News
Google Resolves ‘Missing Contacts’ Woes for Google Pixel and Samsung Users
Several users of Google Pixel and Samsung smartphones have reported a disconcerting issue whereby their contacts have mysteriously disappeared from their Android devices.
Google has provided an update on the issue, acknowledging the existence of a bug within Google Contacts that caused contact data to be absent for certain Android and web users. However, the tech giant clarified that this was a data access issue and assured users that no contact data was directly affected. Google has since rolled out a bug fix to address the problem for affected users.
How to Resolve the Missing Contacts Problem
To resolve the missing contacts problem, Google recommends users manually sync their contacts to their Android devices via the Google Contacts sync feature. This can be done by navigating to the device’s Settings app, selecting Google, then tapping on Settings for Google apps. From there, users should choose Google Contacts sync, check the sync status, and tap the sync arrow to initiate the sync process. Another option to resolve the issue and retrieve contact data is to refresh contacts.google.com in a web browser. This can help rectify the problem.
Impacted users have reported opening the Google Contacts app on their Android devices only to find the alarming message, “No contacts in this account.” Fortunately, all contacts still appear intact when accessed online at contacts.google.com, albeit with a slightly diminished user experience on mobile devices.
“We have fully rolled out a bug fix for affected users.
Users can manually sync contacts to their Android device via Google Contacts sync (open your device’s Settings app > Google > Settings for Google apps > Google Contacts sync > Status > tap Sync arrow) or refresh contacts.google.com in their web browser for the fix to take effect and see their contact data.”
In a statement to 9to5Google
While attempts to restore or re-sync contacts have proven ineffective for some users, others have found success by navigating to the Settings app, selecting Passwords & accounts, then their [@gmail.com address], followed by Account sync, and finally toggling the Contacts option.
It remains uncertain whether this issue is directly related, but it’s worth noting that Google recently made changes with version 23.20+ of Play services. These changes stipulated that disabling sync with Google Contacts would remove previously synced contacts from Android phones. The current missing contacts problem users are facing may be connected to this underlying alteration.
Numerous reports of this issue have surfaced within the past day, primarily among users of various Google Pixel models spanning different generations. The problem does not appear to be tied to a specific operating system version, including the recently released Android 13 QPR3 update. Interestingly, there have also been reports from Samsung and other original equipment manufacturer (OEM) device users, indicating that this is potentially a broader issue associated with Google Play services.
Google is expected to continue investigating the matter and will likely release further updates or instructions for affected users to resolve the missing contacts problem on their Android devices.
Android
Google Introduces Android Bench: New Benchmark Ranks Best AI Models for Android App Development
What is Android Bench and Why Google Created It
Android Bench is a newly introduced benchmark developed by Google to evaluate how effectively artificial intelligence models can assist in Android app development. The tool is designed to measure the real-world performance of AI coding models by testing their ability to complete practical Android development tasks. With AI becoming increasingly integrated into software development workflows, benchmarks like Android Bench aim to provide developers with a clearer understanding of which models perform best.
Google created Android Bench to simulate realistic development scenarios rather than simple coding challenges. The benchmark focuses on tasks commonly encountered by Android developers, including working with Jetpack Compose, implementing application architecture, handling asynchronous operations with coroutines, and managing UI logic. By evaluating AI models in these real-world conditions, the benchmark provides a more accurate representation of how useful they are for developers.
According to the benchmark results, several leading AI models have already been evaluated. Google’s Gemini 3.1 Pro currently ranks at the top of the leaderboard, demonstrating strong performance in generating Android-specific code and solving complex development problems. Other high-performing models include Claude Opus 4.6, GPT-5.2 Codex, Opus 4.5, and Gemini 3 Pro. These models were tested on their ability to generate functional code, follow Android development best practices, and solve structured programming challenges.
The introduction of Android Bench highlights the growing competition among AI companies to create models that can assist developers more effectively. As AI coding assistants become more common in integrated development environments, benchmarks like this help developers choose tools that can reliably speed up development while maintaining code quality.
Another important aspect of Android Bench is its focus on practical evaluation. Instead of simply checking whether a model can generate code snippets, the benchmark analyzes whether the generated code actually works in a realistic Android project environment. This ensures that the rankings reflect real usability rather than theoretical capabilities.
As AI continues to transform the software development landscape, tools like Android Bench could become essential for measuring progress in AI-assisted programming. By providing transparent rankings and standardized testing conditions, Google’s benchmark may influence how developers and companies evaluate AI coding tools in the future.
Google Play Store Battery Drain Warning: Android Will Soon Alert Users About Power-Hungry Apps
Google Play Store Battery Drain Warning Explained
Google Play Store battery drain warning is a new feature being developed by Google that will alert users before installing apps that may consume excessive battery power. The update is designed to help Android users avoid apps that run heavy background processes and negatively impact device battery life.
According to recent reports, Google plans to introduce warning labels on the Play Store listing page when an app is detected to use significantly more battery than expected. This feature will rely on data collected through Android’s performance monitoring system to determine whether an app is draining power inefficiently.
The goal of this change is to improve transparency in the Play Store ecosystem while encouraging developers to optimize their apps for better battery efficiency.
How Google Detects Battery-Draining Apps
Google will use Android’s internal metric known as Excessive Partial Wake Locks to evaluate how frequently an app keeps the device awake in the background. When apps trigger this condition too often, it indicates that they are consuming power unnecessarily.
Apps that exceed the defined threshold in a notable percentage of user sessions may receive a warning label in the Play Store. The alert will inform users that the application may use more battery than expected compared with similar apps.
This system is expected to rely on aggregated performance data collected from Android devices, ensuring that warnings are based on real-world usage rather than isolated testing.
What It Means for Android Users and Developers
For users, the new Play Store warning system could make it easier to avoid installing poorly optimized applications. Battery performance is one of the most common concerns among smartphone users, and identifying problematic apps before installation may significantly improve daily device usage.
For developers, the feature introduces stronger incentives to optimize background processes, reduce unnecessary wake locks, and improve app efficiency. Applications that trigger battery drain warnings may also lose visibility in recommendations or rankings within the Play Store.
Overall, this upcoming feature reflects Google’s broader effort to improve Android performance, transparency, and user experience. By highlighting battery-intensive apps directly in the Play Store, Android users will gain better control over the apps they install and the impact those apps have on their device’s battery life.
Source: Phonearena
iOS
iOS 26.4 Beta 3 Released: Apple Rolls Out Revised Developer Build With New Apple Music and Security Updates
Apple Releases Revised iOS 26.4 Beta 3 for Developers
iOS 26.4 Beta 3 has been released by Apple as a revised build for developers, bringing several refinements ahead of the stable public rollout. The update follows the earlier beta version and appears to focus on improving stability, security protections, and Apple Music features.
The revised beta build is currently available to registered developers through the Software Update section in Settings. Apple occasionally pushes revised beta builds when bugs or installation issues are discovered in the original release.
One of the most notable changes in iOS 26.4 Beta 3 is the expansion of messaging security features. Apple is reportedly testing end-to-end encryption support for RCS messaging, which could significantly improve privacy when communicating between iPhone and Android devices.
New Apple Music Features and System Improvements
Another highlight in the update is a new experimental feature inside Apple Music called Playlist Playground. This feature uses AI-driven prompts to generate playlists based on user preferences or mood, making music discovery more interactive.
Apple Music is also gaining a Concerts Near You discovery section. This feature helps users find nearby live music events related to artists they listen to frequently, improving the integration between music streaming and live performances.
Security improvements are also part of the update. Apple has enabled Stolen Device Protection by default, which strengthens security when an iPhone is stolen by requiring biometric authentication for sensitive actions.
In addition, the beta introduces a new Ambient Music widget, allowing users to quickly start relaxing audio from the home screen. Apple has also reportedly made adjustments to sleep tracking metrics to provide more accurate insights for users who rely on the Health ecosystem.
Although these changes are still being tested, they offer a clear look at Apple’s direction with iOS 26.4. The company is focusing on improving privacy, expanding AI-powered features, and enhancing the overall ecosystem experience.
The final version of iOS 26.4 is expected to roll out to the public after Apple completes the developer and public beta testing cycle.
Source: macrumors
Also Read: Motorola Edge 70 Fusion Launched: 144Hz Quad-Curved Display, Snapdragon Chip and Massive Battery