A year ago Google simplified security and privacy settings with a redesigned My Account page. On its one year anniversary, Google has announced that over a billion people have used the site and that several new features, like how to find a lost phone including Android and iOS, are being added.
Faster load and search times are the highlight feature of an update to the Google app on iOS. Like on the mobile web and Android, AMP articles will now show up in search results. Other improvements include sport video highlights on Now cards and more keyboard shortcuts for iPad users.
A major update to Skype last year introduced a Material redesign for phones and made the app feel more native to Android. Rolling out now, version 7.0 brings Material Design to Android tablets with a redesigned interface for devices with larger screens. Besides a FAB, the update also brings a multi-pane view, powerful search, and more to what’s usually an under developed area on Android.
Chrome 51 is rolling out now to Mac, Windows, and soon Linux. The latest version of Google’s browser contains the usual bug and security fixes, but also features a new Credential Management API that improves the website login experience.
After opening sign-ups two weeks ago, the US Field Test of Pokémon GO begins today. The Pokémon Company and Niantic Labs revealed more information about the mechanics of the real world game. Pokémon GO will have in-app purchases and sell a Bluetooth wearable that notifies users of in-game events.
After a lengthy A/B test, YouTube for Android is rolling out a new video settings menu and a slight tweak to the player window. Settings are no longer overlaid on a video, but rather slide up from the bottom of the screen.
Especially geared towards pictures taken by a regular camera that did not have the correct time zone set, the latest Google Photos web update adds a very useful feature that allows users to easily adjust the date and time of multiple images…
The last update to Google Text-to-speech on Android added male and female voices for multiple languages. With version 3.9.6 from the Android N Developer Preview 3 (via Android Police), users on Marshmallow and above can highlight any piece of text and have it read aloud to them.
While the Android N Developer Preview 3 removed a system-level dark mode, apps can still automatically switch between day and night modes. Introduced as part of the Android Support Library 23.2 in February, developers can now easily add a night mode that switches based on the time of day and location. Twitter appears to be A/B testing a night mode in the alpha version of its app.
In this week’s top stories we round up all of our coverage from Google I/O, the company’s annual developer conference where it also took the wraps off a number of upcoming hardware and software products. Android N Developer Preview 3, the Play Store comes to Chrome, Google Assistant, the new Daydream VR platform and much, much more.
Expand
Expanding
Close
At an I/O session this evening, the inaugural winners of the Google Play Awards were announced. With 10 categories, winners were selected by the Google Play team based on launching or having a major update in the past 12 months, app quality, and innovation.
The Play Store is adding a few features for both developers and users. Betas are now easier to find and join from the Play Store with Google even highlighting beta apps in a new Early Access section. The store also has new smart collections for tasks that require a combination of apps.
At yesterday’s I/O keynote, Firebase received the most enthusiastic applaud from the crowd of developers. Purchased two years ago, Firebase is a cloud backend service that does the heavy lifting of managing an app’s data. Firebase is now a complete solution for building and maintaining an app on multiple platforms.
Back in April at Microsoft’s Build conference it was revealed that Cortana for Android users would soon be able to have their smartphone notifications show up on a Windows 10 PC. Now it seems that feature is rolling out, at least to some beta testers/Insiders.
Following the announcement of Allo this morning, many assumed that Hangouts would be replaced. However, Google has confirmed to numerous publications that Hangouts will remain a separate product and continue to live — for now at least.
Earlier today, Android Pay finally launched in the UK. At an I/O session this afternoon, Google announced new features for its contactless payment solution and the ability to use a phone to withdraw money from Bank of America ATMs.
Alongside all of the Google I/O announcements today, Google announced a new resource for app developers in the form of the new ‘Playbook by Google Play’ app available in beta now.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Google shared some updates on company stats today while kicking off its Google I/O developer conference including updates on Chromecast, active users, new Android phones, Google Play installs and more.
In addition to showing off its new chatbot-style Google Assistant, Amazon Echo-like Google Home device, new Allo and Duo messaging apps, and Daydream VR platform, the company also announced 25 million Chromecasts sold, 200 million Google Photos users, 600 new Android phones launched over the last year, and 65B Google Play installs.
Head below for the roundup of all the numbers Google announced during I/O today and check back for more as the event unfolds.
Update: Allo’s Play Store listing offers the ability to preregister to get notified when the app is available for download.
Next up at I/O this year are two new communication apps that integration Google’s services and AI. The first is called Allo and has the Google Assistant built-in right into the app. In addition to integrating Google’s services, it also secure and private…
New televisions and boxes running Android TV have been released throughout the year and Android N will add new features like a picture-in-picture mode. Google I/O tomorrow might see more announcements including ‘new Nexus Players’, but until then ESPN is launching a new app that will allow subscribers to stream live sporting events.
T-Mobile today announced new services being added to its Binge On program, which allows its wireless subscribers to stream video content from certain apps without dipping into their mobile data caps.
Niantic Labs and The Pokémon Company have been working on a Pokemon game that allows players to collect, train, and battle Pokémon characters in the real world. After being tested in New Zealand and Australia, a Field Test is now coming to the United States.
Update: Spaces is now live on the Play Store, App Store, and on the web.
Google can’t seem to stop making social networks and messaging apps. In fairness, the just announced Spaces is referred to as a tool for small group sharing. While similar to the Communities feature that Google+ is now built around, the new app seems like a much more focused version of group messaging that better highlights content.
