Google is taking Android Find My Device to the next level by rebranding it as Find Hub, introducing exciting features like ultra-wideband (UWB) support, satellite connectivity, and airline partnerships.

Google’s updates put Find Hub in direct competition with Apple’s Find My network. The new Find Hub’s fresh features are rolling out soon, starting with UWB support this month.

Starting later this month, the new Android Find Hub will support UWB-enabled tags, beginning with the Moto Tag. UWB allows for precise, close-range tracking, making it easier to pinpoint lost items compared to Bluetooth.

Later in 2025, Find Hub will introduce satellite connectivity. This feature ensures you can stay connected with loved ones even without cellular service. Starting early next year, you’ll be able to share your Bluetooth tag’s location with select airlines.

Source – Google

The new Android Find Hub is designed to help you track belongings, friends, and family with ease. Google has partnered with brands like July, Mokobara, and Peak to integrate trackers into products like luggage and ski gear.

One fun addition is Disney-themed Bluetooth tags from Pixbee. These tags add a playful touch while helping you keep tabs on your items. With these partnerships, Find Hub offers personalized options for everyone’s needs.

On May 13, Google unveiled Android 16 and Material 3 Expressive at The Android Show: I/O Edition. The new OS is coming to Samsung devices this summer, but all eyes are on Google’s new design language, Material 3 Expressive.

Google’s new Android 16 upgrade and sequential Material 3 Expressive deployments promise a more personalized and dynamic user experience. Let’s explore what’s new.

Personalization

Material 3 Expressive builds on the Material You design introduced in 2021. It offers more ways to customize your Android device to reflect your style. Updated dynamic color themes and bold typography make your phone feel unique.

You can now tweak Quick Settings to include favorite actions like Flashlight or Do Not Disturb. This makes accessing key features faster and easier. Google is also bringing these visual updates to apps like Gmail, Google Photos, and Fitbit.

Fluid Animations and Haptic Feedback

The new design introduces smooth, springy animations that add delight to everyday tasks. For example, dismissing a notification causes nearby alerts to subtly shift. Swiping it away triggers a satisfying haptic rumble for a tactile feel.

Similar animations appear when adjusting the volume slider or opening the notification shade. A subtle blur effect on the shade’s background adds depth, keeping your focus on active apps while maintaining a lightweight feel.

Live Updates

Android 16 introduces Live Updates, a feature that keeps important notifications front and center. For instance, after ordering from Uber Eats, you’ll see a glanceable update tracking your delivery. This works with select delivery, rideshare, and navigation apps.

Live Updates ensures you don’t miss critical information buried in your notifications. It’s similar to Apple’s Live Activities, offering real-time tracking on the lock screen, Always-On Display, or status bar for easy access.

Material 3 Expressive

Material 3 Expressive marks one of Google’s biggest design updates in years. It balances modern aesthetics with practical functionality, making your device more intuitive and personal.

Google is working with partners to bring these updates to more devices. With Android 16 and Material 3 Expressive, your smartphone will feel more like an extension of you.

Here’s an official video demonstration:

Rollout and Compatibility

Material 3 Expressive will debut on Pixel devices later in 2025. The design will arrive via the Android 16 QPR1 Beta. Other Android devices will get it later, though custom UIs like Samsung’s One UI may adapt it differently.

Google claims up to 10% better battery life due to optimized animations and system functions. However, some advanced features may not perform well on older devices, so compatibility could vary across hardware.

Google has pushed the Android Auto 14.4 beta update, which brings some important changes. The update focuses on a fresh new design, better performance, and improved device compatibility.

The fresh update for Android Auto arrives with a new Material 3 Expressive design. It adds smooth animations, colorful themes, and modern-looking icons. Also, the app now looks more vibrant in both light and dark modes.

In addition to this, the old blue Google Assistant icon has also been replaced with a flat, new one. This icon now matches the updated design of Android Auto.

However, there’s some bad news too. Google Assistant’s Driving Mode is going away. Many users noticed this feature has disappeared from their phones. Google is removing it to make space for something new, which could be the Gemini AI.

The removal of Google Assistant has been spotted on newer models, including Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S23, Galaxy S24, Pixel 8a, and Pixel 9. Some older phones still have it, but not for long.

Though the Gemini-powered driving interface has not yet gone live in Android Auto, Google has confirmed it’s on the way. It will eventually take over driving features in Android Auto and other devices.

You can download the Android Auto 14.4 beta update via the Google Play Store on your Android device. Also, you can download it directly from the third-party app link mentioned here.

Android Auto bringing polished, modern light theme

Google is making Android feel more interactive and lively by introducing a variety of new, expressive animations. We get a sneak peek into some of the amazing animations that will enhance the user experience in the upcoming Android update (courtesy of AndroidAuthority).

New animations are designed to make everyday interactions, like dismissing notifications or toggling settings, more engaging and fun. Let’s know what new animations are coming.

Animations for dismissing notifications and recent tasks

The most noticeable change is in how notifications are dismissed. Currently, swiping a notification away feels smooth and frictionless, but with the new update, notifications will have a sense of weight.

Google is adding physics-based animations that make notifications bounce back if you partially swipe and release them. They will also carry momentum when fully dismissed, giving a more natural feel to the action.

Shifting Quick Settings Tiles

Quick Settings will now feature dynamic animations. When toggled on, the tiles will change shape from an oval to a rounded rectangle. This shape-shifting effect adds a touch of liveliness to an otherwise static action.

Additionally, tiles like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will have a colored background when enabled, which matches the system theme, adding a visual flair to the settings.

Power Button Squeeze Animation

For users who activate the voice assistant by holding the power button, a new squeeze animation will make the action feel more responsive. As you press and hold the power button, a black overlay will expand inward from the screen’s edges before the assistant’s screen appears.

Animated Volume Slider

Another subtle but impressive change is in the volume slider. When adjusting the volume during media playback, the three-dot menu icon transforms into a tiny animated waveform. While it doesn’t sync with the music or video, it adds an aesthetic touch to the otherwise functional volume control.

Fidgety Lock Screen Clock

The lock screen is getting a playful update as well. Tapping the clock on the lock screen will cause it to “fidget,” briefly growing larger before returning to its original size. This small touch adds personality to the lock screen, especially for users who stick with the default clock.

Google is preparing a new UI design overhaul for the upcoming Android version, and we’ve gathered some details from this revelation to show you what might be coming with the next major Android update.

AndroidAuthority has shared an early look at Google’s plan to revamp the Android interface, spied from Android 16 Beta 4, which released last month. The beta doesn’t have these new changes for the public, but the source has managed to get a different picture of the UI within the same software.

Task bar

The new UI has a refreshed task bar with new icons and a bold font family. The battery icon is horizontal, Wi-Fi, Airplane mode, network, and sound profile are highly visible in the new UI. These enhanced font can be seen throughout settings and menus.

Source – AndroidAuthority

Colored Battery icon

This will catch your eye at the first glance, and you cannot overlook, even though you may not like it. It seems, developers will give users some special personalization options for the battery icon.

Notifications and quick settings

Google is likely to continue the unified notifications and quick settings panel with this new release. But, the new UI will make it look far better than the current version. You don’t have to take my words for it, take a sneak peak at the screenshot below.

Source – Android Authority

Starting with the appearance, the semi-transparent – frost background and reshaped tiles brings a modern look for the quick settings compared to all dark version. The downside of the Android 15 and previous software is this default look that you can’t change, no matter how badly you may desire.

On the other hand, the tiles’ customizer supports instant addition or removal of shortcuts as well as resizing. Unfortunately, the layout will remain the same, Google is not in the mood to part the quick settings in sections like Samsung. The new notifications panel is carrying the semi transparent background with new shapes and options. We don’t know which features will be added to this section.

To be mentioned, the new sliders are all over the UI for brightness, volume, alarm, ring, notifications and more. You can see that a handle is now visible in the front of such a slider with an angular shape.

Blur

This new Android UI upgrade is focusing on the trending interface, including background blur. Places including task changer, app drawer and quick settings are now using background blur to distance itself from the current UI. And it is good to see that Google is taking a whole new approach on this matter.

source – Android Authority

Better lock screen

The transparent shortcut buttons, optimized font family, lock screen widgets and background blur, better clock design will all combine in the new lock screen.

source – Android Authority

Coming with Android 16?

There’s no clear answer to this question because these plans are not officially confirmed by the Android maker. Instead, we’ll have to wait for a full revelation of this update at The Android Show or Google I/O 2025.

Note – These are some early findings, and we may see a better version of the upcoming changes in the near future.