Google accused European Union antitrust watchdogs of blundering their way through a probe that culminated in a record €4.3 billion ($4.5 billion) fine for allegedly abusing the market power of its Android mobile-phone ecosystem.

The regulator ruled that Google had unfairly used its dominance to strongarm device manufacturers and network operators into making sure that traffic on Android devices went to its own search engine.

Despite some recent headlines, iPhones remain safer than Androids given Apple’s tighter restrictions and control of its ecosystem. But Google is catching up — and Samsung is moving even faster to narrow the gap. Now, a new Android upgrade for 2025 could make Androids more like iPhones than ever before — but there’s a twist.

Google has begun its final attempt to overturn a €4.3 billion (about $4.4 billion) fine it received from the EU over its Android market dominance back in 2018. The antitrust decision was upheld in 2022 but reduced to €4.

Most Android phones currently support a double-tap gesture of the power button, which typically opens the system camera application. The new option to use the shortcut for Google Wallet has to be inspired by iPhones, where a double-tap of the power button opens the Wallet app.

Google spent $250 million to acuire engineers from HTC Vive for Android XR, echoing moves it made with HTC for the Pixel in 2017.

Google is squaring off against regulators from the European Commissions today in the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

Google is officially launching a new Android security feature for Pixel devices with Android 15 to prevent phone thieves from accessing your digital accounts. The feature, called Identity Check, requires biometric authentication to access some account and device settings when you’re not at a trusted location (such as your home or your workplace).

As highlighted by credible Android analyst Mishaal Rahman in a report for Android Authority, last week's Android 16 beta and accompanying documentation have now shed extra light on upcoming features that users who rely on hearing aids can be on the lookout for.

Sony has already detailed the changes Android 15 brings to the Xperia 10 V on its support page. In addition to Private Space — one of Android 15's standout features — the update includes a redesigned Quick Settings panel and the Dashboard function added to the Side Sense screen. Here's the full changelog for the update:

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