Enter Google Play’s sweepstakes to win legendary experiences and collectibles with your Play Points.

blog.google Aug 22, 2026

Enter Google Play’s sweepstakes to win legendary experiences and collectibles with your Play Points.

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 22, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Google Play has launched a new sweepstakes for U.S. Play Points members, offering unlimited chances to win over 20,000 prizes through September 14. Participants can redeem points for entries via the You tab in the Play Store on Android devices. The campaign features high-value grand prizes, including an original, CGC graded 5.0 copy of Amazing Fantasy #15, which debuted Spider-Man in 1962. Another top prize includes VIP tickets, flights, and a four-night hotel stay for New York Comic Con. Additional rewards encompass rare Funko Pop! figures, AMC Theatres vouchers, Hot Toys sixth-scale figures, and a limited-edition Post Malone controller. Tom Grinsted, Director of Product Management, announced the initiative on August 21, 2026. Users can enter multiple times and unlock special bonuses by purchasing larger point packets. This promotion aims to enhance user engagement by leveraging existing loyalty points for exclusive, high-demand collectibles and experiences.

💡 Why It Matters

· Offering a 1962 Spider-Man comic as a digital loyalty reward bridges the gap between physical collector culture and mobile app ecosystems.
· This strategy transforms routine point redemption into a high-stakes event, driving immediate user activity.

Read full article on blog.google

GrapheneOS phone from Motorola arrives next year, ‘higher end’ compared to Pixel…

GrapheneOS, the privacy‑focused operating system, will soon launch on a Motorola flagship phone slated for release in 2027. Motorola confirmed collaboration earlier this year, and the new device will feature higher‑end hardware than current Google Pixel models that run GrapheneOS, with a corresponding price increase. Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chips are required to meet GrapheneOS’s stringent update and security standards, meaning lower‑tier devices will be delayed. The partnership marks the first non‑Pixel hardware to support the OS, expanding its market reach.

💡 The move gives privacy‑savvy consumers an alternative to Google’s ecosystem, potentially reshaping the premium smartphone segment.

9to5google.com · Aug 22

Android brands struggle in Europe amidst RAMageddon, with Apple catching up

Apple has matched Samsung’s 34% market share in Europe for Q2 2026, narrowing the gap from last year when Apple held 25% and Samsung 31%. The European smartphone market contracted by 10% year-over-year, driven by weak consumer demand. Counterpoint Research attributes this decline to a challenging macro climate and the financial impact of the Iran War, which caused spiralling inflation. Android brands, including Xiaomi, Oppo, and Honor, lost market share as budget segments were squeezed. The ongoing RAM pricing crisis, known as RAMageddon, further strained Chinese OEMs. Apple capitalized on these difficulties, rising to tie Samsung for the top spot. The report highlights that while the US market remains dominated by Apple, Europe’s diverse landscape is shifting due to economic pressures and supply chain issues affecting Android manufacturers significantly.

💡 Apple’s parity with Samsung in Europe proves that global supply chain shocks like RAMageddon can rapidly erode Android’s traditional volume advantages. This shift suggests that economic instability disproportionately harms budget-focused OEMs, allowing premium incumbents to capture market share even during overall industry contractions.

9to5google.com · Aug 22

Pixel Camera adds ‘Launch control’ and new ‘Quick access’ slider controls on…

Google has updated the Pixel 11 camera app with new “Quick access” slider dials and a “Launch mode” setting. The sliders, now displayed as dials on either side of the screen, can be customized via the camera settings menu and include “Looks” options. They are disabled by default and appear only after tapping the screen, a design choice that many users find unintuitive. The Launch mode lets users open the camera directly to video or Magic Capture, though photo remains the default. The changes appear in Camera v11.0, with older Pixels on v10.4.

💡 The redesign signals Google’s push to streamline on‑device photography controls, potentially influencing how future Pixel models balance feature accessibility with interface simplicity.

androidpolice.com · Aug 22

Sorry, Pixel fans, Samsung is still the face of Android

Samsung continues to dominate the Android market, maintaining its position as the primary hardware partner for Google’s operating system. Despite Google’s efforts to promote its Pixel line, Samsung’s extensive ecosystem, global supply chain, and strong brand loyalty keep it the default choice for many consumers and developers. The company’s recent launch of the Galaxy S24 series, featuring advanced camera technology and 5G capabilities, reinforces its leadership. Analysts note that Samsung’s integration of Google services with its own software stack offers a seamless user experience that Pixel devices have yet to match.

💡 Samsung’s sustained dominance shapes app development priorities and sets hardware standards for the Android ecosystem. This influence affects everything from feature rollout timelines to market pricing strategies.

9to5google.com · Aug 22

Pixel 11 Pro Fold is changing how I multitask on a foldable…

Google unveiled the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, featuring a multitasking tool called “App Handles” that builds on the existing Bubbles system. The feature lets users drag any app to the far bottom‑right corner, where it anchors as a floating window that can be summoned with a swipe‑up gesture. Multiple handles can be stored, allowing switching without occupying the main screen. When the device is folded, these handles convert into bubbles on the cover display, preserving access. Reviewers note that the implementation feels more reliable than the finicky floating windows on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold ships today, and Google says the App Handles capability will be back‑ported to earlier Pixel models via future Android updates.

💡 By turning a corner of the screen into a persistent shortcut hub, Google gives foldable users a low‑friction way to juggle apps without sacrificing the large inner display, a usability edge that could set a new standard for Android foldables.

thehackernews.com · Aug 22

Android Car Malware Spreads Through Built-In Updaters for Ad Fraud, Proxy Botnet

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky identified a new Android car‑head‑unit malware family in June 2026 that exploits built‑in firmware updaters of DoFun‑powered devices. The dropper, named JarService, hijacks the legitimate TWCore analytics app, which uses an MQTT broker at cardoor.cn to fetch APK updates, and installs a multi‑stage downloader that creates an ad‑fraud and proxy botnet. Researchers attribute the campaign with high confidence to the MoYu Group, previously linked to the BADBOX residential‑proxy scheme sued by Google in July 2025. The malware operates silently as a background app, reporting device details and receiving commands every 90 minutes to display ads, download modules, or act as a reverse proxy. Kaspersky disclosed the abuse, and DoFun has patched the update channel for future protection.

💡 By turning vehicle infotainment systems into ad‑fraud bots, attackers gain a mobile, always‑connected foothold that bypasses traditional PC‑centric defenses, exposing drivers to privacy breaches and new revenue‑draining scams.