A federal judge has expanded on the remedies decided for the Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Google, ruling in favor of putting a one-year limit on the contracts that make Google’s search and AI services the default on devices, Bloomberg reports. Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling on Friday means Google will have to renegotiate these contacts every year, which would create a fairer playing field for its competitors. The new details come after Mehta ruled in September that Google would not have to sell off Chrome, as the DOJ proposed at the end of 2024.
This all follows the ruling last fall that Google illegally maintained an internet search monopoly through actions including paying companies such as Apple to make its search engine the default on their devices and making exclusive deals around the distribution of services such as Search, Chrome and Gemini. Mehta’s September ruling put an end to these exclusive agreements and stipulates that Google will have to share some of its search data with rivals to “narrow the scale gap” its actions have created.
The Google Store has kicked off its 2025 Black Friday deals, with these Pixel offers available until December 2-6.
Update 12/6: Today is the final day to get a discount on the Pixel 10 series. This is the last part of Google Store’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale, with everything else expiring in recent days.
You can get $200 off the Pixel 10, $250 off the Pixel 10 Pro, or $300 off the Pixel 10 Pro XL. However, Amazon has better deals (by $50) on the base and largest model.
Google’s boosted trade-in values are now available until December 27, 2025. Towards Pixel 10 Pro:
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Pixel 9 Pro Fold
$680
Pixel 9 Pro XL
$550
Pixel 9 Pro
$500
Pixel 9
$350
Pixel Fold
$450
Pixel 8 Pro
$380
Pixel 8
$250
Pixel 8a
$130
Pixel 7 Pro
$240
Pixel 7
$175
Pixel 7a
$105
Pixel 6 Pro
$200
Pixel 6
$140
Pixel 6a
$80
Update: The first set of Google Store Black Friday deals end on December 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT. This includes all Pixel Watch 4 deals ($50 off Wi-Fi, $100 off LTE), as well as the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 discount:
However, while the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro discounts end on December 6, their boosted Google Store trade-in offers (up to $680) end this Tuesday.
Other offers ending after Cyber Monday:
The next wave of deals on Fitbit, Nest, Google TV Streamer, and the Pixel Tablet end on December 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Fitbit discounts include:
Pixel 10
The Pixel 10 series deals are available until December 6, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT. It starts with $200 off the Pixel 10, while the Pixel 10 Pro gets a $250 discount. The biggest deal is $300 off the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is also $300 off, but only until December 2nd. These deals match the earlier discount this month. You can also get $100 off the Pixel 9a until that date, while the Pixel 9 is down to $499 after $300 off.
Update: Google is also discounting the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL by $350, though some variants are not available (out of stock).
There are boosted trade-in values for the Pixel 10 series that end on December 2nd.
Pixel 10: $499 after $300 off now + $499 back over 24 monthly credits
Pixel 10 Pro: $699 after $300 off now + $500 back over 24 monthly credits
Pixel 10 Pro XL: $899 after $300 off now + $500 back over 24 monthly credits
Pixel 10 Pro Fold: $1,499 after $300 off now + $500 back over 24 monthly credits
You can also get Pixel Watch 4 LTE 41mm with a similar “$300 off now + $149.99 back over 24 monthly credits when you activate it on a new line.”
Pixel Watch 4
The first discount on the Pixel Watch 4 takes $50 off the Wi-Fi model, while you can save $100 on the LTE version. This is also available until December 2nd.
Meanwhile, it’s $199.99 for the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 after $100 off.
The estimated Powerball jackpot is $820 million. The lump sum payment before taxes would be about $378.2 million.
The Double Play is a feature that gives players in select locations another chance to match their Powerball numbers in a separate drawing. The Double Play drawing is held following the regular drawing and has a top cash prize of $10 million.
Powerball is held in 45 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The Double Play add-on feature is available for purchase in 13 lottery jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania and Michigan.
A $2 ticket gives you a one in 292.2 million chance at joining the hall of Powerball jackpot champions.
The drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. Eastern, Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The deadline to purchase tickets is 9:45 p.m.
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The big reveal for Meta’s next mixed reality glasses is being postponed until the first half of 2027, according to a report from Business Insider. Based on an internal memo from Maher Saba, the vice president of Meta’s Reality Labs Foundation, the report said that the company’s project, which is codenamed “Phoenix,” will no longer be scheduled for a 2026 debut.
In a separate memo, Meta execs explained that the delay would help deliver a more “polished and reliable experience.” According to BI, a memo from Meta’s Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns said this new release window is “going to give us a lot more breathing room to get this right.” Meta hasn’t publicly revealed many details about its Phoenix project, but The Information previously reported that it would feature a goggle-like form factor with an external power source, similar to how the Apple Vision Pro is attached to a battery pack.
In the memo from Saba, BI reported that Meta is also working on a “limited edition” wearable with the codename “Malibu 2.” Yesterday, Meta announced its acquisition of Limitless, a startup that recently developed an AI wearable called Pendant. Even though Meta’s current product portfolio is dominated by smart glasses and VR headsets, the Limitless acquisition and Malibu 2 project could hint at the company’s plans to expand its offerings.
Like most Google apps, Messages A/B tests many features. However, it takes the RCS/SMS client a rather long time to actually launch these capabilities in stable even after they are announced. From various reports, Google itself, and devices we’ve checked, this is the current state of Messages.
Update 12/6:
Still rolling out (beta)
These are Messages features that Google announced or have been spotted in the wild by beta users.
Link preview redesign
Link previews, including YouTube, are getting a new design that has a taller cover image. The page title is also larger with the domain accompanied by a favicon and more prominent background. However, Google has removed the article snippet in a downgrade to information density. The YouTube PiP is also back, but there’s no way to open the full app.
Universal Profile 3.0 adds support for the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol that makes possible cross-platform (Android-iOS) RCS that is end-to-end encrypted (E2EE).
You can check whether this is live for a conversation by long-pressing on a message and opening the redesigned Details page. The portion relevant to MLS is the “Encryption Protocol” section. Value “0” is the existing E2EE, while value “1” is the upcoming approach.
Read receipts redesign
Following the last redesign in early 2023, another revamp places read receipts in a circle at the bottom-right corner of message bubbles (and images).You swipe left to see all timestamps and the end-to-end encryption status, while you swipe left to reply/quote a message. This started rolling out in August 2024, with more people receiving it in November.
Ellipsis
Sending
Single check with ring
Sent
Double check with ring
Delivered
Double check solid circle
Read
In January 2025, Google tweaked the design to make the circular background white. In no longer matching the bubble color, the read receipts stand out a great deal more.
L-R: Current, redesign, latest
Recent launches (stable)
[New] Leave unknown group chats
Google will let you quickly “Leave group” when you’re invited by an unknown number, with options to Block and Report. This alert card above the text field explains how “Unknown sender added you” with the number prominently listed followed by how many people are in the conversation. Messages will note if anybody you know is part of the thread.
[New] Image viewer redesign
After first testing in June, Google has rolled out a redesign of the Messages image viewer. This fullscreen interface features a blurred background and the ability to swipe left/right. Your photo or video is at the center, with a tapping opening the full size. Various options are in the top-right corner, while the bottom row shows comments and frequent emojis.
Google has also updated how images are grouped together in the conversation view.
When you long-press on an image in your conversation or select/take a new one to send, there will be a “Remix” button in the bottom-left corner. This lets you transform it with a prompt using the Nano Banana model.
RCS must be enabled, with an initial rollout in English to: Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States. Google says there’s a “daily limit of image generations per user.”
A small tweak sees the gallery icon in the text field drop the corner camera. There are no changes to the combined viewfinder and gallery.
Old vs. new
Google Messages now has a fullscreen account menu to access Settings, Your profile, Archived, Spam & blocked, Mark all as read, and Device pairing. The previous overlay design allowed you to see the background, with the app now fully Material 3 Expressive.
If a message is suspected to be spam, Google will “warn you when you click on any links within it and stop you from visiting the potentially harmful website.” Available globally, you have the option to mark the message as “not spam.”
As previewed in May, Key Verifier will “help protect you from scammers who try to impersonate someone you know” in Google Messages. This tool lets you “verify the identity of the other party through public encryption keys.” These contact keys take the form of a QR code that can also be accessed via the Google Contacts app.
For example, if an attacker gains access to a friend’s phone number and uses it on another device to send you a message – which can happen as a result of a SIM swap attack – their contact’s verification status will be marked as no longer verified in the Google Contacts app, suggesting your friend’s account may be compromised or has been changed.
In Messages, go to the Details page and tap Verify encryption to get “Your QR code” or “Scan contact’s QR code.”
St. Susanna Parish in Dedham is standing by its nativity scene this year, ignoring a request from the Archdiocese of Boston. The nativity scene replaces the Holy Family with an anti-ICE sign protesting U.S. immigration policies.
The sign reads, “ICE was here,” which is meant to imply that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were taken by immigration agents, according to WBUR. Below the message is a smaller sign that reads “The Holy Family is safe in our Church … If you see ICE please call LUCE at 617-370-5023.”
The Rev. Stephen Josoma, the pastor, told WBUR the display’s purpose was to focus the Christmas story on the plight of immigrants. It comes after he recently spoke with refugee families the church has worked with.
“These are folks who carry a lot of scars with them. Some of them are physical scars, but most are emotional,” told the outlet. “They’ve seen their folks killed in front of them.”
The Archdiocese of Boston pushed back against the display. Terry Donilon, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese, said in a statement to MassLive that the display should be removed, calling it “divisive political messaging.”
The Archdiocese also noted that St. Susanna neither requested nor received permission for the display.
The church’s “norms prohibit the use of sacred objects for any purpose other than the devotion of God’s people,” Donilon told MassLive. “This includes images of the Christ Child in the manger, which are to be used solely to foster faith and devotion.”
The Archdiocese spokesperson also noted to MassLive that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has long-standing statements on immigration calling for the humane treatment of migrants, especially those in detention.
“We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures,” the USCCB said. “Human dignity and national security are not in conflict.”
Josoma did not respond to a request for comment from MassLive.
The nativity scene also drew sharp attention from the Department of Homeland Security.
“Not only is this ‘nativity’ scene offensive to Christians, but it is also depicting something that — despite what Rev. Josoma says — NEVER happens. ICE does not separate families,” Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, said in a statement on Friday to the Boston Globe. “Get a grip and seek help.”
According to a Nov. 24 ProPublica report, some 600 immigrant children have been placed in government shelters since the beginning of the year, the highest number since such placements were first tracked a decade ago.
This includes a 13-year-old Everett boy, a Brazilian immigrant, who was taken into ICE custody and sent to a facility in Virginia, because the agency said he had a knife and a gun at school.
During an October press conference after the boy was sent to Virginia, Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria confirmed the boy had a knife but said he did not have a gun.
Everett Police were going to release the boy to his mother, who had arrived at the station. However, ICE, tipped off by the fingerprint database, took the boy into custody and whisked him off to the ICE facility in Burlington.
The boy will return to Brazil with an aunt and uncle while his parents continue pursuing asylum in the United States, attorney Andrew Lattarulo told MassLive on Oct. 30, 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to MassLive’s request for comment.
Yoodli, an AI-powered communication training startup, has reached a valuation of more than $300 million — more than triple its level six months ago — as it builds technology meant to assist people rather than replace them with machines.
The valuation increase follows Yoodli’s $40 million Series B round, led by WestBridge Capital with participation from Neotribe and Madrona. It comes after a $13.7 million Series A round announced in May, bringing the startup’s total funding to nearly $60 million.
As AI tools spread into workplaces and fuel fears of automation, Yoodli positions itself differently. The four-year-old, Seattle-based startup uses AI to run simulated scenarios — including sales calls, leadership coaching, interviews, and feedback sessions — and provides users with structured, repeatable practice to improve their speaking skills.
Varun Puri (pictured above, right), who previously worked at Google’s X division and handled special projects for Sergey Brin, co-founded Yoodli with former Apple engineer Esha Joshi (pictured above, left) in 2021. He became aware of communication challenges after moving to the U.S. at 18 and seeing how difficulty expressing ideas or speaking confidently affected students and young professionals from countries such as India — himself included — Puri said in an interview.
Initially, Yoodli was meant to help people practice public speaking — a skill two out of three people struggle with, Puri told TechCrunch, citing internal data. However, the startup soon saw users turning to the platform for interview preparation, sales pitches, and difficult conversations. That shift pushed Yoodli from a consumer-focused product to enterprise training, and it now offers AI role-plays and experiential learning tools for go-to-market enablement, partner certification, and management coaching.
Yoodli’s platformImage Credits:Yoodli
“In the old world, companies would be training people using static, long-form content or passive videos that we’d all watch at 4x-5x speed, just to get the thing done,” said Puri. “But that doesn’t actually mean you’ve learned it.”
Companies including Google, Snowflake, Databricks, RingCentral, and Sandler Sales use Yoodli for employee or partner training. The startup also sells its platform to coaching firms such as Franklin Covey and LHH, which can tailor the system to their own methodology and training frameworks, Puri stated. He added that the tool is not designed to replace human coaches but to keep a human in the loop delivering personalized guidance.
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“I philosophically believe that AI can get you, let’s call it from a zero to an eight or a zero to nine,” said Puri. “But the pure essence of who you are and how you show up, and your authenticity and vulnerability that a human gives you feedback on will always exist.”
The platform works with multiple large language models, meaning users can run it with models such as Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s GPT based on their preference. Enterprises can also embed it into their existing software, or users can access it directly through a web browser. The AI supports most major languages, including Korean, Japanese, French, Canadian French, and a list of Indian languages.
Yoodli does not offer a dedicated mobile app, a decision Puri said was made to avoid adding extra steps for users during training sessions.
Yoodli’s teamImage Credits:Yoodli
Puri did not disclose how many people use the platform but said most of Yoodli’s revenue now comes from enterprise customers. He added that between the Series A and B rounds, Yoodli saw a 50% increase in the number of role-plays run on the platform and in the total time users spent practicing. The startup also said it grew its average recurring revenue by 900% over the last 12 months, though it did not provide specific figures.
Yoodli had not planned to raise more funding so soon after its last round but saw unanticipated investor interest, with WestBridge leading the latest raise, Puri said. He noted that strong performance metrics, key customers, and senior hires helped attract investors. The startup has recently hired former Tableau and Salesforce executive Josh Vitello as chief revenue officer (CRO), former Remitly CFO Andy Larson as CFO, and former Tableau chief product officer (CPO) Padmashree Koneti as CPO.
Yoodli is not alone in the market for AI-based communication tools, but Puri told TechCrunch the startup differentiates itself through deep customization and a focus on specific training verticals, allowing companies to tailor the system to their use cases and coaching methods.
The Seattle-headquartered startup has about 40 employees. Puri said the latest funding will be used to expand Yoodli’s AI coaching, analytics, and personalization tools, and to grow its presence in enterprise learning and professional development. The company also plans to hire across product, AI research, and customer success, and to expand into markets in the Asia-Pacific region while deepening its footprint in the U.S.
Meta has acquired Limitless, the maker of an AI-powered “Pendant,” to work on building consumer hardware for the company, the startup announced via a YouTube video and blog post. So far, Meta has focused on selling VR headsets and AI smart glasses. Now the company seems interested in branching out.
“Meta recently announced a new vision to bring personal superintelligence to everyone and a key part of that vision is building incredible AI-enabled wearables. We share this vision and we’ll be joining Meta to help bring our shared vision to life,” Limitless CEO Dan Siroker said in the post announcing the acquisition.
Limitless’ first product was Rewind, desktop productivity software that recorded everything you did on your computer and turned it into a searchable database you interacted with via a chatbot. The company later expanded into hardware with Pendant, essentially a clip-on Bluetooth microphone that applies the same concept (privacy concerns be damned) to the things you say or hear throughout the day.
The company plans to support its existing Pendant customers “for at least another year,” but will no longer sell the wearable going forward. Current customers will be able to access all the features of Pendant without having to pay for a subscription, though Limitless says availability will vary per region. If you have data stored with Limitless and don’t want to hold onto your Pendant, you’re now also able to export or delete your data if you choose.
AI wearables focused on recording audio have emerged as a common form factor primarily because they lean on two things AI models do moderately well: transcribing audio into text and summarizing it. Meta dipping its toes into the space makes sense, if only because not everyone will want to wear glasses to receive the benefits of an AI assistant. Amazon acquired an AI wearable company called Bee in July 2025, presumably with similar intentions.
Add in Meta’s recent hiring of former Apple design lead Alan Dye, and you can start to imagine where things might be headed. In the future, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and Meta Ray-Ban Display could be two entries in a larger lineup of AI-powered wearables.
Welcome to episode 80 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will talk through all of the new changes in Android 16 QPR2 and beyond. After digging through everything Google’s been working on these past few months, their attention turns to the newly-confirmed Galaxy Z TriFold. Can they make sense of what’s bound to be yet another ultra-premium device from Samsung, or does this feel like an experiment without a clear path to success?
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00:00 – Intro
00:54 – The state of early Android builds
12:06 – Android 16 QPR2 features and changes
24:06 – Galaxy Z TriFold announcement
41:41 – Wrap-up
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