Google is changing Play Store fees, giving AI deep access to your mail, and dropping a cute Android plushie

Google has put forward a new plan to change how the Google Play Store works, following its recent court case loss to Epic Games. The company wants to make it much easier for people to use app stores that are not the official Play Store. Starting with a future version, like Android 17, users will be able to download and set up a different app store from a website with just a single click.

The main financial change is to the money Google takes from developers. They are proposing to lower their service fees. For payments made through systems other than Google Play Billing, the fee will be cut to either 9% for most items or 20% if the purchase gives a significant edge in a video game.

For developers who stick to Google’s own payment system, the fee for their first $1 million in yearly sales will drop to a very low 5%, down from 15%. These changes are an effort to end the ongoing legal disputes.

Speaking of major technology changes, Google’s advanced AI, called Gemini Deep Research, is getting a big update that allows it to look into a user’s personal files. The feature can now check information stored in your Google Drive (like Docs, Sheets, and PDFs), as well as messages in your Gmail and Google Chat.

This is a huge step up because it used to only be able to search the public internet or files you uploaded right when you asked. Now, it can handle complex tasks, such as creating a full report by gathering facts from your team’s project plans, spreadsheets, and long email chains.

Google is also expanding its regular search tool’s AI power, known as “AI Mode.” This helpful digital assistant is now easier to access on your phone, appearing as a quick-access button on the Chrome New Tab page for Android and iOS users in the United States. It will soon be available in over 160 more countries and new languages.

Beyond searching for information, “AI Mode” is getting better at helping you book things. Users can now ask it to arrange appointments for beauty and wellness services or buy tickets for events, adding to the restaurant reservations it could already handle.

Finally, for device owners, the new Pixel 10 phones are receiving an update that adds a selection of new sounds. The “Sounds” app is being updated with a fresh look that uses colors matching the Pixel phone’s design. More notably, it adds 18 new ringtones, notification sounds, and alarm options to the “Sound Matters” collection.

These new sounds are all high-quality recordings of nature and wildlife, including unique ones like a “Frog Chorus” and “Cicadas Scree,” all captured in the wild region of Hokkaido.

To round off the news, Google has launched a new set of merchandise for the holiday shopping season. The familiar small green robot, the Android mascot plushie (called “The Bot”), is now being sold for $36 on the main Google Store. Other new items include a stacking block game called “Search ‘n Stack” and a set of espresso cups, all featuring Google’s signature bright, colorful design.