latest
Fitbit is losing its identity under Google, one name change at a time
It’s not just about the name change but how Google sees Fitbit
It’s been more than three years since Google completed its Fitbit acquisition, which seemed like a monumental leap for the former’s wearables efforts at a time when the Pixel Watch didn’t exist. But the search giant couldn’t reap much benefit from this high-profile takeover, even after its first Pixel-branded smartwatch launched. But Google has lately been doing some internal rejigging to change how Fitbit fits within its larger product ecosystem, and the recent name change to Google Fitbit is only the first act.
Google thinks sound effects in the Phone app are a good use of dev time
Instead of creating useless gimmicks, why doesn't Google focus its resources on making Android better?
Google is working on a new function called Audiomojis that will let you add sound effects to your phone calls. The attention to this new feature has done nothing but prove Google's misplaced priorities. With users already facing numerous product frustrations, it seems counterproductive to focus on a feature that lacks a practical application. Instead of creating useless gimmicks, why doesn't Google focus its resources on making Android better?
Chrome has become so popular, that it's practically synonymous with the web browser — it’s already common for us to call a browser search “Googling it” in casual conversation. While Google’s search engine has more than earned its popularity, its ever-growing feature list has started to make things overly complicated, especially for a service whose appeal lies in casual use.
If you have used an Android phone since 2014, you're already familiar with Google's Material Design, its high-quality design system for websites, Android and iOS apps, and operating systems. It covers shapes, 3D effects, animations, lighting and shadows, colors, typography, fonts, transitions, layouts, and more. It's most prominent on the best Google Pixel phones although Android phones from all manufacturers touch on it to some degree.
Waze's new guest voice will help when there's something strange in your neighborhood
Google has teamed up with Dan Aykroyd for Ghostbusters-themed navigation
Whether you have a smart speaker in your home or you use Google Assistant on your phone, you may have noticed some familiar voices over the years. For instance, musician John Legend lent his voice to Google back in 2019, allowing Assistant users to receive responses in his iconic tone. The company has integrated other celebrity voices into its Waze navigation service as well, and now, another familiar star is getting in on the action.
YouTube Music's latest feature wants to help you stay on top of new releases
A notification bell icon will now tip you off
YouTube Music is just one of many Google services, and it’s up against steep competition from other music streaming platforms, notably Spotify and Apple Music. Despite this, the service has managed to develop a loyal audience with similar features, likely surpassing Apple Music in subscriber count. Now, it seems that a new one is being added to further enhance the user experience.
What to expect at Google I/O 2024
Last year's I/O was all about AI, and we expect Google to double down on it this year
Google's annual developer conference is inching closer. The company has announced the dates for Google I/O 2024. While we don't know much about Google's plans for its big show, we have some expectations and educated guesses about what we will see. If last year is anything to judge by, Google will introduce more generative AI features powered by Gemini, and we may hear a word about Android 15. There could also be a hardware launch or two, with the Google Pixel 8a a hot candidate for a May reveal.
Fitbit is undergoing a name change as Google reorganizes
Fitbit by Google is no more after an external makeover for the division
When a company becomes as large as Google, a little housekeeping is necessary every now and then to keep operations running smoothly. In some instances, it looks like restructuring and a change in staff. Google recently began reorganizing its teams to align with its evolving products and services. As a result, a new name is being introduced to reflect some of the changes happening to its Fitbit division, in particular.
The Google Play Store is a dumpster fire and AI won't save it
The addition of AI recommendations to the Play Store won't fix how Google prioritizes its whims over user satisfaction
We recently reported that the Play Store was bringing AI to help you choose which apps it thinks you might like. It won't help the situation when the Play Store is a digital landfill overflowing with low-quality apps that are awash in review fraud, all the while Google is busy prioritizing its whims over user satisfaction. Adding AI recommendations is like putting lipstick on a pig. It's time Google cleaned up this mess.
Google sets a date, feds flex, and WhatsApp goes pin-crazy in this week's news
This week in Android: Samsung makes some questionable choices and the US government chooses violence
The biggest announcements of the year for the Android platform are coming in a matter of weeks, as Google has finally set a date for I/O 2024. At the same time, Apple's dragging its feet, holding Google back from releasing a feature we've been eagerly anticipating for months. But we finally got official word on the next big midrange phone, and it won't be from Samsung — at least in the US. Speaking of, the American government exerted a bit of power on the tech world, and WhatsApp seems to think the pin is mightier than the sword in this week's top five Android headlines.
Chrome Canary 124 now supports live translated captions by default
Live Translate was first spotted in April last year
Google Chrome is one of our favorite web browsers, even though competitors like Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc., continue to get better with each iteration. Last year, Google was working on bundling the Pixel's Live Translate feature in Chrome, intended to work in tandem with Live Caption, added almost three years ago. However, this Live Translate functionality was not available by default, even in Canary, requiring a command line flag to activate. It now looks like we're getting closer to the feature's imminent arrival, with the latest Chrome Canary 124 release enabling Live Translate by default.
Google Photos finally lets you override its document auto-categorization
New categorization options are rolling out now
Last month, Google services enthusiast AssembleDebug shared on X that Google Photos was working on a way to change how the app categorizes images of what it calls "Documents." The new setup would let users manually alter the way various images — screenshots, photos of receipts or event tickets, that sort of thing — are tagged, making it easier to organize that kind of info in Photos. We're seeing those new options on our own phones now: manual categorization is finally rolling out.
Google shuts down its latest attempt at a social media app
The Area 120 experiment called Keen is shutting down this month
Alongside its core apps such as Gmail, the Workspace suite, Maps, and apps exclusive to Pixel phones, Google also devotes considerable efforts and resources to experimenting with new ideas for services which could be spun into their own businesses, much like self-driving car company Waymo. However, 2023 was a rough year for Alphabet Inc., and we are still seeing a ripple effect with the latest shutdown of a Pinterest-style social media platform called Keen.
Google Maps starts showing social media profiles from your favorite bars and restaurants
Business Profile can now tie into your socials directly
Every brand is growing increasingly dependent on social media marketing to improve their visibility to consumers, and that’s why even homegrown businesses lay emphasis on social media presence through the best social apps. Besides the role of its advertising business in such marketing efforts, the company also allows businesses to create their profiles, called Google Business Profiles. Although they are fairly detailed and descriptive, Google now allows to link your business’ social media accounts with the Business Profile.
Google's updated sign-in page appears to be rolling out widely
We are seeing the new design for many user accounts worldwide
Besides its important role as one of the biggest search engines around, Google also has a thriving business of apps and services such as the Workspace suite. Additionally, you could also use your Google account to sign in to several other websites, apps, and services which have partnered with the company for user identification. Now, things could look a little different when you’re signing in using your Google account, but don’t be alarmed, because the company’s login page redesign is rolling out widely now.
Massive discounts drop Pixel 8, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 6a down to their lowest prices ever
Save big with these incredible deals on some of our favorite Pixel devices
We've seen some great deals on Pixel phones over the past couple of months, with excellent discounts that bring some of the best Android phones to some of the lowest prices we have ever seen. But if you've been holding out, now's going to be your chance as we're seeing the lowest prices to date with deals on the Pixel 8, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 6a. Right now, for a limited time, you can score up to 23% off these phones through Woot.
Google paid out $10 million in vulnerability awards last year
The company held its first ever live-hacking event targeting LLM in 2023
The more complicated software gets, the more likely it is to have bugs or security loopholes. Google and many other companies recognize that, and they want to give hackers and security researchers an incentive to find and report problems. That’s where Google’s Vulnerability Rewards Program (VRP) comes in. Last year, the company paid out a total of $10 million to researchers reporting problems with Google software all around the world.
Google finally gives your Pixel 8 external display support
Pre-existing hardware-level support is now unlocked
The best Android tablets get close to blurring the distinction between a portable handheld gadget and a notebook, but your options are considerably limited if you’re using an Android phone. Samsung gives users near desktop-like functionality with DeX mode over a simple USB-C connection, but other brands, including Google’s Pixel range of phones don’t support external displays. The situation improved with the Pixel 8, and now, it officially supports external displays over a wired connection.
Why Google went a different route for Chromebook keyboards
UPPERCASE letters can be intimidating, and lowercase might be more familiar
Laptops come in all shapes and sizes, and the latest Chromebooks offer even greater flexibility and portability as well as software and hardware support that make them compete against Android tablets. If you’ve ever used a Chromebook or seen one in the store, you may have noticed they have lowercase letters imprinted on their keyboards. This isn’t something new; Google has done this since the very first prototype, the CR-48, which was launched in 2010.
Google is busy fine-tuning its AI chatbot, Gemini, although much of the recent coverage has revolved around its inability to generate accurate images of people. However, the team behind the company's current AI efforts also has other obstacles to deal with, such as inconsistent Wi-Fi speeds, a new report has found.