Samsung’s Gear S3 smartwatch is still by far my favorite smartwatch option on the market today, and a huge part of that boils down to the unique hardware. Samsung has built the Tizen software experience on this device around the rotating bezels, but there have been some glaring omissions. Now, the company is finally fixing one of those.
While Android Oreo in general has had a really slow rollout, Android TV has definitely been the furthest behind. Not long ago, Nvidia finally kicked off its Oreo rollout for the Shield TV, but now, that’s been put on pause due to some issues with the update…
Earlier this week, Google officially launched its mobile augmented reality platform in China via a partnership with Xiaomi. Today, the company is continuing this return to the populous market by releasing Files Go via four local app stores.
Google Maps is a powerful resource for tons of information and reviews are a core part of the service. Now, Google is adding a handy search feature to those reviews.
Following ARCore’s launch in February, Google at I/O 2018 announced version 1.2 of its mobile augmented reality platform. One feature of the new release allows users to share and have collaborative experiences across devices. Google is today releasing a demo app that lets two users, regardless of platform, draw in AR together.
Beginning with Cardboard, Google has been keen on making virtual experiences, tours, and field trips available to a wide audience. Optimal for budget-conscious schools, Google last year launched Expeditions AR to allow for phone-based exploration. The app is exiting its pilot program and is now available for all Android and iOS users.
Plex is out with a major new app update today that includes two big changes. First up is a new personalization feature that lets you arrange your home screen within the app as well as top-level navigation. And second is podcast support with subscribing to shows and playing back episodes.
With the announcement of YouTube Premium earlier this month, Google is planning more original content for its subscription service. The latest YouTube Original is arriving next week and cleverly being promoted through the Google Assistant.
Starting with Mac, Windows, and Linux, Google is rolling out the latest version of Chrome today. Chrome 67 introduces a number of features and APIs that developers can take advantage of for apps and virtual reality experiences. Meanwhile, there are the perfunctory bug fixes and security patches.
No, we’re not kidding. Over three and a half years after its debut, Google is rolling out an update to its Nexus 6. There’s no Oreo on board here, but rather, just an updated version of Android 7.1.1 Nougat.
After launching this February, Google’s platform for mobile augmented reality hit version 1.2 and received a number of new features at I/O 2018. Many flagship devices from the top OEMs feature it, but Google is now working with Xiaomi to make it available in China where its services are traditionally blocked.
Google Maps is constantly testing out new changes for its mobile apps, and on the Android app, we’ve been seeing quite a few different adjustments as of late. Today, we’re getting a quick look at a new addition Google is testing with a special “floating” UI for some searches.
Since Google Voice relaunched in early 2017, the company has kept to its promise of “regular” updates and new features. Last month, it notably began beta testing in-app VoIP calling for the Android and web client. The latest update now sees Google Voice messages from the older Hangouts integration in the new apps.
Last month, Chrome for Android began testing a horizontal tab switcher in the experimental Dev channel. It was very similar to the current design and reflected the rumored changes coming to Android P’s Recents menu. Chrome is now testing a tab switcher that is more in line with Developer Preview 2 from I/O 2018.
Even before I/O 2018, Google’s latest iteration of Material Design began rolling out to various apps like Gmail and Google Tasks. Following the unveiling of Material Theming, more apps adopted it with many more updates expected. Today, the latest service to feature it is the Google sign-in page.
Last month, version 7.26 of the Google app included strings that detailed a new “Reservations” section for Google Assistant. Functionality was unclear at the time, but we now know what it does thanks to the feature going live on iOS.
OnePlus is one of the few companies doing a decent job updating their devices. Now, the OnePlus3 and OnePlus 3T are picking up new security patches and features in a new update.
Losing your phone is a nightmare, but luckily there are tools available for recovering it. On Android, Google has offered “Find my Device” for that exact purpose. Now, that app is being updated with a handy new addition.
Earlier this month, the search giant announced that it would be simplifying it cloud storage plans by introducing Google One. Despite it not being launched for several more months, the Google One app is now live on the Play Store.
Announced last week and rolling out as of this Tuesday, YouTube Music is Google’s latest music streaming offering. While the mobile apps are visually similar to the previous iteration of the service, several new features have been added that reflect a rethought product. There are many smart additions, while the desktop client is a very welcome addition.
In March, Play Movies & TV received a big Android and iOS update that made it a hub to content found on other streaming apps, while last week Google Home gained the ability to control and Cast the service. This week, the Roku channel is being updated with a whole new design, simpler navigation, and recommendation features.
At I/O 2018, Google announced that its unified payment service now supports airline passes and movie tickets, while earlier this year it added transit passes. These conveniences are newer in the US, with other parts of the world long enjoying them. Google Pay is now gaining the ability to add Japan-specific Suica and WAON cards.
Google is constantly messing with the formula on its various applications, and YouTube seems to be one that is always under work. Today, YouTube for Android is picking up a new minimized view for videos.
Android’s monthly security updates have done a great job in helping keep devices secure from the plethora of bugs that pop up from time to time. However, some are pretty slow about rolling them out. Today, T-Mobile and Samsung are rolling out May’s security patch to some devices.