At long last, the mobile YouTube apps added a dark mode back in July. The YouTube TV mobile app is still as bright as ever, but if you use the web app version at all, you're in luck. Late last month, a YouTube TV support article was updated that points out the new dark mode feature.
Read MoreUpdate Notes for YouTube, Duo, Drive, the Google app, and more (September 16, 2018)
Every week, I examine somewhere in the neighborhood of a hundred app updates while looking for changes. The most interesting things turn into APK Teardowns or Download posts. Many of the remaining updates are unremarkable, amounting to a few bug fixes, routine updates to libraries, or even just pixel-level adjustments to layouts and images. However, there are usually a few updates that land somewhere in between. I don't want to spam readers with dozens of short posts, but I hate to ignore things that people might want to know about, so I'm going to wrap up the leftovers for a little weekend reading and call it Update Notes.
Read MoreInBrief
YouTube's long-awaited Dark Theme is now rolling out
We've been talking about a dark mode in YouTube for ages, ever since it emerged in a teardown almost a year ago. Then iPhone users were treated to it back in March, and even a small number of lucky individuals were granted early access a couple of months ago. But it looks like today is the day that everybody else on Android can finally watch YouTube in a dark room without searing their eyes on white backgrounds. YouTube's Dark Theme appears to be rolling out to everybody.
Read MoreAndroid Messages for Web gets its own Material UI overhaul too
Android Messages has been teasing us lately with a new Material UI overhaul and a dark mode: it rolled out, was removed, then rolled back again with the latest update to the app. Now the web interface is following suit by donning its own sexy look with an even sexier updated dark theme to boot.
Read MoreGoogle teases dark mode for Phone app in Play Store update notes
The Google Phone redesign from earlier this month was met with some conflicting opinions. While many liked the more modern UI, others couldn't stand all of the white that was added. Some hoped that Phone might soon get a dark mode, and it looks like those prayers have been answered. Google has just confirmed that Phone will indeed be getting a dark mode.
Read MoreNew Material UI and dark mode are back in latest Android Messages [APK Download]
If there's one thing we love when it comes to the subject of Android here, it's a good tease. Over the last couple of weeks, Google surreptitiously added and subsequently disabled an updated Material Design interface for Android Messages. In addition to the app's blinding new all-white aesthetic, it also included a new dark mode that should be a bit easier on the eyes at night. Though the updated design was seemingly disabled, it's now back in the latest version — and you can download it now.
Read More[Update: Back in v3.5.052] Android Messages v3.5 adds new Material UI with dark mode [APK Download]
Both Google Phone and Google Contacts had Material redesigns earlier this month. As such, people began speculating that Android Messages would also soon be revamped, and now it's happened. On top of the redesign, version 3.5 of Android Messages also brings a long-awaited dark mode.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
YouTube dark theme now available for some on Android
These days, an often-seen feature request for apps (and Android in general) is dark mode. We first noticed that YouTube was preparing to bring one to its Android app in November of last year, but while the web and iOS versions have had it for months, there's only been radio silence on the Android side. However, we're now seeing several reports of dark mode being automatically activated on the YouTube Android app.
Read MoreAndroid Messages v3.4 continues work on pairing with Chromebooks, dark mode, and automatic spam detection [APK Teardown]
A new version of Android Messages began rolling out late last night. Beyond a few small cosmetic tweaks, this update appears to be almost entirely focused on preparing upcoming features. There's activity related to pairing with Chromebooks, further developments in dark mode, and forward progress on fighting spam.
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