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Amazon has introduced a new line of tablets with Alexa+ built in, dropping the long-standing Fire branding. Ars Technica notes the devices are 'more Android than ever', a shift that has drawn attention given Amazon tablets' historically stripped-back software. The rebrand signals Amazon pushing its AI assistant front and centre in its hardware lineup.

A new open-source tool called AsoBeast has been released, offering app developers a free way to track keyword rankings for app store optimization on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. The project is available on GitHub, and early reactions on Hacker News are taking interest in a self-hosted alternative to paid ASO tracking services.

Amazon has launched new Alexa-powered tablets that drop the long-standing Fire branding, and Ars Technica reports they are built to be more like standard Android devices than previous models. The shift is drawing attention because it suggests Amazon may be loosening its closed Fire OS ecosystem, potentially bringing its tablets closer to the Google Play Store experience.

Amazon has rolled out a new line of Alexa tablets, described by 9to5Google as an iPad-inspired reboot of the range. The standout change is the inclusion of the Google Play Store, giving users access to a far wider app catalogue than previous Alexa tablets offered. Commenters are weighing whether the redesign can genuinely challenge Apple's iPad dominance in the budget tablet market.

Google is moving to restrict sideloading of apps on Android, drawing attention to how users will install software outside official channels. A MakeUseOf writer tested the company's remaining workaround for developers to see whether it still allows installing apps from outside the Play Store, amid concerns about user freedom and security trade-offs.

Android Automotive and Google Built-in are two related but distinct in-car technologies from Google that often get confused. Android Automotive is a full open-source operating system that runs the vehicle itself, which manufacturers can customise, while Google Built-in is Google's branded version bundled with services like the Play Store, Assistant and Maps. Automakers including Volvo, Polestar and General Motors use variations of the platform. Tech outlets are explaining the differences as more car buyers encounter the software in new models.

BBC News is running live coverage drawing strong attention in the UK. Among the stories being followed: Australia midfielder Melissa Andreatta says she feels like a 'kid in a candy store' ahead of Scotland Women's World Cup semi-final play-off, while football talk is also focused on the so-called 'spygate' affair, described as one of the sport's stranger and more pointless transgressions.

New reporting highlights that polar oceans play a major role in storing carbon dioxide, acting as a significant natural carbon sink. However, current climate policy frameworks are not yet equipped to properly account for this oceanic carbon storage, leaving a gap between what science has measured and what international agreements formally recognize.

Amazon has launched new Alexa-branded tablets that support the Google Play Store, according to GSMArena. The site reports the devices are more capable than Amazon's existing Fire tablets, which are limited to Amazon's own Appstore. The move suggests Amazon is opening its tablet line to Google's app ecosystem, a notable shift for a company that has long kept its devices inside its own software environment.

A new study from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography finds that the stickier, gooier marine snow is, the more effectively it carries carbon down through the ocean. Marine snow, particles of organic matter sinking from surface waters, plays a key role in moving carbon away from the atmosphere. The finding could improve models of the ocean carbon cycle and climate projections.

New figures chart the number of apps released on Google Play worldwide each month from 2019 through 2026. The data shows how the volume of new Android app launches has evolved over recent years, offering a snapshot of developer activity on one of the world's largest app stores. Industry watchers are using the trend to gauge the health of the mobile app economy.

Amazon has launched new Kids Tablets that allow parents to manage access to the Google Play store directly from the device. The feature gives families more control over which Android apps children can download and use, moving beyond Amazon's own Appstore. Coverage from The Verge is drawing attention from parents and tech watchers interested in kid-proof tablet setups.

A record collector reports that a vinyl album, never played in thirteen years since release, still arrived covered in gunk and fogging that caused clicks, pops and loud surface noise. Using the HumminGuru ultrasonic record cleaner, they say they managed to restore it to a listenable state, prompting discussion about how poorly stored or pressed records can degrade even without use.

Amazon has launched a new line of Alexa-branded tablets, retiring the long-standing Fire tablet name. Reporting notes the devices are more Android than ever, a shift that raises questions about their relationship to Google's Play Store and app ecosystem. The rebrand and closer Android alignment are drawing attention from tech commentators discussing what the change means for Amazon's hardware strategy.

Amazon's Alexa tablets are now getting full access to the Google Play Store, meaning apps like YouTube and Gmail can run on the devices. Three aluminium models are being offered at different price points with various accessories. The news is sparking debate in Hungary over whether the added functionality outweighs privacy concerns tied to Amazon's ecosystem.

Amazon has introduced three new tablets: the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, Alexa Tablet 11 and Alexa Tablet 8. The aluminum-bodied devices run Android with full access to the Google Play Store, and kid-friendly versions are also available. Coverage so far focuses on the specs, features and pricing, with the Play Store access and children's editions drawing the most attention.

Christmas music is creeping into playlists and store soundtracks well before Halloween ends, blurring the line between the two holiday seasons. A student newspaper commentary argues the early arrival of festive jingles overshadows Halloween and shortens the autumn season, reigniting a familiar annual debate over when it is acceptable to start playing Christmas songs.

A stunt video shows someone attempting to buy an iPhone 18 Pro Max using coins, drawing large attention online. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is not yet a released product, so the clip plays on curiosity about Apple's next flagship and the spectacle of hauling massive amounts of loose change to a store. Viewers are reacting to the absurdity and the question of whether retailers would even accept such payment.

A writer shared a deliberately garbled saying about a shaking cage, a new store, and a yegg playing over the store speaker, inviting readers to guess how the next version twists the strings. The post also includes extra artwork and a spot-the-difference puzzle for followers to enjoy.

Amazon has announced a new line of Alexa-powered tablets running Android with access to the Google Play Store, marking a notable shift toward standard Android compatibility. The lineup includes a Pro model designed specifically for work use. The move suggests Amazon is broadening its tablet strategy beyond its own app ecosystem, targeting both everyday consumers and business customers.

A warning is circulating telling mobile gamers to stay safe, shared alongside tags about privacy, the App Store and the Play Store. The message appears to caution players about risks to their privacy or security when downloading and playing mobile games. No specific app, breach or incident is named in the warning itself.

A listener on the Japanese Apple Music store is streaming Queen's classic 1980 hit "Another One Bites the Dust" and sharing it with a now-playing tag. The post offers no news beyond the song choice itself, but the track remains one of the band's most recognisable funk-rock singles, written by bassist John Deacon.

Amazon's Alexa-branded tablets are mid-range Android devices that ship with access to the Google Play Store alongside Amazon's own apps and services, according to a review by Liliputing. The finding matters because Amazon's Fire tablets have traditionally locked users out of Google's app store, so the presence of full Play Store access would mark a notable change in how the company positions its budget tablets.