A new leak this evening has revealed Meta’s upcoming roadmap for VR/MR headsets and AR glasses, with 2025 being a big year.
Expand Expanding CloseMeta targeting 2025 for glasses with ‘viewfinder’ display and neural interface smartwatch
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.
Android 13 QPR2 Beta gets final feedback survey before launch
Google released Android 13 QPR2 Beta 3.2 last week to close out the preview cycle and is now asking for final feedback ahead of launch.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Play requiring watch apps to be updated for Wear OS 3 by August
To improve the experience of using a Wear OS 3 device, Google is introducing a number of watch app quality requirements that will come into effect this August.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Log Out: Google needs a better way to announce new features
9to5Google has a rebooted newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and other tidbits. Sign up to get it early in your inbox, or continue reading 9to5Google Log Out below:
Google Fi drops US Cellular as an official network, but service still accessible
Project Fi’s original technical innovation was the ability to switch between Sprint and T-Mobile for the best possible service. US Cellular was added later, but Google Fi has now dropped the carrier as an official network.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle updates Chrome to match Safari battery life on M2 MacBook Pro
After widely rolling out an Energy Saver mode, Google has made four optimizations to Chrome for Mac that allows the browser to match the battery life you get when using Safari.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Watch Fall Detection can distinguish between hard falls and exercise, rolling out now
As promised at launch and after a false start, Google today is rolling out Fall Detection for the Pixel Watch.
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Gmail and Google Calendar client-side encryption now generally available
Following Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Meet, client-side encryption (CSE) for Workspace customers is now generally available (GA) in Gmail and Google Calendar.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat apps support the new Android 13 media player [Updated]
Android 13’s most obvious UI change is a redesign of the lockscreen and notification shade media player. However, not all music, podcasts, and audio apps have been updated to support them yet, and here’s our running list of what controls have been modernized.
Expand Expanding CloseYou can now access Google Tasks on the web without using Gmail’s sidebar
Google Tasks is set to replace Assistant reminders next month. Ahead of that, Google has brought online a website that lets you directly access Google Tasks.
Expand Expanding CloseWaymo starts autonomous testing in LA with no human driver
In October, Waymo announced that its ride-hailing service is coming next to Los Angeles following Phoenix and San Francisco. Waymo vehicles have now started “fully-autonomous (no human driver) testing in LA.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Keep adding single note widget and Wear OS 3 complications
Following the dual-pane layout optimized for Android tablets (and Chromebooks) in November, Google Keep is getting a single note widget and a pair of Wear OS 3 complications.
Expand Expanding CloseWear OS 3 getting new sound and display modes as Chrome for Android adds 300% page zoom
Google is rolling out a handful of new accessibilities feature for Android (Chrome zoom) and Wear OS 3 (sound and display modes) as part of a modest Spring feature frop.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle emphasizing ‘Pixel Value’ and getting features ‘before other Android devices’
With the Fixed on Pixel Super Bowl commercial, a new tagline was introduced: “The only phone engineered by Google.” The latest Google ad campaign continues that and is emphasizing “Pixel Value.”
Expand Expanding CloseA bigger Pixel Watch March update looks to be coming [U: Changelog removed]
The Pixel Watch has so far received three monthly updates, and its next one for March looks to be bigger with new features possible instead of just bug fixes.
Expand Expanding CloseComment: The risk of podcasts turning YouTube Music into YouTube Audio
YouTube certainly took its time adding dedicated podcasting features after watching the medium – in video form – naturally flourish on the platform. Hopefully, that wait translates to being very careful and considerate about how audio podcasts appear in YouTube Music.
Expand Expanding CloseGmail getting 2-pane view on Android foldables
After a slew of tablet optimizations for Workspace and other Google apps, Gmail for Android is now getting a two-pane view on foldables.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Log Out: Google One has a promising future
Magic Eraser was previously exclusive to the Pixel 6 and 7. Yesterday, the editing feature saw its availability significantly expand to any Google Photos users on Android and iOS that’s subscribed to Google One, including the cheapest plan. There are two ways to look at this move.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle might add Imagen text-to-image generator to Gboard on Android
In the coming months, Google is expected to add a slew of AI features to its products, with some already rumored for I/O 2023. Gboard for Android is now working to integrate the Imagen text-to-image generator.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Podcasts app will remain, not merging with YouTube’s podcasting efforts
In addition to announcing that podcasts are coming to YouTube Music today, Google provided some clarity on the future of Google Podcasts.
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Google Docs adding stopwatch, Calendar template, and other Smart Chips
Google Docs is adding a bunch of new features to Smart Canvas, which aims to boost integration between apps, like a stopwatch and Calendar template.
Expand Expanding CloseMagic Eraser ends Pixel exclusivity & coming to Google Photos for Android, iOS with Google One
In a rather surprising move, Magic Eraser, one of the Pixel’s best features, is coming to any user of Google Photos for Android or iOS if they’re subscribed to Google One.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Drive, Docs, and other Workspace websites getting Material You redesign
While the mobile Workspace apps were quickly updated alongside Android 12’s Pixel launch in fall of 2021, it took much longer for Material Design 3 to arrive on the web. Following the Gmail redesign last year, Material You is coming next to Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
Expand Expanding CloseGmail app not showing new Outlook or Hotmail messages due to sync bug
Gmail for Android and iOS lets you sign into non-Google accounts to read and send emails. Microsoft Outlook and Hotmail integration in Gmail is currently broken.
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