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Nothing OS 4.0 Announced with Refined Design and New Features

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Nothing OS 4.0 First Look

Nothing has unveiled its next major software upgrade, Nothing OS 4.0, which is based on Android 16. First teased during the launch of the Nothing Phone (3), the update brings a refined design, improved performance, and a host of new features. The rollout will begin with an open beta program, giving users early access to explore the changes.

Human-Centric Approach

According to the company, Nothing OS 4.0 continues its vision of creating a simple and intuitive user experience. The software has been redesigned to ensure that hardware and software work together seamlessly, offering a clean and unified look. Nothing calls this a “human-centric” approach to mobile design.

Key Features in Nothing OS 4.0

Refined Design

The interface has been given a more polished look. Users will notice redesigned lock screen clocks, a cleaner Quick Settings layout, and a more cohesive overall design aimed at reducing visual clutter.

Nothing OS 4.0 Quick Settings and Lockscreen

Extra Dark Mode

A deeper and more advanced dark mode has been added. It not only looks better but is also designed to reduce eye strain and improve battery efficiency.

Extra Dark Mode

Pop-up View for Multitasking

Multitasking gets easier with a new Pop-up View feature. This allows users to keep two floating app icons on the screen, making it possible to switch between tasks without interrupting workflow.

Nothing OS 4.0 New Pop up view

App Optimization

Nothing OS 4.0 improves the way applications launch and run. With faster performance and better responsiveness, the system promises smoother day-to-day usage.

Camera and Gallery Improvements

The camera and gallery apps are also getting updated. Powered by the TrueLens Engine, these apps now have a refreshed interface and smoother controls, making photo capturing and viewing more intuitive.

AI with User Control

Unlike many software updates that push AI features, Nothing emphasizes user control. With new tools such as AI usage dashboards and status hints, users will have more transparency and authority over how AI functions on their device.

Nothing OS 4.0 Whisper and AI Usage

Other General Improvements

Additional refinements include a more responsive Always-On Display, improved brightness controls, and stronger connectivity for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Nothing OS 4.0 Supported Devices

The open beta of Nothing OS 4.0 will begin soon, offering an early look at all the new features along with an exclusive preview of Android 16.

The first device to receive the update will be the Nothing Phone (3). Later, it will expand to other models, including:

  • Nothing Phone (2)
  • Nothing Phone (2a)
  • Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
  • Nothing Phone (3a)
  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
  • CMF Phone 1
  • CMF Phone 2 Pro

However, the Nothing Phone (1) will not be updated to Nothing OS 4.0, as it has already completed its promised three years of software updates. Still, Nothing has confirmed that Phone (1) will continue receiving security updates for one more year.

Ashok Mor (also known as TechiBee) owns a YouTube channel named TechiBee. He has been providing various tips, tricks and latest tech videos in the world of smartphones.

Android

Google Introduces Android Bench: New Benchmark Ranks Best AI Models for Android App Development

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Illustration representing Google Android Bench benchmark evaluating 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.

Also Read: OnePlus 15s vs OnePlus 13s: Expected Upgrades in Processor, Battery, and Camera for the Next Compact Flagship

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Google

Google Play Store Battery Drain Warning: Android Will Soon Alert Users About Power-Hungry Apps

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Google Play Store app icon displayed on an Android smartphone screen alongside Facebook and Galaxy Store icons.

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.

depositphotos 64742243 stock photo google play logo on google

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

Also Read: iOS 26.4 Beta 3 Released: Apple Rolls Out Revised Developer Build With New Apple Music and Security Updates

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iOS

iOS 26.4 Beta 3 Released: Apple Rolls Out Revised Developer Build With New Apple Music and Security Updates

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iOS 26.4 update graphic with pastel background and large “26.4” text representing Apple’s upcoming software update.

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.

49462 96681 Apple Music Header xl

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.

52ff0a1bb36593f02df508e65001d20a 1

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.

Apple WWDC25 iOS 26 Home Screen customization 250609 big.jpg.large

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.

ios 17 iphone 15 pro music playlists create new playlist add music

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

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