At CES 2024, Google has a number of Chromecast and television announcements, including how Fast Pair is rolling out to the Chromecast with Google TV very soon.
Expand Expanding CloseFast Pair rolling out to Chromecast with Google TV next month
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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.
Nearby Share on Android and laptops is becoming ‘Quick Share’
Nearby Share was officially announced in August of 2020 to let Android users locally send files from one device to another. Google is now “collaborating with Samsung” to create a “singular cross-Android solution” called “Quick Share,” and it begins rolling out next month.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Tablet getting Tap to Cast with UWB Pixel phones
Later this year, Google will let you “Tap to Cast” songs between the Pixel Tablet and compatible Pixel phones.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 7a, 8 Pro, and Fold sweep blind camera test [Video]
After taking the top two spots last year, the Pixel Camera swept — in order: 7a, 8 Pro, and Fold — the MKBHD 2023 Blind Camera Smartphone Camera Test.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit update lets you manually log body temperature
Fitbit 4.06 is widely rolling out on Android today with the ability to manually log body temperature readings from your own thermometer.
Expand Expanding CloseMore state IDs coming to Google Wallet in next few months
Back in October, the total number of state IDs available in Google Wallet increased to four. “Digital ID will be a cornerstone for [Google] in the next year” and support for more states in the Wallet app on Android is coming.
Expand Expanding CloseYou’ll soon see driverless Waymo cars on freeways
The Waymo One ride-hailing service today operates on surface streets and will soon be able to use freeways.
Expand Expanding CloseAssistant with Bard: How Google shrunk Bard’s UI for Android [Gallery]
We now have a deeper look at the Assistant with Bard UI on Android and how bard.google.com has been translated to a mobile UI.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Watch 2 LTE discount includes two free years of Fi data
A new Google Store promo will give you two free years of Fi data if you buy the Pixel Watch 2 LTE, which is currently on discount.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Store discounts Pixel 8 Pro, 8, and 7a to holiday levels
The Google Store is kicking off 2024 with notable discounts on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, as well as several other products in the hardware family.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Launcher now lets you search for Quick Settings Tiles
Back in December, we spotted Pixel Launcher search surfacing Quick Settings Tiles. The first iteration of this feature is now widely rolling out.
Expand Expanding CloseChromeOS 120 rolling out: Virtual Desk Button, Nearby Share ‘Self Share,’ and more
Google is rolling out ChromeOS 120 with a number of usability tweaks for Chromebooks over the coming days.
Expand Expanding CloseAll Chromebooks should have fingerprint sensors by now
It’s 2024 and the vast majority of Chromebooks don’t have fingerprint sensors. Biometric authentication has become the norm on smartphones, but most ChromeOS users are still typing in a password. (Having to enter your Google Account credentials so often in public seems like a bad idea.)
Expand Expanding CloseChrome for Android making it easier to Clear browsing data
Chrome is adding a high-level shortcut to “Clear browsing data” on Android. Google has been testing various iterations of this feature over the past year, but appears to be landing on this version.
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[Fixed] Pixel Launcher mic opens voice search and not Google Assistant
There are a handful of ways to launch Google Assistant on Android at this point. With the Pixel Launcher, you can tap the microphone icon in the search bar, but this is currently opening “voice search” instead of Assistant.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Meet web app unified with ‘Calls’ tab
The addition of a “Calls” tab to the Google Meet web app unifies the meeting side of the service with the legacy Duo direct dialing aspect.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat the Duet AI side panel can do in Gmail, Google Drive, & Docs [Gallery]
In late October, Google said it would start testing the Duet AI side panel in Workspace Labs, and we now have a closer look at what it can do.
Expand Expanding CloseQualcomm announces Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 that will power Google-Samsung device
Qualcomm today announced the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 with a focus on providing “more realistic, detailed experiences.”
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 14 January security patch rolling out for Pixel
Google is kicking off the year in Pixel updates with the Android 14 January security patch today for the following devices: 5a, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, and 8 Pro.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 8 and 8 Pro get camera and UI fixes with January 2024 update
With January 1 falling on a Monday, Google took two additional days to deliver the first update of 2024 for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.
Expand Expanding CloseAt a Glance gets new unified Pixel settings page
Google Pixel devices now have unified At a Glance settings where everything appears on one new page. This first appeared for some users in mid-October, but is now widely rolling out.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Launcher adds Google Password Manager shortcut, tweaks weather
Google’s elevation of its Password Manager continues with a Pixel Launcher search shortcut.
Expand Expanding CloseNew malware restores cookies to break into your Google Account [U: Google responds]
A severe cookie-related vulnerability that first involves malware exfiltrating files from Chrome looks to allow access to Google Accounts even after passwords are changed.
Expand Expanding CloseWill Google finally charge for Nest Hub Sleep Sensing in 2024?
At launch, Sleep Sensing on the 2nd-gen Nest Hub was available as a “free preview” that was later extended to 2023. As 2024 starts, Google has so far not delayed when it “plans to integrate Sleep Sensing into Fitbit Premium.”
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