuted a redesigned version of the Pixel Camera app. The updated camera looks and feels a little more standard (read: like Apple and Samsung’s camera apps), but I’ve never been happy about the change. Aside from shifting the shutter button up and making me re-learn muscle memory after thousands of photos, the updated app hid sliders for brightness, shadows, and warmth behind a settings button, and could only show one slider at a time (as shown below). Previously, all three controls would surface any time you tapped to focus. Ever since, I’ve been complaining — both on AP and in real life to anyone who will listen — about how much harder it is to take good photos with the updated app.
But now, in Pixel Camera 9.7, there’s a setting in the app labeled Quick access controls. Turning that setting on will see the same three sliders as before show up in your viewfinder whenever you tap to focus, reducing the time it takes to dial in the look you want and thereby pot
Are you using a third-party launcher on Google/Android TV?
I recently switched to Projectivy Launcher because I was sick of Google adding more and more recommendations into my Android TV interface, more or less shoving advertisements for things I didn’t want to see, into my living room. Not only does my Shield TV run better when it doesn’t have to load videos in the background of the UI, I regained full control of how my TV looks.
I also know there are many out there who are perfectly fine with Google’s recommendations and enjoy Android/Google TV for what it is. But this got me thinking about how many people out there like me have installed a third-party launcher to clean things up. So, sound off in the comments whether or not you’ve considered or are using a third-party launcher on your Google/Android TV, as I have a feeling this trend is growing.
Google can do better than 6 months of free Gemini Advanced with an S25 purchase
Sometimes, it feels like Google doesn’t want Gemini to succeed. The easiest path to getting a mass of people to adopt AI is to let them use it for free. Clearly, Google knows this, which is why so many Google products come with a free year of Gemini Advanced. Now, all of a sudden, Google’s going to get stingy with its partner Samsung, only offering S25 purchasers a free six months of Gemini Advanced. For as much as these new devices cost, I expect more from Google. But what about you? Do you feel six months is enough?
Would you be upset if Google killed its Tasks app?
Google has added Tasks to Calendar, Search, and Assistant, all the while also offering a standalone app, and each of the services that offer Tasks offers the exact same functionalities, begging the question of whether the app is even necessary at this point. So, if Google were to finally kill off its Tasks app, would you miss it? I think I would, as I prefer my apps to stand alone rather than dip into, say, a calendar app to adjust my tasks.
Why Android 15 is better than iOS 18
Over here at Android Police, you’ll find a lot of people who like Android more than iOS, perhaps not all for the same reasons, but in our minds, Android is still the best place to be. But even if you feel this is a subject that is up for debate, there is no denying Android 15 offers plenty of features iOS doesn’t. As a matter of fact, we recently wrote about five ways Android 15 is better than iOS 18, so if you’d like to read more about what makes Android so great compared to iOS, click through and enjoy the list.
Which music streaming app is your favorite?
There are plenty of streaming music apps to choose from, from Spotify to Amazon Music, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. Despite the lack of originality in the app names, all of these services are fairly well received by their users. I’ve been subscribed to Spotify for years but have considered moving to Amazon Music for its high-quality audio. I’ve yet to take the plunge, but if Spotify continues to drag its feet instead of launching high-quality audio, the move seems inevitable. This is why I appreciate that we have so many excellent choices at our disposal.
Still, with so many to choose from, I thought it might be fun to ask what everyone is using and why. So hit the comments below to share which music streaming app is your current platform of choice.
Which messaging app is your favorite?
The Google Play Store is absolutely filled to the brim with messaging apps, and Google has certainly made plenty of contributions to this app type. But at the end of the day, we all have our favorites. For me, I use Google Messages as my primary messaging app, thanks to its RCS support, sending media to friends and family rarely poses an issue. Still, I have a soft spot for Telegram because it offers speedy communication, as well as a desktop app.
But what about you? Which messaging app is your favorite, and which would you choose to use if you were only allowed to use one? Hit the comments to shout your choice loud and proud.
What is your favorite widget to use on Android?
One of the best things about Android since the very start is its widget support. No matter what you wish to display in your launcher, from the weather to stock prices, there is a selection of widgets to choose from to style your phone however you like. You can see your news feed, check your emails, and even send messages, all without having to pull up a single app, which is pretty cool if you ask me.
So, out of all of the widgets available on Android, which is your go-to, the first one you install on any new phone? In other words, which widget on Android is your favorite, and why? Hit the comments to share; this way, we can all try each other’s favorites.
How often do you use Gemini?
There is no denying that Google is pushing Gemini into every space it can muster, from Messages to Gmail, there is no getting away from it. Sure, there is also the app, as well as a subscription tier for the app, but it would seem Google feels we all need some convincing to use its AI by shoving the service into everything. So this got me thinking: perhaps few are actually using Gemini, which is why I wanted to ask. How often do you use Gemini, or do you even use it at all? Hit the comments, as I have a sneaking suspicion nobody is all that interested in AI.
Have you switched from Google Assistant to Google Gemini yet?
Gemini is here in full force, and it finally offers a lot of the functionality of Google Assistant while still lacking some of the smoothness Assistant users have come to expect. This creates a situation where many are still using Google Assistant instead of switching over to Gemini. For me, I made the switch soon after Gemini was introduced, but I also never used Google Assistant, so the switch was painless for me. But what about you? Have you made the switch? Was it painful, or do you prefer Gemini? Hit the comments to let us know, as I have a sneaking suspicion there are more holdouts than expected.
Will you install Android 15 today?
Android 15 is rolling out today and should be live as you read this post. If you happen to own a Pixel, you should be able to install the update right now. Of course, new versions of Android can often introduce bugs, but this is likely why Google held the update back and didn’t ship it on the Pixel 9. So, it should stand to reason that 15 has had a chance to be smoothed out, ideally squashing bugs during testing. Still, there is always a chance that new software will bring instability. So, will you be updating today, or are you going to wait to see how things pan out before hitting the update button?