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Google Archive

Archives for July 2026

Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Google is working on a live translation widget.

Android Authority found and enabled the home screen widget after digging through the latest version of the Google Translate app, which could make Android’s “Live Translate” feature easier to access, and keep it working if you close the app. We don’t know when (or if) it’ll roll out, but this is what the widget currently looks like:

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
YouTube’s AI chatbot can make your next video thumbnail.

Aside from labeling and filtering AI slop, YouTube says you can directly chat with its Ask Studio bot to build thumbnails that are “tailored to your video’s specific themes and to your specific style.” It’s also added custom thumbnail uploads for Shorts if you’re in the YouTube Partner Program, and suggested thumbnail frames for Shorts.

Screenshot of the YouTube Ask Studio UI
Image: YouTube
Lauren Feiner
Lauren Feiner
Trump accuses EU of ‘ROBBING’ US tech companies after $1 billion fine against Google.

President Donald Trump threatened a “substantial” tariff on Europe for what he claimed were “discriminatory” fines against US tech companies over alleged competition violations, most recently involving Google. While Trump claimed Europe’s high fines started during the Biden administration, some early fines were also imposed during Trump’s first term.

Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
More budget Google Home cameras arrive at Walmart.

The Google partnership has yielded two new Onn outdoor security cameras: the $34.87 Outdoor Camera Plug-In and $77 Floodlight Camera Hardwired. Each 1080p HDR camera features live views, night vision and two-way talk accessible from the Google Home app. You’ll need a Premium subscription to unlock AI-driven features like event descriptions, searchable video history, and daily summaries.

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Google Home security on a budget, until you add that recurring subscription fee.
Google Home security on a budget, until you add that recurring subscription fee.
Image: Google
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Gemini Live is now available on some early Google Home devices.

Google’s more powerful, conversational assistant for the home is now available on first-generation Google Home Mini speaker and Google Nest Hub display. You’ll need a Google Home Premium subscription to make it work though.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Google’s expanding access to Gemini Spark.

The new agentic AI platform, announced at Google I/O earlier this year, will be available to Google AI Pro subscribers in the US starting today. It’s also rolling out to Google AI Ultra subscribers worldwide with local language support. Access to the OpenClaw-like agent was previously limited to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the US.

Google hit with $1 billion fine for breaking EU antitrust rulesGoogle hit with $1 billion fine for breaking EU antitrust rules
Dominic Preston, Jess Weatherbed and 1 more
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Google says Gemini now has 950 million monthly users.

It’s a sizeable jump from the 750 million Gemini users Google reported in February. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, shared the stat as part of its Q2 2026 earnings report (pdf), which also revealed a 24 percent increase in revenue to $119.8 billion.

Here’s what Samsung’s smart glasses actually look like

Plus the first specs, including a battery life better than Meta’s.

Dominic Preston