Mobile Apps 19 October 2025 - 27 December 2025

iOS 26’s ‘Ask Reason for Calling’ Screens Spam Calls on iPhone — Here’s What It Changes
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iOS 26’s ‘Ask Reason for Calling’ Screens Spam Calls on iPhone — Here’s What It Changes

Apple’s iOS 26 adds an “Ask Reason for Calling” feature that prompts unknown callers to state their purpose before the phone rings, 9to5Mac reported Friday. Messages now filters unknown senders and suspected spam into separate folders, with options to report junk. New guides detail how to silence or block calls labeled “No Caller ID.”
February 7, 2026
Japan’s New Mobile Software Competition Act Forces Apple and Google Changes: iOS 26.2 Opens Alternative App Stores, New Payments, and Choice Screens
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Japan’s New Mobile Software Competition Act Forces Apple and Google Changes: iOS 26.2 Opens Alternative App Stores, New Payments, and Choice Screens

Apple has begun rolling out iOS 26.2 in Japan, enabling alternative app marketplaces and expanded payment options after the Mobile Software Competition Act took effect December 18. Google is adding search and browser choice screens and expanding billing alternatives. Apple set external payment fees up to 15%, Google up to 20%. The law prohibits blocking third-party payment services and imposes penalties for violations.
December 19, 2025
iOS 26.2 RC Released: AirDrop Codes, Reminders Alarms, Liquid Glass Tweaks and More Coming to iPhone
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iOS 26.2 RC Released: AirDrop Codes, Reminders Alarms, Liquid Glass Tweaks and More Coming to iPhone

Apple released iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers and public beta testers on December 3, signaling a public launch within days. The update includes one-time AirDrop sharing codes, new Reminders alarms, a refined Liquid Glass lock screen, and expanded AirPods Live Translation in the EU. RC builds for iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS were also issued.
December 4, 2025
Android’s QR Code Scanner Redesign Returns in Play Services 25.46.32 – What’s New and How to Get It (December 3, 2025)
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Android’s QR Code Scanner Redesign Returns in Play Services 25.46.32 – What’s New and How to Get It (December 3, 2025)

Google has resumed rolling out its redesigned Android QR code scanner through a Google Play Services update, after pulling it earlier this year. The new interface, featuring a bottom pill-shaped control bar, began appearing on more devices as of December 3, 2025. The update is tied to version 25.46.32 but remains unavailable to some users. Rollout is gradual and server-side.
December 3, 2025
Google brings ‘Call Reason’ urgent-call labels and one‑tap spam reporting to Android in December 2025 update
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Google brings ‘Call Reason’ urgent-call labels and one‑tap spam reporting to Android in December 2025 update

Google has begun testing Call Reason, a beta feature in the Phone by Google app that lets users mark outgoing calls as urgent, displaying a prominent “It’s urgent!” badge on the recipient’s screen. The update, part of Android 16’s December 2025 feature drop, also adds one-tap spam reporting and quick exit controls to group chats in Google Messages started by unknown numbers.
December 3, 2025
Best New Android Apps for December 2025 (Dec 2): Comet, Sift, Escape Launcher, Red Dead Redemption & OmniTools
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Best New Android Apps for December 2025 (Dec 2): Comet, Sift, Escape Launcher, Red Dead Redemption & OmniTools

Perplexity’s Comet AI browser launched on Android in late November, offering built-in ad blocking, AI-powered summarization, and integration with Perplexity Pro subscriptions. The app arrives alongside a wave of new Android releases, including a privacy-focused recipe keeper and a console game port. Security audits flagged earlier vulnerabilities in Comet, prompting recent updates.
December 2, 2025
Google Play Store Update: Delete These Spyware Apps Now and Lock Down Your Android (November 30, 2025)
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Google Play Store Update: Delete These Spyware Apps Now and Lock Down Your Android (November 30, 2025)

Security researchers found 239 malicious Android apps on Google Play, downloaded 42 million times from June 2024 to May 2025. Google has begun removing spyware-like and ad-fraud apps after reports of surging malware and privacy risks. Forbes and tech outlets warn that even legitimate-looking apps may collect sensitive data without clear disclosure. Google plans stricter controls on anonymous developers and sideloaded apps.
November 30, 2025
How to Use Your Android Phone as a Light & Sound Meter in 2025 (And How Accurate It Really Is)
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How to Use Your Android Phone as a Light & Sound Meter in 2025 (And How Accurate It Really Is)

A MakeUseOf feature highlighting Android phones’ ability to measure light and noise is going viral. Decibel meter apps are climbing Google Play charts, with Sound Meter App: Decibel Meter updated November 21. The global market for smartphone sound level meters is projected to reach $210 million by 2031. New York has launched an official app turning residents’ phones into urban noise monitors.
November 30, 2025
Android 16 Phone Detox: How Today’s Updates Turn Your Smartphone Into an Anti‑Distraction Tool (November 28, 2025)
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Android 16 Phone Detox: How Today’s Updates Turn Your Smartphone Into an Anti‑Distraction Tool (November 28, 2025)

Xiaomi began rolling out HyperOS 3 based on Android 16 to Xiaomi 14 users worldwide on November 28, 2025. A new report projects the digital detox app market will grow from $0.9 billion in 2024 to $3.9 billion by 2034, driven by concerns over screen addiction. Research from March 2025 found that reducing smartphone use for 72 hours lowered stress and anxiety in young adults.
November 28, 2025
Android PDF Ad Scam: Fake ‘Update PDF App’ Pop-Ups Are Flooding Phones With Junk Apps (Nov 28, 2025)
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Android PDF Ad Scam: Fake ‘Update PDF App’ Pop-Ups Are Flooding Phones With Junk Apps (Nov 28, 2025)

A deceptive ad in WPS Office on an Android phone mimicked a system alert, prompting a user to install multiple junk PDF apps from Google Play. The issue was resolved only after uninstalling WPS Office, which had served the misleading ad. Experts warn similar tactics are used by malware and banking trojans. Google’s enforcement of ad policies remains inconsistent.
November 28, 2025
Google Play Best of 2025: Focus Friend, Pokémon TCG Pocket and the 10 Android Apps You Need Right Now
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Google Play Best of 2025: Focus Friend, Pokémon TCG Pocket and the 10 Android Apps You Need Right Now

Google named Focus Friend by Hank Green as Best App and Pokémon TCG Pocket as Best Game in its Best of 2025 U.S. Play Store awards. Focus Friend, a gamified focus timer, also won Best for Personal Growth. Regional winners were announced worldwide, including District: Movies Events Dining in India. Google highlighted multi-device apps and new book picks among its selections.
November 19, 2025
Apple Digital ID Puts US Passports in iPhone Wallets: What Travelers Need to Know Today
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Apple Digital ID Puts US Passports in iPhone Wallets: What Travelers Need to Know Today

Apple launched Digital ID, letting U.S. users add passport information to Apple Wallet for use at TSA checkpoints in over 250 airports. The feature went live November 12 in public beta, coinciding with full REAL ID enforcement nationwide. It does not replace a physical passport or serve as a government-issued ID. Privacy and security concerns surfaced as the rollout began.
November 15, 2025
Android Sideloading Lives On: Google Plans New ‘Experienced User’ Flow for Unverified Apps
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Android Sideloading Lives On: Google Plans New ‘Experienced User’ Flow for Unverified Apps

Google will require developer verification for all Android apps, including sideloaded ones, starting next year. In response to criticism, it will add an “advanced flow” for experienced users to install unverified apps after extra warnings, and a student/hobbyist account type for small-scale distribution. Early access to the new system is rolling out now. The broader crackdown on unverified sideloading begins in 2026.
November 13, 2025
Android Today (Nov 9, 2025): 12 easy apps for non‑techies, Pixel ‘Theme packs,’ a Gemini push, and the Play Store shake‑up
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Android Today (Nov 9, 2025): 12 easy apps for non‑techies, Pixel ‘Theme packs,’ a Gemini push, and the Play Store shake‑up

Google and Epic proposed a settlement to lower some Play Store fees and ease third-party app installs, pending court approval. Google rolled out November system updates for Android and released Pixel “Theme packs” for one-tap personalization. A new list of recommended Android apps aims to simplify setup for beginners. YouTube TV subscribers may see a $20 credit if Disney channels remain unavailable.
November 9, 2025
OpenAI’s Sora: Viral AI Video App Arrives on Android Amid Excitement and Controversy
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OpenAI’s Sora: Viral AI Video App Arrives on Android Amid Excitement and Controversy

OpenAI’s Sora app, which generates short videos from text prompts, has launched on Android in the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, following a viral iPhone debut. The app’s “cameo” tool lets users insert themselves or public figures into AI videos, raising legal and copyright concerns. Japanese studios and the government have demanded OpenAI stop using copyrighted anime. The company faces a lawsuit over the “Cameo” feature name.
November 5, 2025
Android Auto’s Game-Changing Updates: Widgets, Smarter Assistant & More Coming Soon
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Android Auto’s Game-Changing Updates: Widgets, Smarter Assistant & More Coming Soon

Google has begun rolling out Android Auto versions 15.4 and 15.6, adding support for phone widgets on car displays and a redesigned media card interface. The updates, released via the Play Store, also introduce Material You theming and expand Google Maps’ incident reporting to smaller screens. Google plans to replace Assistant with Gemini AI and bring Pixel-exclusive features like Call Screen to Android Auto by late 2025.
November 2, 2025
Samsung Wallet’s Shockingly Good Upgrades: The One App That Could Replace Your Wallet
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Samsung Wallet’s Shockingly Good Upgrades: The One App That Could Replace Your Wallet

Samsung has rolled out a major Samsung Wallet update in India, adding UPI payments, DigiLocker integration, biometric authentication, and digital car keys for select Mahindra EVs. The app, which began as Samsung Pay in 2015, now stores payment cards, digital IDs, and smart keys, and works across Galaxy devices. In the U.S., some users can add mobile driver’s licenses for TSA checkpoints. Samsung plans further AI-powered features.
November 2, 2025
Your Phone’s Default Apps Are Spying on You — Here’s How to Reclaim Your Privacy
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Your Phone’s Default Apps Are Spying on You — Here’s How to Reclaim Your Privacy

The EU fined Apple €500 million in April 2025 for blocking alternative app stores and browsers. Researchers at Trinity College Dublin found Google Play Store and Play Services install tracking cookies on Android phones without consent. Aalto University experts say Apple’s built-in apps collect data even when disabled. Privacy-focused projects like GrapheneOS and Murena SHIFTphone 8 are expanding.
October 19, 2025
Samsung Wallet’s New Tap-to-Transfer Feature Leaves Google Wallet in the Dust
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Samsung Wallet’s New Tap-to-Transfer Feature Leaves Google Wallet in the Dust

Samsung Wallet launched an NFC-powered “Tap to Transfer” feature in mid-2025, enabling users to send money by tapping phones or cards, including to Google Wallet users. Google ended in-app P2P payments in the U.S. in June 2024. Both wallets now support digital IDs and government-issued mobile driver’s licenses, with Arkansas accepting both. Google Wallet added pass nicknames, location-triggered passes, and new family payment controls.
October 19, 2025
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