This fan-made OS brings Windows Phone back to one specific Android device

windowscentral.com Oct 22, 2026

This fan-made OS brings Windows Phone back to one specific Android device

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 22, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

ztOS, a fan‑made operating system that mimics Windows Phone 8.1, has been released for the Samsung Galaxy S9. Built on Arch Linux for ARM, the OS uses a custom ztMETRO shell written in C and accelerated with OpenGL, and ships with its own app suite, a Python/Qt SDK and an OTA updater. The project, led by developer Claude and generated largely with AI‑assisted code, is currently in alpha and limited to the S9, meaning installation carries risk and bugs are expected. ztOS aims to recreate the iconic Metro UI and functionality of the discontinued Windows Phone platform, offering users a nostalgic alternative to Android and iOS ecosystems. Reviewers praise fluid UI yet warn only S9 support limits broader adoption currently.

💡 Why It Matters

· By resurrecting the Metro experience on modern hardware, ztOS shows how niche nostalgia can drive open‑source innovation, potentially inspiring similar revivals for other discontinued platforms.

Read full article on windowscentral.com

Samsung’s new Fitbit competitor just leaked [Video]

Samsung has leaked a new Galaxy Fit 4 fitness tracker that resembles an Apple Watch more closely than its predecessors. The device, part of the affordable Galaxy Fit line, offers core fitness tracking and a clock face, with three color options and a slightly curved band. Leaked images and a video reveal the hardware and sensor layout, showing minimal differences from the 2024 Galaxy Fit 3. The tracker will compete with Google’s Fitbit Edge, potentially leveraging its lower price point.

💡 The Galaxy Fit 4’s closer design to the Apple Watch signals Samsung’s push to capture a broader wearable market segment, challenging Google’s entry and redefining value pricing in fitness trackers.

9to5google.com · Oct 22

Android has always been chaotic in the best ways possible

The newsletter reflects on Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone Duo, likening its early software chaos to Android’s historic launch quirks, and notes that app optimization for the new form factor remains lacking. It highlights Android’s appeal to tweakers, its open ecosystem, and the vibrant indie developer community that fills gaps, emphasizing the platform’s flexibility for diverse use cases. The piece also discusses AI’s growing role, mentioning Google’s Gemini 4 Argon and its integration across Google services, while comparing Google’s personal‑assistant efforts to Meta’s Muse and noting Google’s lag behind Anthropic and OpenAI in enterprise AI. Sundar Pichai’s commitment to AI research, including a 2027 cloud compute reallocation, underscores Google’s long‑term ambition in the field.

💡 Apple’s foldable launch will test whether a tightly controlled ecosystem can quickly overcome early software friction, a challenge Android has long embraced. Google’s AI push signals a strategic bet to embed advanced models into its massive user base, aiming to reclaim leadership in the rapidly monetizing enterprise AI market.

9to5google.com · Oct 22

Fitbit Edge doesn’t have Google Wallet because ‘less than 1%’ of Charge…

Google confirmed that the upcoming Fitbit Edge will not include NFC hardware, meaning Google Wallet cannot be used on the device. The decision stems from usage data on the previous generation Fitbit Charge 6, where fewer than one percent of owners reported employing NFC for contactless payments. Google said the omission frees up design space and engineering resources to focus on features it deems higher priority for the Edge, such as a new altimeter and other user‑requested improvements. The Edge, positioned as a “Pixel Watch Lite,” launches on October 27 with pre‑orders already open. The move marks a regression in Google’s wearable payment support, contrasting with the Pixel Watch line where NFC remains standard.

💡 Skipping NFC highlights Google’s data‑driven product trade‑offs, showing it will sacrifice a flagship convenience to accelerate other hardware enhancements.

9to5google.com · Oct 22

Some Galaxy S26 phones are basically paperweights while Samsung fixes a setup…

A software bug is rendering some Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphones unusable by halting the initial setup. Users report the device displays “the webpage is unavailable” when trying to access Samsung’s account page, preventing completion of the onboarding flow. The problem appears only after the UI 9.0 update and is triggered by an unstable system WebView on certain networks. Samsung confirmed the issue on its community forums and said the defect occurs during setup, so it typically surfaces after a factory reset. Switching from Wi‑Fi to mobile data has been suggested as a temporary workaround, though results are inconsistent. The bug has not been linked to hardware faults and affects a limited batch of S26 Ultra units in early 2024 shipments.

💡 The glitch forces owners into service queues, testing Samsung’s ability to quickly patch critical post‑launch software failures.

9to5google.com · Oct 21

You can cut your cell phone bill to $10/month or get a…

Mint Mobile is running two limited‑time promotions that dramatically lower the cost of mobile service and devices. Starting now, any Mint plan can be purchased for $10 per month for the first six months, with both eSIM and physical SIM options available; after the promotional period the standard rates resume, making the unlimited plan roughly 71 % cheaper during the intro phase. The offer expires on October 22. In a separate bundle, Mint sells a Google Pixel 11 for $399—over 50 % off its regular price—and includes 12 months of unlimited service at $15 per month, requiring upfront payment of $579 for the phone and a year of service. Stock of the $399 Pixel 11 is depleted, but the 512 GB model and other Pixel deals remain available.

💡 The promotions give budget‑conscious consumers a rare chance to combine a flagship Android phone with ultra‑low‑cost service, potentially reshaping price expectations in the prepaid market.

androidcentral.com · Oct 21

Google’s new 3D emojis are starting to roll out to older Pixel…

Google has begun rolling out its new Noto 3D emoji set to older Pixel devices. The 3‑D designs debuted with Android 17 and the Pixel 11 series, replacing the flat icons that long‑time Android users criticized as bland. A Reddit post confirmed that a Pixel 6a received the updated emojis via a system update, not a Gboard change. Tests on Pixel 9a and Pixel 9 Pro running Android 17 showed no change, indicating a limited, staged deployment. Google says the emojis will eventually appear on all Android phones, including models from manufacturers such as Nothing, Lenovo, Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Honor and Motorola. The rollout is expected to expand over the next weeks. Early adopters report smoother animation and richer color gradients that enhance expressive messaging.

💡 By extending the 3‑D emojis to legacy devices, Google narrows the visual gap with iOS and strengthens brand consistency across the Android ecosystem.