Google developing new capabilities to make web apps as feature-rich as native counterparts
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[Update: Now open] Google Play Best of 2018 Awards will include Fan Favorite voting
With the end of the year nearly in sight, Google likes to do annual recaps for Search and YouTube. On the Play Store front, the Google Play Best of 2018 Awards will allow users to vote on the best app and game in two weeks.
Google Weather and Search no longer displaying air quality data on Android or web
Checking the weather is a key function of every device from phones to Google Home to Smart Displays. On Android, Google Search has a rather excellent built-in weather experience that is well-designed and visually delightful. Unfortunately, Google Weather on Android and Google Search over the past few months has lost the ability to check air quality.
Google Keep Notes adds more Material Theme tweaks, including color-matching nav bar
Last month, the Google Material Theme came to Google Keep Notes on Android as part of a sizable redesign. The web application followed shortly, with Google continuing to update the mobile client today with more Material Theme tweaks.
Google Analytics updated with Google Material Theme tweaks on the web
The Google Material Theme is continually sweeping through the company’s Android apps, with some notable redesigns on the web with Google Keep and soon Contacts. Google Analytics is now the latest service to get some tweaks on desktop.
Chrome 71 will warn users about unclear billing charges & subscription sign-ups
Earlier this week, Google announced that Chrome would remove ads from sites with persistently abusive experiences. The browser will soon protect against sites that try to trick users into unintended charges and paid subscriptions.
[Update: Official] ‘Files’ redesigned with Google Material Theme, drops ‘Go’ branding [Gallery]
With Android Go, Google launched optimized ‘Go’ variants for Assistant, Maps, YouTube, and more. One of the more popular applications in the line is Files Go, with Google today dropping that moniker as part a Material Theme redesign.
Google Maps for Android tests new reporting features for speed traps and crashes
Over the summer, Google starting testing out Waze-like reports within Maps for incidents such as a crashes. Now, it seems the company is building on that feature with new Google Maps reporting features that a few users are seeing.
Google Pixel 3 update no longer shows ‘Charging Rapidly’ when on 5W wireless chargers
Wireless charging has been a welcome feature on Google’s Pixel 3 devices, but it didn’t come without some gripes. One of those was an incorrect indicator on the lockscreen which showed slower wireless chargers as “Charging Rapidly.” With the latest update, Google has fixed that Pixel 3 wireless charging behavior.
Google 2018 Midterms coverage: ‘Go Vote’ Doodle, YouTube reminders, live Search results, more
Voting in the 2018 Midterm elections for the House and Senate are well underway, while on the state and local level there are a slew of gubernatorial races and various ballots. Google encourages voting around the world and its products from Search to YouTube are in full force today to help with that civic duty and provide results later tonight.
Google giving some Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL owners free Play Store credit
Compared to previous generations, the pre-order gift that came with the Pixel 3 was only $50 in Google Store credit and a six month trial of YouTube Music Premium for new subscribers. However, Google is now attempting to remedy the somewhat lackluster incentive with a few dollars of free Play Store credit.
Chrome 71 removing ads w/ fake warnings from persistently offending sites
Earlier this year, Google Chrome gained an ad blocker governed by standards from the Coalition for Better Ads. It builds on other work to combat abusive experiences on the web. Chrome is now working on additional protections that will remove ads entirely from sites that are persistently home to abusive user experiences.
Now Playing History from Pixel 3 rolling out to Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL introduced a bevy of new features built upon functionality first announced on the Pixel 2. Many — like the Camera app — are coming to last year’s devices, including the very useful history for Now Playing.
Google Podcasts for Android now lets you share episodes and shows
Google Podcasts officially launched in June with an Android app and integration with Assistant and Google Home. The app in recent weeks added Chromecast support, and now the ability to share shows and episodes directly.
Google app 8.39 kills old Feed widget and replaces with At a Glance
Launched on the Pixel Launcher with the Pixel 2, Google earlier this year brought “At a Glance” to more Android devices via a widget. As we noted in past APK Insights, Google is now finally deprecating and replacing the old “Feed” widget with At a Glance.
[Update: Fixed] Google Assistant on Android regressing to previous, non-Smart Display-inspired design
Earlier this month, a Google Assistant redesign first announced at I/O 2018 began rolling out on Android. Taking cues from Smart Displays, the Assistant became more visual, touch-friendly, and provided quick access to the Updates feed. Over the past 24 hours, a Google Assistant bug has caused this design to disappear for some users.
Google Contacts for web gets Material Theme redesign to match Gmail, Android app
Google Contacts has been building out a new design for the past couple of years, and today the company announced that the old version of the interface would be deprecated in favor of the new one. At the same time, though, it looks like a Material Theme redesign is hitting Contacts, catching it up to Gmail and other Google apps.
Old Google Contacts will be deprecated next year as new design reaches feature parity
Google has been previewing a new design for Google Contacts on the web since 2015, but always retained the previous online version until feature parity. With that milestone now achieved, Google will deprecate the old Google Contacts in February of 2019.
Starbucks for Android simplified with bottom bar redesign
Back in August, Starbucks for Android added the ability to reload your points-earning Starbucks Card with Google Pay. Starbucks 5.0 is now rolling out a bottom bar that cleans up and simplifies the app.
Google Hotel Search on desktop getting the Google Material Theme
As the holiday season approaches, there is an uptick in annual travel, with Google in recent weeks launching new vacation features in Search. Google Hotel Search is now getting redesigned with the Google Material Theme.
Photo Books in Google Photos can now include multiple images on a page
While Apple just discounted its printing service for various picture good, Google Photos is doubling down on them. After expanding to more countries, Photo Books can now feature multiple images per page for more complex print jobs.
Gboard’s ‘Minis’ now lets you customize new emoji-style sticker packs
Gboard debuted its “Mini” stickers not too long ago with two different packs of stickers available. Today, Google has revealed a new pack of stickers for the Minis collection, this time with an emoji style design.
How to force dark mode on Google Maps navigation for Android
Google has slowly been adding a dark mode to several of its applications, including YouTube and Google News. For quite some time, Google Maps has supported a “Night” mode, which turns the navigation interface dark. However, that feature is not able to be manually toggled. Today though, we’ll show you how to force that setting to stay on all the time. Here’s how to force Google Maps dark mode on Android.
OnePlus 6 beta update adds Nightscape camera mode, revised navigation gestures, new ‘About’ UI
Despite launching its latest flagship in the form of the OnePlus 6T earlier this week, OnePlus today has launched a new beta update for the OnePlus 6. With this latest beta, the phone picks up some of the beta 6T features, including Nightscape and more.