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Google announced many new Android features and upgrades during The Android Show: I/O Edition. Among these are a handful of security and privacy tools Google hopes will protect users (and their data) from scams and theft. Android already has a suite of safeguards—in-call scam alerts, anti-theft settings, and a lockdown mode called Advanced Protection, to name a few—which the new features largely build on and strengthen. Here's what's new.

Android will automatically end calls that spoof financial institutions

Google rolled out a feature last year to protect against bank impersonators who might attempt to steal your login credentials or convince you to transfer money. In-call pop-ups warn you if you try to open a financial app while on the phone with unknown numbers to prevent you from sharing your screen with fraudsters. Now, Android will also attempt to verify calls purportedly from financial institutions and hang up if it detects that the call is a scam. If you have a participating bank's app installed on your device and are logged in, Android will use the app to confirm legitimacy. Initially, this feature will be available to users on Android 11 and higher who bank with Revolut, Itaú, and Nubank—meaning this won't apply to U.S. customers yet—but Google is expecting to expand to more institutions later this year.

Live Threat Detection is expanding how it spots malicious apps

Live Threat Detection is an AI-powered, on-device security feature that continuously scans apps' activity patterns to identify anything suspicious and potentially malicious. At launch, it focused on stalkerware, but it has since become more robust in detecting malware. Live Threat Detection will now check for SMS forwarding (if an app forwards a message to another number) and accessibility overlays, which use an accessibility permission to display content over your screen.

Later this year, Android 17 devices will also get dynamic signal monitoring, which identifies suspicious patterns in real time. You'll be warned if apps take actions like abusing accessibility permissions, or changing or hiding their icons and launching in the background.

Anti-theft upgrades will make it harder for bad actors to steal your data

Google announced a handful of upgrades to combat the consequences of device theft. First, "Mark as lost" on Android 17 will work with biometric authentication, so thieves won't be able to get into your phone if they learn your device passcode or PIN. When Mark as lost is enabled, it'll hide Quick Settings and block new wifi and Bluetooth connections. On supported devices, bad actors will have fewer attempts to guess your passcode or PIN and longer wait times between failed tries.

Existing Android theft protections—like Remote Lock and Theft Detection Lock—will now be enabled by default on new devices shipping with Android 17, as well as those that are reset or upgraded to the latest OS. These features will also be available down to Android 10 in select markets, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the UK.

Finally, on Android 12 and higher, your phone's IMEI can be accessed on the lock screen to quickly verify device ownership. (You can also disable this in your settings.)

Location sharing is getting a privacy upgrade

Android already has the option to disable precise location sharing in favor of approximate location. Going forward, devices running Android 17 will be able to temporarily tap into precise location while a specific app is open without needing to update the settings or engage with repeated permission prompts. Temporary location access turns off when you close the app, so once you're done finding a nearby coffee shop, your precise location will no longer be visible. Users will also see a location indicator at the top of the screen and can tap to see which apps have recently used their location.

Another privacy upgrade: Instead of having full, broad access to all of the data in your address book, apps can now request specific contacts and even specific fields, so you don't have to share everything.

Advanced Protection will get stronger

Android Advanced Protection is more than most people need on a day-to-day basis, but it provides strong security for users at high risk of being targeted for fraud, scams, and theft. Pixel devices running Android 16 and higher will now have USB protection, and all devices with Android 16's December update and newer are getting intrusion logging. (This is currently rolling out.) Upgrades for Android 17 include removing accessibility services from apps that are not accessibility tools, disabling device-to-device unlocking, and integrating scam detection for chat notifications.

Google is also rolling out Android OS verification to ensure your device is running a legitimate build, and will hide OTP codes from most apps for three hours to prevent theft.


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DIY home maintenance and repair projects can save you money because you don’t need to hire a pro for every repair or upgrade. From replacing a leaky faucet to adding a knob to your desk drawer, a good set of hand tools is essential for success. Craftsman tools has a good reputation for making quality, long-lasting tools, but if you’re interested in DIY, you might have noticed that these tools can be expensive. If you need to expand your tool set, or if you’re just starting out, these deals on Craftsman tools at Lowe’s will help keep your budget in check.

The best deals on tool sets at Lowe's

Craftsman is known for their mechanic’s tool sets. I remember as an aspiring tinkerer, playing with my dad’s Craftsman ratchet while assisting him with DIY home repairs, and the first set of tools I got as a teenager was a Craftsman wrench set. Here are some deals on Craftsman sets for DIYers of any skill set.

The Craftsman 242-piece mechanic’s tool set is on sale for $99, 56% off its regular price. This set comes with a ¼-inch, a ⅓-inch, and a ½-inch ratchet and includes SAE sockets ranging in size from 5/32-inches to ⅞-inches and metric sockets ranging from 4mm to 21mm. Also included is a set of combination wrenches, extension bits, a driver handle and bits for screws, and a verastack 3-drawer case.

The Craftsman 105-piece mechanic’s tool set is on sale for $69.98, 46% off its usual price. This set comes with a ¼-inch and a ⅜-inch ratchet, metric and SAE sockets, a spark plug socket, a set of allen wrenches, a driver, handles and bits for screws, and a case. This is a decent set for doing basic vehicle maintenance or performing tasks like changing the air filter for your home HVAC.

The Craftsman Overdrive 80-piece mechanic’s tool set is on sale for $79.98, 46% off its typical price. This set includes metric and SAE sized sockets, some socket extenders, a corner adapter for the ratchet, driver bits for screws, and a case. This set is specifically designed for vehicle maintenance and can be used on stubborn, rounded out hardware that’s difficult to remove with lighter weight tools.

The Craftsman 24-piece ratchet set is on sale for $19.98, 33% off its regular price. This set includes one ¼-inch ratchet handle, a set of metric sockets, a set of screw driver bits, an extension bit, and a case. Since many cars use mostly metric hardware, this is a good compact set that will travel well with a larger set, and it can be useful for small maintenance tasks on vehicles and bikes.

Best air compressor deal at Lowe's

A portable air compressor is a convenient tool to have for small woodworking projects and DIY builds. Its smaller size makes it less useful for big jobs like decking or roofing, but I use my Craftsman pancake compressor for applying trim and molding, and it’s a lot more convenient than lugging a bigger one around. An air compressor can also be used to run a paint sprayer or for air-powered cutting and bolting tools.

The Craftsman 6-gallon portable compressor is on sale for $99, 41% off its usual price. It comes with the fitting you need to connect pneumatic air hoses, but you’ll need to buy a hose to use air tools with it.


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I just got my review unit of the Fitbit Air, and while I can't give you a full review yet, I've now had the device in my hand and have tried out the new Google Health app that will soon replace the Fitbit app. I've already found a lot to like about it, which kind of surprised me. My hopes were high, but my expectations were not. Here's what I'm seeing so far.

The Fitbit Air is small and light

Fitbit Air in my hand
Credit: Beth Skwarecki

From photos, I could tell the Fitbit Air looked small and light, but I was mostly seeing it on a basketball player's arm. In person, it really does live up to the photos. The Fitbit Air has an 18-millimeter strap, which is much thinner than what you see on any other smart bands, and overall, it's the smallest fitness tracker I've used in recent years (and maybe ever). Here is a photo of the Air (far right, in the "fog" colorway) next to a current generation Whoop MG. Right to left, the other two devices are a Polar Loop (beige) and an Amazfit Helio (black).

Amazfit Helio, Polar Loop, Whoop MG, Fitbit Air next to each other for size comparison
Left to right: Amazfit Helio, Polar Loop, Whoop MG, Fitbit Air Credit: Beth Skwarecki

The Fitbit Air's coach was able to pull data from a screenshot

Two screenshots of the Health Coach accepting a screenshot of a workout from another app, and updating my workout data to match
Credit: Beth Skwarecki

The Fitbit Air, like all smart bands, relies on its companion app for data analysis and display, so the app's performance is critical to how useful the band actually is as a tracker. I had already done my workout for the day when I first tried the new app, so I showed the coach a screenshot of my results from that workout. (I had tracked it on a Coros watch.) The coach detected the number of minutes I'd spent in each heart rate zone, then converted them to Fitbit zones and logged them appropriately.

Google Health's AI coach may be hallucinating less

I had a terrible time with an early version of the Google Health coach. The hallucinations were bad, and even as of last week, the memory problem was awful. It would insist on obeying something as a commandment that had just been a passing thought months ago ("I'd like heavy singles in my workout"), even if I went into my "coach notes" and deleted that memory. But since trying the new version of the app, I haven't seen any significant hallucinations, and there are no intrusive long-term memories—at least so far.

I also noticed the coach was able to do what it said. When I asked it to log my Hyrox workout, it logged it as starting at 8 p.m. (the current time). When I asked it to update that time to 6 p.m., I didn't see the update right away and figured it was another broken promise—but a minute later, I noticed that it had, in fact, updated. It will take more testing to see whether the coach always does the right thing, or if I just lucked out, but it certainly seems to be working better than what I saw in the Public Preview.


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The Trump Mobile T1 phone might actually be shipping this week. That's according to USA Today, which says they received an exclusive email from Trump Mobile confirming the shipment. If true, customers who preordered this golden phone may actually be getting their units imminently.

According to USA Today, Trump Mobile CEO Pat O'Brien confirmed that the company will start shipping pre-ordered T1 phones this week. Take that with a grain of salt, however. This news follows several rounds of delays, as the company originally advertised an August release for the T1. O'Brien says those delays "were worth it in our minds as we are delivering an amazing product." The Trump Mobile CEO also tells USA Today that the phones are indeed assembled in the United States, and use parts that are "primarily manufactured in America." That's part of the "proudly American" promise of the phone, as Trump Mobile's website says the T1 is "designed with American values in mind."

What is the Trump Mobile T1 Phone?

Trump Mobile's first phone seems to be like any other midrange Android device in most regards. It comes with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate; three rear cameras, with a 50MP main lens, a 8MP wide angle lens, and a 50MP 2x tele lens; a 50MP selfie camera; a 5,000 mAh battery with support for up to 30W of quick charging; a fingerprint sensor and "AI Face" unlock; and a Snapdragon SoC, though the company hasn't specified which chip is actually running in this device.

There are two elements here that make the Trump Mobile T1 stand out from other phones on the market: One is the Trump branding. If you don't slap a case on this thing, everyone is going to know your stance on things, since the bottom of the phone features a large American flag with TRUMP MOBILE embossed along the base. If that wasn't enough, there's even a TRUMP MOBILE stamp along the cameras, as well. The back of the phone, as well as the thin bezel around the display, is gold (of course), and, according to renders, there's a TRUMP MOBILE home screen wallpaper, should you feel you aren't displaying the phone's OEM enough already.

The other unique element, of course, is that this phone is supposedly made mostly in the States. It's true that it's pretty difficult to find a smartphone that meets that description, since most devices are manufactured in large part outside the country. That said, it's definitely not 100% American-made: Snapdragon chips are manufactured by TSMC, which is based in Taiwan. Samsung makes AMOLED displays in Korea, as well. Perhaps the phones are assembled in the U.S., and use many other American-sourced parts, but, as it stands, the phone isn't entirely made in this country.

The Trump T1 Phone starts at $499, and the company is offering a $100 rebate if you pre-order it. Perhaps it really will launch, and you'll be able to have your very own Trump-branded phone within the coming weeks. But in case you'd rather consider another midrange Android device for any number of reasons, CNET has a great list of options here.


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Google's AI has gone through a couple of stages thus far. First, Google launched "Bard" as a direct competitor to ChatGPT. Soon after, the company rebranded to "Gemini," encompassing everything from its chatbot to its LLMs. During The Android Show: I/O Edition, Google revealed its newest AI iteration: Gemini Intelligence. It might sound suspiciously similar to another company's AI suite, but Gemini Intelligence offers a number of unique features—at least, according to Google.

Gemini Intelligence's new agentic abilities

Google is positioning "Gemini Intelligence" as an agentic assistant. While the company already offers agentic capabilities, like ordering cabs through Uber or takeout through DoorDash, the new experience should have more abilities. For example, Google says Gemini can book you a front-row bike in your spin class, or order the books you need for a class after finding the syllabus in your Gmail inbox.

Google is also touting Gemini's image context for automation. In one example, you could pull up your grocery list in your notes app of choice, then ask Gemini to add the items to your shopping cart. In another situation, you could take a photo of a travel brochure you find in your hotel's lobby and ask Gemini to find you a tour for your group that matches the experience in the literature.

Gemini Intelligence offers more advanced autofill

Autofill is one of those features I definitely take for granted. It's not always perfect (please don't enter my phone number in the credit card form), but when it works, it saves you a ton of time filling out digital paperwork. According to Google, Gemini Intelligence is upping the ante with autofill, with the goal of filling in just about any information in any form.

The big example here concerns traveling: Imagine you're buying a plane ticket, and you need to fill out your identifying information. While traditional autofill can help with your name, phone number, email, and so on, you usually need to find your passport (or a picture of your passport) to fill out that section. Google says Gemini Intelligence can tap into Personal Intelligence to autofill secure details like your passport information. You'll see a button appear marked "Passport," which, when tapped, enters in all of those details.

Google says the feature is "strictly opt-in," so you have the choice whether or not to connect to Gemini Intelligence in these instances. You also have the option to disable it at any time.

"Rambler" improves dictation on Android

Gemini Intelligence is also aiming to improve dictation, specifically by polishing up our often unpolished thoughts. To do so, Google is introducing a new feature called "Rambler": When you dictate to Gemini Intelligence, instead of writing down all of your "ums" and "uhs," Rambler tries to jot down only what you intend to say. That includes when telling the AI you made a mistake. If you say something like "On my grocery list, I need three bananas, one orange juice, a gallon of milk, (oh wait, never mind, I have milk) and a loaf of bread," Rambler should only write down "On my grocery list, I need three bananas, one orange juice, and a loaf of bread." You can also ask Rambler to adjust the formatting of the dictation, so you can turn that string of grocery items into a bulleted list with emojis.

According to Google, there's a visual difference between Rambler and standard dictation, so you should always know when the feature is on. The company says the audio is only used to transcribe it in real time, and isn't stored after the fact. Google also says Rambler supports multiple languages, so you can use dictation while switching languages without having to start and stop dictation.

Gemini Intelligence lets you build your own custom widgets

This is the feature that piqued my interest the most: Gemini Intelligence will, supposedly, offer users the chance to build their own widgets for the home screen. Rather than wait on app developers to make widgets that may or may not do what you what them to, you can ask Gemini Intelligence to build those widgets on your behalf.

Google says "Create My Widget" lets you ask Gemini to make widgets from prompts like "show me upcoming concerts at Madison Square Garden," "display wind speed and rain for Golden, CO," or "suggest new meal prep recipes at the start of each week." Should the feature work as advertised, you can generate custom widgets that are uniquely tailored to your needs and interests.


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If you’re in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker that still doesn’t skimp on the bass, the Tribit StormBox Mini+ speaker is a rugged option built for outdoor use. It’s earned a PCMag Editor’s Choice Award for being a lightweight yet powerful and long-lasting speaker (with a fun lighting feature…more on that below), and right now it’s 24% off and $31.99 (originally $41.99 on Amazon).

Despite hovering at a $32 price point, the Tribit StormBox Mini+ packs in a lot of features. Available at this price in blue and green, it provides immersive stereo sound with a pair of 48mm drivers facing outward on the left and right sides, delivering a total of 12W of stereo sound. Combined with a passive radiator, it provides a frequency response of 80Hz to 20kHz. It can be made even more immersive by pairing with another StormBox Mini+ in True Wireless Stereo Mode. 

At just 4.68 by 3.58 inches and just 1.22 pounds, its size is comparable to a softball or water bottle, and is made even more portable with the addition of a small lanyard. PCMag calls the stereo sound “punchy and rich,” despite its compact size, and customizable EQ on the Tribit app lets you tweak it further. It has an IPX7 rating, making it fully waterproof. While it does have a mic for calls and your phone’s smart assistant, it can sound faint and distant at times, even with the volume on high. Battery life lasts up to 12 hours at 50% volume and recharges in 2.5 hours.

Another unusual feature is its RGB lighting effects with modes that let the lights spin or flicker (also controlled on the app), allowing you to set the vibe on your adventures. Ultimately, if you’re looking for a tiny but bass-heavy budget speaker that you can easily throw in your bag—and one rugged enough to withstand splashes and rain, with the unexpected party perk of lighting—the Tribit StormBox Mini+ will give you solid sound and portability for a low price point. 


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Garmin has unveiled two new entry-level running watches: the Forerunner 70 and Forerunner 170. Both are available starting May 15, 2026, priced at $249.99 and $299.99 respectively, with a Forerunner 170 Music edition coming in at $349.99. Right off the bat, the big selling points are the AMOLED touchscreen displays, along with a suite of training tools that go beyond what I’d call “entry-level.” On paper, these watches are positioned as upgrades to the Forerunner 55 and Forerunner 165—but whether they actually deliver on that promise is more complicated. Here's what we know so far.

What we know about the Garmin Forerunner 70

To quote Lifehacker senior health editor Beth Skwarecki, “It's about time Garmin offered a modern-looking watch under $250.” The Forerunner 70 is certainly a glow-up over the Forerunner 55 (originally $199.99), adding a touchscreen AMOLED display, Garmin Run Coach, advanced training features, acute load and load ratio tracking, sleep score, morning and evening reports, and a quick workout option. The run/walk workout feature is a particularly nice touch for beginners easing into a running routine.

That said, context matters. At $249.99, is the Forerunner 70 really competitive with other brands in this price range? The Coros Pace 4 is also $249 and includes dual-band GPS and 4 GB of offline music storage. The Suunto Run is even more affordable at $199, and it, too, manages to offer dual-band GPS and 4 GB of music storage. The Forerunner 70, by comparison, has single-band GPS and just 0.5 GB of storage.

Now, where the 70 does make a name for itself is with Garmin's software ecosystem. Some features that neither Suunto nor Coros typically offer include glances with battery data, sleep coaching with suggested bedtimes, lifestyle logging, weight tracking, sports scores, and a fitness coach that blends strength training with cardio without requiring you to commit to a specific sport. Like with all things Garmin, this is for people looking for more than just to track runs. (Even though watches that “just track runs” are exactly what the London Marathon winners wear.)

One small note here: Garmin's website currently lists the 70 and 170 as a single product, which is a little odd. Whether that's a placeholder or something more intentional, I’ll keep an eye on it.

What we know about the Garmin Forerunner 170

Like the 70 is an upgrade of the 55, the Forerunner 170 is positioned as an upgrade to the Forerunner 165 (originally $249.99 at launch in April 2024, with the Music edition at $299.99). However, it might be more accurate to compare this watch to the fan-favorite Forerunner 265, which was $449 originally, but now regularly goes on sale for $349.99 (which is the current MSRP of the 170 Music).  

The 170 actually has shorter battery life than the 165: It has 10 days versus 11-13. It’s not a crazy trade-off, considering all the software updates. As Garmin puts it, the Forerunner 170’s advantage is the expanded feature set.

However, the 170 is missing a few features that the 265 had. It doesn't have dual-band GPS, supports fewer GPS networks overall, doesn't have cycling workouts or multisport support, and it's unclear whether it can connect to a power meter (the 265 could; the 165 could not). These are more complicated trade-offs to weigh for anyone who was hoping for a straightforward upgrade.

Now, what the 170 does bring to the table are the kind of software features the Forerunner 570 has been receiving, which the -65 series missed out on. That means things like the Garmin Run Coach (a newer, more capable version), advanced training features, quick workout functionality, a calculator, and lifestyle logging. Advanced training features, for context, include Training Readiness (which scores your recovery), Training Status (which monitors training load), HRV Status (heart rate variability tracking), and Daily Suggested Workouts.

The heart rate sensor is the same as the 165, which is perfectly solid and on par with its competitors. Still, the Forerunner 570 and 970 have a noticeably better optical HR sensor than the 165/265 generation.

The bottom line (for now)

On paper, both watches have their merits, particularly for true beginners who want a trustworthy GPS smartwatch with solid Garmin software support. But for runners upgrading from previous Garmin models, or for anyone considering Coros or Suunto, the value proposition isn’t ideal. To quote a Google Chat from Beth to me: "I'm unimpressed."

Luckily, we'll be putting both to the test soon. Beth will be comparing the Forerunner 70 with other low-priced running watches to see how it stacks up. And I have the Forerunner 165 Music, so I'll be able to see how the 170 Music fares as a direct successor. Stay tuned for our in-depth verdicts.


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