androids

Developer Daniel Gultsch has announced that Conversations, the popular open-source Android chat app, is breaking up with Google Play and is now available free of charge outside Google's app store. The move follows ongoing frustration with Play Store policies and fees, and users are debating what it means for independent, decentralised messaging apps.

Security reports describe RatHat, a newly identified Android malware that captures users' screen touches in order to record passwords and other sensitive credentials as they are typed. By logging tap patterns rather than just keystrokes, it can bypass some input protections. Android users are being warned to keep devices updated and avoid installing apps from untrusted sources.

GitHub reports that its open source AI security agent uncovered 24 vulnerabilities in Android, detailing the findings in a new blog post. The company says the tool was used to automate vulnerability discovery at scale, and the disclosure is drawing attention from security researchers discussing how AI agents could change bug hunting and responsible disclosure practices across the industry.

Qualcomm has announced two new flagship phone chips, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and a new 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The company positions both as flagship processors, with spec differences between them described as relatively minor, focusing on improved AI processing, video capture, and gaming performance. Coverage is framing the move as Qualcomm's ongoing push into on-device AI for premium smartphones.

Researchers at Graz University of Technology have shown that file notifications in Linux, Android, Windows and macOS can be exploited to spy on users. By monitoring these notifications, an attacker could infer typing behaviour and which websites a person visits. Commenters discussing the findings note that Linux appears to come off as more secure than the other systems in the comparison.

Google is reviving its Android developer event after a four-year break, with the next edition set for late October. Attendees are expected to get first insights into Android 18, the upcoming version of the mobile operating system. The return of the event is drawing attention among developers eager for early details on Google's next Android release.

Ookla, the company behind Speedtest, has released new benchmark data on Android foldable smartphones, ranking how current models perform. The figures land amid growing anticipation of Apple's entry into the foldable market, widely dubbed the iPhone Duo. Observers are weighing whether existing Android foldables can match the expected competition from Apple's first foldable device.

Truecaller has launched a new tool called Scam Checker, designed to help users detect fraud attempts. The feature lets users check links, phone numbers and suspicious messages for signs of scams such as phishing. The tool is being discussed in connection with both iOS and Android versions of the app.

Samsung is broadening the rollout of Android 17 with One UI 9 to more Galaxy S26 users. The update brings the latest Android features and Samsung's refreshed interface to a wider audience of its flagship phones. Coverage highlights what is new in One UI 9, though detailed feature lists remain thin so far.

Apple is rumoured to be working on a foldable or dual-screen iPhone being described as a successor in spirit to Microsoft's discontinued Surface Duo. Comparisons are being drawn between the two devices, with commentators suggesting Apple could succeed where Microsoft's dual-screen Android phone ultimately failed and was shelved.

Cybersecurity firm Group-IB has identified RemControl, a new Android banking trojan distributed through fake TVTap streaming apps. The malware uses AI-generated phishing overlays to trick users into entering banking PINs and credentials, which are then stolen. Security researchers are warning Android users to avoid unofficial app sources as the trojan spreads.

Code discovered in Apple software suggests the company may be preparing a new iPhone security feature similar to one already offered on Android devices. Details are scarce, as Apple has not confirmed any plans, but the finding points to Apple drawing on capabilities its rivals already ship. If real, the feature would narrow a gap between iOS and Android protections.

Google's Android developer verification requirement is often being described as a blanket ban on sideloaded APKs, but that is not what it does. Starting September 30, it applies initially in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, and only to installs from designated participating stores onto certified Android devices. Direct APK downloads from the web are not covered at this stage, and ADB-based development and on-device testing continue as before. Writers are walking through how the rules differ by distribution method and what to check before the scope widens.

Apple's iPhone Duo and Microsoft's Surface Duo share a name but are very different products. The iPhone Duo is Apple's foldable iPhone, while Microsoft's Surface Duo was a dual-screen Android device that has since been discontinued. Coverage is comparing how the two companies approached the same name with distinct hardware designs and market outcomes.

Code found in recent Apple software builds points to the iPhone potentially gaining a security feature that Android already offers, based on a report by PhoneArena. The finding has fueled speculation about what Apple is planning for a future iOS release, though the company has not confirmed anything. If real, it would see Apple borrowing a protection Android users have had for some time.

Japanese carrier au is expanding support for its au Starlink Direct satellite connectivity feature for overseas use in Australia starting September 25. The service allows iPhones and Android devices to connect directly to Starlink satellites when outside regular coverage. The news is being shared among Japanese tech and mobile followers tracking the carrier's international satellite rollout.