Google Teases Android 18 With New Graphics Features

Google has given Android users an early look at what could be coming with Android 18, teasing new graphics features that are expected to give developers more options for creating visually rich apps.

The details appeared in the agenda for Google’s upcoming Android Dev Summit, which will take place on October 28 and 29, 2026. The event will bring Android leadership and developers together for sessions covering the latest developments across the platform.

One of the sessions specifically mentions Android 18 and promises “powerful new graphics features”. Google is also expected to demonstrate new visual effects that developers can use in their Android applications.

Android 18 Could Bring New Visual Effects

According to the Android Dev Summit agenda, Google plans to show developers how to create new effects using Jetpack Compose and Android 18.

The examples mentioned include mesh gradients and progressive blurs. These effects could give developers more flexibility when designing interfaces and other visual elements inside Android apps.

Google also plans to discuss ways developers can improve the performance of graphics effects without sacrificing battery life or frame rates. This suggests that the focus will not only be on making apps look better but also on ensuring that the effects can run efficiently on supported devices.

Android Dev Summit Will Reveal More Details

The Android Dev Summit is returning in 2026 after Google's previous focused Android developer summit in 2022.

The two-day event will be held at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, with an extended event also planned in London. Its programme will cover areas including AI experiences, Android XR, app development and performance tools.

The Android 18 graphics session is therefore one of several areas Google is expected to discuss at the event.

What To Expect From Android 18

Google has not yet provided a full list of Android 18 features. The mention in the summit agenda is an early indication of what the company is preparing rather than a complete announcement of the next Android version.

For now, the graphics improvements are among the clearest details Google has publicly teased. More information could emerge when the Android Dev Summit takes place in October.

The new graphics capabilities may be particularly useful for developers working on modern app interfaces, animations and other visual effects. Google is also expected to discuss Android's growing focus on AI and other areas during the event.

For Android users, the full Android 18 feature set is still to be revealed, but Google's early tease suggests that graphics and visual design could receive more attention in the next major version.

Google Launches Googlebook Laptops With Gemini AI And Android Integration

Google has launched a new line of laptops called Googlebook, bringing Gemini AI features and deeper Android integration to a new generation of computers.

The company unveiled Googlebook as a new laptop platform designed to combine the strengths of Android with the desktop experience users expect from a computer. The first Googlebook laptops are being introduced by manufacturers including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo.

Googlebook Brings Android Technology To Laptops

Googlebook is built around Android technology while retaining desktop foundations developed from ChromeOS. This allows the laptops to support native Android apps while offering a traditional computer experience.

Users can access Android applications through Google Play and take advantage of closer connections between their Googlebook and Android phones.

Google says this approach is intended to make moving between a phone and a laptop more seamless, with features that allow the two devices to work together more closely.

Gemini AI Built Into Googlebook

Gemini is a major part of the Googlebook experience, with Google's AI assistant built into the operating system.

Users can interact with Gemini to get help with tasks, find information and work with content on their computer. Googlebook also introduces AI-powered features designed specifically for the laptop environment.

One of these is Magic Pointer, which uses AI to help users interact with content on the screen. Google has also introduced tools such as Rambler and Create My Widget to expand what users can do with the computer.

Googlebook Supports Android Apps

A major part of the new platform is its support for Android apps. Rather than requiring users to rely only on traditional desktop software, Googlebook allows compatible Android applications to run natively.

The laptops can also work with Android phones, giving users access to features and information across both devices.

This makes Android a more important part of Google's laptop strategy while Googlebook continues to provide a desktop-focused interface.

Googlebook Laptops And Battery Life

The first Googlebook laptops are designed as premium computers, with Google highlighting long battery life alongside their AI and Android capabilities.

Google says the devices can deliver up to 14 hours of video playback, although actual battery life will vary depending on the model and how the laptop is being used.

The first Googlebook devices are being produced by several major computer manufacturers, giving users different hardware options.

Googlebook Price And Availability

Googlebook laptops start at $899, with pre-orders opening ahead of their retail launch.

Google says the first devices will become available from October 4 in the United States, followed by availability in several other markets.

The launch marks Google's latest attempt to bring its AI technology and Android ecosystem closer to the traditional laptop experience.

With Gemini built into Googlebook and support for Android apps and phone connectivity, Google is positioning the new platform as a computer that combines its mobile and desktop technologies in one place.

Meta Introduces Camera-Free AI Glasses

Meta has introduced a new pair of camera-free AI glasses as the company expands its wearable technology lineup with a model focused on audio, calls and hands-free access to artificial intelligence.

The company unveiled the Ray-Ban Meta Audio at Meta Connect 2026 on September 23, describing it as its first-ever audio glasses. Unlike Meta’s existing Ray-Ban Meta models, the new glasses do not have a camera and are built around audio and voice-based interaction.

Developed in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the glasses combine open-ear audio with access to Meta AI. Users can listen to music and podcasts, make calls and interact with the AI assistant without having to take out their phones.

Ray-Ban Meta Audio Design

The Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses weigh 43g, making them Meta’s lightest and slimmest AI glasses, according to the company.

The glasses feature adjustable temple tips, adjustable or swappable nose pads and overextension hinges designed to provide a more adaptable fit. They are available in two Ray-Ban styles: Clubmaster and Burbank.

Meta says the glasses are offered in 23 colour and lens combinations, with both styles supporting a wide range of optical prescriptions.

The camera-free construction also distinguishes the Ray-Ban Meta Audio from Meta’s other AI glasses, which include cameras for capturing photos and videos.

AI Features Without A Camera

The absence of a camera does not remove the AI capabilities built into the glasses.

Users can interact with Meta AI through voice commands while wearing the glasses. Meta says its AI glasses can provide information such as sports scores and local recommendations, as well as translate live conversations.

Meta is also bringing its Muse personal AI agent to its AI glasses. The company says Muse can provide hands-free assistance with tasks and help users manage activities throughout the day.

By removing the camera, the Ray-Ban Meta Audio takes a different approach to AI-powered eyewear, placing audio and voice interaction at the centre of the experience.

Audio, Calls And Podcasts

Audio is the main focus of the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses.

Users can listen to music and podcasts while remaining aware of their surroundings. The glasses can also handle phone calls, with Meta saying the design captures the user's voice more clearly than earbuds.

Meta claims the glasses can provide up to 12 hours of use on a single charge. The included charging case provides up to an additional 48 hours of battery life.

The glasses therefore combine several functions commonly associated with wireless earbuds while keeping the controls and audio hardware within a pair of everyday glasses.

Camera-Free Approach

The camera-free design gives the Ray-Ban Meta Audio a distinct position within Meta’s growing AI glasses range.

Rather than using cameras to capture photos and videos, the glasses are designed around audio playback, calls and voice interaction with Meta AI.

This approach also removes the need for camera hardware and recording functionality, allowing Meta to focus the device on hands-free audio and AI assistance.

The company is continuing to offer camera-equipped models for users who want features such as hands-free photography and video recording.

Meta Expands Its AI Glasses Lineup

The Ray-Ban Meta Audio was introduced alongside the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, the next generation of Meta’s camera-equipped AI glasses.

The Gen 3 model features a 12MP camera capable of recording 3K Ultra HD video and offers up to nine hours of battery life. Meta has also added a six-microphone array that it says reduces more than 90% of background noise during calls and voice commands.

The company also announced new styles, colours and other additions across its Meta Glasses and Ray-Ban ranges.

Meta says its expanded lineup will include more than 100 different AI glasses options across Ray-Ban, Oakley and Meta Glasses by the end of 2026.

Availability

Meta introduced the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses on September 23, 2026, during Meta Connect. The company made the glasses available for pre-order following the announcement.

Meta says shipping for the Ray-Ban Meta Audio is scheduled to begin on October 13, 2026. This means customers who pre-order the glasses will receive them after the scheduled shipping date rather than at the time of announcement.

The glasses will be offered in two styles, Clubmaster and Burbank, with 23 colour and lens combinations. Both styles are also compatible with a wide range of optical prescriptions.

The Ray-Ban Meta Audio forms part of Meta’s wider expansion of AI-powered eyewear, which includes camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta models and other glasses developed with EssilorLuxottica. Meta says it plans to have more than 100 AI glasses options across its brands by the end of the year.

What The Ray-Ban Meta Audio Offers

The Ray-Ban Meta Audio gives Meta a camera-free option for users interested in AI-powered eyewear without the need for image or video capture.

Its main functions centre on listening to audio, making calls and interacting with Meta AI through voice commands.

 The glasses also retain the familiar Ray-Ban eyewear design while adding hardware intended for extended daily use.

With the new model, Meta is broadening its AI glasses strategy beyond camera-equipped devices and placing greater emphasis on audio and hands-free AI interaction.

Apple Introduces New Audio Intelligence Features for Apple Watch

Apple has introduced a new set of Audio Intelligence features for the Apple Watch, bringing artificial intelligence-powered tools designed to help users catch missed parts of conversations, recognise important sounds and identify music automatically.

The features are available on the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, which use Apple’s S11 chip and built-in microphones to power the new audio capabilities. Apple says the features are designed with privacy and accessibility in mind.

Live Rewind Helps Users Catch Missed Conversation

One of the new features is Live Rewind, which allows users to revisit the last 15 seconds of speech.

By double-pressing the Digital Crown, the Apple Watch can display a text snippet of what was just said. Users can then ask Siri about the content or save the information to the Siri app for later reference.

Apple says Live Rewind does not continuously transcribe conversations in the background. It only activates when the user deliberately double-presses the Digital Crown.

The feature could be useful in situations where someone misses a sentence during a conversation or has difficulty hearing what was said in a noisy environment.

Siri Recap Summarises Conversations

Apple is also introducing Siri Recap, which uses Apple Intelligence to create high-level summaries of conversations throughout the day.

Rather than providing a full transcript, Siri Recap produces a shorter summary intended to help users remember the main points of a conversation. Users can choose when the feature is active, including setting schedules based on time or location.

Apple says Siri Recap summaries are automatically deleted after seven days if users do not save or export them.

Sound Recognition Detects Important Sounds

The new Audio Intelligence system also includes Sound Recognition, which can alert users when the Apple Watch detects sounds such as sirens, alarms and doorbells.

The feature is designed in part to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing stay aware of important sounds around them. The Apple Watch can provide an alert even when the paired iPhone is not nearby.

Apple says Sound Recognition can be enabled through the iPhone's settings, while users who already have the feature enabled on their iPhone can have it automatically enabled on the Apple Watch.

Shazam Can Automatically Identify Music

Apple is also expanding music recognition on the Apple Watch through Shazam.

With automatic Music Recognition enabled, the watch can detect music playing nearby and display the song title and artist in the Music Recognition widget in the Smart Stack without requiring the user to tap the widget.

The feature builds on Shazam's existing music identification capabilities but makes the process more automatic on the latest Apple Watch models.

Apple Focuses on Privacy

Apple says privacy is a key part of how Audio Intelligence works.

The company says each Audio Intelligence feature is opt-in, while Live Rewind and Siri Recap give users additional controls over when the features are active. Live Rewind processes speech on the Apple Watch and iPhone, while Siri Recap uses Apple's Private Cloud Compute for part of the summarisation process.

Apple also says data sent to Private Cloud Compute is not stored or accessible by Apple. Saved Siri Recap summaries and Live Rewind snippets are protected with end-to-end encryption when synced through iCloud.

Availability

Audio Intelligence is available on the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.

Apple's support documentation says Sound Recognition and automatic Music Recognition with Shazam are available with supported devices, while Live Rewind and Siri Recap will arrive in beta later in 2026, starting with English.

Live Rewind and Siri Recap also require a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone and Siri AI.

With these features, Apple is extending its artificial intelligence capabilities beyond the iPhone and into everyday conversations, sounds and music on the wrist.