The Pocophone F1 is a fantastic device in a number of ways, the combination of software and high-end hardware makes for a truly solid experience that is hard to dismiss. That said, the addition of 4K 60FPS video recording via the latest software beta is yet another massive improvement on a truly beastly budget handset.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Last November, Google brought the first Material Theme elements to Search on desktop web, with mobile tweaks following afterwards. The Google.com homepage today features a pill-shaped search field to complete the visual redesign.
Early last year, Chronicle was spun out of X to be its own independent Alphabet company focussed on cybersecurity. The first new product from the group is a global security telemetry platform called Backstory.
In recent weeks, more and more Google apps and services have adopted dark modes. The latest is now Chrome for Android’s UI, but only in the experimental Canary channel. Also in development is a new tab switcher that presents card previews as a grid rather than a list.
After a long 18-month wait, the Motorola Moto G4 is now finally getting the Android 8.1 Oreo update OTA. However, the caveat is that this update is only currently rolling out to users in Brazil at present.
If you are on the T-Mobile network, the long wait for a taste of Android Pie on your Samsung Galaxy Note 9 should hopefully be over. The One UI update is now rolling out to T-Mobile locked Galaxy Note 9 devices right now.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google introduced Android Slices at I/O 2018 and began testing the new UI paradigm later that year with third-party apps. Slices are designed to surface the key features of applications in natural places, like Google Search. Shortcuts for the Settings app on Pixel devices are now beginning to roll out.
Earlier this week, Google Clock added support for musical alarms from YouTube Music, while last month the streaming service gained Android Auto integration with version 3.03. That update also added rudimentary support for playing on-device audio files.
Over the past year, Google has worked to heavily promote YouTube TV through ad campaigns, usually during major sporting events. In July, it was rumored that the cord-cutting service had nearly 800,000 subscribers, with the latest figure today pegging it at over 1 million.
The OxygenOS 9.0.4 OTA for the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T comes with the recently announced deeper integration with Google Duo for video calling.
Expand
Expanding
Close
With the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, Google removed the ability for Voice Match to act as a password and fully unlock your phone. Google announced at CES 2019 that this new behavior would be coming to all Android devices, with the change beginning to roll out.
Earlier this month, Google provided the first demo of AR navigation in Maps for Android and announced that Local Guides will be the first users to gain access. Google this week is now reaching out to Local Guides on both Android and iOS.
One way Google ensures safety on the Play Store is by scanning apps that developers upload for common security vulnerabilities. Now five years old, Google is providing an update on the progress of the Application Security Improvement Program.
Last July, Google Clock added support for custom musical alarms from third-party streaming services. Spotify was the first partner at launch, with YouTube Music and Pandora following today in the latest update.
Following a slew of other redesigns this week, the latest Google Material Theme revamp is for Jamboard on the web. While most known as a large interactive whiteboard, Jamboard has mobile and web apps for cross-platform collaboration.
For most users, Google Drive is their primary homepage when interacting with the web suite of productivity apps. However, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides on the web also have dedicated homepages, with all three recently gaining Material Theme tweaks.
Last month Slack ushered in the new year with a new look for its iconic logo. This week, the company is updating its mobile apps on both Android and iOS to adopt a white background for the app’s homescreen icon.
At Cloud Next 2019 last July, Google announced grammar suggestions for Google Docs in early beta. Google is today rolling out the web feature to paid G Suite Basic, Business, and Enterprise customers.
At MWC 2019, Google announced Assistant for Messages on Android, expanded availability in Google Maps, and more languages for bilingual support. The next feature for Google Home speakers and Smart Displays appears to be Apple Music integration.
Following design tweaks on Android and iOS over the past month, the Google Material Theme is now rolling out to Google Voice on the web. This is not a drastic redesign, but aids in ensuring visual consistency across all three platforms.
Expand Expanding Close
Last July, Google introduced an “intelligent search box” for Drive’s web interface. This updated lookup experience is no longer limited to the Enterprise edition of G Suite, and will soon be available for all G Suite Editions.
Following yesterday’s MWC 2019 announcement that more phones will feature dedicated hardware buttons, Google is expanding where users can access Assistant. It will soon be available in Messages for Android, and coming to more languages in Google Maps.
In late January, Google announced a big redesign of Gmail for Android and iOS that takes advantage of its updated design language, and brings features first introduced with the web revamp last year. The Google Material Theme is now rolling out to Gmail for iOS.
Finally, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are getting the full stable release of Android Pie and all that One UI brings with it. The update appears to be rolling out in stages with reports via Reddit that much of Northern Europe has begun seeing the OTA appear.