In a repeat of the schedule from two years ago, Google looks to be rolling out Android 14 on the same day as the Pixel 8 launch event.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 14 rolling out to Pixel on October 4, according to carrier
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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.
Chromebook Plus evolves ChromeOS by doubling specs and adding AI, from $399
As we first reported in June, Google has announced Chromebook Plus as a new class of hardware that allows for more software and AI features thanks to a minimum spec requirement.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle updates Individual Contact widget with more Material You
Google is updating the Individual Contact Android widget it introduced earlier this year to bring more Material You flourishes.
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Google Messages tests new conversation picker from share sheet
In addition to a new UI for forwarding texts and chats, Google is testing that same conversation picker when selecting Messages for Android from the share sheet.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube redesign tests replacing Library with ‘You’ tab
YouTube has long maintained its own design language that sets it apart from other Google apps. YouTube for Android is now testing a somewhat notable redesign that replaces the Library tab with “You.”
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music rolls out auto-downloads for podcasts
Following the news that Google Podcasts is shutting down next year, YouTube Music now has the ability to auto-download podcasts.
Expand Expanding CloseHumane Ai Pin is shaped like Google Clips and won’t need a paired phone
Back in April, Humane demoed its combadge-esque wearable with a camera and screen projector. We now have a better look at the design of the Humane Ai Pin.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music with comments is Google’s low-key social network
“A social network for music” is how Steve Jobs described iTunes Ping in September 2010. I still think it’s a good idea that has the chance of being realized at scale by YouTube Music and its new ability to access comments directly on the Now Playing screen.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Music 4.5 for Android getting new iOS 17-style widgets, more
A big update to Apple Music that’s currently in beta adds new Android homescreen widgets from iOS 17, as well as other features from the latest iPhone and iPad release.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle ads focus on getting people to switch in lead-up to Pixel 8
More so than in past years, Google advertising and teasing ahead of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro is laser-focused on encouraging people to switch phones.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolls out Messages homescreen redesign that drops nav drawer
Google started testing a homescreen redesign for Messages back in June and is now widely rolling it out to stable users after months of beta testing.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Photos redesign with new Memories feed rolls out
Last month, Google announced a redesign to Photos that revamps the Memories feature, tweaks the bottom bar, and makes other changes. It’s now seeing wider availability in the US.
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Google lets sites control whether they are used for Bard, other gen AI training
Google is giving web publishers a new way to control AI training data and “whether their sites help improve Bard and Vertex AI generative APIs.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle SGE now available for teens, adding About this result
Google is continuing to expand the Search Generative Experience (SGE) by letting teens in the US sign up for it.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle shutting down Jamboard, offering transition to other whiteboard apps
Back in 2016, Google announced a 55-inch 4K touchscreen that serves as a digital whiteboard for real-time collaboration. Google Jamboard and its mobile apps are now shutting down in 2024.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Calendar updates ‘Today’ button to show the actual date on Android
A small quality of life improvement to Google Calendar adds the current date to every screen of the Android app.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit announces $160 Charge 6 with YouTube Music, Google Maps, and Wallet
Google announced the Fitbit Charge 6 today with a focus on more accurate heart rate tracking, as well as first-party apps like YouTube Music and Google Maps.
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Desktop Chrome update removes annoying ‘All Bookmarks’ prompt
With Chrome 117, the desktop browser added “All Bookmarks” to the end of the Bookmarks Bar. That unneeded reminder has now been removed.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music tests ‘Speed dial’ redesign of ‘Listen again’ [U]
The “Listen again” carousel is how I primarily interact with YouTube Music, and Google is testing a larger, more dense version.
Expand Expanding CloseChromeOS 117 rolling out Material You redesign, updated Quick Settings, and much more
Google is rolling out ChromeOS 117, and it’s a very big update for Chromebooks that adds Material You, as well as other usability enhancements.
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Google Photos gets updated upload UI on the web
A small tweak to the Google Photos website in recent days modernizes the interface for uploading images and videos.
Expand Expanding CloseI wish Android 14 inspired as many app updates as iOS 17 did
Whenever Apple releases a major OS update, as it did last Monday with iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10, developers – both large but especially indie – release a slew of day one updates to support the latest platform features.
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Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 feedback survey for Pixel now open
Following the launch last week, Google is now soliciting feedback with an Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 survey. There are a handful of new user-facing features, as well as bugs. Google Wallet not working initially was problematic, but that has since been resolved.
Expand Expanding Close‘All-in-one subscription from Google’ with Nest Aware, Google One might be coming
Google announced at the start of this month that Nest Aware is getting a price increase. The Google Home app now reveals that an “All-in-one subscription from Google” could be in the works.
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