After rolling out a new icon and previewing several upcoming features last week, Google Messages is now testing new delivered and read status indicators.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages tests new design for delivered and read indicators
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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.
YouTube is letting you vote on feature requests for its TV and gaming console apps
As of late, YouTube on smart/connected TVs has been a big focus area, and the company is letting the community vote on what feature requests the development team should prioritize.
Expand Expanding CloseMicrosoft starts rolling out Android 12L for the Surface Duo and Duo 2
As teased earlier this month, Android 12L is now rolling out to the Surface Duo and Surface Duo 2 with more than a few visual inspirations from Windows 11.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube rolling out black dark theme, ‘Ambient Mode,’ and other video player updates
After testing for the past few months, YouTube today officially announced several design updates, including Ambient Mode, to the video player across Android, iOS, the web, and smart TVs.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle is expanding its AR prototype testing to Canada
In August, Google started real-world testing of AR (augmented reality) prototypes in the US, and is now expanding to Canada.
Expand Expanding CloseWear OS backups will cover watch faces and tiles as Wallet preps more on-wrist features
Like on phones, many Wear OS features are delivered via Google Play services, and the latest version reveals what backups on watches will cover, as well as more features for Google Wallet.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Store discounts: $299 Pixel 6a, $49 Nest Audio or Hub, $149 Pixel Buds Pro, more
We’re just over a month away from Black Friday, but the US Google Store currently has a few deals that are approaching that level. The Nest Audio is currently $49.99, while you can get Pixel Buds Pro for $149 and a $299 Pixel 6a.
Expand Expanding CloseComment: What makes the Pixel Watch a Google Pixel device?
In the broadest sense, Pixel phones are differentiated by AI and ML-powered features. The Pixel Watch — in the modern era* — is Made by Google’s third form factor with “Pixel” branding. As a first-generation device, its claim to that name is somewhat more tenuous.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle on why the Nest Wifi Pro is glossy & how it choose Pixel 7’s Lemongrass and Hazel
The third episode of the Made by Google podcast interviews Isabelle Olsson — Senior Director, Design for Wearables, Nest, and CMF (Color, Material, and Finish) — about the design of the Pixel Watch, the glossy Nest Wifi Pro, and picking the Pixel 7 colors.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music rolls out 7-day stats and teases more lyric features
YouTube Music’s bimonthly recap of feature launches for August and September 2022 is here with wide rollouts for seven-day stats and a handful of teases about what the team is working on next.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 7 and 7 Pro Clear Calling goes live with Android 13 QPR1 Beta 3
Today’s surprise release of Android 13 QPR1 Beta 3 contains only minor UI tweaks, but it does enable Clear Calling on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.
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Google improving Gmail search with labels and related results
Google is rolling out a trio of features to improve the search experience in Gmail with labels and related results. Chat also gets some upgrades with AI-generated summaries and inline threading for Spaces.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle says the Pixel Watch does not suffer from screen burn-in, just image retention
The Pixel Watch is a first-generation wearable and some are encountering what they believe to be screen “burn-in,” but Google tells us that this is just image retention.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out Android 13 QPR1 Beta 3, including to Pixel 7 and 7 Pro
Android 13 QPR1 Beta 3 is now available for Pixel phones and it’s rolling out just over two weeks after the previous release.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle using AI to improve accuracy of Assistant smart home commands, but warns of changes
Using voice commands to control smart home devices is very common, and something that Google Assistant is about to get better at through the use of AI.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages adding in-app YouTube PiP, free RCS over inflight Wi-Fi, and more
Google is rolling out a handful of new features for Messages today to make the core experience more convenient, like a YouTube PiP. This follows a similar set of announcements back in March.
Expand Expanding CloseArea 120’s Threadit shutting down; video message team joining Google Workspace
Amid the work-from-home era, Google’s Area 120 incubator released Threadit to boost team collaboration with video messages that could be replied to at any time. This project is shutting down soon, but the Threadit team is joining Google Workspace.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 13 (Go edition) announced with Material You, Google Play System Updates, and more
Google announced and detailed Android 13 (Go edition) today with several sizable changes to the user experience and underlying technical functionality grouped under “reliability, usability and customization” tentpoles.
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Waymo One autonomous ride-hailing service coming to Los Angeles
Following Phoenix and San Francisco, Waymo is bringing its “One” ride-hailing service to Los Angeles in a sizable expansion.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Watch teardown finds that cracked screen replacement would require battery removal [Video]
The first teardown of the Google Pixel Watch is here and provides a look at the especially dense and circular wearable.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Assistant helping promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Google is using Assistant to help get the word out.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube Music adds ‘Recently Played’ iOS 16 Lock Screen widgets
Last week, Google rolled out its initial set of iOS 16 Lock Screen widgets, and YouTube Music is now the latest iPhone app to introduce a pair.
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Play around with Material Design 3 in full on Google’s updated design ‘textbook’
Google announced Material You at I/O 2021, and it has since come to the vast majority of its Android apps. On the web, Gmail is the primary example, but you can also demo Material Design 3 on Material.io.
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Pixel 7 and 7 Pro Google Play System update appears but cannot be installed
Since launch, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have been running a Google Play system update from July, but some users are now being prompted to install a new version only to have that download fail.
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