The latest version of Google Chrome is rolling out today for Mac, Windows, and Linux. On desktops, Chrome 71 introduces a number of features that developers can take advantage of, while the browser will now block abusive ads from persistently offending sites.
Every December for the past 15 years, Google has launched a Santa Tracker to monitor the progress of Mr. Claus on Christmas Eve. In recent versions, the site grew to include games that teach coding and other skills. This year, Google is making it easier to track Santa in Google Maps.
Since launching the original Pixel and Pixel XL, Google has released a number of exclusive apps to customize the user experience. The latest is a Pixel Sounds app that was just uploaded to the Play Store, with the listing revealing a new design for the Settings section that is not yet live.
Back in September, YouTube Music for Android and iOS added streaming and downloading quality controls to let users better manage data usage on mobile. These settings are now coming to the YouTube Music web app.
Google Arts & Culture is the company’s initiative to share and make famous works widely available online through high-resolution scans and other fun features. Most recently, Art Selfies allowed users to see what artwork they look like. The latest features augmented reality to bring together the work of Johannes Vermeer.
With the year almost coming to a close, Google’s various services are beginning to recap 2018. The Play Store is starting with the Best of 2018 in Android apps, Play Movies & TV, and Play Books, with the first two categories featuring Fan Favorite voting this year.
Back at I/O 2018, Google announced that Assistant was coming to Google Maps. Specifically, a visually compact and less disruptive version would appear when getting directions. This navigation-optimized Google Assistant is now rolling out in Google Maps for Android.
Amid this weekend’s flurry of developments related to Google’s messaging future around ‘classic’ Hangouts, as well as Hangouts Chat and Meet, Google Voice was left out. The latter launched for G Suite enterprise in beta this July, and should be entering “General Availability” this coming March.
For the better part of 2018, the Google Play Store on Android has been testing revamped navigation. Organizationally, it is simpler and cuts down on duplicity, but is somewhat of a departure. As of this evening, the Google Play redesign is more widely rolling out on Android.
Back in September, Google Search began testing the Google Material Theme on the desktop web. This evening, it is beginning to widely appear for users and features a number of design changes, including a persistent pill-shaped search bar.
Back in September, we spotted YouTube Music working on an equalizer to allow more advanced users to adjust audio settings. This customization option now appears to be live and widely rolled out with the latest version of the Android app.
The weather is a very popular question that people search for and frequently ask Google Assistant on Home, Smart Displays, Android, and other devices. However, this particular query is currently experiencing some issues this morning and not providing back any results.
Unlike other smartphone cameras that feature a Portrait Mode, the Pixel line gets by with only one rear camera. With the Pixel 3, Google turned to machine learning to improve depth estimation and “produce even better Portrait Mode results.”
In addition to a rebrand and expanded Android and iOS availability, Google Fi yesterday gained the Google Material Theme on mobile and the web. On Android, the general layout and functionality is unchanged, but the new design is particularly whimsical and befitting of the MVNO’s simplicity.
One year ago, YouTube began testing a story-like format called “Reels.” Eventually renamed to YouTube Stories, the feature is now rolling out to creators with over 10,000 subscribers.
In letting Android Auto run as a regular Android app on phones, Google has made its car interface widely available. The experience — with large touch targets and constrained functionality — is better than jumping through different apps while driving. Today, Google is updating Android Auto with more feature-rich audio apps and messaging previews.
With the holiday season underway, Google is announcing a slew of new features for Assistant speakers and Smart Displays. This includes the Pretty Please feature for families announced at I/O 2018, Assistant notes and lists integration, Broadcast Replies, and visual lyrics for the Home Hub.
First spotted in October, Google Translate’s Google Material Theme is now widely rolling out on the web. Besides adopting Google’s new look for apps, the site also features a responsive design.
Google Classroom is a part of the company’s education offerings alongside Chromebooks and associated management tools. This service for issuing assignments, quizzes, and managing students is now available for all G Suite customers as an “additional service.”
Google Maps in recent months has received a flurry of new features from business messaging to following stores for deals. The latest is a minor tweak to the navigation drawer on Android that adopts the Google Material Theme.
Back in 2015, Project Fi launched as Google’s take on cellular service and has over the years added new features, as well as support for more phones. As suggested earlier this month, the MVNO is now simply called Google Fi and vastly expanding its Android device compatibility and supporting iPhones.
Earlier this month, Google released a Fast Pair Validator app on the Play Store to help Bluetooth manufacturers support Android’s seamless Bluetooth pairing solution. Announced last year, Google is now adding device syncing for accessories and Chromebook support in 2019.
Google Search features a number of useful built-in tools. When a query can be answered by a direct result, Google will now no longer show the standard web links. This change on mobile, Android, and iOS results in a faster search experience.
During its heyday, Weather Timeline was a phenomenal, highly customizable weather client for Android. It closely followed the first iteration of Material Design, but earlier this year was pulled by the developer for new customers. The app now has a new owner that’s laid out future plans for Weather Timeline this week.