Currently, navigation uses a blue arrow that you can swap for a car icon only after starting. A new update would move this customization earlier, letting you choose your vehicle icon before you even hit “Start.”You can change this arrow to different car icons, but only after you begin your trip.

Right now, you can only select a different car icon once navigation is active. By tapping your blue arrow icon or checking the menu, you can make the change, but this requires you to already be en route or about to begin.

Google Maps version 25.42.02.817770306 shows signs of letting you set your car icon in settings before starting a drive. This means you can personalize your map safely ahead of time, avoiding distractions while you’re on the move.

Google Maps

To make navigation more personal, Google Maps added new car shapes and colors for Android this year, following their iOS release. The move to let users set this preference in the settings menu is a smart safety and convenience feature, enabling preparation before you drive.

While it’s unclear when this will be widely available, Google commonly phases in new features. Once live, this update will allow for greater personalization and a more focused driving experience by minimizing in-journey screen interactions.

In a new teaser for its fans, Google has not only hinted at an Android PC but has finally pinned down a launch date: 2026. This confirms the plan to debut the first Android-powered computer next year, complete with a suite of dynamic features.

At the Qualcomm Snapdragon 2025 Summit, Google confirmed a 2026 launch for its Android PC and outlined its vision for the innovative product.

Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem at Google, took the stage to outline the vision for the Android PC. He stated it would carefully balance introducing new changes with maintaining the reliable user experience of ChromeOS.

“We’re basically taking the ChromeOS experience, and we’re re-baselining the technology underneath it on Android. That combination is something we are super excited about for next year.”

The upcoming Android PC has been described as “incredible” by Qualcomm. Google’s Sameer Samat added that the firm is prioritizing the acceleration of AI advancements on Android for a rapid deployment to the laptop form factor, a step intended to create a seamlessly integrated ecosystem.

HarmonyOS PC

It is interesting how Google is planning to follow Huawei’s footsteps in the PC world. The Chinese OEM is the first to bring its self-made smartphone OS to computers with HarmonyOS PC.

For Google, this move represents a potential strategy to counter Huawei’s influence in the PC sector. With HarmonyOS PCs currently limited to the Chinese market, Google has an open opportunity to gain a foothold internationally.

Next year will be decisive. The world will be watching to see if Google’s Android PC can rise to the surface and pose a real challenge to HarmonyOS.

In a first for smartphones, Google has integrated satellite calling for WhatsApp directly into the new Pixel 10.

In a surprise move, Google launched its new Pixel 10 lineup—including the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and 10 Pro Fold—and a hidden feature was revealed. Hours after the Made by Google event, the company announced on X that the phones support WhatsApp satellite calls.

The Pixel 10 series phones can make voice and video calls on WhatsApp without a network. It leverages the Pixel’s satellite-compatible hardware. Google revealed that it’s preinstalled, but it will start to function on August 28, 2025.

Pixel 10.

The new satellite feature on the Pixel 10 allows you to stay connected in remote areas, though it may require a specific data plan from a participating carrier. Look for more information as the phones hit stores.

The satellite race isn’t new for Samsung. Many of its phones already offer satellite texting in the US, where carriers like T-Mobile have rolled out a service in partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink.

Google may have the lead with this feature, but Samsung is a close competitor. The company is likely already working with carriers to bring WhatsApp satellite calls to its Galaxy phones.

Galaxy S26 series launch seems a nice time for this feature reveal. But we may see an early announcement as soon as Samsung’s deal with carriers is finalized.

The integration of satellite connectivity into smartphones represents a significant advancement. This technology is a crucial asset for public safety, enabling communication during emergencies when conventional cellular networks are unavailable.