u/Mlp_2467

Since it was only partial here, the sun was still super bright and hard to shoot.

The crescent is actually a lens flare, but it captured the exact shape. No filter, no edit.

Google rebranded its AI note-taking tool and integrated it into the core ecosystem.

Search integration (free): You can now save articles and research directly into your notebooks with one click inside Google search's AI mode. Generating AI podcasts and summaries stays free.

Coding upgrade (paid): Subscribed users (AI Ultra/Pro) get the new Gemini 3.5 "Antigravity" update, allowing the AI to run Python code to analyze complex spreadsheets and charts.

Are you guys already using this for research?

It just captured reality. The dynamic range is great—the texture on the rock in the foreground is sharp, the trees down in the valley have nice detail, and the clouds aren't blown out at all.

It’s a super quick way to whip up designs right on your phone.

What you need:

Google app and Canva installed.

Gemini set as your main assistant.

Canva extension enabled in your Gemini settings (under your profile in the Google app).

Same account logged in everywhere.

Just ask Gemini to "create a birthday invite" (or whatever you need). It’ll show you a few styles to pick from. When you tap one, it opens right in Canva as a fully editable project.

The previews in Gemini are just to help you pick a style—the actual template that opens in Canva might look a bit different. Once you're in the app, you can customize everything anyway.

Tried to capture the feeling of speed with a slow shutter. It’s crazy hard when you’re moving at 130 km/h! Despite the windshield reflections, I'm really happy with how the truck's motion blur and light trails blend with the sunset. It was a fun challenge.

The Camera Coach feature is available on the Pixel 10a. It uses AI to give you real-time suggestions for framing, camera modes, and angles to help improve your shots on the fly.

If you're looking to set it up, here is the quick way to do it:

Open the Camera app.

Tap the Camera Coach icon (camera with an AI sparkle ✨) in the top toolbar or top right of the screen.

If you don't see it, tap the Gear icon, go to the three-dot menu for Advanced Settings, and toggle on Camera Coach.

Is anyone actually using this regularly to level up their photos, or do you keep it off?

Google Keep has become my go-to for mobile note-taking thanks to Gemini integration, and it’s working out great.

For quick daily tasks, I’ve found that using Gemini extensions makes everything much faster:

Instant Retrieval: I can just ask Gemini to pull specific information from my notes (like "get me home maintenance list from Google Keep"), and it finds it instantly.

Smart Creation: It’s excellent for creating checklists; I can tell Gemini to "Create a home maintenance checklist for seasonal upkeep," and it generates a ready-to-use list that I can insert directly into a note.

To get this working, you just need to ensure the Google Workspace extension is enabled in your Gemini settings, which gives it permission to access your Workspace apps like Keep.

I noticed recently that Google has updated how Android backups consume storage in your Google Account.

Starting July 7, 2026, several types of system data that were previously excluded are now being counted against your storage limit (the free 15 GB tier or your Google One plan). This includes:

- SMS messages (the actual text)

- Call history

- Device settings

While Google states that this will only increase the average backup size by about 40 MB for most users, it is worth checking your account. As part of this change, Google is providing more granular control, allowing you to toggle off backups for SMS, call history, and device settings if you prefer.

You can manage these settings by going to Settings > Accounts and backup > Google Backup > Other device data

Follow these quick steps to make sure everything is set up correctly:

1. Enable Gemini Activity

The feature requires your activity history to be turned on.

Open the Gemini app.

Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.

Go to Settings > Gemini Apps Activity.

Make sure it is set to Turn on.

2. Enable the Google Play Extension

In the Gemini app, tap your profile icon again.

Select Extensions.

Find Google Play in the list and toggle it on.

3. Check Requirements

Make sure you are signed in with a personal Google Account (it won't work with Workspace/business accounts).

Ensure your Gemini app and Google Play Store app are fully updated to the latest versions.

Once that's done, you can just ask Gemini things like, "Recommend a good logic puzzle game" or "Install [App Name]".