In this month’s APK Insight top stories: In January 2019, we uncovered new in-the-works features including Face Match in the Google app, various tidbits from the Android Q System UI, and interface changes in YouTube Music. Keep reading for the biggest Google app secrets we uncovered this month…
Google app
After pausing for the winter holidays, the Google app resumed its weekly beta release cadence. Notable features we enabled last month include a bottom bar and settings redesign with the Google Material Theme, as well as auto episode downloads and audio transcription in Podcasts.
On the Assistant front, the phone panel now features rounded corners, and tested an unfinished dark mode. The app is also preparing Face Match for Assistant devices and Android Q support.
- Google app 8.91 preps Podcasts auto downloads, more Material Theme, ‘Top Apps’ redesign [APK Insight]
- Google app 9.0 preps Podcasts transcription, rounded Assistant, 9to5G shout-out [APK Insight]
- Google app 9.5 preps Assistant Dark mode, additional ‘Updates’ functionality [APK Insight]
- Google app 9.10 preps Face Match, Android Q support, removes Assistant dark mode, more [APK Insight]
YouTube Music
Google’s latest music streaming service continues to add tiny updates, but in January notably received some UI tweaks that rounded various elements and refreshed the song queue. Work continues on sideloading tracks, while YouTube Music might be pre-installed on Android.
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- YouTube Music 2.65 continues work on sideloaded tracks, could be pre-installed on Android [APK Insight]
- YouTube Music 2.67 features UI tweaks, Queue changes, more [APK Insight]
Gboard
Gboard’s Google Material Theme began appearing in January, and features a slew of rounded elements. Also in testing is faster voice typing that works offline by downloading the necessary models. The emoji panel has also been redesigned to scroll vertically, rather than horizontally, while Google is working on adding Emoticons/Kaomoji.
- Gboard 7.8 preps redesigned emoji panel, voice typing history, language, more [APK Insight]
- Gboard 7.9 preps more Emoticons/Kaomoji, more [APK Insight]
Google Duo
Besides preparing a web app, Google Duo is finally letting users pin Contacts to the homepage rather than having that list arranged by recently dialed. Also in development is a low light mode to help with nighttime calls.
Android Q System UI
Ahead of Android Q later this year and the developer preview in the short-term, we were able to acquire and teardown the System UI from Google’s next major release. It revealed that Q is likely Android 10 and will leverage face recognition, Screen Recording, and a slew of other features.
About APK Insight: In our APK Insight series, we decompiled the latest version of Google applications. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we’re able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect.
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