YouTube Music introduced “Create a radio” last year and is now giving it a more permanent home.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music ‘Create a radio’ gets new shortcut, adds podcast sorting
Author
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 Messages RCS is not working on rooted, custom ROM Android phones
In recent weeks, Android users with rooted or bootloader unlocked phones have found that RCS in Google Messages does not work.
Expand Expanding ClosePhotomath is officially Google’s latest app on the Play Store
In May of 2022, Google announced that it was acquiring a math solver app called Photomath. The deal closed last year after regulatory review, but Google only just brought the application under its Play Store publisher account today.
Expand Expanding CloseChrome search updated with more images, on-device suggestions
Google Chrome is rolling out a handful of updates to search suggestions, including more images, wider availability, and “People also search for.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Cloud and Stack Overflow partner on Gemini for developers
Google Cloud and Stack Overflow announced a strategic partnership today that boosts the utility of Gemini for developers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages rolling out new contact Details page [U]
As we previously spotted, Google Messages is beginning to roll out a new in-app contacts page with a touch of Material You.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music redesigns overflowing overflow menu on Android [U]
After testing in October, YouTube Music has rolled out a redesign of the Now Playing overflow menu, but only on iOS.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Contacts widgets will soon show that person’s last sent message
Last year, Google Contacts introduced new Material You widgets and is now planning to let you “See messages on your widget.”
Expand Expanding Close[Fixed] YouTube Music’s homescreen recommendations are off today
Some YouTube Music users are seeing a very playlist-heavy homescreen today that feels generic and not very personalized.
Expand Expanding CloseSundar Pichai addresses Gemini’s ‘unacceptable’ errors and ‘at scale’ fixes
Sundar Pichai on Tuesday sent an internal memo reiterating how Google “got it wrong” with Gemini responses and image generation. The CEO told employees that they have to “focus on what matters most: building helpful products that are deserving of our users’ trust.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Search rolling out settings redesign on the web
Google is rolling out a redesign of Search settings on the web that centralizes everything into the account menu.
Expand Expanding CloseFuture Wear OS updates will require Watch Face Format to access most complications
Google introduced the Watch Face Format (WFF) with Wear OS 4 and is now encouraging developers to migrate to access complications.
Expand Expanding CloseDoes Gemini completely replace Google Assistant?
Even before generative AI, it was clear that Google Assistant was in retreat. Now that Google is in its “Gemini era,” what’s next for Assistant?
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps adds ‘Glanceable directions while navigating’ setting
Google announced “glanceable directions” for Maps on Android and iOS last February, and a new setting called “Glanceable directions while navigating” is now available.
Expand Expanding CloseGemini can now access and create Google Calendar events
Following reminders last week, Gemini on Android can now access your Google Calendar events, as well as create new ones via voice command.
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Google Photos adds Activity-based personalization setting
Besides more widely rolling out auto-grouping Stacks, Google Photos is getting a new Activity-based personalization setting.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Play Store gets a second splash screen of sorts, form factor switcher in listings
Google is rolling out a new form factor switcher for screenshots and reviews on Play Store listings, while a second splash screen of sorts is appearing when launching the app.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Calendar for iPhone adds lockscreen widgets
Google has updated its Calendar app on the iPhone and iPad with a trio of convenient lockscreen widgets.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Kids TV app going away in July, replaced by main YouTube client
Last May, Google integrated YouTube Kids into the main YouTube app on smart TVs. This will soon be the only way to access YouTube Kids on television.
Expand Expanding CloseQuick Share rolling out to Chromebooks, ChromeOS 121 redesigns media controls
As Google’s rebrand of Nearby Share continues, we’re now seeing Quick Share appear on Chromebooks.
Expand Expanding CloseWear OS 4 ‘hybrid interface’ will ‘dramatically’ boost battery on OnePlus Watch 2
The OnePlus Watch 2 powered by Wear OS 4 touts “dramatically extended battery life of up to 100 hours of regular use with all functionalities accessible in Smart Mode.” This is due to the “substantially expanded” Wear OS hybrid interface, with Google touting how it has made “fundamental design changes to the platform” that improve performance and power.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid media switcher rolling out Spotify Connect support
As announced at CES 2023, Google is rolling out support for Spotify Connect in the Android media switcher to improve the cross-devices experience.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps for Wear OS adds public transit directions
At Mobile World Congress 2024, Google announced a handful of wearable and navigation-related updates, starting with public transit directions in Google Maps for Wear OS.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages will let you chat with Gemini
As we previously spotted, Gemini is coming to Google Messages as a chatbot that helps you “draft messages, brainstorm ideas, plan events, or simply have a fun conversation.”
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