YouTube Kids is Google’s child-optimized and friendly interface to its video network. Launched two years ago, it is seeing a refresh today that brings a “tailored” interface that adapts to a kid’s age. It is also adding profiles for kids that allow for better personalization.
On Tuesday, several Google Docs users noticed that they were not able to access their files, with Drive displaying a Terms of Service violation error. In a blog post, Google today explained the issue and addressed concerns that arose.
Following an update in July that added a darker theme, new icon, and Android Oreo support, the latest version of Google Clock is now rolling out. Version 5.2 revamps the app icon and makes significant changes to the world clocks feature.
Google has several popular tools, like Tilt Brush and the Minecraft-esque Blocks, for creating virtual and augmented reality content. The latest is called Poly and provides users with a vast library of 3D objects and scenes that are free to use.
Update: Today’s Android rollout also includes Spanish in the U.S. and Mexico, as well as Italian in Italy. It will be coming to the iOS app later this year.
The Google Assistant is launching in Spain today with support for Spanish. Launched in Google Allo back in May, Assistant will soon be available on recent Android devices in the country.
On the eve of Google’s October 4th event, we were able to enable a redesigned Google Feed that featured numerous rounded UI elements, a new bottom bar, and removed navigation drawer. Following last night’s release of version 7.15 of the Google app, it appears that this new design is beginning to rollout for some.
Livestreams are a big deal right now, and between social media, Twitch, and YouTube, there are a lot of ways to go live. Now, it appears YouTube is offering an extra feature for those doing mobile live streams on the platform.
Stock Android’s calculator app isn’t fancy or advanced, but it works as well as any other smartphone calculator app. For a while now, though, it has had one annoying quirk — a really bright and obnoxious green accent color. In the latest update, that’s been swapped out.
With the rollout of the Google Feed over the summer, the overflow menu on cards became more important. Namely, it was the primary way to customize the Feed and housed the basic ability to swipe away cards. This evening, Google is more widely rolling out a redesign that switches to a bottom sheet for that menu.
I’ve really enjoyed the time I’ve spent with the Essential Phone, but one of the big problems I have had with it has been the lack of features in the software. All the little touches on the Pixel are what makes the experience lively, and Essential has lacked that. In its latest update, though, that’s being fixed a bit.
Update 11/2: YouTube TV for Android TV has arrived on the Play Store. It’s also available on Xbox consoles today.
After adding Google Home and Assistant integration, YouTube TV is now rolling out a dedicated and optimized television experience. Apps for Android TV and Xbox One are launching in the next few days, with Apple TV, LG, Samsung, and Sony following soon.
Following the release of Chrome 62 for browsers and Android, the latest version is now rolling out to Chrome OS. With version 61 adding a Pixel-style launcher and new lock screen, this update revamps the notifications panel to be more Android-like. One of the more important security changes also addresses the KRACK Wi-Fi vulnerability.
Keeping track of your purchases isn’t always easy. That’s why services such as PayPal which can notify you of every purchase or deposit can really come in handy. Android Pay does something similar, but only when you pay with your phone. Now, it’s looking like the service might be able to pull transaction history from your card(s) regardless of if it was on your phone or not.
Chris Lacy’s popular launcher alternative, Action Launcher, has seen a lot of great updates over the years, and in its latest update, it’s picking up one of the Pixel 2’s new features.
Following a redesign of the share sheet in the previous update, the latest version of Google Photos is rolling out now. Google Lens on the Pixel and Pixel 2 pick up a really neat and Googley animation when activating, while there are minor UI changes, and a photo book-related promotion.
Searching, especially on mobile, is increasingly based on your location. For Google Search and Maps, specific service is determined by the country you’re in. However, in a change today, country-specific services no longer require that users visit a regional version of Google.
With version 62 rolling out on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android, Chrome 63 is now in the beta channel. Besides the usual security fixes, it is heavy on new developer features, with notable behavioral changes for permission requests and audio muting.
While updates to Gboard usually bring a string of new features, the latest version is rather light on visible changes. However, Gboard in version 6.7 does add support for several Asian languages, including Chinese and Japanese.
One thing on the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL that irks me to an extent is the way colors are displayed. Google opted to go for more natural colors and restrict the phone to an sRGB color space, and that’s something we’re not used to on modern devices. Thankfully, a developer has figured out a solution.
Last year, Google released a nifty Science Journal app that takes advantage of the sensors in your Android device to capture various scientific readings. Google has now redesigned the app to also serve as a “digital science notebook” and launched an iOS version.
When you think of streaming, the first thing on your mind is undoubtedly Netflix, but back in the day, Netflix’s biggest selling point was DVDs by mail. Now, a few years later, that is still a part of what the company offers, and it’s just debuted a new app to make managing your queue a bit easier.
One of the flagship features that arrived with the Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL is something called Now Playing. When turned on, Now Playing identifies songs playing in the background automatically and lists the song’s name and artist on your lockscreen. Unfortunately, though, when that information disappears from your screen, it’s gone forever. ‘Now Playing History’ fixes this problem…
Back in March, Google announced that Add-ons long found in the Google Drive apps would be making their way to Gmail. Today, Gmail Add-ons are officially launching on both the web and Android apps.
At the fifth annual Chrome Dev Summit yesterday, Google announced a number of new advancements for the web and specifically its browser. The 2017 conference introduced new tools and features that sites can take advantage of, with Progressive Web Apps that blur the line between the web and native being a big focus.