At the end of May, Google announced the first set of Cross-device services features, with Call casting and Instant hotspot now rolling out to Android devices.
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Google today is “discontinuing Google Play Services updates for Android Lollipop devices.” Android 5.0 hit stable in November 2014, with Lollipop representing less than 1% of active devices.
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The monthly “Google System Release Notes” primarily detail what’s new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC. Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.
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Besides using Live View and your camera for VPS, Google has a new device orientation solution for Android map developers with the Fused Orientation Provider (FOP) API in Play services.
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Google is working to upgrade Watch Unlock to use ultra-wideband (UWB) connectivity, potentially hinting at Pixel Watch 3 functionality.
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Google has widely rolled out the latest Google Play system update (January 2024) for Pixel devices.
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Google Play Services is responsible for many features on modern Android, and its primary settings menu is now getting a redesign.
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Samsung has gotten way better about rolling out major Android updates, but it seems a problem is ongoing with Google Play system updates, as some Galaxy devices haven’t been updated in months.
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An upcoming change to Google Wallet on Android will see payment notifications originate directly from the app instead of Play services.
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Google has begun sharing what new features and changes to expect in November from the core system apps on our Android devices, including some tweaks to the Play Store’s UI and support for QR codes in Google Wallet.
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With Android 14 and Wear OS 4 both now fully released, this month’s Google System Updates showcase a few other improvements coming for our phones, tablets, and smartwatches, including the ability to connect a Wear OS watch to “multiple phones.”
Update: The latest patch notes reveal new changes coming to the Play Store on Wear OS, among other upgrades.
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In recent days, Google Pixel and Samsung owners have noticed that Smart Lock’s Trusted devices option has gone missing.
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As part of the September 2023 Google System Updates, Android is set to gain better support for using a PIN with the FIDO2 security standard, among other improvements.
Update: Ahead of the expected October launch of Android 14, Google is now discussing the addition of stylus and trackpad gestures for Android’s built-in web browser.
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Among other changes in Android’s Google System Updates for August, the Play Store is changing all of its ads to now read as “Sponsored.”
Update: The latest patch notes point to improvements in emergency situations and an expansion of Google Wallet.
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A new update for “Google Partner Setup,” a required internal Android app, is rolling out now via the Play Store.
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Android’s Google System Updates for July are set to bring “valuables” sharing to Wallet and more.
Update: The latest updates include improvements to the Google Play Store, a new UI for family groups, and newly “prioritized” updates for Android’s WebView browser.
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Google shared today that Play services is dropping support for Android 4.4 KitKat, which is nearly 10 years old, in August.
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The Google System Updates for June 2023 are set to include Google Wallet improvements for foldables and more.
Update: The Play Store is set to gain a new tab, while Google Password Manager is getting some improvements.
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The Google System Updates for April 2023 bring improvements to the Play Store, including making it easier to download apps over cellular data.
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Google System Updates for March 2023 give you more control over the loyalty/rewards cards in your Google Wallet, and more.
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In the latest example of a late Google Play system update, the February 2023 patch for Pixel phones is just rolling out today after having missed its original month.
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The Google System Updates for February 2023 include an improvement to Android’s Nearby Share notifications and more.
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Google Play system updates occasionally lag behind the current month, with the Pixel 6 and 7 series starting to see the January 2023 release today after skipping December entirely.
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We’re still waiting for the ability to use Wear OS to unlock Android devices and Chromebooks. Watch Unlock was demoed earlier this year, and ongoing work reveals how Smart Lock will be sticking around as “Extend Unlock.”
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