After Android 13 QPR2 Beta 3 and Beta 3.1 with the February security patch, Google is rolling out Beta 3.2 to Pixel phones.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 13 QPR2 Beta 3.2 rolling out for Pixel with Jio 5G enabled
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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.
Google says users like Android’s new Predictive Back Gesture
In Android 14, Google will roll out the new Predictive Back Gesture and its in-app version. Ahead of that, Google is surveying developers about it.
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A music video that takes place inside Google Meet now exists
After an eight-year gap, Tanlines on Tuesday announced a new album called The Big Mess coming in May. Ahead of that, they released a new song called “Outer Banks” that uses Google Meet as the setting for a music video.
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Microsoft aggressively trying to keep Chrome downloaders using Edge
Microsoft sees its browser as an important aspect and entry point for the new Bing. Microsoft Edge on Windows is now showing a rather aggressive ad on the Chrome download page to dissuade people from switching.
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Pixel 7 Pro down to $449 on Google Fi with monthly bill credits
The Pixel 7 is now four months old and starting to get eclipsed by the next generation of flagships. Google Fi is now discounting the Pixel 7 Pro to $449 via 24 monthly bill credits.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Log Out: Does Fitbit still make a smartwatch?
What separates a smartwatch from a fitness tracker? To me, it’s the ability to see notifications from your phone, replying to messages, taking calls, music controls or even on-wrist playback, and third-party apps.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Weather gets accidental dark theme via Android System Webview update
While Google’s Wear OS 3 weather experience is quite nice, the Android “app” is a bit more barebones and getting long in the tooth. Google Weather is now seeing a dark theme, but this might be an accident.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages is finally just calling it ‘RCS’
Since last year’s “Get the Message” advertising campaign online and in New York City, awareness of Rich Communication Services (RCS) is growing more mainstream. Google is now making RCS even more consumer-facing by prominently surfacing the name of the standard — a brand, of sorts — in Messages for Android.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music officially launches ‘Create a radio’ on Android and iOS
YouTube Music today officially announced its “Create a radio” feature after it widely rolled out earlier this month on Android and iOS.
Expand Expanding CloseComment: Is Immersive View how you want to use Google Maps?
I find Google Maps Immersive View to be one of the company’s more curious announcements in the past year. Will this mode become a big way to use Google Maps, or is it closer to Google Earth’s novelty?
Expand Expanding CloseSource: Google’s Pixel Fold is heavier than Galaxy Fold 4, but has a larger battery
After several iterations, Google looks to be closing in on releasing its first foldable some time this year. A source tells 9to5Google that the Pixel Fold will be quite a heavy device, but will make it up with the largest battery to date in a foldable.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 7 doesn’t support latest 5G standard, might with Android 14
The 3GPP is responsible for developing mobile broadband standards, with 5G being the recent focus. Standards are made available as “releases,” with the Pixel 7 on the older 3GPP Release 15 compared to other available phones today.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music rolls out ‘Create a radio’ [U: ‘Tune’ editing added]
YouTube Music already lets you customize your current queue by familiarity, genre, mood, energy level, and more directly from the Now Playing screen, and it might soon get the in-depth ability to create a custom radio.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Chrome rolls out Memory and Energy Saver modes
The Memory and Energy Saver modes that Google announced for Chrome on Mac, Windows, Linux, as well as Chromebooks, in December are now widely rolling out.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Log Out: Big Pixel Feature Drop inbound?
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:
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps adds background blurring when viewing photos
After previewing glanceable directions and rolling out Wear OS 3 AOD support, Google Maps is getting a small tweak to the photo viewer.
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You can now edit Google Contacts directly from the Gmail sidebar
Back in 2020, Google Contacts was added to the side panel found in Gmail to let you quickly view people and recent conversations. You’re now getting the ability to directly edit contacts from the Google Workspace sidebar.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle will start Assistant Reminders to Google Tasks migration in March
Back in September, Google announced that Google Tasks would replace Assistant Reminders; this migration will start next month.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit app removing Challenges & Adventures next month
The Fitbit app is set to lose Challenges & Adventures and support for Open Groups on March 27 as the integration with Google continues. Those “legacy” features are said to have limited use and no updates in quite some time.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit 3rd-party development is for watch faces, not apps, on Sense 2 and Versa 4
In addition to removing two social features from the app, Fitbit is shutting down the web-based Fitbit Studio on April 20.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Fi 5G appearing on iPhone with iOS 16.4 beta
An iPhone 12 or 13 on Google Fi is currently limited to 4G LTE data, but that might be changing as the iOS 16.4 beta appears to add support for 5G service.
Expand Expanding CloseChromeOS 110 rolling out: Super Resolution Audio, Select-to-speak, channels labels, more
Google is rolling out ChromeOS 110 with a number of user-facing tweaks that will be available on Chromebooks over the coming weeks.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle details what’s new in Pixel Watch 1.1 app update
The latest version of the Pixel Watch companion app (1.1.0.506033635), which hit 500,000+ downloads last week, is rolling out, and Google has provided the changelog today.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Contacts preps new widget to pin favorites to your homescreen [Gallery]
In addition to the one we spotted in November, Google Contacts for Android is getting a second homescreen widget that will let you pin favorites.
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