A day after news surfaced that Google was interested in buying Snap last year, a new report notes that Google is developing a “Snapchat-like media content” format based on AMP. Working with several partners, it will allow publishers to create Discover-like visual content similar to Stories.
Google’s SMS app “Android Messages” is one of the company’s most well-polished messaging apps, but it still lacks quite a few features that even the most basic SMS users would want to have. In its latest update, v2.3, Google has added a new “mark as read” button to the app’s notifications.
A couple of months ago it was discovered that an update broke the ability to power a Chromecast with a smartphone’s hotspot. While that seems like a minor thing, it annoyed quite a few customers. Recently, an update to Google Play Services finally fixed this problem, restoring the ability to use Google’s streaming device on a hotspot.
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The Google Play Store is updating its ranking algorithms to take into account app quality and performance. For end users, search results will rank more stable apps higher up, while developers are encouraged to address issues to prevent penalization.
YouTube has been on a roll over the past few months updating their various web, mobile, and TV clients. The latter app for Android TV first surfaced two months ago, but only yesterday completely rolled out. After this release, however, many have been complaining over how much more limited version 2.0 is compared to the prior one.
Actions on Google first launched on Google Home in December of last year before expanding to Android and iOS at I/O 2017 in May. Those launches were mostly local to the US, but Google is today making them available in British English for the United Kingdom.
Earlier this summer Plex announced its new Live TV feature that works with its DVR function to turn the app into a traditional TV replacement. After initially rolling out in beta on select devices, Plex has announced new updates to Live TV and DVR including the feature coming to Android…
Over the past few weeks, Google Search has been testing some interface changes on the mobile web. While that particular change is not yet live for most users, Google is now rolling out a navigation drawer for its mobile site and a new centralized “Saved” page.
The Search Console is an important tool for those who want to optimize their site’s search performance. Google today announced an “extensive redesign” with several key goals in mind. The company will start showcasing the revamped product by releasing two new beta features in the coming weeks.
Following last week’s stable release for Mac, Windows, and Linux, Chrome 60 is now rolling out on Android. One notable addition is a new search widget for immediate searching and URL entry, as well as several under-the-hood features.
India is a big focus for Google with numerous country-specific initiatives and app optimizations. Given how the growth potential also applies to developers in the country, Google today launched a “Made for India” program to feature optimized apps in the Play Store.
One of the biggest downsides of Android Auto is its lack of Google integrations. While it can suggest places to navigate to based on past searches, Android Auto feels walled off from other Google services. That may soon be changing just a little as code from the latest Android Auto update hints at an upcoming ability to gain access to your calendar appointments…
Earlier this month T-Mobile slipped and accidentally included Daydream VR compatibility in its changelog after rolling out an update to the Galaxy S8 and S8+. While the update most likely did bring Daydream to the handsets, it was not enabled for use until today…
The search experience for Google+ on the web is getting a welcome boost thanks to an update that is widely rolling out today. Most significant is how searching is now less disruptive, while it is easier to categorize results.
At I/O 2017, Google announced an upcoming revamp to its Nearby API that powers the Bluetooth beacons that are increasingly found in stores to serve deals and other notifications. Version 2.0 of the Nearby Connections API is now available to provide a “fully offline, high bandwidth peer to peer device communication.”
The last major version of Google Clock in February added easier navigation and bolder fonts to the app. An update rolling out today introduces a new darker theme and icon, while adding support for Android O.
Gboard for iOS is today adding a few handy new features for iOS users. In its latest update, available now through the App Store, Google is adding integration with Google Maps and YouTube, along with a fun new option for “artists.”
Smart text selection in Android O uses on-device machine learning to recognize phone numbers and addresses, as well as improve the copy-and-paste experience. New in Developer Preview 4 is the ability to paste copied items that have formatting as plain text.
Action Launcher is one of our favorite options for customizing the Android homescreen, and today, it’s getting a massive update that brings some highly requested features to all. With version 26 of Action Launcher, developer Chris Lacy introduces support for Google’s Feed (formerly known as Google Now) without root, as well as the addition of several features pulled out of Android O.
Android O features a huge redesign of notifications for both end users and developers. Google wants the latter group to add notification channels to give users more control in apps, as well as a centralized location for quicker access. In Android 8.0, Chrome will extend notification channels to all websites.
Google Photos is arguably one of the best cloud backup services for images. Its biggest downside, despite allowing for unlimited “high quality” photographs to be backed up, is that there is a 2,000 photo limit for albums. Thankfully, that limit appears to be going away…
In line with other digital media stores, Google Play Movies & TV has a convenient feature that allows users to buy TV seasons at a discounted price if they already own existing episodes.
Launching six years ago last month, Google+ has since refocused on becoming an interest-based network centered around Collections and Communities. Google today reopened its Early Access program for the social product that allows fans to beta test new features.
Popular messaging app WhatsApp announced today that it has reached one billion daily active users as the company also shared some other stats on how the service is being used. The one billion active daily users is up from the one billion monthly actives it announced last year, and monthly users too are up: