Nothing
Nothing OS 2.6 September Update Rolls Out for Nothing Phone (2a)
Nothing has begun releasing the recent software update for Nothing Phone (2a). The build number is Pacman-U2.6-240828-1906-IND for this update and it is integrated with a bunch of exciting features, improvements, and bug fixes to enhance the user experience.
The software version remains the same as Nothing OS 2.6 and the update size is now 0.96 GB which is huge. It will take almost 10-15 minutes for the installation.
Nothing OS 2.6 September Update for Nothing Phone (2a)
This update introduces the News Reporter Widget. Now, have your daily news read aloud by Tim, the CFO of Nothing. The feature is still in beta and leverages several generative AI models.
Finally, it is now possible for users to display the Battery and Pedometer Widgets on the lock screen and Always On Display. The date widget has been updated to allow for auto-update via toggles in settings.
The update allows swiping down on an incoming notification to enter Pop-up view to have easy access to information without necessarily having to leave an app. This feature can be enabled from Settings under System > Pop-up view.
Other added functionalities include the ability to delete wallpaper history in Wallpaper Studio and new notifications in Charging Assistant that inform about the charging status.
Now you will see more clarity in 2x zoom in Portrait Mode Camera. This update also optimizes the compatibility for specific chargers. An update of Google Mobile Services has been included. It improves audio delay in some call scenarios along with stability of Bluetooth connection.
Vibration has now been enabled while the device is on Power Saving Mode, and the device has been updated to the September 2024 Android Security Patch for improved security.
This update fixes the following bugs: auto-rotation not working in some cloned apps and the Media Player Widget not playing music when switching from guest to the main user. It also makes sure that the Bluetooth tile will show proper information about the earbuds and screen flickering upon long-press of the power button at low battery levels is fixed.
Other fixes include the fix for the system crash brought on by the animation of windows; the display issue of the Atmosphere Wallpaper Effect shown on the lock screen was rectified; and so on.
Nothing has released a big new update for its Essential Space feature. This update brings powerful tools that make the AI interface more useful, personal, and easy to control.
What is Essential Space?
Essential Space is a smart feature that was first launched with the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro. It helps users collect, manage, and remember information better by using AI tools. It is accessed by separate button called Essential Key.
What’s New in This Update?
- Google Calendar Integration:
Now, your tasks and events created by AI in Essential Space will automatically appear in your Google Calendar. This makes it easier to stay on top of your schedule.- Editable Memory:
You can now edit the tasks and summaries made by the AI. If the AI makes a mistake — like the wrong meeting time — you can fix it yourself.
- Essential Recorder (Now Editable):
Record meetings, interviews, or conversations, and get AI-made summaries and transcripts. A new “Flip-to-Record” feature lets you start recording just by placing your phone face down — a simple and private way to capture audio.
- Essential Recorder (Now Shareable):
You can now share your recordings as images, PDFs, or Markdown files with just one tap.
Availability
These new Essential Recorder features are already available on the Nothing Phone (3). They will soon come to the Phone (3a), Phone (3a) Pro, and CMF Phone 2 Pro.
Please note:
The Flip-to-Record feature will only work on the Phone (3).
The Essential Space update will be delivered automatically through the Google Play Store.
Nothing has started rolling out the first official software update for the newly launched Nothing Phone (3). This update does not bring a new OS version, as it remains on Nothing OS 3.5, but the build number has changed to Metroid-V3.5-250711-2047-IND. The update size is 257 MB and includes several new features, improvements, and bug fixes that enhance the overall experience.
One of the key improvements is to the Glyph Interface. A new Caller ID feature has been added, allowing users to long-press the Glyph button during a call to display the contact’s name or phone number. The Essential Notification system now supports selecting either built-in or custom icons. Users will also get access to generative ringtones that include Glyph Matrix lighting effects and randomly generated vibrations. In addition, the visual effects of the Glyph interface have been improved, the stability of Glyph Toys has been enhanced, and the Glyph button is now more responsive to avoid accidental touches.
The Essential Space feature has also been upgraded. It now supports “Flip to Record,” which lets users flip the phone face down and long-press the Essential Key to instantly start taking meeting notes. These notes are automatically saved in a to-do list format, making it easier to organize tasks.
The camera system has received some significant updates as well. Core imaging enhancements have been made to improve HDR, Night Mode, and Snapshot scenes for both front and rear cameras. These changes result in better brightness control and cleaner images. HDR video processing has also been improved, offering more natural brightness and better display performance. The UltraXDR Display has been upgraded too, ensuring smoother transitions between highlights and shadows.
There are many other system improvements included in this update. The performance of a popular battle royale game has been boosted to support 120 FPS, and Wi-Fi latency has been reduced during gaming for a better experience. Private Space now allows users to switch the default Gallery app, and pocket mode has been improved to prevent accidental touches. The audio experience has also been refined by fixing noise issues that occurred while toggling spatial audio during music playback.
The update also addresses slow or inconsistent charging problems and fixes an abnormal battery level display after charging. Lastly, overall system performance and power consumption have been optimized to ensure a more stable and efficient experience.
Earlier, users of Nothing Phones were able to activate the Essential Search Bar by updating the Nothing Launcher to the latest version. While it brought some improvements, a few features were still missing — especially the useful AI Search option.
Actually, it’s from the Nothing Phone (3), which is running the latest Nothing OS 3.5 update and already has all the Essential Search features fully functional.
This new Essential AI Search (Universal Search) allows users to search for anything directly from the home screen or app drawer — no need to open Google Chrome. It shows relevant results, including images, and sometimes gives quick answers in paragraph form. However, in some cases, it may not show images.
Now, older Nothing Phones can also get this feature! We have extracted the APK (installation file) from the new Nothing Phone (3), and it works smoothly on older devices too.
Important:
Before installing the APK, make sure your phone already has Nothing Launcher version 3.3.4 or later.
Essential Search – Download
This small tweak brings the latest smart search experience to older Nothing devices without needing to wait for an official update.