News & Reviews:   Android

By now, you probably have noticed some new Google-related app icons on your iOS and Android devices. The company has officially introduced a fresh visual identity for its Workspace app icons, bringing a major redesign to apps including Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, Calendar and more. The update is now rolling out gradually across Android, iOS and web platforms.  

Many users treat their phones like fashion accessories. They add phone cases, optional accessories, and even spruce up the user interface. In the third category, you can add wallpapers or change the icons. For Google, disco-style icons seemed to be a good idea.

If you use Gmail regularly, you may have noticed a new problem lately. Android users are reporting a new glitch in the Gmail app, making it nigh-impossible to use on affected devices. This problem has been spotted on both smartphone and tablet versions of the Android Gmail app.

Google recently announced new features coming for Android 17 which is expected to arrive sometime in Q2 2026 (June or July). These features include a larger Instagram for tablets, built-in Screen Reactions and extra editing tools. Pixels will get these features first but no exact Malaysia release dates just yet.

Today, Google has officially unveiled “Gemini Intelligence,” a major new initiative designed to integrate Gemini AI deeply across the Android ecosystem. The announcement signals one of Google’s biggest shifts yet in how Android devices will function moving forward, transitioning from a traditional mobile operating system into what the company describes as an “intelligence system.”

Google is giving Android its own spotlight ahead of its annual developer conference with the newly announced “Android Show: I/O Edition.” Scheduled for 12 May 2026, the event acts as a lead-in to Google I/O 2026, signalling just how significant this year’s updates are expected to be.

In an unexpected move, Google is rolling out broader access to picture-in-picture playback on YouTube, with the feature set to reach users worldwide over the coming months. The update aims to make multitasking easier by allowing videos to continue playing even when users leave the app.

Today, Google has introduced an upgraded fraud protection feature under Google Play Protect for all Android users in Malaysia. The move is part of a broader effort to combat rising financial scams by preventing the installation of potentially harmful apps, particularly those installed outside official app stores. The rollout is supported by the National Cyber Security Agency under the National Security Council, reinforcing a coordinated national push to improve digital safety.

WhatsApp is set to phase out support for older Android devices later this year, as part of its ongoing effort to maintain performance and introduce newer features. The change will take effect on 8 September 2026, impacting users running outdated versions of the Android operating system.

In a surprising move, it appears that WhatsApp is moving closer to a subscription model. Apparently, the WhatsApp team is working on a new premium tier called WhatsApp Plus, which is now being tested with a limited number of users.