A new Chrome flag has led some to believe that ChromeOS will soon let you refresh your wallpaper every 10 seconds, but that’s not what’s happening here.
Expand Expanding CloseNo, ChromeOS won’t let you refresh your wallpaper every 10 seconds
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Kyle Bradshaw joined 9to5Google in 2018 with a special interest in Google’s Fuchsia OS, rooted in his experience of being the first to offer a visual preview of the revolutionary design of the in-development operating system. Since then, his attention has broadened to include the secrets hidden within other areas of Google’s public codebases.
By reading the public Fuchsia code, Kyle was able to prove the existence of the Nest Mini and the Nest Hub Max months ahead of their respective announcements. With evidence from Chromium, he reported on Google’s since-canceled efforts to create an offshoot of Android designed for “touchless” feature phones.
In 2018, Kyle reported on three distinct Made by Google Chromebooks in development, the Pixel Slate, the Pixelbook Go — a full year before its release — and “Meowth,” the original version of the Pixel Slate that was canceled due to Intel’s delays that year. For ChromeOS itself, Kyle was the first to demonstrate the upcoming light theme redesign in action.
Looking at the early evidence of the Pixel 5’s specs, Kyle accurately predicted in February 2020 that the Pixel 5 might not be a traditional “flagship” phone. In 2021, he reported that Google’s next headset would be the “Pixel Buds A.”
Kyle was the first to report that the Pixel 6 would mark the debut of Google’s in-house processors, later revealed to be the Tensor chips.
Kyle contributes to the APK Insight column at 9to5Google, discovering the hidden changes in Google’s apps. These efforts have revealed hotly anticipated features, details about upcoming devices, and unexpected connections between companies.
He can be reached for tips or just friendly chat by Threads, Mastodon, Bluesky, or email. If you’re looking for his other works or side projects, head over to Kyle’s personal portfolio.
Google News is readying a Material You redesign [Gallery]
Following the trend set by many other Google apps, Google News is the next product set to gain a Material You redesign on Android, and we have your first look.
Expand Expanding CloseDirty Pipe: What you need to know about the major exploit affecting Pixel 6 and Galaxy S22 devices [Updated]
The security world has been abuzz about a new Linux exploit called “Dirty Pipe,” which also affects Android 12 devices like Galaxy S22 and Pixel 6. Here’s everything you need to know about “Dirty Pipe,” which devices it affects, and how best to avoid it.
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Google Doodle celebrates Teacher Appreciation Day 2022
Today’s colorful Google Doodle is in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day in the United States, showing the many roles a teacher plays in a child’s life.
Expand Expanding CloseThis week’s top stories: Fitbit for irregular heart rhythm, Pixel Watch fitness sensor, more
In this week’s top stories: Fitbit launches monitoring for irregular heart rhythms on select trackers, Pixel Watch appears to borrow its fitness sensor from Fitbit, Nothing shows off its Android launcher, and more.
Expand Expanding CloseStadia 4.13 preps game-specific touch controls, possible 1440p mobile streaming
The latest update to the Stadia app, version 4.13, points to game-specific touchscreen controls and hints at 1440p streaming on Android.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle prepares ‘ChromeOS’ rebrand to drop the space [Update: Live in Canary]
Google seems to have decided to fully drop the space and rebrand its desktop operating system to “ChromeOS.”
Update: Google has gone ahead with the rebrand, with the change appearing in pre-release builds of Chrome OS.
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Google Doodle celebrates Route 66, a touchstone of American car culture
The latest Google Doodle celebrates the anniversary of the creation of Route 66, the famous highway that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles and serves as a historical touchstone in American car culture.
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Google Doodle honors Toots Thielemans, harmonica legend
Google is honoring Toots Thielemans, the legendary jazz harmonica player whose most widely known contribution is to the Sesame Street theme song.
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Stadia redesigns its store on the web, showcasing trials, demos, more
Stadia has rolled out a redesign of its web store to better showcase free trials, demos, Stadia Pro games, and more.
Expand Expanding CloseClassic Google Hangouts returns to iOS App Store, but only if you have the link
At the end of last month, Google delisted its classic Hangouts app from iOS and Android app stores. Surprisingly, the soon to be retired Hangouts app has returned to the iOS App Store, but only if you have the link.
Expand Expanding CloseThree models of Pixel Watch get Bluetooth certification, moving closer to release
Google’s Pixel Watch is moving one step closer to release today, as three models of the smartwatch have gotten approval from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 13 Beta 1: Clipboard gets an overlay and editor, like screenshots
With the arrival of Android 13 Beta 1, Pixel phones can now quickly edit the contents of the clipboard, with an overlay similar to taking a screenshot.
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Googler showcases the many web apps made possible by Chrome’s ‘Capabilities Project’
As the feature gap between native apps and web apps shrinks, the number of highly capable web apps has only grown. A Googler has taken the time to share a massive showcase of the web apps made possible by the APIs of Chrome’s “Capabilities Project.”
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Android 13 DP2: ‘Do Not Disturb’ rebranded to ‘Priority mode’ [Update: Reverted]
Google has decided to rename Android’s classic “Do Not Disturb” setting to “Priority mode” in the second preview of Android 13.
Update: Google now seems to be walking back this change.
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Android 13 Beta 1: 12 new dual tone ‘Basic colors’ and Material You theme styles
As part of the first Android 13 Beta, Pixel phones now have 12 new options for “basic color” themes that aren’t based on your current wallpaper, along with a handful of alternate Material You color theme styles.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Play system updates for April offer new Play Pass features, app discovery, and more [Updated]
The April Google Play system updates for Android phones will bring new Play Pass and Play Points features, ways to discover apps, and more.
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Android Auto rolls out support for one-tap quick replies to messages
Months after the feature was announced, Google is now rolling out support for quick replies to messages via Android Auto.
Expand Expanding CloseThis week’s top stories: Pixel Watch leaks, Motorola MA1 review, Pixel 6 repair diary, more
In this week’s top stories: Pixel Watch leaks show off the watch’s seemingly final design, we review the Motorola MA1 Android Auto wireless dongle, and more.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle files trademark for ‘Pixel Watch’ ahead of device’s launch
With the launch of the first Made by Google smartwatch seemingly around the corner, the device now has a more definite name thanks to a new trademark for “Pixel Watch.”
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 14 gets official internal codename… Upside Down Cake
Google has revealed the official codename for Android 14, internally dubbing the 2023 release “Upside Down Cake.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages bug leaves camera on in background, draining battery — Here’s how to fix [U]
A new bug in Google Messages leaves your camera on in the background, quickly draining your battery and heating up your device.
Update: Google has begun rolling out a fix for the Messages app.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Doodle shows the brutal realities of climate change over time
Out of respect for Earth Day, Google has replaced their homepage logo with a series of timelapse animations showing the harsh realities of climate change.
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GameSir X3 gaming controller for Android launches on IndieGogo, adds cooling fan
The GameSir X3 is launching today on IndieGogo as a successor to the company’s popular X2 controller for Android phones, bringing a new cooling fan.
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