At the start of this month, Google updated the Android distribution numbers to reveal that Android 12 is running on 13.3% of devices.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 12 is running on 13.3% of all devices ahead of Android 13 launch
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.
Google Home app getting ‘next generation design’ and looking for testers
Earlier this year, Google revamped the two primary ways people interact with the Home app. The company is now teasing a “next generation design of the Google Home App” and is looking for testers.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle slows hiring as Pichai calls for consolidating investments, more productivity [U: Pause extended]
In a sign of the times and following other tech companies, CEO Sundar Pichai told employees today that Google is “slowing the pace of hiring for the rest of the year.”
Expand Expanding CloseGmail proceeding with pilot that exempts political emails from spam after FEC approval
Back in June, it emerged that Google wanted to exempt political campaign emails in the United States from Gmail’s spam filter. This spurred a lot of backlash, but the company is proceeding with the pilot program after receiving approval today from the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Expand Expanding CloseFitbit Sense and Versa 3 update rolling out with ‘important’ security fix
Following the Charge 5 and Luxe trackers last month, Fitbit is rolling out an update to the Sense and Versa 3 smartwatch.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel’s At a Glance brings back ‘Commute’ traffic info and travel time
Google might be bringing back an old At a Glance capability on Pixel phones that shows “Commute” times.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Search improving Featured Snippet callouts with MUM and consensus
Google today announced a series of updates on improving information quality and literacy in Search, starting with Featured Snippet callouts.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Images on the web now uses Google Lens
After being integrated across Android and the Chrome browser, Google Lens is now the main visual search experience on the desktop Google Images website.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out new Pixel Buds Pro firmware update 2.14
Last week, the day one update for the Pixel Buds Pro became widely available and Google today is rolling out new firmware release 2.14.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle running Pixel wallpaper contest with free Pixel 6 as prize
In a slight departure for the Pixel’s social media presence, Google is running a wallpaper contest where the winner gets a free Pixel 6.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Meet live sharing brings shared YouTube watching, Spotify listening, and games
As we spotted earlier this month, Google Meet is adding a “live sharing” feature that “allows all meeting participants to interact with the content that’s being shared,” including YouTube, Spotify, and a handful of games.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Fiber focusing on five new states over the coming years
In a blog post titled “What’s next for Google Fiber” today, the division’s CEO Dinni Jain laid out what states the ISP will be growing in over the coming years.
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Motorola MA1 wireless Android Auto dongle gets slight price increase
Availability of Motorola’s wireless Android Auto dongle has not been too consistent since the CES 2022 unveil in January. It has improved in recent weeks, but the Motorola MA1 now looks to be getting a slightly higher price.
Expand Expanding CloseWaymo AVs can play a melody instead of honking to help you find your ride
Waymo One is Alphabet’s autonomous ride-hailing service, and work to upgrade the passenger experience is happening hand-in-hand with expanding availability. The latest Waymo autonomous vehicle (AV) improvements focus on the pickup experience and include a new melody.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Meet gets client-side encryption for enterprise Workspace users
After launching for Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, Workspace client-side encryption (CSE) is coming to Google Meet.
Expand Expanding CloseMagic Eraser ‘Camouflage’ tool in Google Photos now available for Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
With the Pixel 6a, Google Photos launched a new “Camouflage” capability as part of Magic Eraser, and it’s now also available for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.
Expand Expanding CloseNew Pixel ‘Curated Culture’ wallpapers mark Indigenous Day 2022
Like the August security patch, this month’s drop of Curated Culture backgrounds did not arrive last week. Instead, Google timed the new Pixel wallpapers with International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Play launches Strike Removal pilot program for Android app devs
Google Play makes use of a strike system for apps, with multiple resulting in termination and removal. The company is now piloting a training course (and assessment) that gives Android developers the opportunity to have the “strike count against their account’s standing waived.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle starts ‘Get The Message’ campaign to pressure Apple into RCS on the iPhone
For the past year, Google has been increasingly calling out Apple for not adopting RCS (Rich Communication Services) on the iPhone. Meant to replace SMS/MMS, it has a number of technical advancements that would improve the messaging experience between Android and iOS users. Google is now launching a “Get The Message” pressure campaign in hopes that Apple will change its mind on RCS.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle’s Read Along app for kids is now a website with in-browser speech recognition
Read Along wants to help improve child literacy by using Google’s speech recognition technology to give kids reading aloud verbal and visual feedback. Originally an Android app, Google’s Read Along is now on the web to better expand availability.
Expand Expanding CloseNew Fitbit Charge 5 and Luxe clock faces are now available [U]
An update started rolling out to the Charge 5 and Luxe two weeks ago, and Fitbit today revealed that the fitness trackers are indeed getting new clock faces.
Expand Expanding CloseComment: Chromebooks need better Google app integration, and one-click Calendar is a start
There was a little bit of truth when people – especially in the early days of mobile – said that the iPhone was the best place to use Google apps. That’s definitely not the case today on Android phones, but I think a part of that argument rings true when comparing Google web services running on Chrome for Mac/Windows versus ChromeOS. Fortunately, that’s starting to change on Chromebooks as seen with one-click Google Calendar integration.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out GPS fix for Pixel 6/Pro and 6a, August update coming [U: More builds]
This month’s odd Pixel update situation continues, with Google announcing a small update this morning for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, and 6a to address one issue.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Launcher adds Play Store search on Android 13 as Google runs another survey
Pixel Launcher search is getting a big upgrade with Android 13, including the ability to query the Play Store. Meanwhile, ahead of the public launch, Google continues to survey users about the capability.
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