Google has announced a new mechanism in Android called Advanced Flow, which will allow sideloading APKs from unverified developers for power users in a more secure manner.

The new system, scheduled to roll out this August, aims to allow installing Android apps from unverified developers while minimizing the risk of malware infections and scams, which caused an estimated $442 billion in losses last year, according to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA).

Power users who want to install APKs on their devices will have to go through a one-time process involving the following steps:

1. Turn on Developer Mode from system settings
2. Confirm they are not being coached by threat actors
3. Restart the phone and reauthenticate
4. Wait one day and then confirm that the modifications are legitimate

Then users can install apps from unverified developers and enable them for a week or indefinitely. Android will display a warning that the app is from an unverified developer.

The process is designed to add friction and disrupt typical scamming tactics that trick people into installing unsafe apps on their devices by playing on the urgency of the operation.

“This flow is a one-time process for power users – it was designed carefully to prevent those in the midst of a scam attempt from being coerced by high-pressure tactics to install malicious software,” explains Google.

“In these scenarios, scammers exploit fear – using threats of financial ruin, legal trouble, or harm to a loved one – to create a sense of extreme urgency.”

“They stay on the phone with victims, coaching them to bypass security warnings and disable security settings before the victim has a chance to think or seek help.”

Google frames the Advanced Flow system as a safe compromise between Android’s openness and user protection, needed for a smooth transition to the new developer verification requirements scheme, first announced last August.

Developer verification is meant as an anti-malware measure, requiring all Android app publishers, regardless of the distribution method they use, to have their identity verified by Google; otherwise, the installation of their software on certified Android devices will be blocked.

Although Google retracted the original timeline for applying the new rule after backlash from the community, it didn’t abandon plans to implement the identity verification system.

This is still coming in August 2026, according to the latest announcement, and app developers are urged to visit this webpage for more information.

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Hachette Book Group said it will not be publishing a novel called “Shy Girl” over concerns that artificial intelligence was used to generate the text.

The novel was scheduled to be published in the United States this spring. Hachette said it will also discontinue the book in the United Kingdom, where it’s already available. 

Although the publisher claimed the decision came after a thorough review of the text, reviewers on GoodReads and YouTube had been speculating that the book was likely AI-generated. And The New York Times said it asked Hachette about the “Shy Girl” concerns the day before the announcement.

In an email to the NYT, author Mia Ballard denied using AI to write her novel, instead blaming an acquaintance she’d hired to edit the original, self-published version of “Shy Girl.” Ballard said she’s pursuing legal action, and that as a result of the controversy “my mental health is at an all time low and my name is ruined for something I didn’t even personally do.”

Writer Lincoln Michel and other industry observers have noted that U.S. publishers rarely do extensive editing when they acquire titles that have already been published in other forms.

Apple may be preparing a major upgrade for the iPhone’s camera, and this time, it’s not just about hardware. According to The Information, Apple explored acquiring Lux Optics, the studio behind the popular Halide camera app, as part of its efforts to improve the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera experience.

The talks reportedly took place in 2025 but didn’t result in a deal. Still, the intent is clear: Apple wants its default Camera app to catch up with pro-level tools, especially as its hardware continues to improve.

Why is Apple suddenly focusing on camera software?

Let’s be real, hardware alone isn’t enough anymore. Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is expected to push closer to professional-grade camera hardware, but that also raises the bar for software. Right now, many advanced users rely on third-party apps like Halide to unlock manual controls, RAW shooting, and deeper exposure adjustments.

Halide, in particular, is known for offering precise manual control over iPhone camera hardware, something Apple’s default app still lacks. By potentially integrating similar features directly into iOS, Apple could eliminate the need for third-party apps and make pro-level photography more accessible to everyday users.

What does this mean for iPhone users?

Apple hasn’t confirmed anything yet, but the direction is pretty obvious. If Halide’s influence kicks in, the iPhone could get manual focus, exposure controls, advanced RAW capture, long-exposure shots, and pro-level video tools. Basically, turning the Camera app from “tap and pray” to “dial it in like a pro.”

What makes this more interesting is that Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With is now at Apple, which feels less like a coincidence and more like a soft rollout of ideas. The iPhone camera might soon think a little less like Apple… and a little more like a photographer. For users, this could be a big shift. Instead of jumping to third-party apps for serious shooting, the default Camera app might finally do it all. And if Apple gets the balance right, the iPhone 18 Pro could stop playing catch-up and start setting the pace again.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

For today’s Connections: Sports Edition, the purple category came to me right away, and it’s usually the toughest. I also got a kick out of the green category. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Same-same.

Green group hint: Otto, Anna.

Blue group hint: He ain’t heavy…

Purple group hint: The DMZ is one.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: All square.

Green group: Palindromes.

Blue group: NBA brothers, past and present.

Purple group: ____ zone.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is all square. The four answers are deadlocked, even, level and tied.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is palindromes. The four answers are kayak, pop, radar and stats.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is NBA brothers, past and present. The four answers are Antetokounmpo, Ball, Curry and Gasol.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ zone. The four answers are 2-3, neutral, red and strike.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s not too tough, but 7-Across made me stop and start thinking of five-letter beverage brands. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Jost of “Saturday Night Live”
Answer: COLIN

6A clue: German wine valley whose name rhymes with “wine”
Answer: RHINE

7A clue: Big name in root beer
Answer: AANDW

8A clue: Common slot machine symbol
Answer: FRUIT

9A clue: James Talarico’s state
Answer: TEXAS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Cunning skill
Answer: CRAFT

2D clue: Chicago airport
Answer: OHARE

3D clue: Operating system on which Android is partly based
Answer: LINUX

4D clue: World’s most populous country
Answer: INDIA

5D clue: Small salamanders
Answer: NEWTS

Samsung’s next generation of foldable phones could bring some changes to charging, though not all of them might be what fans are hoping for. According to recent certification listings spotted via SammyGuru, upcoming devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and a new “Wide Fold” variant have appeared on China’s 3C database, hinting at potential updates to charging capabilities.

These listings typically reveal wired charging specs ahead of launch, making them an early indicator of what to expect. But here’s the catch: the “upgrade” might not be as big as it sounds.

What do the leaks actually reveal?

Two upcoming devices, SM-F9710 and SM-F9760, are believed to be the Chinese variants of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and a new “Galaxy Z Wide Fold.” These listings show support for 15V at 3A charging, which translates to 45W wired charging. If accurate, that would mark a noticeable jump over previous Fold models, which have typically been limited to 25W wired charging.

However, a separate listing for what’s believed to be the Galaxy Z Flip 8 shows 9V at 2.77A (~25W) charging, essentially unchanged from its predecessor. So while the Fold lineup may finally see a boost, the Flip series appears to be sticking with the same charging speeds for now.

How big of an upgrade is this?

For the Fold lineup, this is actually a meaningful upgrade. Samsung has stuck with 25W charging for years, so moving to 45W would finally bring it closer to its Galaxy S Ultra devices and noticeably cut down charging times. That said, these numbers only apply to wired charging, as 3C listings don’t reveal wireless speeds.

For buyers, this is a welcome but uneven improvement. The Fold 8 and Wide Fold could see a solid boost, while the Flip 8 may remain unchanged, creating a clear divide in the lineup. It’s a step in the right direction, but not quite the full upgrade many were hoping for. Especially when you already have players like OnePlus and other Chinese brands that go well beyond 100W.

Elon Musk made a game-changing announcement hours ago when he revealed plans for Tesla’s Terafab during a live event, taking its work on vehicles and robots literally out of this world. The initiative is a game changer, bringing together SpaceX and xAI to create the world’s largest chip factory. The sheer scale of the operation is mind-boggling, since Terafab will be capable of producing 1 trillion watts of finished chips every year, all under one gigantic roof that will house logic circuits, memory storage, and final packaging.

All of this is important because we desperately need a reliable mechanism to generate solar energy that can be beamed back from space. Terafab is specifically built to accomplish just that. We’re talking about launching an incredible 100 million tons of capture equipment into orbit EVERY YEAR. To accomplish this, we must be able to move millions of tons of material year after year. Once in orbit, solar-powered satellites will conduct all of the AI heavy lifting, with millions of Tesla Optimus robots on hand to erect and maintain those structures well above the good old earth.

Each of those Optimus robots is a significant undertaking, as they require between 100 and 200 billion watts of chips just to function. When you factor in the satellites, you can see the tremendous demand we’re talking about: trillions of watts of chips that no existing chip manufacturer can possibly offer, at least not yet. According to projections, we will have the same shortage until 2030.

That is where Terafab comes in, since it is specifically designed to bridge that gap, with the kind of huge capacity that has the ability to overcome the hurdles that have been holding back both ground-based robot fleets and processing power in orbit. To get it erected, the construction team will use established launch techniques to transport the enormous cargo into place. To get the factory up and running, robots that are already in development will take on assembly tasks that are simply too dangerous for humans to do on a regular basis. As a result, we will have a consistent supply of chips to meet our rising requirements on Earth and beyond.

The driving factor behind all of this is a strong desire to explore the universe, not just envision what’s out there, but to experience it firsthand. As one of the speakers put it, “understanding comes only from direct experience out there in the universe,” and Terafab is the first step in translating that idea into something concrete, something that anyone can track, from the start of creation to the end of delivery.

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