When watching YouTube on the web, in-video notifications and annotations suggesting what else to watch are quite common. Google now appears to be testing a similar overlay on Android to recommend what to watch next.
The clock app is a basic, but fundamental and frequently used function on any device. From waking up to setting cooking timers, it’s important for a clock app to be intuitive. An update now rolling out to Google’s Clock app brings some minor tweaks makes the jump to version 5.0…
This morning Nest has released a brand new version of its mobile app which comes along with a handful of new tricks for Nest Cam owners. The most notable new feature comes with a Nest Aware subscription, and that’s the addition of door detection.
There’s no shortage of options for virtual meetings these days, from Skype and WebEx through Facebook, WhatsApp and many others. But Amazon believes that there’s room for one more, aiming Chime specifically at businesses looking for an easier and more manageable way to host video meetings.
Meetings start on time because they’re easy to join – meetings call you and you can join with a single tap. Lengthy pins are a thing of the past. A visual roster shows who has joined the meeting and who is running late, and allows anyone to mute background noise. Amazon Chime offers rich apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, and your chats are always synchronized across your devices. You can switch seamlessly between devices anytime, even in the middle of a meeting …
One of the biggest features to come with the arrival of Android Wear 2.0 and arguably the main selling point for the LG Watch Sport over the Style is the ability to use Android Pay on your wrist. The problem is that not every bank and credit/debit card that currently works for the smartphone version of the application will work on Android Wear.
Specifically, the two banks that are currently unsupported are Citi and Wells Fargo…
Earlier this evening, an alpha version of the Google app inadvertently rolled out. While quite unstable, some users who have sideloaded the app are reporting (via Android Police) that Google Assistant is now enabled on their non-Pixel device.
Chrome OS 56 is now available in the stable channel with some visual changes. The bottom shelf and system menu have received a Material redesign, while an updated version of the ChromeVox tool simplifies navigation for the visually impaired.
The Honor 8 was one of our favorite affordable smartphones of 2016, or at least it would’ve been if it hadn’t launched with Huawei’s infamous EMUI software layer. Despite the polished hardware, the same couldn’t be said about the software. Now, Honor is looking to change that with an update to EMUI 5.0.
Update: Honor has adjusted the rollout date to February 11th.
For the most part, Nvidia has been pretty good about keeping its Android devices up to date. Just a couple of weeks after debuting the fantastic new Nvidia Shield TV, it updated the former model with that new software. Today, that trend continues with a major update to its collection of tablets, with Android Nougat rolling out over the coming days.
One of the many benefits of Android Wear 2.0 (for devices that have built-in GPS and LTE capabilities, at least) is that some Android Wear watches can now work entirely without a connected smartphone. One application that is taking full advantage of this is Strava, a fitness tracking application which can now work as a standalone app on Android Wear devices…
In the latter half of 2016, YouTube announced plans for a new app, YouTube Go. Designed to minimize cellular data usage, the app was destined for a debut in India and today, it’s finally available.
With nearly identical features, it can be quite confusing whether Play Music or YouTube Music should be used for tunes. Fortunately, Google might be simplifying this situation by combining the two teams to create “the best possible product.”
The Google Play family of Android apps usually remain visually consistent with one another. However, recently, they have been diverging with Play Books and Play Newsstand gaining a bottom bar for navigation. The latest deviation has Play Movies & TV adopting a darker background throughout the app.
Pinterest is introducing a new feature for its Android app called Lens. Rolling out now as a beta feature, Lens lets you point your camera at your surroundings to discover new design ideas based on what it captures.
Just point Lens at a pair of shoes, then tap to see related styles or even ideas for what else to wear them with. Or try it on a table to find similar designs, and even other furniture from the same era. You can also use Lens with food. Just point it at broccoli or a pomegranate to see what recipes come up. Patterns and colors can also lead you in fun, interesting or even just plain weird new directions.
Announced last June as a preview, Google is renaming its Springboard assistant for work and announcing a global rollout. Now called Google Cloud Search, the product uses machine learning to surface relevant information and “provide a unified search experience across G Suite.”
Live streaming on YouTube has been around in one form or another for quite some time, but only on the desktop. Last year YouTube teased mobile live streaming, but has been fairly selective on what channels had the feature enabled. Now, YouTube is finally expanding that rollout to any channel that has 10,000 subscribers or more.
ZTE’s Axon 7 was one of the most popular “affordable flagships” of 2016, and for good reason. Packing top of the line specs, premium hardware, and useful features into a price tag under $400 was nothing short of impressive. However, ZTE has been just a little slow in updating the device. Now, the company has finally released Android Nougat for the Axon 7.
Overshadowed by the 7.1.2 Developer Preview, the February security patch is beginning to rollout. Still on 7.1.1, there are fixes for 35 vulnerabilities, with factory images and OTAs now available for current Pixel and Nexus devices.
Google Maps is one of the company’s most widely-used applications, and it’s constantly evolving and improving. Today, Google has announced a brand new redesign to the Maps app for Android, bringing useful features like traffic/transit data, as well as local places and recommendations right to the forefront in a new bottom bar.
There wasn’t all that much new in Android 7.1, but among the notable features was the ability to insert GIFs directly into conversations via certain keyboard apps like Gboard. However, this wasn’t a system-wide change, rather being enabled on an app-by-app basis. Now, it seems Twitter has flipped the switch on this feature…
Before Google ever pushes out a major update to any of its applications, the company sends a ‘dogfood’ build of the app to their internal beta testers to get their feedback on new features, designs, or anything else. It appears that Google is currently beta testing a brand new Play Store update that revamps the ‘My Apps’ section…
In the app’s first major update of the year, the Albums tab in Google Photos is getting a redesign. Specifically, the new look is denser and makes use of a grid and carousel to more easily let you look through on-device photos and folders…
Just as Android picks up its Chrome 56 update, Google is pushing the same new version to iOS users. While not a major update, this new version does bring along a couple of useful features, including a handy QR code scanner.
Nintendo’s latest mobile game Fire Emblem Heroes has today hit the Google Play store as expected. As with Super Mario Run, it’s a freemium game, but in theory at least you can unlock all the features for free through game play.