At I/O 2018, Google detailed a big update to Google Lens a year after first announcing it. In addition to a new design and expanded availability in camera apps, Lens is slated to get real time lookup and smart text selection. This revamp is now slowly beginning to launch.
As the name implies, Google Trends is a very useful service for finding what’s popular among users of the Search engine and generating historic term comparisons. Google is today introducing a new design that adds more data features for finding what’s trending, as well as a new focus on editorial content.
Following the Federal Trade Commission filing suit against companies that try to take advantage of small businesses with threats of removing Search listings, Google is improving how it handles “bad actors” and third-parties. This include new awareness programs, better detection, and taking similar legal action.
Fun fact: Twitter has an Android TV app. Or, it had an Android TV app.
Debuted alongside counterparts on other platforms, Twitter’s big screen app has been available for a couple of years at this point, and today, the company has announced it’s being discontinued.
After an announcement last week, the new YouTube Music is beginning to roll out. With a focus on personalized recommendations and a vast library, there are revamped Android and iOS apps, as well as a new desktop client.
There has been an experimental FaceDetector API within the Chrome web browser since version 56 that can automatically detect when someone is looking at a webcam. Now, the developer who created FacePause has found a way to use the API to automatically pause YouTube videos when you look away from your computer.
Back in April, we got a first look at a new “favorites” feature in Google Photos that was still in development thanks to our APK Insight. Surprisingly, Google didn’t announce this new functionality at its developer conference when it showed off other new AI features, but it is now rolling out, starting this week.
In March, Google Duo added support for Google account linking after months of development. With version 34, the video chatting service is launching another feature that the company has been working on for several months now: screen sharing.
As we first spotted on iOS in March, Google Assistant is getting rid of the “Your stuff” section and switching to a single-tabbed “Explore” page. As a result, some of the sections found in that tab have been moved to the list of Assistant Services in settings.
Following a VoIP beta program in April, the next feature to arrive on Google Voice is a bit minor, but still useful. Users no longer have to visit the web client to record and manage voicemail greetings as that capability is now available on Android and iOS.
Google Search is joining the Royal Wedding fervor with a rather interesting timer counting down to the Saturday pomp and ceremony. A lookup on mobile features a simple timer, which we haven’t been able to replicate for other occasions.
I love gaming on my PC, but after sitting at my desk all day working, I often want to take my gaming over to the couch. Not long ago, Valve announced that it would be bringing its “Steam Link” service to mobile devices, and today, the beta app has arrived in Google Play.
The revamped YouTube Music and new YouTube Premium were announced last night, but many questions linger ahead of the rolling launch next Tuesday. From questions about the family plan to Play Music membership, Google has provided us with several answers.
Since launch, Google Home has surprisingly lacked the ability to control content from Play Movies & TV. Today, Assistant smart speakers are finally adding support for Casting content to Chromecast-enabled displays and controlling playback through voice actions.
Google has long been a big proponent of pushing HTTPS as seen with the .app top-level domain where security is default and in Search rankings. The biggest adoption drive has been through Chrome, with the browser soon marking all HTTP sites as “Not secure.”
When that fully rolls out, Google will begin phasing out the green “Secure” badge and lock icon as security becomes the default expectation.
With the merger of the YouTube and Play Music teams in early 2017, Google began laying the groundwork for a new service to “deliver the best possible product.” With the video network taking the lead on the new joint offering, a revamped YouTube Music is launching today. Meanwhile, Red is being replaced by a “Premium” tier that is slightly more expensive for new subscribers.
Following this evening’s report revealing that the new YouTube Music is coming soon, Google has launched a page where users can sign-up for early access. This new launch site reveals that the upcoming service will use the existing YouTube Music logo and branding.
For the past several months, a revamp to Google’s streaming music offerings has been widely rumored. A new report today pegs the launch of the revamped YouTube Music for next week, while YouTube Red and other video features will be replaced by a new “Premium” service.
Update: Google has officially announced the new YouTube Music and Premium.
After adding a real time Trending chart for songs last week, YouTube today is beginning to roll out expanded artist, songwriter, label, and publisher credits on music videos. In addition to providing credits, this new “Music in this video” section links to official content and is aimed at aiding discovery.
Coming out of I/O 2018 with a number of updates and more on the way this year, Google Assistant this evening picks up a new “Your Actions” section. Meanwhile, another recent addition for Wear OS finally adds sports scores.
The tentpole feature in Chrome 66 is a new set of autoplay restrictions aimed at reducing annoying videos that automatically start playing back. However, since it was released last month, the policies have negatively affected games and other web experiences. In response, Google today removed a part of the feature, delaying its launch until later this year.
Google Wifi for Android and iOS already features a number of tools to measure network quality. The latest allows users to test individual device performance to find and fix connectivity dead zones in your home.
If you suspect you may be spending a little too much time using Instagram, you may soon be able to check out the total time you’ve spent using the app …
At I/O 2018, Google announced that Maps would become more personal and assistive over the coming months. Screenshots from the keynote also revealed Google’s Material Theme for the Android app, with the company now A/B testing one likely aspect from that upcoming update.