Dallas Thomas
Verified
As seen in:
MSN,
TIME,
Bandcamp Daily,
Flipboard,
Android Police,
Wonder How To,
Gadget Hacks,
IOS Gadget Hacks,
NewsBreak
News Editor at Android Police, trail frequenter at Austin greenbelts, and Rockets fan at heart
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Dallas Thomas
The Fitbit app on your Wear OS watch is getting a Material You makeover
Google's Material 3 Expressive era will go official with next month's Pixel Feature Drop, so the company has been working feverishly to make sure all of its core apps are ready for the rollout. Just yesterday, we saw Chrome for Android giving the expressive treatment to its settings menu and Files by Google refreshing large swaths of its UI. Now, it's time for the Fitbit app on Wear OS to shine.
For once, Google gives a great new Keep Notes feature to Android before iOS
Until now, Google Keep has basically been a dumping ground for your notes, internet finds, and random thoughts. Being a Google product, the app almost exclusively relied on search to help you sift through the pile, but that has finally changed — at least, on Android. After first appearing for some users last week, Google has now widely rolled out Keep's new sort button to all Android users.
If you picked up T-Mobile's new water bottle, don't leave it in your car
That was fast. It hasn't even been a full 24 hours since we told you about a water bottle giveaway from T-Mobile Tuesdays, but for some customers, the gift has already found its way to the recycling bin. What seemed like a perfectly timed promotion, between the lingering heat of summer and back-to-school season, turned out to be more of a perfect storm in an ironic twist of fate for at least one T-Mobile user.
Watch Google's new teaser for the upcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. The big day is just about a week away: a fresh slate of Pixels will debut at the Made By Google event in seven days and some change. But don't expect many surprises after months of leaks — and now Google itself — have given us up-close-and-personal looks at every phone in the series.
This week's T-Mobile Tuesdays gift is one you'll have to pick up in person
Snagging T-Mobile Tuesdays freebies is usually as simple as tapping a button in the T-Life app, but not all gifts are digital. Like the spatula the company gave away back in June, this week's freebie is a physical item, so you'll have to actually visit a store to redeem it. As spotted by Android Authority, T-Mobile is giving away a branded water bottle just in time for back-to-school season.
Google Keep just got a simple new feature that will completely change your workflow
Google really likes to lean on search capabilities as the main way of sifting through content in its apps. It makes sense given the company's roots, but as apps like Google Photos and Google Keep age, people are finding themselves with a massive list of stuff to scroll through, and searching isn't always the best way to find a needle in these haystacks. With a new button rolling out in the Keep Notes app today, it seems like Google is finally sorting and scanning lists.
The Pixel 10's Camera Coach could give you real-time photo tips with help from Gemini
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. There's almost nothing left to learn about the Pixel 10's hardware and design after leaks have shown the phone in all colors from every possible angle. But Pixels really aren't about hardware — at least, not first and foremost.
Google and Samsung are finally getting on the same page with Android navigation
Don't look now, but Google and Samsung might just be reconciling their age-old differences when it comes to how users should navigate Android. And like most times when the two have joined forces for the betterment of the ecosystem, it's a two-way street with the changes they've been spotted making. Two news reports have emerged in the last week that feel a bit like dots waiting to be connected.
Google's August 2025 Pixel update is finally fixing this longstanding bug
Google is sending out a new Android update for your Pixel, and this one addresses multiple major problems. One bug that was first introduced with the Android 16update has finally been fixed, and a critical security vulnerability that could let hackers into your device without any user interaction has been plugged. Shortly before the update started going out, Google published the August 2025 Android Security Bulletin.
Google's newest Pixel 10 teaser takes a shot at Apple's botched Siri rollout
To say that Apple has struggled to keep up in the era of generative AI would be an understatement. At this point, Android's Gemini assistant is running laps around Siri, yet Apple's digital sidekick is reportedly still two years away from taking its next big step. With the Pixel 10 due out in just over two weeks, Google took to Twitter/X to stir up a little controversy while promoting its new phone.
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro renders leave nothing to the imagination
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. Google's new Pixel 10 series will go official two weeks from Wednesday, but leaks have left practically nothing for the big reveal. Even Google itself has given us a glimpse at the phone — but today, we're getting a great look at the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro from almost every angle.
Google Messages may soon stop silently failing to send RCS chats on rooted devices
In late 2023, people running rooted devices or custom ROMs started noticing that RCS chats weren't quite working right in Google Messages.
Google's Pixel Watch 4 prices just leaked and they're the same as last year
Google's next big hardware event is less than three weeks away, but leaks have already spoiled almost all the surprises. After getting a peek at the Pixel 10series' pricing earlier this week, the only major thing left to learn is exactly how much Google's new Pixel Watch 4 series will cost. Now, it seems like we have an answer to that question as well.
Google Chrome's new back animation gives you a glimpse of the previous page
It took Google a few versions to fully roll things out (and we're still waiting for better app support), but Android finally has a predictive back animation that shows you where you'll end up before you're finished performing the back-swipe gesture. Now, Google Chrome is following suit with an iOS-like animation of its own that gives you a peek at the previous page, and it's as satisfying as it sounds.
Pixel 10 price leak shows US and Canada MSRPs for Google's entire 2025 lineup
Between inflation, tariff drama, and general price creep, 2025 has seen a lot of volatility with smartphone MSRPs. Thankfully, it appears that Google's Pixel 10 lineup will escape this fate — except for one model that cracks a new all-time high for the company. Android Headlines has obtained a list of prices for Google's entire Pixel 10 lineup, from the base model to the 10 Pro Fold.
YouTube's new profanity policy paves the way for 'strong' swear words
YouTube's content guidelines are generally fair, but a few rules go a bit overboard in the name of ad revenue. There was a time when creators cowered away from cussing at all in their videos for fear of being demonetized, but Google started allowing "moderate profanity" about two years back. Stronger swears would still result in limited ad revenue if they were used in the first seven seconds or throughout a video, but that, too, has now changed.
Massive leak shows the next generation of Samsung's best-selling phone from all angles
Samsung's flashy Galaxy S and Z series get most of the press, but it's the more practical and affordable Galaxy A lineup that tops the sales charts year after year. In fact, as of the latest smartphone sales reports, the $200 Galaxy A16 clocks in as the best-selling Android phone in the world. Now, we're getting our best look yet at this phone's sequel.
Google Maps revives media controls after breaking the navigation experience earlier this week
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. It's been a rough ride for Google Maps users this week, with music controls suddenly disappearing from the navigation UI over the weekend. Where the app would normally let you play, pause, and skip tracks in your favorite streaming music app, media controls were simply absent, with the associated settings even disappearing.
Google has an 'intelligent' new way to organize your search results
Google has been looking for ways to leverage its AI advancements in Search, with some of these features being received more positively than others. AI Overviews have been a mixed bag, but they're generally helpful, and the new AI Mode has its use-cases. Now, the company is kicking off an experiment that completely revamps the search results page using AI — for better or worse. Google announced a new Web Guide experiment in Search Labs, which can be opted into right now if you're up to it.
Google is rolling out a clean new redesign for Gemini on the web
As Google continues adding tools like Veo 3 and Deep Research to Gemini, things have started to get a bit cluttered. There are tools to choose from in addition to the model selector, and some of these can be used with certain models, but not with others. In an effort to future-proof the website's design and tidy up existing options, Google has started rolling out a revamped homepage for Gemini on the web.
Pixel 10 Pro renders show Google's next flagship in two surprising new colors
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. Earlier this week, we got a great look at all the new colors for the base model Pixel 10, and they're just as playful as you'd expect. Then yesterday, Google itself went ahead and teased the Pixel 10 Pro, giving us a shadowy glimpse at one of two new rumored colorways.
Here's your first official look at the Google Pixel 10 Pro
We're expecting the Pixel 10 series to make its official debut on August 20 at the next Made By Google event, but Google itself just pulled the curtain back on its upcoming flagship with a teaser video. As leaks had suggested, the design is strikingly similar to the Pixel 9 series. Google posted the teaser video at the top of the main Google Store landing page alongside an "exclusive offer" for people who sign up for its newsletter.
July's Google Pixel update is here with good news and bad news
Google has just published an update for its Pixel phones, and it's in the process of rolling out now. This isn't a beta update, either — it brings the July 2025 security patches to everyone on the stable channel. While some might find relief in a critical fix it brings, others could find themselves shopping for a replacement phone after installing this update. Google updated its factory images page today, adding the July 2025 firmware upgrades for all Pixel devices dating back to the 6a.
I would kick myself for buying any other phone while the Pixel 9 Pro is at its lowest price ever
SoC Google Tensor G4 Display type LTPO OLED, 1-120Hz Display dimensions 6.3" The Pixel 9 Pro is a premium flagship that comes in a pocketable form-factor. You don't have to go overboard with an XL phone just to get the best experience Google has to offer — and you don't even have to drop a grand now that it's down to its lowest sticker price ever for Amazon Prime Day.
Early Prime Day deal makes the Google TV Streamer a lot more of an impulse buy
Dimensions 6.4 x 3 x 1 inches Brand Google Integrations Google Assistant, Google Home, Alexa, Matter, Thread Bluetooth codecs Bluetooth 5.1 Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and 5GHz The Google TV Streamer is the flagship streaming device for the Google TV platform, getting software features like a Google Home panel well ahead of the competition.
Early Prime Day deal makes the Google TV Streamer a lot more of an impulse buy
4 hours ago Tesla shares drop 7% after Elon Musk says he is launching a political party Tesla stock fell about 7% on Monday after CEO Elon Musk announced plans to form a new political party. The stock was on pace for its worst day since … 9 hours ago VC firm Redpoint tells startups to buckle up for a hiring showdown. Here's the 13-slide deck it shared with founders. The tech industry is now split between two starkly different job markets.
Amazon's Freevee finally gets a shutdown date, and there's not much time left
Just a few years ago, it seemed like everybody wanted in on the free ad-supported television game. Google TV's FAST offering, which later became known as Freeplay, was adding channels left and right. Plex was in on it, and longtime stalwarts in the space, like Pluto TV, Tubi, and Xumo, kept gaining popularity. Meanwhile, Amazon's IMDb TV app was rebranded to Freevee, and the company gave it a vote of confidence by announcing plans to expand the service with lots more original programming.
Samsung Wallet updates brings two changes, one practical and one just plain fun
In the years since Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass merged to create Samsung Wallet, the company's vision to build a home for all of your digital items has largely been realized. In addition to making mobile payments, you can now use the app to store loyalty cards, transit passes, and even digital car keys. Thankfully, as the app continues to grow, Samsung hasn't forgotten about the user experience.
Google is redesigning one of the Play Store's most important menus
When you open the Play Store, chances are you're either looking for a new app to install or updating your existing ones. Google has made a lot of changes to the Play Store's app search and discovery experience recently, and now, it seems like a new UI will alter how your other most commonly-used Play Store function is accessed. To update your apps, you can long-press the Play Store icon and use the My apps shortcut to jump straight to the relevant menu.
Google Photos no longer destroys your HDR images
A year ago, we were complaining to anyone who would listen that Google Photos was holding back HDR photography. The problem was simple: When editing HDR (or Ultra HDR) images in the app, Google Photos for Android always saved a copy of the picture instead of applying the edits to the original. This seemed to stem from the fact that Photos originally couldn't edit these types of images without stripping the HDR metadata, so keeping separate copies ensured that you didn't lose anything important.
You can now try the Nothing Phone 3's controversial new Glyph Matrix for yourself
If you couldn't already tell by the cadence of the teases that Nothing has been drip-feeding us lately, a new flagship Phone 3 from the Carl Pei brand is due out very soon. In fact, this time around, the fledgling phone maker is gearing up for a proper launch in the US, complete with Amazon availability and all. But this launch won't be without controversy, if only because of some odd design choices the company seems to be making with the Nothing Phone 3.
Google releases Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2.1 with fixes for your wonky back button
Beta testing for Android's biggest redesign in years is humming right along, with Google already having released Android 16 QPR betas 1, 1.1, and 2 in June alone. The update isn't expected to hit the stable channel until September, but Google is already back with yet another update to the firmware that will eventually become the next Pixel Feature Drop. Google announced Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2.1 on Reddit today, and the update is already rolling out to enrolled devices.
The solution to your newsletter problem might be inside Proton Mail
Proton Mail has been safeguarding digital communications for over a decade, but end-to-end encryption by itself isn't enough to keep up with the best email apps out there. It seems Proton is aware of this, judging by the ongoing overhaul of its mobile app, which is set to bring numerous new features when it debuts this summer. Now, even before the big redesign rolls out, Proton Mail is picking up a new view to help you quickly digest all of those newsletters you subscribe to.
Samsung Unpacked goes official with 'Ultra' thin foldables and preorder deal
This year, we're expecting a bit more than usual from Samsung's summer Unpacked event. In addition to new clamshell and book-style foldables, rumors say a more affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE and a cutting-edge Galaxy Z Fold Ultra could join the fun. And on the smartwatch side of things, there should be not two but three new Galaxy Watch models this time around. Now, the Unpacked event itself has gone official, and you can already reserve your new Galaxy gear for a nice bonus.
Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1.1 is here with a boatload of fixes for Google's Material 3 Expressive redesign
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. Android 16 is coming to the stable channel this month — in fact, the beta program for Google's next big release has already ended. Now, the beta channel has moved on to Android 16 Quarterly Platform Release 1 — or QPR1 — and this is perhaps an even bigger update than the main Android 16 release.
Android 16's big security feature surprises with early arrival on latest beta
Android 16 is introducing a new "Advanced Protection Mode" which consolidates existing, new, and upcoming security features under a single toggle for simplified device security. This comprehensive security mode, initially expected with the stable Android 16 release, is now surprisingly appearing for some users running the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1.
This secret trick revives uBlock Origin on Edge for Android
The full version of the uBlock Origin extension appears to be returning to Microsoft Edge on Android after a previous removal. While initially spotted in the Dev channel, a language-change trick (setting Chinese as primary, then reverting) can reportedly force its appearance in the Stable version for some users. The availability of the full uBlock Origin may be temporary due to Google's upcoming Manifest V2 phaseout in Chromium, which will eventually require extensions to adopt Manifest V3.
Google Wallet adds a whopping 36 new banks and credit unions in the US
Google Wallet is adding tap-to-pay functionality for an increasing number of local banks and credit unions, recently surpassing a total of 5,000 supported smaller institutions. This month's addition of 36 more local financial entities enhances the attractiveness of these typically lower-cost banking options by providing them with modern mobile payment features, helping to offset their common disadvantage of having fewer digital services.
Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 is here to kick off Material 3 Expressive testing
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. Google is working on the biggest Android redesign in years, but Material 3 Expressive isn't quite ready to go live with the public release of Android 16 next month. Instead, we expect to see the bouncy new UI make its debut alongside the next Pixel Feature Drop. Today, with Google I/O 2025 underway in Mountain View, that update just moved into the beta channel.
Google gets out in front of our I/O AI complaints in this week's news
Considering it's a developer conference and Android is the world's most popular OS, Google I/O has traditionally put our favorite operating system front and center. But ever since ChatGPT forced Google to declare a code red, I/O is becoming more and more about AI. The week in mobile saw Google shift its I/O strategy even further, announcing some of the biggest changes coming to Android a full seven days ahead of time.
Google's new Find Hub is rolling out, but it's still missing its best feature
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. Out of the pre-I/O announcements Google made for Android earlier this week, the one with the potential to have the most practical impact was an update to the Find My Device app.
Google just dropped a new Android 16 beta, but it's not the one you're waiting for
For all intents and purposes, Google made Android 16 official today with a special I/O edition of The Android Show. The company announced that the new version will usher in a bouncy new era of playful animations with Material 3 Expressive, but not right away. Instead, Android 16 will go stable in June, right after a new beta program launches for Android 16 QPR1, which is the version where the new Expressive design is expected to make its debut.
Get ready, the era of obscenely thin phones kicks off this week
The week in mobile was full of hints and rumors, but something a little more concrete stood out: Samsung finally set a date for the impossibly thin Galaxy S25 Edge, and this happened right as we were hearing that the next generation of Galaxy foldables seems set to be the world's thinnest. And while we don't have many boots on the ground inside Apple's walled garden, it's become abundantly clear that thinness is a priority for one of the next iPhones.
Google updates Pixels with important security patches, but warns that there's no going back
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. Google has started rolling out the May 2025 security patches to all eligible Pixel phones, tablets, and foldables, and the changelog is fairly minimal. But this one comes with a wrinkle — in order to block exploits from past versions, the bootloader has been updated with a new anti-rollback threshold.
There's no need to wait for Google I/O after this week's Android news
Material Design took Android from its #holoyolo phase into a modern, sophisticated era of thoughtfully executed UI — but that was back in the Android Lollipop days. In the years that followed, Android 12's Material You gave us some fun new shapes and dynamic theming, but Google's getting ready to release its fourth OS version since then. It's clearly time for a change, and Google seems to know this, considering its fresh new design was just shown off.
Google will show us what's new on Android a week before I/O 2025
Google will reveal Android updates a week before the main Google I/O 2025 event this year. A special pre-recorded episode of "The Android Show" will stream on May 13th to share initial Android news. Further Android announcements, potentially including Android 16 and Material You updates, are still expected during Google I/O itself. Google I/O is when the company lets developers know what's changing in its flagship software platforms each year.
Google will show us what's new on Android a week before I/O 2025
Google will reveal Android updates a week before the main Google I/O 2025 event this year. A special pre-recorded episode of "The Android Show" will stream on May 13th to share initial Android news. Further Android announcements, potentially including Android 16 and Material You updates, are still expected during Google I/O itself. Google I/O is when the company lets developers know what's changing in its flagship software platforms each year.
Google Photos gets pushy with editing as Gemini pushes into every corner of life
New features are usually fun — but sometimes, they can break your workflow, mess with your muscle memory, or just be downright confusing. Google Photos rolled out one such change this week, and this happened as Motorola launched a new slate of gadgets, Google celebrated some birthdays, and Gemini eyed several new homes. If you've been too busy to stay on top of Android news lately, we'll get you caught up on the week in mobile below.
Gemini's best feature goes free for all, and all features go free for some in this week's news
The week in mobile had a few surprises, but none bigger than Google practically giving away Gemini Advanced on multiple fronts. College students can get the whole shebang without giving up a dime, and everyone else now has access to its single best feature — one that's actually kind of mind-blowing. Elsewhere, Samsung did the two-step with One UI 7, pausing its rollout after a long wait, then resuming after a brief delay.
Google releases Android 16 Beta 4, hitting the final milestone before stable
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available. Back when Google surprised us all with the first Developer Preview of Android 16 in November, the company also published a development timeline. Google has hit each milestone perfectly so far, and now we're down to the last bullet on the list.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Dallas
Contact Dallas, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack