Android

Developer Daniel Gultsch has announced that Conversations, the popular Android XMPP chat app, is moving away from Google Play and is now available free of charge. The move ends reliance on Google's store and its payment system, a decision developers are debating amid ongoing friction over app store fees and policies.

The GrapheneOS project has released version 15 of its Messaging app, the open-source SMS/MMS application bundled with its privacy-focused Android operating system. The release notes on GitHub summarise improvements over the previous version, with a full changelog and a forum discussion thread available for users. Privacy-focused Android users are sharing the update and discussing the changes.

Google is tightening restrictions on Android sideloading, requiring developer verification that threatens independent app distribution. In response, F-Droid, the free and open-source app marketplace, is rolling out a major overhaul of its platform and planning for a future in which Google's rules make installing apps outside the Play Store harder. Supporters see the update as a defense of user choice and software freedom on Android.

Qualcomm has announced two new flagship smartphone chips: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and, for the first time alongside it, an 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The company describes both as flagships, with spec differences between them relatively minor and focused on improved AI processing, video capture and gaming performance. The dual-flagship strategy and the focus on on-device AI are drawing attention from tech watchers tracking upcoming premium Android phones.

Apple's move into foldable iPhones is prompting investors to reassess the bull case for the company's stock. Analysts and market watchers are weighing whether a foldable device can reignite iPhone growth, lift average selling prices and justify Apple's premium valuation, or whether it simply follows a trend already established by Samsung and other Android makers. The discussion comes as investors look for Apple's next major growth driver.

Xiaomi has announced that its Android smartphones can now pair with the Apple Watch, a notable break from Apple's restriction of the wearable to iPhones. The move means users can keep an Apple Watch while switching to a Xiaomi Android device. It is drawing attention as an unusual example of cross-ecosystem compatibility between two rival tech companies.

A new report on teenage mobile habits finds that iPhones and Instagram dominate among adolescents, while Android devices and Snapchat lag behind in popularity. The findings reinforce Apple's hold on the youth market and Instagram's strength in social media, prompting discussion about what drives teen brand loyalty and whether Snapchat's decline among younger users is temporary or a lasting shift.

Play Store is trending as Google's app marketplace for Android is in the news. Reports say Google has introduced improved widget customization options for Android users, a feature many had been asking for. People appear to be searching to find out what changed, how to access the new customization options, and whether the update has reached their devices. The Play Store is also trending in Brazil, suggesting the update or related news is drawing interest internationally.

An app has been released that allows an Apple Watch to be used with an Android phone, a combination Apple does not officially support. The news was reported by Engadget. Details about how the app works, which watch features are supported, and any limitations have not been confirmed, so the practical value of the pairing remains to be seen.