Google today rolled out Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 with a number of fixes for Pixel devices.
Expand Expanding CloseHere’s everything new in Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 [Gallery]
Author
Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
Abner Li has worked at 9to5Google since 2015 and in late 2020 took on the role of editor-in-chief. He is keenly focused on tracking what happens at Google, and is often the first to spot new features in Google’s ever-growing family of applications that are updated on a daily basis, including Search, Assistant, Maps, Workspace, Android, Chrome/OS, Wear OS, and YouTube Music.
To him, what Google does greatly impacts the technology space and modern life. Inside the company, he is particularly interested in the key products mentioned above, as well as services like Google Podcasts and Google Lens. Each are massive platforms that can be unwieldy to grasp, with Abner keenly bent on understanding their philosophy and future direction. He is most excited about Google’s plans for augmented reality glasses.
Abner spearheads the APK Insight program at 9to5Google to chronicle all changes in the company’s Android apps, often finding new features before they are officially announced. This includes redesigns and revamps, launches, and new products.
A big area of interest is Google’s hardware division, including Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. He detailed all of the Pixel 3’s camera features before launch and scooped the 2nd-generation Nest Hub’s Soli-powered Sleep Sensing capability, including how it would integrate with Google Fit.
Recently, Abner detailed the Pixel Watch’s specs in full before launch, including bands and pricing. He also got wind of the Pixel Tablet’s ultimate form factor.
Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2 for Pixel rolling out with 21 fixes
The Android 17 QPR3 preview ahead of the March 2027 launch continues today with Beta 2 for Google Pixel devices.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle upgrading Gemini for Android Auto with Personal Intelligence
Google is beginning to roll out Personal Intelligence for Gemini on Android Auto and Android Automotive (cars with Google built-in).
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle says Chrome’s Safe Browsing Enhanced Protection mode makes users 10x safer
Chrome today announced the latest features for Safe Browsing Enhanced Protection. Google says this mode makes users ten times safer from phishing, social engineering, notification abuse, and other scams compared to Standard Protection.
Expand Expanding CloseSome Google Home Speakers downloading massive amounts of data in the background
The new Google Home Speaker has an issue where it downloads hundreds of gigabytes of data in the background for some owners.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat’s new in Android’s October 2026 Google System Updates [U]
The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC. Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Phone app beta rolls out Contacts bottom bar tab [U]
Last year’s Material 3 Expressive redesign of the Phone by Google app removed the Contacts tab, but it’s now coming back.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 17 QPR2 Beta 7.1 rolling out for Pixel
Google is rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 7.1 today a week after the last preview for Pixel devices, which did not feature major user-facing changes.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle’s Universal Cart puts a shopping cart everywhere, including Search homepage, Chrome
Yesterday, Google started rolling out its Universal Cart, and the company is very prominently placing it in Search, AI Mode, Chrome, and the Gemini app.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle AI Mode and AI Overview updates work to elevate links
Google is continuing its work to make links more prominent in AI Mode and AI Overviews.
Expand Expanding CloseOld Google Home and Nest speakers getting big firmware update
Google is testing a big firmware update for the Google Home, Home Mini, Nest Mini, and Nest Audio.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music rolling out AI labels in the Now Playing screen
In response to more AI-generated content appearing on streaming services, YouTube Music is adding a new AI label directly to the player.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages adding ‘enhanced protection mode’ as Android works to combat phone scam
For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Google is announcing new Android features to help combat messaging and phone scams, including enhanced protection mode in Google Messages.
Expand Expanding CloseChrome 155 for Googlebook brings expanded web app installs, integration
With Chrome 155, Googlebooks now better support web apps by allowing for expanded installation and system integration.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Play adding ‘personal library’ to access your vibe-coded Android apps
Google today announced a slew of Play Store updates across vibe-coding, game discovery, social features, and more.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Antigravity is now built into Gemini app for macOS
As part of today’s Gemini 4 Argon rollout, Google is making a big update to the Gemini app for macOS by integrating Antigravity.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini app rolling out Gemini 4 Argon to AI Pro and AI Ultra
Following the announcement at the end of September, Gemini 4 Argon is starting to roll out to the Gemini app, Google Antigravity, and more.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini ‘Task’ redesign integrates Spark into the main chat app
In addition to revamping settings and the navigation drawer, Google is combining its Spark personal agent with the main Gemini chat experience.
Expand Expanding CloseChromecast with Google TV gets first update of 2026
Following the last release 11 months ago, Google is rolling out the first update of 2026 to the Chromecast with Google TV (4K).
Expand Expanding CloseGooglebook OS review: A post-smartphone PC, if Google can keep it
All attempts to bring the lessons and benefits of the touch era to PCs have failed, from Windows 8 to the era after the iPad when the Mac gained fullscreen apps. From an experience perspective, the iPad came closest because it was built on iOS, but it still failed due to the locked-down limitations at its core.
After using Googlebook OS for over a week, I think Google has the beginnings of a desktop OS for the Android smartphone generation, but the inherent strategy reset makes for a rough first take.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces $179 Fitbit Edge tracker with display, GPS
Google is following the Fitbit Air launched in May with a second tracker that features a screen called the Fitbit Edge.
Expand Expanding CloseWhere Google Wallet state IDs are available on Android
States across the US are slowly rolling out support for adding your driver’s license or ID to the Google Wallet app on Android.
Expand Expanding CloseFree Gemini users now on ‘Auto’ models as app adds thinking levels
As announced last week, Google is rolling out a big change to the Gemini app experience for users on the free plan. Additionally, everyone is getting access to thinking or “effort” levels.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Health 5.10 rolling out for Android, iOS
Google Health 5.10 is rolling out as a smaller update this week with a trio of new features across the app.
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