Following the initial rollout last month, Google Contacts is making official the ability to see message notifications on the widget.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Contacts widget now shows message notifications, shared location
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Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
Abner Li has worked at 9to5Google since 2015 and in late 2020 took on the role of editor-in-chief. He is keenly focused on tracking what happens at Google, and is often the first to spot new features in Google’s ever-growing family of applications that are updated on a daily basis, including Search, Assistant, Maps, Workspace, Android, Chrome/OS, Wear OS, and YouTube Music.
To him, what Google does greatly impacts the technology space and modern life. Inside the company, he is particularly interested in the key products mentioned above, as well as services like Google Podcasts and Google Lens. Each are massive platforms that can be unwieldy to grasp, with Abner keenly bent on understanding their philosophy and future direction. He is most excited about Google’s plans for augmented reality glasses.
Abner spearheads the APK Insight program at 9to5Google to chronicle all changes in the company’s Android apps, often finding new features before they are officially announced. This includes redesigns and revamps, launches, and new products.
A big area of interest is Google’s hardware division, including Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. He detailed all of the Pixel 3’s camera features before launch and scooped the 2nd-generation Nest Hub’s Soli-powered Sleep Sensing capability, including how it would integrate with Google Fit.
Recently, Abner detailed the Pixel Watch’s specs in full before launch, including bands and pricing. He also got wind of the Pixel Tablet’s ultimate form factor.
Google Wallet for Fitbit adds American Express support
With Google Wallet replacing Fitbit Pay in July, the newer service is rolling out support for American Express cards.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Sheets doubles calculation speed in Chrome, Edge
Google is touting significant speed improvements when performing calculations in Sheets on desktop Chrome and Edge.
Expand Expanding CloseChrome address bar gets Material You redesign on Android tablets, iPad
Google is rolling out a number of updates to Chrome 126 on Android and iOS, including a Material You redesign of the address bar on tablets.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle shutting down ‘Stack: PDF Scanner’ in September
One of the more consumer-facing apps that originated from Area 120 helped you scan and organize documents/receipts. “Stack: PDF Scanner by Google Area 120” — yes, that was the full Play Store name — is going away later this year.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Search removing continuous scrolling from results page
After introducing in 2021 and 2022, Google is rolling back continuous scrolling on the Search results page.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle teases Pixel 9 Pro with Android and Gemini focus [Video]
In addition to announcing the August 13 event, Google today is out with the first Pixel 9 Pro tease.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces early August 13 event for Pixel 9 and Pixel Watch 3
Google this morning announced that its annual Pixel hardware event will be taking place on August 13. This is incredibly early for 2024 with Made by Google usually taking place in October.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Wallet adds support for hotel keys
When Google Wallet relaunched in 2022, Google set out to replace your physical wallet and work towards that continues with support for hotel keys.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle no longer developing Material Web Components
Google is “no longer actively staffing” Material Web Components (MWC) and has “reassigned the engineers working” on it.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube adds ‘Your podcasts’ page, Google Podcasts shuts down internationally
YouTube is improving the podcasting experience outside of its Music app with a dedicated “Your podcasts” page.
Expand Expanding CloseReport: Google working on character chatbots, could integrate with YouTube
Google, specifically the Labs team, is working on chatbots that feature a personality and/or emulate existing characters/people.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube tests letting viewers ‘Hype’ a video
YouTube is testing a “Hype” feature that lets viewers boost the likelihood of a video “appearing in the rankings with other hyped videos that week.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Store now sells Pebblebee Find My Device trackers
The Google Store in the US and Canada now sells Pebblebee’s Find My Device trackers.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini side panel officially rolling out to Gmail, Google Docs, & more Workspace apps
As announced at I/O 2024 last month, the Gemini side panel is now rolling out to paid Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides customers, including Google One AI Premium.
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Android 14 QPR3 with June Feature Drop rolls out to T-Mobile, Google Fi
Almost two weeks after the update was announced, Android 14 QPR3 with the June 2024 Feature Drop is rolling out to Pixel phones on T-Mobile, including Google Fi.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle announces Gemini for students, Read Aloud in desktop Chrome, and more
At the ISTE 2024 education conference, Google announced the latest Chrome — like Read Aloud in Reading Mode — and Gemini features for schools.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages now lets you view larger contact photos
A nice quality-of-life improvement for Google Messages lets you tap on contact photos in the conversation view.
Expand Expanding ClosePixelated 015: Stolen phones and tracking woes
Welcome to the fifteenth episode of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we talk about the Android 15 Beta 3 and Find My Device trackers.
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Google’s AI focus isn’t on making a phone assistant – it’s pursuing the real world
To date, the most widely used assistants have let you interact with phones via voice commands. The utility of being able to use your mobile device hands-free is obvious.
Expand Expanding CloseVPN by Google One shuts down
As announced in April, users no longer have access to VPN by Google One today.
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Pixel VPN by Google responsible for apps and websites not working
If you’re having issues with some — but not all — websites and apps failing to load on your Pixel, VPN by Google might be the issue.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel getting more descriptive overheating warnings
At the moment, your Pixel shows a “Phone is getting warm” warning when it’s overheating. Google is working on more descriptive messages that don’t require navigating to an online support article for more information.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music redesigns albums and playlists on the web
After making the miniplayer persistent, the latest update for YouTube Music on the web is a redesign of albums and playlists.
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