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WhatsApp has just announced that usernames are officially coming, but you might not be able to get yours just yet.

Dbrand announced that users who ordered the Companion Cube skin for the Steam Machine will not, in fact, find companionship after the “skin” was removed from its website.

Walmart appears to be doubling the price of its most affordable Google TV streaming stick, following price hikes to other parts of its lineup in recent months.

Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is set to include two devices, the Fold 8 and the Fold 8 “Ultra,” branding that’s still incredibly confusing, but essentially official thanks to the latest leaks.

Samsung continues to prep the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 series as more leaks bubble up to the surface. The latest claims the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Z Fold 8 will get much brighter displays, and the company’s most rugged watch gets the highest waterproof rating it can, within reason.

Following Workspace availability in 2024, “Take notes for me” in Google Meet is now available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

As another year goes by since the last Pixel hardware launch, the Pixel Watch 5 is beginning to surface online in FCC listings. This time, the leak leaves us with more questions than answers.

T-Mobile, despite its “Un-Carrier” marketing, seems to be pulling a classic carrier move, forcing some of its long-time customers off of their existing plans and over to something newer and a bit more expensive.

One of the big advantages of Qi2 and its magnetic alignment is support for faster 25W charging speeds, but the organization behind the standard is working on even faster 50W charging for future devices, which could include future generations of Pixel, iPhone, and more.

According to new findings under the hood of Google’s software, future Pixel updates may deliver support for a “shuffle” option for wallpapers.

Google’s environmental reports for the Home Speaker include a look at how the new Gemini device is made and images of the internals.

Perhaps the most visible impact of the AI industry right now is that consumer electronics are getting more expensive. Price hikes are happening left and right and, while smartphones have been mostly spared so far, that no longer feels sustainable, and you can blame AI for it.

This issue of 9to5Google Weekender is a part of our newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and more. Sign up here to get Weekender delivered to your inbox every weekend, and catch our weekday roundups too!

Like other Google apps, Messages for Android A/B tests many features. It can take the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch new functionality in stable. From various reports, Google announcements, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.

The social media age begs businesses and everyone else to bridge the gap between quality and quantity and, with Vmake’s AI studio of tools, you get an all-in-one, one-stop shop for everything you need to more easily create content.

As a lazy, lapsed programmer, I feel that tools like Antigravity and Codex have changed my day-to-day workflows and, despite some major foibles, I cannot recommend them highly enough.

If you own a Google TV Streamer or plan to get one, you have an exclusive audio option in the Google Home Speaker. Connecting two of them gets you spatial audio, and it’s certainly a step up from some more expensive options.

Welcome to episode 106 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien talks Abner and Will through his first impressions of Google’s latest Home Speaker, a reboot of sorts of the company’s smart speaker lineup. After the break, we’re joined by Jonah Becker and Taylor Helgren of Google to discuss the launch of the Fitbit Air and Google Health.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Pixelated listeners can get started with Bitwarden’s free individual plan by clicking this link. Thanks to Bitwarden for sponsoring the podcast.

Sponsored by Proton Unlimited: Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company’s suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link. Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast.

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Google Messages is finally giving Android users more customization and personalization options with “Chat themes.”

As previewed at I/O 2026, the Gemini app on Android now integrates with the Google Play Store.

Nothing’s foray deeper into the budget smartphone space is set to launch the Nothing Phone (4b) in a little over a week. The official design has already been revealed and, now, leaked specs hint at where the Nothing Phone (4b) fits into the market.

Prime Day is usually a great time to save on everything from smart home gear and kitchen upgrades to everyday essentials, and water filtration systems are no exception. With summer in full swing and many households spending more time hosting family get-togethers, backyard gatherings, and watch parties for the season’s biggest sporting events, it’s also a practical time to upgrade your drinking water setup.

Waterdrop Filter’s lineup of reverse osmosis filtration systems is seeing solid discounts for Prime Day this year, with huge savings on some of its most popular models, including the flagship X12, the best-selling G3P800, and the installation-free M6H countertop unit. The brand’s Prime Day offers will be available from June 23 through June 26, and you can head below for a closer look at the lineup and the deals available during the event.