androids

F-Droid, the independent app store for free and open-source Android software, has announced F-Droid 2.0, billed as 'a new chapter for Android freedom'. The announcement, published on the project's site, is drawing heavy discussion among developers and privacy-minded users, many weighing in on what the revamp means for the future of open-source app distribution on Android.

Google is appealing European Union demands that would require the company to open Android to rival AI assistants and share search data with competitors. The dispute, reported by the Wall Street Journal, marks the latest clash between Google and EU regulators over the company's market power in mobile and search, with the outcome likely to shape how dominant tech platforms must share access in Europe.

Google is resisting a European Union effort that would force it to open Android to competing AI assistants, according to Bloomberg. The dispute centres on whether rival AI bots should get the same access to Android features that Google's own Gemini enjoys. It is the latest front in a long-running regulatory battle between Brussels and the search giant over the dominance of its mobile operating system.

GitHub says it discovered 24 vulnerabilities in Android using its open-source AI security agent, describing it as automated vulnerability discovery at scale on real production software. The company published details in a blog post, and the report is drawing attention as a notable demonstration of AI agents doing practical security research on widely used code.

Daniel Gultsch, developer of the Android messaging app Conversations, has announced the app is breaking with Google Play and is now available for free. In a new blog post he explains the reasoning behind leaving the Play Store distribution model. The move is drawing attention among open-source and messaging communities, who are debating the implications for independent app developers and alternatives to Google's ecosystem.

ColorOS 17, the next version of OPPO's Android skin, is being discussed ahead of its expected rollout, with chatter tied to upcoming flagships like the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max and its AI-driven features. Chinese tech outlets are highlighting the phone's software capabilities as a key selling point, fueling speculation about what ColorOS 17 will bring in terms of AI functions and performance improvements.

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, describing the process in a new write-up. The company presents the findings as evidence that AI-driven security research can surface real flaws at scale. The disclosure is drawing attention from developers and security researchers assessing how AI tools could change vulnerability discovery.

Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, its next flagship smartphone chip, alongside a new 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 tier. The company describes both as flagship processors, with relatively minor differences between them: the Extreme edition mainly adds improved AI processing, video capture, and gaming performance. The two-tier flagship lineup marks a change from previous years, and attention now turns to which phone makers will adopt each chip.

GrapheneOS, the privacy-focused Android operating system long exclusive to Google Pixel devices, has chosen the Motorola Signature 27 as its first supported phone outside the Pixel lineup. The move marks a major shift for the project, which has relied on Pixel hardware for its security guarantees. Readers are debating what Motorola's hardware brings to hardened Android security and what it means for Google's lock on the platform.