YouTube Music gets a fresh look for its now playing view – See the Updates

YouTube Music has rolled out a fresh design for the Now Playing screen. It uses a two-panel setup to make things look more modern and tidy. This change comes from reports by 9to5Google.The button to switch between song and video modes, which used to sit at the top, now sits in a sliding row right below the song progress bar.
The controls for playing music, like shuffle, skip back, play or pause, skip forward, and repeat, have shifted down. They are now placed under the song name and artist info, right where the switch button was before.The progress bar has a new square-like shape.
It does not have the moving dot that used to show how the song is going anymore. At the bottom, tabs for things like Up Next, Lyrics, and Related content are gone. Lyrics now appear in the sliding row. To see related songs, you have to tap on the song title.
This might feel a bit less easy than before.There is a new pull handle to drag and see your playlist or radio list. The redesign also drops the bright backgrounds from the Lyrics and Related parts. This comes after recent updates that cut off lyrics access for free users.
This pushes people toward getting a Premium plan.If you do not see the new look yet, try closing the app and opening it again. It might take some getting used to for users because the buttons and features have moved around.
Android
Android 16 QPR1 update without losing data now rolling out to Pixel devices

More than a week after the stable version of Android 16 QPR1 came out, Google has started sending the “No Data Wipe” over-the-air update to people testing Beta 3.1.This wireless update allows users to exit the Android Beta Program without having to erase all their data from the device.
To check for it, open the Settings app, go to System, then Software updates, and select System updates. Make sure the message shows “Android Beta Exit No Data Wipe.” The update file is smaller than 100 MB and includes the security fixes for September 2025.
Once Beta 3.1 ends, users who do not wish to try the QPR2 Beta 1 can remove their device from the beta list at the Google Android Beta website. We noticed the update on our Pixel Tablet, but it has not shown up on a Pixel 8a or 9a yet. Some reports on Reddit mention the update appearing on phones, but it is not available to everyone just yet.
Normally, these updates reach all devices at the same time. However, Google seems to be releasing this one in stages, similar to how the main update from Android 16 to 16 QPR1 was handled.After installing, we got a note about a “custom update.” You can see the complete list of changes in the September update details.
Google to end support for its Weather app on Wear OS 6 devices

Google has decided to stop providing its own Weather app for the latest Wear OS 6 update. This app first came out with Wear OS 3, but now it’s getting phased out for fresh setups on the new version. That said, there are some rules and other choices for people who use it.
Updates to the Weather App in Wear OS 6
The Google Weather app won’t show up anymore for new downloads on Wear OS 6. If you’re on Wear OS 5 or older versions, you can keep using it or grab it from the Play Store without any issues. For those who already have it installed on Wear OS 6, nothing changes—you can go on using it as before.
The app has a simple layout with one main screen. It starts with the current temperature, the day’s high and low temps, UV index, and chance of rain. Then it shows an 8-hour forecast and a 5-day outlook. At the end, you’ll see details on sunrise and sunset times. It also works with watch face extras and offers three quick tiles: one for the forecast, one for sun info, and one for UV index. It’s not likely to get an update to the fancy new Material 3 Expressive look.
Why Google Is Dropping It
Google says that watch makers usually add their own basic weather apps, and there are plenty of other weather apps from outside developers on the Play Store. So, for Wear OS 6, folks who are just starting might get a built-in weather tool from their watch brand or pick something else to download.
Other Ways to Check the Weather
You can still ask Gemini or Google Assistant for weather info on Wear OS 3 and newer. That works fine as a backup.
What Pixel Watch Users Need to Know
If you have a Pixel Watch running Wear OS 6, you’ll get the new Pixel Weather app automatically, or it will update on its own. No need to do anything extra. More details on that are in a separate piece we covered earlier.
Android
Google Pixel update fixes Android Auto problems and Android 16 adds handy mouse control option

Google has been busy making improvements for Pixel phone users. If you own a Pixel 10, you might have run into some trouble with Android Auto in your car. At the same time, the latest test version of Android 16 brings a simple new way to handle your mouse when using an extra screen. These changes aim to make your phone work better with other devices.
Let’s start with the Pixel 10 issue. The Pixel 10 phones came out last month, and soon after, people noticed that Android Auto wasn’t working right. When they tried to connect their phone to the car’s screen, it would just show a loading page that never went away.
The screen would turn grey, and there was no easy fix. This started happening just a few days after the phones hit the stores.Google heard from users about this problem and put out a fix.
They say to update the Android Auto app to version 15.0 or higher. This update started rolling out to everyone this week, and there’s even a beta version 15.1 if you want to try it early. In a message on their support page, Google thanked people for letting them know about the grey screen glitch with Pixel 10 phones.
They explained that their team added a solution, so grabbing the newest app version should sort it out.Not everyone has the update yet, but once you do, it should stop the connection hang-ups.
Some folks are still seeing the issue even after updating, so Google might need to tweak things more on their end. If you’re a Pixel 10 owner dealing with this, check the Google Play Store for the latest Android Auto version right away.
It’s a quick step that could make your drives smoother.Shifting to something for folks who like hooking up their phone to a bigger screen, Android 16’s next update adds a useful choice for mouse use. Called Android 16 QPR2, this version is still in testing, but it includes a feature called Universal Cursor.
This helps when you connect your phone to an outside display, like a monitor, to use it in a desktop style setup.Android 16 already has a desktop mode that popped up in the first QPR1 test. It turns your external screen into something like a computer desktop, with a task bar and windows you can move around. Your phone’s screen stays free for other stuff.
But one annoying part was that your mouse would jump between the phone and the monitor without asking, especially if you bumped the edge of the screen by mistake. The new Universal Cursor option lets you decide if you want that smooth mouse movement or not. You can find it in the phone’s settings under Connected Devices, then External Displays.
It’s turned on by default, so the cursor slides easily from one screen to the other. But if you turn it off, the mouse stays put on whichever screen you’re using. This stops those surprise jumps and keeps things where you want them. Turning it off also locks the way your screens are set up, so you can’t rearrange them anymore.
That’s because the smooth cursor needs to know how the displays connect at the edges. It’s a small switch, but it makes the whole desktop experience less of a hassle, especially if you’re trying to focus on one screen. This beta for Android 16 QPR2 is the first one out, and the full version should come in December.
It’s like Samsung’s DeX mode but built right into Android. Google still has some polishing to do before it’s perfect, but options like this show they’re listening to what users need. Both of these updates highlight Google’s push to fix everyday annoyances on Pixel devices.
Whether it’s getting your car tech working again or making multi-screen setups easier, these tweaks help make your phone feel more reliable. Keep an eye on updates from Google to stay current.
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