Google brings back Android Dev Summit with Android 18 ‘powerful new graphics features’ tease

9to5google.com Sep 26, 2026

Google brings back Android Dev Summit with Android 18 ‘powerful new graphics features’ tease

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 26, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Google is reviving its Android Dev Summit for October 28‑29, 2026, with a two‑day program at its Mountain View campus and a satellite “Extended” event in London. The conference will feature a keynote from Android leadership and four tracks covering AI experiences, Android XR, app foundations, and tools and performance. For the first time, the agenda references the upcoming Android 18, highlighting “powerful new graphics features” in Jetpack Compose, including mesh gradients, progressive blurs, and performance‑optimized rendering. Sessions will demonstrate how developers can enhance UI aesthetics while preserving battery life and frame rates. Android 18 has not been officially announced, and no developer previews are planned, though testing for Android 16 began in November ahead of the anticipated release window.

💡 Why It Matters

· Developers gain early exposure to Android 18’s advanced graphics toolkit, positioning them to craft next‑generation user experiences before rival platforms catch up.

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Google Messages gets a major gesture and menu refresh

Google Messages introduces a refreshed gesture system and a new floating long‑press menu that replaces the top toolbar. The menu now appears beside the selected bubble, offering Reply, Forward, Copy, Star, Delete, Select more, and Info, with image‑specific options like Save and Remix. Copying text is improved: a second tap lets users select a snippet instead of the whole message. Swiping left reveals timestamps and RCS encryption status; a right swipe on a bubble replies. The changes are rolling out via recent builds and are server‑controlled.

💡 The new gesture logic streamlines common messaging tasks, reducing the need to open message details and speeding up information retrieval in long threads.

9to5google.com · Sep 25

Google Health 5.09 rolling out: Cardio Load from third-party workouts, more

Google Health version 5.09 launches with Health Guardian features for Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5, enabling users to track blood pressure, insulin resistance, and sleep breathing quality trends. The first monthly Health Guardian summary will appear in early October, with detailed metrics accessible in the Health tab. The update also introduces Cardio Load for workouts recorded in third‑party apps or devices that log heart rate data, allowing activities from Garmin, Apple Watch, and other wearables to contribute to users’ cardio metrics. The rollout is available on Android and iOS.

💡 By integrating third‑party workout data into Google Health’s cardio metrics, the update expands the platform’s appeal to users who rely on multiple devices, potentially increasing engagement and data accuracy across the ecosystem.

wired.com · Sep 25

How to Record Your Screen on Any Phone

The article explains how to record a phone’s screen on both Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices. For Pixel users, it details accessing the Quick Settings panel, selecting the Screen Recorder widget, configuring options such as touch visibility, selfie‑camera overlay, audio sources, and full or app‑specific recording before starting. For Galaxy users, it describes a two‑step swipe to reveal the Screen Recorder icon, choosing full or partial screen, audio settings, and touch display, then starting the recording with a countdown and stopping via the status bar. Recorded videos are saved to Google Photos or Samsung Gallery.

💡 Knowing how to capture on‑screen activity empowers users to troubleshoot, create tutorials, or document achievements without external tools.

9to5google.com · Sep 25

Pixelated 118: Googlebook begins

Pixelated episode 118 features hosts Damien and Abner joined by guest Will to evaluate Google’s newly announced laptop series, dubbed the Googlebook. The trio examines the devices’ Android‑based operating system, contrasting its interface, app compatibility and multitasking model with ChromeOS. They note the hardware specifications, such as 13‑inch OLED screens, Intel Core i5 processors, and detachable keyboards, and assess battery life, performance benchmarks, and the integrated Google services ecosystem. The discussion highlights Google’s strategy to expand Android beyond phones and tablets, positioning the Googlebook as a bridge between traditional laptops and Chromebooks. The hosts also outline immediate software updates, developer support, and pricing adjustments they believe are essential for the platform to gain traction in a crowded market today worldwide.

💡 Extending Android to laptops forces developers to create truly cross‑platform apps, reshaping how software reaches users across device categories.

9to5google.com · Sep 25

Google Messages rolls out new swipe for timestamps & reply gesture

Google Messages is being updated with a new swipe‑based interface that changes how users view timestamps and send replies. In the latest rollout, swiping left anywhere in a conversation reveals the sent time, read receipts and RCS encryption status, replacing the previous need to tap individual bubbles. Swiping right on a bubble now initiates a direct reply, requiring a more precise gesture than the former left‑swipe shortcut. The redesign also reverts to the older two‑circle icon set on the Details page and home screen, while a brief timestamp preview appears when a bubble is tapped to hint at the new behavior. The changes are distributed in version 20260910_03_RC02 and are being rolled out broadly across Android devices for millions worldwide.

💡 The new gestures let users access message metadata and reply faster, cutting down on taps and streamlining everyday texting.

androidcentral.com · Sep 25

Motorola just gave privacy fans a big reason to consider the Signature…

Motorola unveiled its Signature 27 as one of the first smartphones to run Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, a 2 nm chip capable of 5 GHz speeds. The device features a redesigned camera layout, Audio by B&O, and a new build that departs from previous Signature models. Crucially, GrapheneOS has confirmed initial support for the phone, marking the first non‑Pixel device to receive the privacy‑focused OS. Motorola has not yet announced a release date or price.

💡 By opening GrapheneOS to a mainstream flagship, Motorola expands privacy‑oriented Android options beyond the Pixel line, potentially reshaping how consumers balance performance and security.