The Hangouts brand will live on in the consumer chat app that replaced Gchat.

What might some Android apps be quietly doing behind the backs of their users? The answer, according to a succession of studies, is quite a lot, probably more than some users would be comfortable with if they knew about it.

Apple kicked Alex Jones out of the App Store in 2018. The Google Play Store has finally followed suit.

What if you want to communicate over your smartphone without using a phone number or even sim card (Wi-Fi only)?

Here's our list of some of the best Android alternatives that failed to dethrone Google and Apple over the last decade.

The move makes it more likely the iPhone will have to use USB-C, and would cut down on lots of charging cable waste.

Google on Friday evening published a support article meant to clarify the ongoing situation with Huawei. Last year, the United States government barred companies in the US from working with the Chinese hardware maker. “Google is prohibited from working with Huawei on new device models or providing Google’s apps including Gmail, Maps, YouTube, the Play Store and others for preload or download on these devices,” Tristan Ostrowski, legal director for Android and Google Play, wrote in the post, which was picked up by 9to5Google.

Software extracts emails, texts and contacts and could be used to track movements

Millions of shiny new Android smartphones are being purchased with dangerous malware factory-installed, according to Google's own security research team. There have been multiple headlines about the millions of harmful apps being installed from the Play Store, but this is something new. And the danger to unsuspecting users, trusting that new boxed devices are safe and clean, is that some of that preinstalled malware can download other malware in the background, commit ad fraud, or even take over its host device.

Huawei's next flagship smartphone will not come with Google's popular apps including Maps and YouTube. Google confirmed that due to a US government ban on sales to Huawei, it could not license its apps to the Chinese smartphone giant. It also means the next Huawei phone will not have access to the Google Play app store, which could leave customers without access to other popular apps.

Google might be about to do pair up two mobile screen-related features, "Edit & Share screenshots" and the AI-powered "What's on my Screen," according to some APK digging by 9 to 5 Google. A new feature called "Smart Screenshots," tucked into the latest version of the Google 10.61 app, brings up an updated toolbar when you take a screenshot. As before, you get edit, share and the option to use your favorite app to send the shot, but there's a new option with the latest version: Lens.

It’s been almost a month since Android 10 launched. If you have a Samsung phone and you are wondering if your own device is getting the update, here’s a list that allegedly confirms who is getting it and who is not. Spoiler: if you have an S8 or Note 8, you may be screwed.

Back in 2017, we broke a story about how Google will delete all Android backups from devices that haven’t been used in two months. This report still remains true, but with the help of an eagle-eyed reader (thanks, John!), we now know that despite additional features, Android backups for paying Google One customers are also at risk.

In a move to help protect its users, Google has banned certain personal loan apps from the Play Store in the US.

This needs to be fixed

I am so discombobulated by yesterday’s news that the four major US carriers are banding together to make a whole other company to replace SMS with RCS and ship their own app that I barely know where to begin. I guess at the beginning.

Asus doesn't have the best track record for updating its phones, but it was really making an effort earlier this year with it rolled out an Android 9 beta for the Zenfone 4. Unfortunately, Asus' resolve has faded, and there won't be a final Pie update. It says the Zenfone 4 will continue to get Oreo maintenance updates. You know... if you still believe Asus.

People are buying the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL despite a wave of negative reviews that slammed battery life.

A rogue Android app previously available on Google Play has been making millions of fraudulent purchases and sending your data back to ad networks. Here’s what you need to know.

When you buy an Android smartphone, it’s rarely pure Android. Manufacturers squeeze in their own apps or give it a fresh coat of interface. Carriers do it too. The resulting stew of preinstalled software and vanilla Android sometimes turns out to be rancid, putting flaws and vulnerabilities on the phone before you even take it out of the box. For proof of how bad it is, look no further than the 146 vulnerabilities—across 29 Android smartphone makers—that have just been simultaneously revealed.