Following the release of aggregated global health stats last week, Fitbit is rolling out “Your 2022 year in review” and recap over email.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit emails ‘Your 2022 year in review’ with annual recap stats
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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 Photos tweaks and simplifies backup terminology
To simplify backups, Google Photos has updated two terms related to the process across the mobile and web apps as well as in support documentation.
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Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2 feedback survey live for Pixel
Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2 rolled out on Monday with only a handful of tweaks, and Google is now taking feedback from Pixel owners.
Expand Expanding CloseGboard toolbar redesign work continues as tablet layout tweaked [Gallery]
Since August, Gboard has been working on a redesign of the Shortcuts toolbar. Development on that continues with the latest beta this week, while Google has decided to tweak the tablet UI.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps for Wear OS rolls out phoneless navigation on LTE watches [U]
As previously teased, Google Maps for Wear OS now supports turn-by-turn navigation without needing a paired phone for LTE watch owners.
Expand Expanding CloseAlphabet layoffs impact robot and health efforts as X said to be scaling back
Amid the current economic environment, the first layoffs at Alphabet are impacting companies working on health (Verily) and robotics (Intrinsic), while the X Moonshot Factory is also curtailing spending.
Expand Expanding CloseMeta Quest Move adds support for Health Connect syncing on Android
Meta today announced Quest Move support for Google’s Health Connect so that “Android users [can] get credit for their VR workouts without having to manually input the minutes they exercised.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Meet adding 360-degree backgrounds on Android and iOS
Google Meet already offers a number of effects to customize your video feed and will soon add 360-degree backgrounds.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Meet rolling out in-call emoji reactions
In addition to raising your hand or using text chat, Google Meet is adding emoji reactions that appear “as a small badge in the sender’s video tile.” This feature has been planned since 2021.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Home app rolls out full TV controls on supported sets [U]
Some television sets can be controlled by the Nest Hub, and the Google Home app is now finally starting to pick up those touch-based controls.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music finally rolling out Library redesign on Android and iOS
After changes appeared for some users in August only to disappear a few weeks later, YouTube Music is now widely rolling out a major redesign of the Library tab.
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YouTube Music tweaks Library UI on the web; modeled after upcoming mobile redesign
YouTube Music has been working on a big redesign of the Library tab on Android and iOS for quite a while now. Ahead of that widely rolling out, YouTube Music on the web is getting some Library tweaks.
Expand Expanding CloseHere’s everything new in Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2 [Gallery]
Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2 is rolling out today to continue the preview cycle ahead of the March stable release.
Expand Expanding CloseMicrosoft abandons dual-screen Surface Duo 3 for foldable screen, committed to Android
According to a new report today, Microsoft’s approach to Android foldables, which certainly stood out, is coming to an end as the Surface Duo 3 looks to use a traditional foldable screen.
Expand Expanding Close‘Mineral’ is the newest Alphabet company with a focus on sustainable agriculture
In October of 2020, the X Moonshot Factory officially named its “computational agriculture” project, and Mineral has now graduated into a full-fledged Alphabet company.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 13 QPR2 is changing how the taskbar works
As part of optimizing Android for tablets and foldables, Google introduced a taskbar to aid multitasking. Android 13 QPR2 is set to make a big change that makes the taskbar “transient” and less of a permanent UI fixture.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Docs voice typing getting more accurate and expanded browser support
Google Docs has offered voice typing on the web since 2015, and the input method is now set to pick up “enhancements” that will also improve automatic captions in Google Slides.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out January 2023 update to Pixel Watch
Over a month after the last patch, the Google Pixel Watch is getting a new on-device OTA update to the January 2023 security patch.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 13 QPR2 adds 21 new emoji, including pink heart and goose
When Android 13 QPR2 hits stable in March on Pixel devices, it will introduce 21 emoji that range from new animals to a handful of other characters.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 13 QPR2 Beta 2 now available for Google Pixel phones
Following the Pixel’s first stable update of 2023, Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2 is rolling out today with the January security patch.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle releases standalone ‘Switch Access’ app in Play Store
Originally part of the Android Accessibility Suite, Google last week made Switch Access a standalone app on the Play Store.
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 get new Premium watch faces [Updated]
At launch, Fitbit’s new smartwatches lacked any third-party apps, but that appears to be changing. Fitbit also recently released new Premium watch faces for the Sense 2 and Versa 4.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages rolls out group chat end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in beta
Starting today, Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in group chats for Messages users enrolled in the beta program.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Account switcher getting more Material You and Dynamic Color tweaks
Back in September, Google started updating the account switcher found in the top-right corner of all its Android apps, and it’s now getting more Material You and Dynamic Color.
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