Google will soon ban third-party call-recording apps from the Play Store. First highlighted by a developer of an affected app, Google made the announcement in a Google Play policy update that becomes effective on May 11. Once in force, developers who want to submit apps to the Play Store will no longer be able to use the Android Accessibility API to record calls, killing the utility of call-recording apps on Android.
Google hasn’t allowed third-party call recording on Android officially for years now. It’s no surprise as call recording is a legal minefield, with different countries and even states having their own rules. If you’re using a first-party phone app, you’ll notice that this feature appears or disappears depending on where your phone thinks you are, and third-party recording apps hacking onto the company Accessibility API were one way to get around this.
That won’t be the case anymore. As per Google’s new policy; “The Accessibility API is not designed and cannot be requested for remote call audio recording.”
This won’t affect first-party apps like Google’s own Phone app, which ships on a range of Android phones from Pixels to OnePlus phones to even some Xiaomi phones. These system apps already have elevated permissions, and they won’t need to piggyback onto non-standard APIs to capture call audio.
The rules go into effect on May 11, just as Google I/O kicks into gear. However, with Android being an open operating system, there’s still the possibility that app developers make their apps accessible on third-party app stores or even via direct download to customers. After all, it’s not so devastating if Google bans you from the Play Store as long as the option to go elsewhere remains.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.