For several years now, Chrome has offered a custom share sheet, but the mobile browser is now adopting the system version on Android 14.
Expand Expanding CloseChrome switching to native share sheet on Android 14
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.
‘Samples’ is a new way to discover YouTube Music’s deep library, not Shorts
While there have been modernizations, YouTube’s music streaming service has remained functionally and visually the same since its launch. YouTube Music is now getting its biggest shakeup in years with a “Samples” tab that is meant to be a new way to discover personalized video content.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle ‘SGE while browsing’ offers ‘AI-powered key points’ on long articles
The biggest update to Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) since its launch will let the AI appear outside Search results and be accessible when you’re just browsing the web.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps no longer lets you tap to hide the search bar and other UI
A curious change to Google Maps on Android and iOS means you can no longer tap to hide the search and bottom bar, as well as other UI elements, to focus entirely on the map.
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Google Voice Typing appearing with Android 14 and Gboard betas
The latest Gboard 13.3 beta reveals many upcoming features, but in the short-term it appears to be responsible for the old Google Voice Typing experience reappearing on Android 14.
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Yup, Google Messages flipped the ‘Reply’ and ‘Remind 1 hr’ buttons
While a very tiny change, the muscle memory impact of Google Messages switching the position of “Reply” and “Remind 1 hr” in notifications is comically big.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Watch 2 arrives at FCC with new ‘metal slim’ and ‘mesh’ bands tested, LTE
Ahead of a fall launch alongside the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, three models of the Pixel Watch 2 have arrived for regulatory certification at the FCC.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat if Google Pixel moved away from yearly product cycles
One of my continued takeaways with the Pixel Fold is that you can feel how many iterations — three by our count — it underwent before launch. Additional development time leads to better products, and I wonder what would happen if that was applied to flagship phones (Pixel 6, 7, 8, etc).
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 8 Pro promo video leaks ‘Audio Magic Eraser’ and light blue color
Live shots of the Pixel 8 Pro last emerged in July, and we now have a marketing promo video leak the existence of “Audio Magic Eraser” and a blue color option.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Workspace details data privacy commitments for Duet AI
At a high level, Google says “generative AI does not change [its] foundational privacy protections for giving users choice and control over their data.” Google, in a blog post, detailed its “privacy commitments to all Workspace users” and commercial (enterprise) customers around Duet AI.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung officially launches One UI 6 beta with Android 14 for Galaxy S23
Following two false starts that saw announcement posts published and then removed, Samsung is now launching a beta program for the Android 14-based One UI 6 on the Galaxy S23 series. It comes as Google is winding down the Pixel equivalent ahead of the stable release in a few weeks.
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Google Slides will let you draw and annotate when presenting
At the moment, Google Slides offers a virtual laser pointer when presenting, but you’ll soon be able to draw too.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out Android 14 Beta 5 to Pixel
Ahead of the public launch, Android 14 is getting a Beta 5 for Pixel phones, the Tablet, and Fold. It comes a month after the last major release and is the final scheduled update.
Expand Expanding CloseBig Gboard 13.3 update preps stylus handwriting, mini voice typing UI, gen AI stickers, more
Recent updates to Gboard have focused on tablet and foldables optimizations, while everyone benefited from the toolbar redesign. Gboard 13.3 reveals work on new features like a stylus handwriting mode, compact voice typing UI, and generative AI stickers. This version is still in beta and none of the functionality we spotted is yet live.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolls out ‘Unknown tracker alerts’ on Android – Here’s how to check
Following the announcement at the end of last month, Android is widely rolling out “Unknown tracker alerts” for detecting AirTags that might have been nefariously placed on you.
Expand Expanding CloseIn-progress Fitbit Guided Programs going away September 19
Fitbit announced its redesigned Android and iOS app with Material You last week. Ahead of that fall launch, in-progress Fitbit Guided Programs are going away, but the functionality will be present in Coach.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Docs eSignature system now in beta for Workspace Individual
Previewed last year, Google is now offering an e-signature feature in Docs and Drive for Workspace Individual customers, while it’s coming soon to select tiers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Arts & Culture gets Material You redesign, adds AI Poem Postcards
Besides the updated ‘&’ logo, Google today detailed a redesign of Arts & Culture for Android, while marking the occasion with Poem Postcards.
Expand Expanding CloseMini-review: Using the Pixel Fold as Google’s smallest phone
Google has put out some relatively small phones, but they were never really true mini or compact devices. Rather, they were just on the smaller side of average, with the new design language introduced by the Pixel 6 increasing the display dimensions. I’ve mostly been using the Pixel Fold as Google’s smallest phone (by screen size) in the current lineup, and it’s been interesting.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Chrome switching to weekly security patch updates
To better address the security patch gap, Google announced today that Chrome is now adopting weekly Stable channel updates.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Calendar rolls out Material You widget redesign
Following last month’s announcement, Google Calendar for Android is now rolling out a Material You redesign of its two homescreen widgets.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages turning on RCS by default, group E2E encryption launches
After testing group end-to-end encryption for the past few months, Google Messages has now fully rolled it out and is enabling RCS by default.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle details how Android 14 protects against cellular attacks
Ahead of Android 14’s stable launch, Google is detailing “first-of-its-kind” cellular connectivity security features in the release.
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Facebook/Meta Messenger dropping SMS support in September
Since 2016, you have been able to use Facebook/Meta’s Messenger as an SMS app on Android. That integration is now set to go away next month.
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