Google has informed Android developers that Play Store users in Russia have lost the ability to purchase apps, games, IAPs, and subscriptions.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Play Store users in Russia can no longer buy apps or subscriptions [Updated]
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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 rewrote the Play Store’s UI with Jetpack Compose for up to 50% less code, faster rendering
Jetpack Compose is how Google wants Android developers to create app user interfaces going forward. Google today detailed how the Play Store leveraged Jetpack Compose for its UI rewrite.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Translate gets new iOS widget as Drive adds XL iPad variants
Following Gmail at the start of this year, Google Drive is the latest iOS app to get new work-focused widgets, while there are also updates for Translate and Chat on iOS in the coming weeks.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle explains how modern Chrome attacks increasingly require multiple zero days
The Chromium underpinnings of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have seen more in-the-wild “zero day” bugs as of late. Google today explained what’s behind that browser trend, as well as what security features Chrome has in place to counter it.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle TV for Android getting ‘Highlights’ feed with entertainment news, Material You redesign
Google TV was a big redesign that replaced the Play Movies & TV app on Android, and it’s now adding a “Highlights” tab that serves as “personalized feed of entertainment news” and getting some Material You flourishes.
Expand Expanding CloseMessages will send videos as Google Photos links for the benefit of RCS-less iPhones, rolling out iMessage reactions
In recent weeks, Google has been testing and slowly rolling out a number of new features for Messages on Android. The company announced today that iMessage reactions, Google Photos integration, and several other capabilities will soon widely launch.
Expand Expanding CloseOpting out of Android Beta Program today wipes your Pixel as bug serves 12 QPR3 OTA on 13 DP1
Google surprisingly rolled out Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1 today, and it should be a straightforward upgrade for most users. However, those who want to opt out of the Beta Program will have to wipe their phones, and a bug is affecting Android 13 Developer Preview 1 devices.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle pledges $3M, engineering to expand Data Transfer Project behind Google Takeout
Google today announced “new investments and continued collaboration with industry partners” for the Data Transfer Project (DTP) that it launched in 2018 to make switching to competing services easier.
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HBO Max giving some subscribers three-month YouTube Premium trial
The latest subscription service in recent months to provide a free extended trial of YouTube Premium is HBO Max. What’s interesting is how both offerings are more similar than not and somewhat compete for the same audience.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle releases Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1 to start previewing June’s Pixel Feature Drop
Following the launch of Android 12L on Monday, Google today announced Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1 as part of a new, more frequent Beta Program to preview the next Feature Drop — which coincides with Quarterly Platform Releases — expected in June.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle shares grand vision of tablets surpassing laptop sales, ‘tablet-first’ Android apps, more
During today’s The Android Show, Google discussed its recent work in the large-screen device space and its grand vision for the form factor, including “tablet-first” apps.
Expand Expanding Close‘Aloud’ from Area 120 wants to make dubbing YouTube videos just a minutes-long process
The latest project from Area 120, Google’s house incubator, is called “Aloud,” and it lets YouTube creators “quickly and easily dub their videos into multiple languages.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Play Books widget swaps out Honeycomb for Material You, now rolled out
Back in December, Google announced new widgets for Photos and YouTube Music. An updated widget featuring Material You for Play Books was also previewed and is now widely rolled out.
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Google Lens on Android updated to make browsing for images on your device easier
Last year, Google updated Lens on Android to prioritize screenshot analysis over the live viewfinder. Google Lens has now been tweaked to make browsing your phone for images easier.
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Pixel phones showing Feature Drop splash screen directly after updating for some
Besides a push on social media, Google informs Pixel owners about quarterly Feature Drops directly on their phone. The Pixel Tips app now looks to be showing a splash screen highlighting what’s new immediately after you update.
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New Pixel ‘Curated Culture’ backgrounds mark International Women’s Day
Like last year, the March drop of “Curated Culture” wallpapers for Pixel celebrates International Women’s Day. Their availability coincides with the Feature Drop and Android 12L.
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Google Cloud acquiring Mandiant for $5.4 billion to bolster cybersecurity offerings
As rumored yesterday, Google today announced that it’s acquiring cybersecurity firm Mandiant. This deal, if approved by regulators, will expand Google Cloud’s security offerings.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid getting ‘archive’ feature to let you free up device storage without uninstalling apps
Google announced to third-party developers today that Android is “working on a new feature that would enable app archiving.” The company did not specify when it would launch, but started laying the groundwork for developer adoption.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Fiber now offers Business 2 Gig plan for $250/month as 1 Gig drops to $100
Over the course of last year, Google Fiber rolled out its 2 Gig plan to many more cities, and it’s now coming to business customers for $250/month.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle purchasing & expanding its Warsaw office for $700M, pledges to further reduce food waste
Following a similar move in the UK this January, Google is acquiring the new building its Poland office in Warsaw is located at. The company also announced two new pledges to reduce food waste and loss at its cafeterias worldwide.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid 12.1 March security patch rolling out to Google Pixel, factory images & OTAs live
Android 12.1 with the March security patch is rolling out today for the Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a. [Update: The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will see SP2A.220305.013.A3 (Global build) OTAs “later this month.”]
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Here are the 81 issues that Android 12L fixes on Google Pixel phones
In addition to bringing Android 12L and the quarterly Feature Drop, the March security patch fixes 80 issues for the Pixel 3a to Pixel 6 Pro.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle launches Android 12L for Pixel today; Samsung & Microsoft tablets/foldables this year
Back in October, Google announced Android 12L as an unexpected “special feature drop” to improve the OS on tablets and foldables devices. After one 12L developer preview and three betas, this next release of Android — officially version 12.1 — is launching for Pixel phones alongside the March Feature Drop, while Google detailed what’s coming for tablets and foldables.
Expand Expanding CloseMarch Feature Drop: Battery widget, richer At a Glance, Night Sight in Snapchat, Pixel 6 rollout delayed
Google is rolling out the Pixel’s tenth Feature Drop this March. While it will be available starting today for the Pixel 3a through 5a, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will get the Feature Drop “later” this March in a situation similar to the start of this year.
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