Software News 14 October 2025 - 6 February 2026

Samsung rolls out One UI 8.5 Beta 4 to Galaxy S25 with “Direct Voicemail” feature
···

Samsung rolls out One UI 8.5 Beta 4 to Galaxy S25 with “Direct Voicemail” feature

Samsung has released the fourth One UI 8.5 beta for Galaxy S25 phones, adding a “Direct Voicemail” feature with live transcription and a February 2026 security patch. The 1.5GB update is rolling out in South Korea, India, Germany, Britain, and the U.S. Most changes focus on bug fixes and stability as Samsung prepares for a stable release with the upcoming Galaxy S26.
February 10, 2026
Google says Android’s Quick Share will soon work with Apple AirDrop on more phones
···

Google says Android’s Quick Share will soon work with Apple AirDrop on more phones

Google will expand its AirDrop-compatible Quick Share feature beyond the Pixel 10 series in 2026, Android engineering chief Erik Kay said Friday in Taipei. Details on which Android devices will get the update remain unclear. The feature, launched for Pixel 10 in late 2025, allows file transfers between Android and Apple devices. Google emphasized security and said industry partners are involved in the rollout.
February 6, 2026
Microsoft Copilot hits roadblocks as users drift to ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini
···

Microsoft Copilot hits roadblocks as users drift to ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini

Microsoft’s Copilot saw its share among U.S. paid AI subscribers fall to 11.5% in January 2026, down from 18.8% in July, while ChatGPT held 55.2%, according to Recon Analytics. The Wall Street Journal reports Copilot faces branding and integration issues. Microsoft says daily active users of Copilot have risen tenfold year-over-year, with 15 million paid seats. Alphabet plans a sharp increase in AI capital spending in 2026.
February 5, 2026
Google’s ChromeOS exit plan surfaces in court: Android PC “Aluminium” pushed to 2028, sunset eyed for 2034
···

Google’s ChromeOS exit plan surfaces in court: Android PC “Aluminium” pushed to 2028, sunset eyed for 2034

Court documents show Google plans to end ChromeOS by 2034, shifting Chromebooks to a new Android-based platform. A limited test of “Project Aluminium” is set for late 2026, with a full rollout in 2028. The new system will not support all current Chromebook hardware. U.S. court orders exempt ChromeOS and its successors from some antitrust restrictions.
February 4, 2026
Apple iOS 26.3 brings new carrier location-privacy switch as EU-only iPhone features expand
···

Apple iOS 26.3 brings new carrier location-privacy switch as EU-only iPhone features expand

Apple has launched a “Limit Precise Location” feature for select iPhones and iPads running iOS 26.3, reducing the accuracy of location data shared with mobile networks. The option is available in Europe and a handful of other markets, limited to certain models and carriers. Apple says the setting does not affect emergency calls or app-based location sharing. The update also adds Europe-only features to meet EU rules.
January 30, 2026
Google’s ‘Aluminium’ ChromeOS switch: Will your Chromebook get the Android-based update?
···

Google’s ‘Aluminium’ ChromeOS switch: Will your Chromebook get the Android-based update?

Google VP John Maletis said many current Chromebooks cannot run the new Android-based “Aluminium” software due to hardware limits, with no official list of supported models yet. A leaked video showed the software running on an HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook with Android-style features. The transition has raised concerns about lost ChromeOS functions and support gaps for schools and businesses.
January 30, 2026
Samsung’s One UI 8.5 plans leak out: custom Quick Settings images and bigger icons are on the way
···

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 plans leak out: custom Quick Settings images and bigger icons are on the way

Samsung detailed new Good Lock features for One UI 8.5, including custom images for Quick Settings tiles and expanded home screen controls, according to a company forum post. The One UI 8.5 beta remains limited to the Galaxy S25 series, with broader rollout expected later, SamMobile reported. Early testers noted larger icon sizing, editable labels, and new lock screen animation tools. Most users will get the update with the next Galaxy S launch.
January 23, 2026
Apple’s iPhone Update Squeeze: Why You May Have to Install iOS 26.2 Now
···

Apple’s iPhone Update Squeeze: Why You May Have to Install iOS 26.2 Now

Apple’s iOS 18 security update is limited to select older iPhones, while iPhone 11 and newer must update to iOS 26.2 for patches against two zero-day WebKit flaws. As of December, iOS 18.7 and 18.6 still dominated web traffic, with iOS 26.2 at under 2%, according to StatCounter. Apple is also investigating inaccurate iOS version reporting in Safari, which may affect adoption data.
January 19, 2026
Apple’s New Siri Could Debut in iOS 26.4 Beta as Google Gemini Deal Lifts Alphabet Toward $4 Trillion and Squeezes Microsoft Copilot
···

Apple’s New Siri Could Debut in iOS 26.4 Beta as Google Gemini Deal Lifts Alphabet Toward $4 Trillion and Squeezes Microsoft Copilot

Apple confirmed it will base its next-generation AI, including a revamped Siri, on Google’s Gemini models under a new multi-year partnership. Alphabet shares surged past a $4 trillion valuation on the news. Apple says the new Siri will launch this year, with privacy standards maintained. Microsoft’s Copilot faces new competition as Google’s AI expands to iPhones.
January 13, 2026
Turn an Old Android Phone Into a PC Stats Monitor With Pitikapp — Plus Today’s Windows 11 and Smartphone Security News (Jan. 11, 2026)
···

Turn an Old Android Phone Into a PC Stats Monitor With Pitikapp — Plus Today’s Windows 11 and Smartphone Security News (Jan. 11, 2026)

On January 11, 2026, repurposing old Android phones as PC performance dashboards using Pitikapp is gaining traction, letting users monitor CPU, GPU, and other stats in real time. The trend coincides with new U.S. right-to-repair laws and expanded electronics recycling programs. Industry groups report a record 448 battery-related fires at waste facilities in 2025, highlighting risks of improper device disposal.
January 11, 2026
How to Run Android Apps on Mac and PC in 2025: Phone Link, Google Play Games, Emulators, and scrcpy
··

How to Run Android Apps on Mac and PC in 2025: Phone Link, Google Play Games, Emulators, and scrcpy

Microsoft ended support for the Windows Subsystem for Android on March 5, 2025, shifting most users to streaming, emulation, or mirroring to run Android apps on Windows 11 and macOS. Microsoft’s Phone Link and Link to Windows added new features in December, including expanded app windows and improved file sharing. BlueStacks Air and scrcpy released updates for macOS and advanced mirroring.
December 23, 2025
iOS 26 Supercharges Live Activities on iPhone, CarPlay, Mac and iPad — What’s New as of December 5, 2025
···

iOS 26 Supercharges Live Activities on iPhone, CarPlay, Mac and iPad — What’s New as of December 5, 2025

Apple’s iOS 26 expands Live Activities beyond the iPhone, adding real-time status updates to CarPlay, Mac, and iPad. Fitness workouts now trigger automatic Live Activities, showing progress on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. Developers can schedule Live Activities in advance using a new API. Apple documentation confirms CarPlay and desktop platforms now fully support the feature.
December 5, 2025
Samsung One UI 8.5 Leak: Dark Mode Icons Finally Get a Proper Fix
···

Samsung One UI 8.5 Leak: Dark Mode Icons Finally Get a Proper Fix

Leaked builds of Samsung’s One UI 8.5 show app icons automatically switching to dark backgrounds in Dark Mode, including for third-party apps. The update also introduces a subtle 3D icon style with depth and shadows. Multiple reports indicate beta testing could begin December 8, 2025, starting with the Galaxy S25. Samsung has not officially confirmed these changes.
November 28, 2025
Samsung One UI 8.5 Leaks: Dark Icons, New Galaxy AI Features, and December 8 Beta Launch Timeline (27 November 2025)
···

Samsung One UI 8.5 Leaks: Dark Icons, New Galaxy AI Features, and December 8 Beta Launch Timeline (27 November 2025)

Samsung will launch the One UI 8.5 beta for Galaxy S25 phones on December 8, 2025, in select countries, with a stable release expected early next year alongside the Galaxy S26 series. Leaks point to a dark mode icon overhaul, new Galaxy AI features including “Now nudges,” and a redesigned Quick Settings panel. The Galaxy Tab A9+ remains the only major device still awaiting the One UI 8 (Android 16) update.
November 27, 2025
Google’s New ‘Device health & support’ Dashboard Rolls Out to Older Pixel Phones
···

Google’s New ‘Device health & support’ Dashboard Rolls Out to Older Pixel Phones

Google will expand its Device health & support dashboard to Pixel 6 through Pixel 9 models with the November 2025 Feature Drop. The dashboard replaces “Tips & support” in Settings, adding battery capacity, cycle counts, manufacturing dates, temperature, storage, and charging diagnostics. Some users may see only partial features until all updates are installed. The dashboard first launched on Pixel 10 devices.
November 20, 2025
Google Play Store v48.8 adds a ‘Remote Uninstall’ button on app pages — rolling out now (Nov. 11, 2025)
···

Google Play Store v48.8 adds a ‘Remote Uninstall’ button on app pages — rolling out now (Nov. 11, 2025)

Google Play Store v48.8 began rolling out November 10, 2025, adding a remote uninstall option directly on app pages for other Android devices linked to the same account. The update also introduces a Subscription center view. The feature is rolling out gradually and may not appear on all devices yet, according to Google and multiple outlets.
November 11, 2025
Apple Gives You a Tinted Fix for Its Shiny New Liquid Glass UI in iOS 26.1 Beta
···

Apple Gives You a Tinted Fix for Its Shiny New Liquid Glass UI in iOS 26.1 Beta

Apple’s iOS 26.1 beta 4 adds a “Tinted” option for the Liquid Glass interface, making it less transparent after user complaints about readability and eyestrain. The setting appears under Display & Brightness and is also in iPadOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1 betas. The update introduces a toggle to disable the lock-screen camera shortcut and expands language support in Apple Intelligence. Public release is expected in late October 2025.
October 22, 2025
Samsung’s One UI 8 (Android 16) Surprise: Flagships to Budget Phones Get the Big Update
···

Samsung’s One UI 8 (Android 16) Surprise: Flagships to Budget Phones Get the Big Update

Samsung’s One UI 8, based on Android 16, began rolling out in mid-September to Galaxy S25, S24, S23, and entry-level models, with updates reaching users in the U.S., Canada, India, Korea, and Europe. The Galaxy S22 update was briefly paused due to issues but resumed for most variants by October 15, except the S22 Ultra. The rollout is set to finish by mid-November.
October 17, 2025
Google’s Pixel Update Nightmares: Pixel 10 App Crashes & Pixel 6 Update Mystery
···

Google’s Pixel Update Nightmares: Pixel 10 App Crashes & Pixel 6 Update Mystery

Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro phones suffered widespread app crashes after the October 2025 security update, with users reporting apps freezing or failing to load. The issue was traced to a conflict with Google Play Services. Google released a server-side fix by mid-October, resolving the bug. Pixel 6 and 6 Pro devices did not receive the October update but remain supported through 2026.
October 14, 2025
1 2