Google Pixel 10 Series to Launch with WhatsApp Satellite Calls.

Google is set to make a significant leap in mobile connectivity with the upcoming release of the Pixel 10 series. The company has announced that the new lineup, which includes the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL, will be the first of its devices to offer voice and video calls over a satellite network. This groundbreaking functionality will be integrated directly through WhatsApp.

This is a major step forward for satellite connectivity on Google's devices. While previous efforts have been limited to text-based communication through Google Messages, the Pixel 10 will now support a full-fledged calling experience in areas without traditional cell service. This puts the Pixel 10 series ahead of competitors, as even other satellite services are currently restricted to basic messaging.

The new feature is expected to be available with the official launch of the Pixel 10 series on August 28th. While this is a first for the Pixel family, it is currently unclear if the functionality will eventually roll out to older Pixel models. It is speculated that this could be a possibility, as the feature involves Google unlocking data access for WhatsApp via satellite, but no official confirmation has been provided.

#Pixel10 has you covered on and off the grid 📍 Pixel devices will be the first to offer voice and video calls on @WhatsApp over a satellite network starting 8/28¹ 🌍 pic.twitter.com/6yDSDMskkK

— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) August 22, 2025

It's important to note that the service will likely be tied to specific carriers and may incur additional charges, as is typical with satellite-based services. Despite these potential limitations, the addition of satellite voice and video calls makes the Pixel 10 a more compelling device for users who prioritize staying connected in remote locations. For WhatsApp, this partnership is a strategic move to boost its presence and utility in the US market.

Google Password Manager Gets a Standalone App on the Play Store.

Google has made it significantly easier for Android users to manage their saved passwords by releasing the Google Password Manager as a standalone app on the Play Store. Previously, accessing the tool required users to navigate through several layers of their device's settings, a process many found cumbersome and difficult.

The new app, which is described as a convenient shortcut to the existing, built-in password manager, eliminates the need for this deep menu dive. While it doesn't introduce a new password management service, its accessibility and convenience are a major improvement for users who rely on Google to save their credentials.

A Fresh Look with Material 3 Expressive.

The standalone app fully embraces Google's new Material 3 Expressive design language. This gives the app a vibrant and modern feel, with key visual changes that improve usability. The interface now features a new search app bar and pill-shaped filters for sorting credentials by Passwords, Passkeys, and Network devices, offering a more intuitive way to manage your data. It also fully adopts Dynamic Color, allowing the app's accent to match your device's theme for a more personalized experience.

Beyond Convenience: A Focus on Security and Features

This release is more than just an accessibility fix; it's a strategic move by Google to compete with dedicated password managers like LastPass and Bitwarden, which have long dominated the Play Store. By making the app visible in search results, Google aims to attract new users and highlight its built-in security features.

While Google's Password Manager offers powerful integration with Chrome and Android, it's important to note some key differences from its competitors. The service does not use zero-knowledge encryption, which means Google technically holds the keys to your data. Additionally, it lacks a master password requirement, instead relying on your device’s screen lock for security.

However, it offers powerful built-in protections, including:

• Password Checkup: Proactively scans your saved passwords against known data breaches and alerts you if any are compromised.
• Passkey Support: Allows you to use passwordless, biometric logins on supported websites and apps, a feature Google is heavily promoting as the future of authentication.
• Cross-Device Syncing: Seamlessly syncs your passwords across all devices signed into your Google Account, including laptops and tablets.

The app is currently available for all Android users, but Google has not yet announced plans for a similar standalone app on iOS.

Also Read: Gboard Update Brings Direct Autofill for Passwords & Credit Cards.

YouTube Rolls Out Limited Video Downloads to Free Users.

Key Highlights.

• Free YouTube users can now download videos, but only at low-quality resolutions like 144p and 360p.
• The new download feature does not include music videos, which remain a YouTube Premium exclusive.

YouTube is testing a major change to its platform by bringing a previously exclusive YouTube Premium feature to free users: video downloads. This update, which appears to be a limited rollout, allows non-paying users to download videos for offline viewing directly from the app, but with several key restrictions.

The new functionality has been spotted by users on Reddit, and we have also checked, confirming that the "Download" button is now appearing for some free accounts. While this is a welcome addition, it's important to note the major differences from the full-featured download capability available to Premium subscribers.

For free users, the download quality is significantly limited to lower resolutions, primarily 144p and 360p for most of the videos. This is a stark contrast to the 1080p and 720p options available to Premium members. Furthermore, the ability to download music videos remains an exclusive perk for YouTube Premium subscribers. This is likely due to licensing agreements and royalty payments to artists.

This new download feature, despite its limitations, is a notable change for free users who want to watch videos without an internet connection, such as during travel. While the quality may not be ideal for all content, it's a useful tool for podcasts, tutorials, or other videos where high definition is not a priority.

It's a clear move by Google to offer a taste of a Premium feature to a wider audience while still encouraging users to upgrade for the full, unlimited experience, which includes ad-free viewing, background play, and high-quality downloads. The company has not yet officially announced the feature, but its gradual rollout suggests it may become a permanent part of the free YouTube experience.

In a related update for paid subscribers, YouTube is also expanding its AI-powered search carousel for Premium users, adding another layer of smart features to the platform.

Google Drive Introduces New 'Vids' Shortcut for Seamless Video Editing.

Google is enhancing its Drive and Workspace suite with a new, highly requested feature that will streamline user video editing. A new "Open" button is being rolled out to the video preview screen in Google Drive, providing a direct shortcut to edit videos using the Google Vids app.

This update eliminates the tedious process of downloading a video from Drive, editing it in a separate application, and then re-uploading the new file. A simple click launches the video directly into the Google Vids editor, making quick trims, text additions, and other edits faster and more efficient.

The new feature is currently rolling out to Google Workspace users, including those on Business Starter, Standard, and Plus plans, as well as Enterprise, Essentials, and Nonprofits. It is also available to users with the Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium add-ons, and those with Google AI Pro and Ultra subscriptions.

How to Use the New Video Editing Shortcut

Using the new Vids shortcut button is straightforward. Here are the steps to get started:

1. Navigate to Your Video: Open Google Drive on your computer and locate the video file you wish to edit.
2. Open the Preview: Click on the video file to open its preview window.
3. Find the Shortcut: In the top right corner of the video preview screen, look for a new "Open" button.
4. Launch Google Vids: Click the "Open" button. Your video will automatically be imported into Google Vids in a new browser tab.
5. Edit Your Video: Once in Google Vids, you can use the available tools to trim clips, add text overlays, insert music, and make other adjustments.

Important Note: When a video file is opened in Vids, a new Vids file is created. After you finish editing, you will need to save or export the video as a new file (e.g., as an MP4) to your Drive. Additionally, there are some limitations: individual clips can be up to 35 minutes long and have a maximum file size of 4GB.

This new feature represents Google's continued effort to improve video capabilities across its platform, following other recent updates like the enhanced video player and the Gemini AI video summary tool. In another related update, Google is also adding video thumbnail previews to the progress bar in Drive's video player, making it easier to scrub through your footage.

Google Clock App Gets a Major Material 3 'Expressive' Redesign.

Google is continuing its push to unify its app ecosystem with a modern, cohesive design language, and the latest to receive a significant makeover is the Google Clock app. The app's version 8.1 update introduces the much-anticipated Material 3 'Expressive' redesign, which brings a fresh look and several new features to the popular utility.

The visual overhaul, which was first hinted at in a leak back in May, is now officially rolling out to users. The redesign prioritizes a cleaner, more intuitive interface that improves functionality while aligning with Google's new design philosophy.

Key Features of the Clock Redesign

One of the most user-friendly changes is the introduction of distinct backgrounds for active alarms, making it much easier to see at a glance which alarms are turned on. The alarm setup screen has also been refined, offering a more organized layout for configuring alarm names, sounds, and toggling features like vibration and weather forecasts. Users can also now link their alarms directly to Google Assistant routines.

For waking up, the old alarm slider has been replaced by two separate, clearly labeled "snooze" and "stop" buttons, which should prevent accidental dismissals. In the stopwatch section, the lap, stop, and reset buttons have been made much larger, providing a more precise and satisfying user experience.

The article also notes a previously leaked timer page redesign that includes larger fonts and a layout that allows for more timers to be visible on the screen simultaneously. While not yet available to all users, this change suggests more updates are on the way.

The Material 3 'Expressive' redesign for Google Clock version 8.1 is currently rolling out via the Google Play Store, bringing a cleaner, more functional design to one of Android's most essential apps.

Also Read: Google Calculator Gets a Slick Material 3 'Expressive' Redesign.

Google Search AI Mode Expands with Powerful Agentic and Personalized Features.

Google is taking a major leap forward in how users interact with its search engine, announcing a significant expansion of its 'AI Mode' with new agentic and personalized features. This update, detailed in a recent blog post, is designed to transform Google Search from an information retrieval tool into a powerful, AI-powered agent that can help users get things done in the real world.

Introducing Agentic Capabilities: Your Personal Assistant in Search

One of the most groundbreaking additions is the new suite of "agentic" features. Rolling out initially as a Labs experiment for Google AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S., these capabilities allow AI Mode to perform multi-step tasks for you.

A prime example is the ability to book restaurant reservations. Instead of just showing a list of restaurants, AI Mode can now handle complex requests with multiple constraints. For instance, you could ask, "Find me a quiet Italian restaurant for four people at 7 PM on Saturday that's good for a birthday dinner and has outdoor seating." The AI will then search across various platforms to find real-time availability and present a curated list of options, complete with direct links to booking pages. The article notes this functionality will soon expand to include local service appointments and event tickets.

Deeply Personalized Results Based on Your Preferences

In addition to agentic actions, the update brings a new layer of personalization. For users in the U.S. who have opted into the AI Mode experiment, Google Search can now use previous conversations and search history to provide recommendations that are more tailored to your personal tastes.

This means if you're looking for a new restaurant, the AI will factor in your past preferences for specific cuisines or dining environments to suggest places it thinks you'll genuinely like. This level of personalization moves Google Search beyond simple queries to an experience that feels uniquely your own.

Collaboration and Global Expansion

The update also includes a new link-sharing feature, making it easy to share AI Mode responses with friends and family. This is especially useful for collaborative tasks like planning a trip or a group event, where multiple people can view and discuss the same results.

Finally, in a major step to make these advanced features more widely available, Google is expanding AI Mode to over 180 new countries and territories in English. This global rollout will allow millions more users to experience a more complex and nuanced search experience, marking a new era for Google Search's evolution.

Also Read: Google Adds AI Mode Shortcut to Android Search Widget.

Google Calculator Gets a Slick Material 3 'Expressive' Redesign.

New Google Calculator

Google is rolling out a significant visual update for its popular Calculator app, bringing a fresh Material 3 "expressive" redesign. This new version, Google Calculator 9.0, overhauls several key elements to create a more modern and streamlined user experience.

One of the most notable changes is the removal of the traditional display container, giving the app a clean, completely flat background. The font for the numbers has also been updated to be skinnier.

The update introduces several functional and layout changes as well. Users will find a new button in the top-left corner to access calculation history, though the familiar swipe-down gesture for this action remains. The scientific actions have been condensed and are now accessible via a new "expand" button located above the numpad.

In terms of aesthetics, the buttons have been transformed into "pills" that stretch to the edges of the screen, and the number keys now have a lighter background for better visual separation. The three-dot overflow menu has also been refined with a consistent "Clear history" option and new icons for all menu items. The landscape tablet layout has also been adjusted to match the new phone design.

Old Google Calculator

The Material 3 expressive update for Google Calculator is currently being distributed through the Google Play Store.