We’re now just over three weeks away from the official launch of Stadia, Google’s game-streaming service that will allow playing games in up to 4K on a device as low-powered as even a Chromecast Ultra. In preparation for the launch, Google Family Link has updated its app to be ready to handle parents/guardians approving and purchasing Stadia games for their children.
One key aspect of Fi is the ability to switch between different networks for the best connection. Google had to exclude this feature when the MVNO rolled out to all Android and iOS phones late last year, but now looks to be working on a new implementation that will make switching faster.
An update pushed today for the Nest app contains hints towards a seasonal “themes” feature which allows the user to change the chime of their Nest Hello doorbell for a holiday season. For Halloween, which is a mere two weeks away, users will soon be able to enable a “Spooky sounds” theme.
Days away from the Pixel 4 unveil, last-minute details about the flagship are emerging. An update to the Google One app today reveals that the Made by Google phones will feature a 3-month trial to the subscription service.
Ahead of new Nest devices next week, an updated version of the Home companion client is widely rolling out today. Google Home 2.14.50 confirms ‘Nest Mini’ and interestingly references Stadia.
Just over a week ahead of the Google Pixel 4 launch, we’ve obtained what will likely be the official version of the Google Camera app to launch on the new phone. Google Camera version 7.1 preps the previously seen “Dual Exposure” controls, adds info on the downsides of saving depth data on the Google Pixel 4, and the exact apps compatible with “Social Share.”
Update 10/10: Another new feature, “Frequent Faces,” has been uncovered in an unexpected place.
The latest beta of Google’s Android keyboard is rolling out this afternoon with a handful of changes in development. Gboard 8.8 most notably details how the emoji handwriting feature is going away.
The latest version of Google Play is rolling out today, and it addresses how inline changelogs were broken and inaccessible for the past week. Play Store 17.0.11 also details work on a manual Theme toggle and new account switcher.
Last month, Google announced several new Photos features including “Memories,” in-store printing at CVS or Walmart, and a new “Canvas” print. Google Photos 4.26 is rolling out today with “Manage your library” and work on a new “Astro” filter.
Android Auto’s new redesign surfaces all compatible apps on your homescreen, and that can feel understandably cluttered at times. Now, the latest update to Android Auto is preparing homescreen customization and more.
Last week, we put special attention on the specific apps that we know for sure will work with the Google Pixel 4’s Motion Sense to allow skipping tracks without touching your phone. However, Motion Sense will be capable of more than just media controls. Check out everything you’ll be able to do with Motion Sense on the Google Pixel 4 at launch.
According to the Wear OS companion app for Android, Xiaomi might be working on a smartwatch powered by Google’s wearable platform. Wear OS 2.28 today features a string that references a “Mi Wear” companion app.
Google app 10.61 is rolling out as the latest beta and reveals work on a new “Smart Screenshots” feature that integrates Lens. A bug with the “Preferred input” setting for Assistant has also been resolved.
The Google Pixel 4 continues to bare all this week, as an internal “dogfood” build of the Google Camera app has leaked out into the wild. This version of Google Camera 7.0 confirms our report of a Motion Blur mode, prepares new AR-based features for Photobooth mode, and more.
Today, you can only buy TV shows outright, with most episodes starting at $1.99 and maxing out at $3.99. The latest version of Google Play Movies & TV hints that you’ll soon be able to rent entire seasons of shows.
During the Android Q Betas, Google Translate’s “Tap to Translate” did not work. Following Android 10’s launch last week, a new version of the app fixes the feature and makes it more subtle. Meanwhile, version 6.2 hints at a continuously audio translation mode.
Back in July, XDA-Developers discovered that the Google Play Store could soon be providing a way for app developers to get reviews from their users without ever needing to leave the app. Today, we’ve uncovered a demo showing exactly how this in-app review process will work for Play Store apps.
The latest beta of Google’s keyboard app is rolling out today with two features that are already live. In Gboard 8.7, there are two new keyboard height choices and settings for handwriting speed and stroke width.
In addition to a Material Theme redesign of Podcasts, Google app 10.57 preps Continued Conversation on phones and four more languages. Work on a dark theme for Search and Assistant is still underway.
Google Podcasts is readying a notable Material Theme redesign as revealed by the latest Google app beta. The changes are primarily focussed on updating the audio player, but the service is also working on “personalized recommendations.”
Google app 10.53 rolled out late Friday evening with hints about a “next-gen Discover.” The latest beta release also reveals more work on the Ambient Mode and what type of information will be displayed.
At I/O 2017, Google Photos gained the ability to create and buy physical “Photo books.” The latest version of the Android app suggests that Google is expanding its physical offerings to include “Prints” and “Canvas prints.”
After adding Waze integration, library sorting, and new “Released” playlist in recent weeks, the latest version of Google’s primary streaming service is rolling out. YouTube Music 3.31 reveals work on a “retail mode” to help increase adoption.
Back in May, we learned that while Android Auto for screens in the car is here to stay — and even getting a slick redesign — the experience of using Android Auto on your phone screen was being killed in favor of the Google Assistant’s Driving Mode. We’re now seeing our first evidence of this on the Android Auto side in its latest update, version 4.6, which includes multiple suggestions and warnings to use Google Assistant Driving Mode instead.
