In 2020, Google said it would remove content stored in an inactive account (but not the account itself) to preserve storage space. Google is now updating its inactivity policy so that old, unused accounts will be deleted starting later this year.

We’ve been tracking the new Google Weather for the past two weeks, and our best look at the redesign is on a Pixel Fold.

In addition to the new Google Home for Android and iOS going stable last week, the Wear OS app and website are getting a pair of big updates. 

Last June, Gboard started rolling out a split keyboard for foldables, and it’s now appearing on Android tablets. 

As we’ve been tracking since March, Google Contacts is now rolling out birthday notifications and encouraging users to add that information.

Following the Duet AI announcement yesterday, many more people who signed up for Google Workspace Labs are now seeing the generative AI features in Gmail and Docs that “Help you write.”

In announcing the Pixel Tablet and Fold, Google emphasized that over 50 of its apps have been updated for large screens. Many of the tablet redesigns have already rolled out, with a few more coming to benefit Google Calendar, Weather, and the Play Store.

The miniplayer in YouTube Music for Android and iOS last changed in 2020 with a broader redesign of the Now Playing screen. YouTube Music is now testing rather significant changes to the miniplayer.

Following new icons for the Play Store and Play Games, it’s now time for Google Play Books to get a new logo, while a tablet redesign is also in development.

Android’s Weather experience in 2021 got a Google Material Theme redesign just as Material You was widely rolling out to other first-party apps. Google Weather is now set for a redesign with Material You elements.

Ads already appear throughout the Play Store, and Google is now showing them when you start a search, alongside other visual tweaks.

After first appearing last month, the Google Messages “Send photos faster” option is more widely rolling out, and we’ve done some quick tests on how it impacts file size, resolution, and quality.

In late March, Google started letting the public test generative AI in Gmail and Docs. It’s now expanding the Trusted Tester program by a significant degree.

The Google Home app this week started rolling out version 3.0 and changes to navigation by introducing an “Inbox,” while also redesigning lighting controls.

While Android 14 Beta 1.1 from last week should alleviate some issues, a different bug with the latest beta version of Google Messages has emerged today that makes the RCS client unusable.

Google has spent the past several years working to replace passwords because of frequent reuse, vulnerability to data breaches, and phishing. Passkeys are the industry solution, and the ability to log in to your Google Account with them is starting to roll out.

After a big redesign last year, YouTube might be embarking on its next visual revamp with changes to the video page, which has mostly stayed the same in recent years.

Google has long wanted to replace the lock icon in Chrome’s address bar, and it’s finally proceeding with those plans in September as part of a broader browser redesign.

Search is one of Google Photos’ most underrated features, bringing the ability to look up objects without any prior tagging on your part. Google Photos is now “experimenting” with “more powerful search.”

Podcasts in YouTube Music officially launched in the US yesterday, and playback is supported by the Wear OS app.

Google News for Android is the latest first-party app to get a Material You redesign, as well as tablet and large screen optimizations.

Besides podcasting support, Youtube Music has been rolling out several quality-of-life improvements lately. A general YouTube Music sleep timer is now rolling out.

Following the February announcement and March testing, podcasts are now officially rolling out to YouTube Music users in the US.