Earlier this month, Google noted how coronavirus-related searches are surpassing its most common and consistent queries. For its part, the company is surfacing resources everywhere from Search to Assistant. Google Discover is now compiling COVID-19 news into one glanceable card.
Video conferencing has surged due to COVID-19 and the initial focus has primarily been on remote work tools. For Google, its enterprise Meet offering just saw a rebrand and new Gmail integration. The company today revealed similar growth for Google Duo and new features for the consumer calling service.
Google has been tweaking its suite of Digital Wellbeing tools over the past couple of years since it launched with Android Pie and, now, the company is rolling out a change that introduces “Bedtime Mode” and makes a couple of other tweaks.
Since the Android P Beta, the Pixel’s Marvelous Marble background has failed to consistently show real-time weather conditions. Google today marked the intermittent live wallpaper issue as being “fixed” again.
In addition to getting a homepage promotion today, Google is rolling out tweaks to Stadia’s connection strength indicator so that it’s no longer tied to 4K streaming quality.
Until a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed, increasing testing capability is a key step towards helping things return to some semblance of normality. Google Search now links to coronavirus testing sites in your vicinity.
Google’s YouTube TV has become one of the most popular ways to stream traditional TV channels through the internet. Now, YouTube TV’s app for Android TV is adding overdue support for the platform’s homescreen “channels.”
After widely expanding Stadia availability last week, Google is back with a handful of platform updates to the mobile apps and web client, including surround sound.
The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating many existing societal issues, including misinformation and cyberattacks. Google is working to protect users from the latter by detailing what coronavirus-related spam Gmail encounters and is automatically blocking.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Google has linked to and provided a number of convenient resources. People looking up COVID-19 information on the desktop web are seeing a redesigned Google Search experience with prominent sidebar to organize results.
Alongside the first Android 11 Developer Preview, Google announced that it would review all Play Store apps requesting background location access. That policy is now live, with Google Play also introducing new requirements to make subscriptions more transparent.
With many kids stuck indoors today, Google wants to make it easier for parents to discover child-appropriate Android apps. The Play Store is adding a new “Kids” section that features pre-screened, teacher-approved content.
In light of the coronavirus, Google has observed more businesses using video to “make and maintain connections” with customers. YouTube Video Builder is a new tool to help those “who don’t have resources to create videos from scratch.”
Google Lens was announced at I/O 2017 as a way to visually search the world and receive help. As the tool integrated into Assistant, Photos, and Search approaches its third birthday, Google looks to be testing a new Lens logo.
In addition to rolling out a newly-organized Library that takes inspiration from Google’s previous streaming service, YouTube Music is adopting a search feature from Play Music.
Most people this year will be celebrating Easter indoors. Google is marking the occasion with some virtual whimsy through new easter eggs in Search.
From a homescreen widget to Assistant integration, the Google app is how the company wants you to access Search on Android. Yet, it’s always lacked one key feature compared to the mobile experience. The Google app beta yesterday finally added “Search Tools” and filters on Android.
Originally billed as providing fast access to search, the Google keyboard has since grown to include many expressive features and a built-in clipboard. A Gboard for Android bug this evening sees the Google button disappear.
Distance learning amid the coronavirus pandemic has pushed many to tools like Google Classroom and Meet. Google today provided new usage figures for the two products, detailed a new Meet-Classroom integration, and extended how long premium features will be available for free.
This week saw Hangouts Meet become Google Meet amid a surge in video conferencing usage. Hangouts Chat is picking up a new feature that lets you forward messages to Gmail.
Android in recent years has added a number of accessibility features, including Live Transcribe and Sound Amplifier. Google is now rolling out a virtual braille keyboard to most modern Android devices.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, many are using video conferencing to work and learn remotely. For Google, its Meet service is seeing the brunt of use by enterprise and education customers. Classic Hangouts was updated on iOS today with a warning that video quality might be reduced.
One persistent YouTube trend sees the apps and web client adopting larger video previews. The latest example of this is an A/B test that sees full-width YouTube thumbnails in search results.
Last month, Google’s cord cutting television service was mired in contract disputes and lost Fox Region Sport Networks in some parts of the country. YouTube TV for Android is now rolling out a dark mode.