In this month’s APK Insight top stories: In January 2019, we uncovered new in-the-works features including Face Match in the Google app, various tidbits from the Android Q System UI, and interface changes in YouTube Music. Keep reading for the biggest Google app secrets we uncovered this month…
Play Games on Android is one of Google’s most Material Theme-heavy apps. After adding a dark theme in December, the latest version widely rolling out today has redesigned the settings page and tweaked some options.
We reported last month that Google Duo is gaining a web client for making and receiving calls through a desktop browser. Meanwhile, development on the Android app continues with Google Duo 47 revealing drawing tools to customize video messages just like Instagram and Snapchat.
The latest beta version of the Google app notably reverses the Assistant dark mode introduced last week. Meanwhile, Google app 9.10 reveals “Avocado” as Face Match for Assistant, targets Android Q, and more.
Android Q leaked earlier this month and confirmed a number of features like the system-wide dark mode and a renewed focus on privacy. We’ve since been able to get our own hands-on with Google’s next major operating system, and can reveal some upcoming functionality.
The latest version of Google Duo rolled out over the weekend with hints that Favorites, Low light mode, and filters will soon be live. The former is partially available in Google Duo 46, while we have also enabled Low light mode for improved video calling.
Since launching last year, Google’s latest streaming service has slowly gained new features, and continues work on others. YouTube Music 2.67 features slight interface changes and tweaks to the now playing queue.
As a more compact Google Assistant is rolling out, the latest Google app beta suggests that more features are in development. Version 9.5 reveals that a dark mode is in the works for Assistant, as well as additional functionality for the Updates feed.
The latest Gboard beta is rolling out and continues work on a handful of features we’ve been tracking in recent months. Gboard 7.9 is preparing for more emoticons/kaomoji, faster voice typing, and predictive content search.
In recent weeks, the latest version of Google Discover has widely rolled out, while the Google app is testing more Material Theme and redesigned Assistant controls. The Google app now jumps from version 8.x to 9.x, with work underway in Google app 9.0 on the new Assistant for the car form factor, Interpreter mode on Smart Displays, and Podcasts.
Gboard 7.8 rolled out last night in beta with a handful of new voice typing features and changes. In addition to last version’s on-device voice recognition, users will soon be able to associate a Google Account and manually select a language. We’ve also enabled a redesigned emoji selection interface.
The first update of 2019 for Google’s latest streaming service is now available and reveals more work on reaching feature parity with Play Music. YouTube Music 2.65 continues development on sideloaded tracks and suggests that the app could be pre-installed on devices in the future.
After a few weeks break due to the winter holidays, the Google app is returning to its usual cadence of weekly beta releases. Google app 8.91 reveals work on applying the Material Theme to even more parts of Google Assistant settings. We’ve also managed to enable auto downloading in Google Podcasts, among other in-development features.
At Made by Google 2018, the Google Home companion app for Android and iOS was revamped with the Google Material Theme and a focus on controlling all your Assistant smart home devices. Google Home 2.8 continues work on that with a new Routines shortcut to manually invoke macros, and more options for devices.
Many of Google’s communications apps were updated over the past week amid news about the company’s future offerings. Google Voice 2018.50 is now rolling out and reveals work on the Google Material Theme, as well as other tweaks to the bottom bar notification indicator and other changes to account for the recent Google Fi rebrand.
Following an update to Messages yesterday amid the past week’s discussion about the company’s communications future, Google Phone 27 is rolling out. The latest beta of the dialer coincides with the “Favorites” tab redesign rolling out, along with Call Screen for the original Pixel.
The latest Google app beta is rolling out with more details about Assistant’s personalized audio news feed that was announced this week. Google app 8.70 also includes a new Pixel Stand option to disable personalized results on the Ambient Display, as well as other design tweaks.
This week, Google reiterated that Messages with RCS is its primary communication service for consumers. Messages 3.9 is rolling out today with work on spam protection and more types of file sharing, including calendar and documents.
Google this week clarified its future messaging plans following our twin reports about classic Hangouts and Allo. After development on the latter was paused in April, the company on Wednesday announced that it would be sunset next year. Ahead of that, Google today released what is likely one of the last updates for the smart messaging app to help users export chats.
The latest version of the Google app is rolling out this evening with a number of small tweaks and features. Google app 8.65 details more about Podcasts episode search, Google Image Search filters, and more.
YouTube Music 2.61 is beginning to roll out on Android with follow-up about the upcoming features revealed during the last update. This version better details the autoplay functionality, listening to on-device songs, and more.
The latest version of Google Photos is rolling out today with a focus on making the backup feature more attractive for users in data-constrained environments. Google Photos 4.6 details work on an “Express” upload quality, as well as daily limits on data usage. Other features include more Suggested Actions, like those from Google Lens.
One of the biggest touted use cases for augmented reality is shopping and commerce. With a sense of depth and scale, buyers can virtually place objects in their living space before purchasing. Google is now working on a feature called “AR Shopping,” according to Google Lens 1.3.
