Google announced a slew of new Assistant, Lens, and Search features this week at I/O 2019. Most are coming over the next few months, with Google app 9.84 laying the groundwork for many of them. New functionality includes Personal References and Assistant driving mode.
Last week’s Google app beta revealed a host of new features, including an upcoming Lens redesign with “filters” and a new icon. Google app 9.78 today is a quieter update that primarily fixes the broken Weather app.
The last major system-level update to Wear OS introduced Android 9 Pie, with more watches seeing the update since the start of 2019. Brands are still releasing devices, but the Snapdragon Wear 3100 has yet to see wide adoption. An update to the Wear OS companion today reveals that future devices might feature eSIM.
Gboard in recent weeks began rolling out a built-in Clipboard, while the iOS client received advanced theming options. The latest beta rolled out yesterday, with Gboard 8.2 revealing work on Federated Learning and Personalization.
At I/O 2018, Google revamped Lens with real-time recognition, smart text selection, and native camera app integration. A year later, another redesign for Google Lens that adds specific recognition “filters” is in development.
While last week’s beta revealed a number of exciting in-progress features, Google app 9.72 is a quieter release that actually obscures some features, like Reminders and Intelligent Tips for At A Glance. There are also some additions and bugs with this update.
The latest version of the Google Home app for Android is rolling out this morning and it reveals two new codenames. Google Home 2.10 describes “Zion” — a “border router” with “built-in smart plug” — in-depth and “Speaker V,” as well as a “ultrasound proximity detection” feature.
Part of using any fitness app like Google Fit is to be challenged to do more activities. Continuing the app’s partnership with the World Health Organization, Google Fit will be inviting users to participate in the 2019 “Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge” next month.
At the end of last year, Waymo One launched as the world’s first public self-driving car service. The Android app for Waymo One is now officially available on the Play Store, with the Alphabet division opening a waitlist for Phoenix, Arizona. The app today reveals several details about how the autonomous service will function.
In recent weeks, Google has rolled out a number of new Duo features from the precall screen to Data Saver. The next set of features in Google Duo 52 includes a dedicated keypad and keyboard switcher, group calls, and continued work on a “bokeh effect.”
The latest Google app beta is rolling out this evening with several notable features in development. Google app 9.66 reveals a dark mode for the notoriously white app and Face Match training, as well as “Intelligent tips” for the At A Glance widget.
The latest Google app beta rolled out this morning following yesterday’s launch of more visual Assistant search results on Android. Google app 9.61 shows that Reminders are coming to the At A Glance widget, while there is development on an improved translation feature for Google Lens. There is also interesting work on “filters.”
In addition to the cloud telephony service now properly supporting Android Auto, there are a handful of small UI tweaks to Google Voice for Android this week. Version 2019.14 brings a larger font to conversations, and renames several parts of the app.
In its first update since the demise of Google Allo, Messages 4.2 is getting proper file attachments, continuing to prep for the launch of its Google Assistant integration, and picking up the ability to automatically verify a business’s identity.
Earlier this month, Google rolled out on-device, real-time speech transcription in Gboard for Pixel phones. Gboard 8.1 entered beta this afternoon with a new look for the growing menu of shortcuts and the ability to delete old searches.
Relaunched last May at I/O 2018, the Material Theme and AI-powered Google News will be one year old next month. Besides text, images, and videos, an upcoming addition to Google News might be crosswords. Google News 5.10 also details possible work on more sports coverage.
After missing its usual Friday release schedule, the latest Google app beta is rolling out this morning. Google app 9.58 most notably reveals a sleep timer feature, likely for Google Podcasts, and a handful of other tweaks and upcoming changes.
The latest version of the Google Home app is rolling out this evening with several new features in development. Google Home 2.9.65 reveals that Nest device setup might soon be available through the app, while there is an explicit reference to “FaceMatch.”
Back in November, our APK Insight of YouTube Music revealed work on letting users play on-device audio files. This is an important step towards making the app Android’s default playback client. YouTube Music 3.09 today reveals more about the functionality, specifically its limitations.
Google last week announced a new “Crop & adjust” suggested action for Photos that is aimed at print documents and text. Google Photos 4.13 today reveals work on more size options when sharing photos to a third-party app, and is A/B testing a tweaked “Create new” menu.
The latest version of Google Camera began rolling out earlier this week with a handful of visual changes, including a dark mode for settings and live mode transitions. Google Camera 6.2 also reveals work on a measuring tool, while development on “Cheetah” continues.
Even after Monday’s “show time” event, Apple Music is still the company’s only service available on Android. The client does feature tablet and Chromebook compatibility, with Chromecast support for playback on Google Home speakers now possibly in development.
Earlier this month, Google announced that the Play Store on Android and Chrome OS would adopt rounded square app icons for a cleaner and more consistent experience. We can now provide an early look at this push for uniform shapes that is set for later this year.