Google has rolled out five Android Auto media changes that make in-car audio easier to control. Drivers can now access phone-based media apps from the dashboard, switch active media sessions with a swipe, use a redesigned player, get smarter autoplay behavior, and track songs more easily with a new seekbar.

The biggest change is broader media support.

Android Auto can now display album art and playback controls for phone media apps that do not have their own Android Auto experience.

That means background audio from YouTube Premium, browser streams and smaller apps can finally appear on the car display instead of remaining invisible.

Google has also redesigned the media player across different screen sizes, moving commonly used controls onto the main interface and scaling album artwork more effectively.

Spotify, YouTube Music and other services already benefit, while Google says additional apps will gain more customized player designs over the coming months.

Switching between multiple active media sessions is also quicker. A left or right swipe on the player now lets drivers jump between them without returning to the launcher.

Autoplay received less flashy but arguably more useful fixes. Android Auto should avoid choosing apps you rarely use, offer a quick way to disable autoplay when you repeatedly reject it, and stop sending unwanted playback commands when autoplay is disabled.

The new squiggly seekbar rounds things out, giving users a more glanceable indication of their position in a track. The seekbar could remain the most debated part of this redesign, while the expanded media support could have the biggest practical impact.

Most of these changes are broadly available with Android Auto 17.3 or newer on Android 9 and above.

Samsung has started rolling out a new design for its SmartThings app on Galaxy smartphones and tablets. The redesigned app first arrived on iPhone and is now reaching some Android users.

The new SmartThings app has a cleaner and more modern look. Samsung has used lighter colors and made the app easier to use. A new floating menu is placed at the bottom of the screen, helping users quickly move between different sections.

At the top, users can find shortcuts for the location QR code, location selection, map view, adding new devices, and the options menu. A large card below these buttons shows useful suggestions and important updates.

Image via
EngrGlitch

Also, the Home tab has been improved. It now shows favorite devices and routines in smaller cards, allowing users to see more items at once. Users can make a card bigger by pressing and holding it. Tapping the device icon can quickly turn a device on or off, while tapping the rest of the card opens more controls.

The Devices tab shows all connected smart home devices and organizes them by room. Users can also change their home layout and view it in 2D or 3D.

Another useful feature lets users add items such as sofas, wardrobes, lights, and other smart devices to their rooms. This makes it easier to create a digital version of their home.

The new SmartThings app looks much cleaner and more modern. However, the Android version does not yet have the Liquid Glass-style design available on iPhone. The update is rolling out slowly, so it may take some time to reach all Galaxy devices.

Samsung is ending another stock app, the Samsung Sound app. It is giving users another reason to move back to its SmartThings platform.

The company has informed users that Samsung Sound will be discontinued on March 31, 2027. Until then, the app will continue to be available, but Samsung wants users to start using SmartThings for managing their compatible audio devices.

Samsung introduced the Sound app less than a year ago. It was created for newer Samsung soundbars and wireless speakers, including models launched in 2024 and later. Users could use the app to connect and control devices through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

However, this dedicated app did not provide all the features available through SmartThings. With SmartThings already supporting a wide range of Samsung products, the company has now decided to bring its audio controls back to the platform.

Image via TarunVats

This means users will not need to find another replacement app. Instead, they can download or continue using SmartThings to control their supported Samsung soundbars and speakers.

The shutdown is still several months away, so current Samsung Sound users have enough time to make the switch. Samsung has not said that users need to stop using the app immediately.

The decision also appears to be part of Samsung’s effort to simplify its app ecosystem. Rather than maintaining a separate application for audio products, the company is putting those controls back into its larger SmartThings platform.

For Samsung Sound users, the main message is simple: the app is going away, but their compatible devices can still be managed through SmartThings after March 31, 2027.

Google Messages users are facing problems when sending photos, GIFs, stickers, and Photomoji through RCS. The problem seems to affect messages sent from one Android phone to another Android phone.

Several users have reported the issue on Reddit. They say that media files do not send when RCS is turned on. However, some users say they can still send photos and other media to iPhones using RCS without any problem. This suggests that the problem may be related to RCS messages between Android phones.

Users have tried different ways to fix the problem. These include restarting their phones, clearing the Google Messages cache, force-stopping the app, resetting network settings, and turning RCS off and on again. However, these steps have not worked for everyone.

One user said that clearing the app’s storage fixed the problem. But this also caused another problem. The user lost the Photomoji section and could no longer create new Photomoji.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and One UI 7 App Icons, Home Screen

It is still not clear what is causing the issue or how many people are affected. Google has also not provided a clear explanation or confirmed a permanent fix.

The problem comes as Google is working on more RCS features, including video calling. However, the company may need to fix the current media-sending problem before adding more features.

For now, users who cannot send media through RCS can try switching to SMS/MMS. This may allow them to send their photos and other files until the RCS problem is fixed.

Samsung has pushed a major new design for its SmartThings app. The update brings a cleaner look, easier controls, and some useful new features. However, one surprising part is that iPhone users are getting the update before Samsung Galaxy users.

The new SmartThings update is now available on iOS with version 1.7.51. Samsung has not yet announced when the same update will arrive for Android phones.

The main change is the redesigned Home tab. It now makes it easier to find frequently used devices, routines, and other important information. Devices and routines are shown in smaller, pill-shaped cards. Users can also make these cards larger if they want bigger buttons.

Image via SamMobile

There’s another useful feature – Routine Insights. It shows the three routines that users use most often and displays their recent activity. This makes it easier to keep track of regular smart-home actions.

The Home tab can also show information about energy use, TV and monitor controls, family care alerts, suggested automations, and Favorites. Samsung has also redesigned its TV and monitor remote with a lighter look. Users can resize and move the remote around the screen.

The new iOS design uses lighter colors, rounded controls, and a floating navigation bar. It also includes elements of Apple’s Liquid Glass design.

For now, iPhone users can enjoy the new SmartThings experience, while Galaxy and other Android users will have to wait for Samsung to release the update.