Google is killing YouTube Messages feature on September 18 – back up your chats now

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After killing off its attempt at its own social media hub, the Google+, the American company looks set to shut down another offering. This time around, its YouTube Messages that is being canned this September 18 and we’re not surprised.

YouTube Messages is a private messaging app that allowed you to send text messages as well as share YouTube videos with your friends. But the main cause of its downfall we guess would be that its linked to a platform most people use to consume videos, not chat with their friends.

For that, we have WhatsApp, arguably the most used messaging app today – you can send texts and share videos there too. Plus, people would’ve already built their friends or contact list there already, so there’s no need for a second, separate messaging app to complicate things.

Although clearly underutilised, Tech Crunch reports that the announcement of YouTube Messages’ closure was surprisingly met with some backlash. Tech Crunch highlights however, that the complaints mainly come from presumably your children or teens who aren’t allowed to have a social media account. But that’s about it for the service’s userbase.

That’s not to dis on Google – it’s just that other messaging options have been around longer and offer the same, if not more features YouTube Messages does.

If for some reason you use the service and would like to back your chats, YouTube has posted instructions on how you can do so.

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Google is looking to have greater control over Nexus smartphones

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Up until now, Google’s Nexus line of smartphones has been a device made out of a partnership between Google and various other smartphone makers such as LG, Samsung and Huawei. However, this might change in the near future as sources claim that Google CEO Sundar Pichai wants to take greater control over its Nexus smartphone program.

In an article by
The Information
, reports are saying that Google wants to make the Nexus phone more like the iPhone in an attempt to strengthen the Android brand to capture more share at the high end of the Apple dominated market. Should this change take effect, it would reduce the level of involvement of hardware partners that make the phones with Google.

Google’s new stance with the Nexus smartphone may cost other phone brands to refrain from participating in the Nexus smartphone project. That said, it is reported that HTC has been in talks with Google to create this year’s Nexus hardware.

Currently, a huge chunk of Google’s mobile service revenue is made from iOS devices, something that Google is highly uncomfortable with as the Cupertino-based company could potentially make Google’s life hard on the iOS platform. By making a fully homegrown Nexus phone, the theory is that it would not only give Android a bigger share of the high-end phone market, it would also produce a better showcase for Google services.

Source :
The Information

android
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nexus


Google is looking to implement its mobile index in the coming months

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Within the coming months, using Googling on your mobile device may give you results that may seem different if you Googled it on a desktop. This will happen because Google is looking to implement a separate mobile index in the next few months.

Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst Gary Illyes announced at Pubcon that a mobile index will happen within “months”. While no specific dates were given as to when it will launch, Illyes mentioned that this mobile index will be the “primary” index that the search engine uses to respond to queries when it launches. The current desktop index Google uses will still be maintained, but it will be of secondary importance, meaning that it would not be updated as frequently as the upcoming mobile index.

The introduction of a mobile index is something that
Google has mentioned in the past before
, and is now being put into action. With this mobile index, Google can now run its ranking algorithm in a different fashion across “pure” mobile content. Currently, the ranking algorithm works by extracting data from desktop content to determine mobile rankings.

For now, Google is still keeping mum over how this mobile index will work and how its introduction will affect the state of its desktop index. We expect Google to clarify these problems as the put the finishing touches on its mobile index.

Source:
Search Engine Land

desktopindex
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mobileindex
search


Google is moving Hangouts On Air to YouTube Live next month

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In a move that can be interpreted to mean that Google is abandoning Google+, the company today announced that Hangouts On Air will be jumping ship from Google+ to Youtube Live.

Come the 12th of September, events can no longer be scheduled on Google+, requiring users to shift to YouTube Live instead. This also applies to any events that have been scheduled after the 12th of September. That said, if your events are scheduled to be held before the September 12th deadline, you can proceed with the event as per normal.

Previously recorded events will continue to be available on YouTube. On Google+’s side, the only remaining Google+ link will be the option to view the Activity Log, which is in a read-only format. To help with the transition to YouTube Live, Google has published a
guide
 that would help you get used to Hangouts On Air on YouTube Live.

Hangouts On Air’s shift to YouTube Live is yet another blow to Google+. Just recently, Google has removed the Google+ account requirement to register for services like Google Play Games and YouTube.

Source:
TechCrunch
,
VentureBeat
,
Google

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youtubelive


Google is redesigning the Pixel Launcher for future devices

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Google is bringing some changes to the Pixel Launcher, the launcher that is used in the Pixel phones that will add more clearly defined shelf and shortcut to launch Assistant. All of this will comes with its new bubble design that will be on the search bar and Assistant button.

This new design was seen in the Android P Developer Preview 1, which showed the new design on the search bar, wherein the previous designs, the search bar and the microphone button is connected. Now, they are separating the search and mic button to make it more obvious to users that one will provide a Google Search and the other will activate Assistant.

As with all Developer Previews, the design might still undergo a change again, as nothing is confirmed until we come up to the final Developer Preview. If you don’t own a Pixel but still want the Pixel Launcher, you could download the launcher by
other means
 aside from the Play Store.

android
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Google is rolling out Google Play Instant to let gamers try games before downloading them

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Google has announced the launch of Google Play Instant, a new feature that will allow users to preview a game without downloading it. The feature will make it easier for gamers to try out the game before downloading it as more games are going over the 100MB size.

Google has also updated the layout of its Google Play Games app to include an Arcade section that will allow users to view trailers, news, walkthrough of games before they decide to download it. The tag search has also been updated which will allow users to search for games based on specific tags to better find games suited to them. There will also be a Google Play Instant tab, where all the games that support this feature will be placed, making it easier for users to view and try the games.

The feature is currently available for over 1 billion Android devices globally and they have mentioned that it will come to more devices in the coming weeks as a server-side update.

android
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Google is shutting down its Allo messaging app soon

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Within these past few years, Google has been creating and experimenting with a lot of websites and apps to see what users would love to use. Not too long ago, Google has announced that they will be shutting down “Allo”, one of their failed chat app.

But it was not surprising to many, as they have announced that they have paused investment in Allo back in April. According to the head of the communications group at Google, Anil Sabharwal, “Allo as a whole has not achieved the level of traction we’d hope for”. Google reported that Allo will continue to work until March 2019 and users will be able to export their conversation history until then.

Meanwhile, Google will focus fully on the development of Messages, its other chat app for Android phones. Earlier this year, Google announced that it was working with mobile carriers on a new Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard, an upgrade to classic SMS texting, to make messaging work better across Android devices, and bring users features like read receipts and seamless group chats.

Google also said in its blog post that it plans to support another one of its chat apps, Hangouts, until it makes two of its enterprise apps, Hangouts Chat and Meet, available for non-paying users.

allo
google


Google is teaching its self-driving cars to be assertive

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That last time we’ve heard of
Google’s self-driving cars
, it was involved in an accident. To counter that from happening again, Google has begun teaching its self-driving automobiles to be a tad bit more assertive. In other words, Google is teaching its cars to honk.

According to the company’s
May 2016 Self-Driving Car report
, Google has been hard at work teaching its prototype self-driving cars how to honk. These prototype cars are now equipped with internal horns that honk when they see another car backing out of a driveway or swerving into their lane. The decision to go with an internal horn and not an external one is attributed to untrained software. According to Google, honking an external horn at a bad time is more likely to confuse or distract nearby drivers. Google’s engineers have noted when the cars have honked appropriately and inapproriately over the course of 10,000 to 15,000 test-driver miles per week and have trained the software to become more accurate.

“The human act of honking may be (performance) art, but our self-driving cars aim to be polite, considerate, and only honk when it makes driving safer for everyone,” says Google.

Of course, honking isn’t the only way that Google is improving the assertiveness of its self-driving prototype cars. The company is also working on adding noise to its low-decibel electric prototypes so that pedestrians, cyclists, and visually impaired people will know when a car is approaching.

Source:
Ars Technica

google
selfdrivingcar


Google is testing out a password-less login system

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Ever wanted to login to your e-mail/social media account without having to type your password. Well,

according to this Reddit post
, Google is currently testing out a new feature which allows users to log into their G-Mail accounts with just their smartphone.

This password-less login system works by allowing users to log into their Google Account with a registered smartphone. On a login attempt, a confirmation dialog will pop up on the registered smartphone, whereby pressing yes will instantly complete the login process on the computer.

According to the Redditor
, this system works via Google Cloud Messaging.

Passwords will still be available as a login option in the event that the registered smartphone malfunctions or goes missing. As the system is still in the early stages of testing, it’s yet to be seen if this system would also work with an iPhone or a Windows 10 powered smartphone. Regardless, this is an interesting new take on the login system.

Source :
Reddit
,
Google Documents

google
googleaccount
passwordless


Google is testing out AR feature in Google Maps for precise navigation

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Google is constantly improving on Google Maps to ensure that it’s accurate and multi-functional for its users, and now the company plans on integrating AR into the app for better navigation.

While it’s still in its pilot program, Google Maps is now using an AR system that the company calls “global localization”. This feature is made for on-foot navigation where it shows precise navigation by identifying your location and surroundings. This is definitely more accurate compared to the current blue dot that does not necessarily define your exact, precise location.

The AR system combines Visual Positioning Service, Google’s Street View and machine learning to locate your position when you scan your surroundings, leading to a more precise navigation. The system also ensure it identifies the right surroundings by determining where you are by the buildings around you instead of temporary things like trees and vehicles that can be easily removed.

That aside, Google Maps will not require its user to constantly hold up their phones while they navigate their way for safety reasons. Instead, it will advise users to put their phones down, and only pick it back up for reorientation if you’re unsure of where you’re heading again.

Currently, only select local guides will get to test this “global localization” feature so that they can provide feedback to Google to further improve on the feature, so don’t expect your iOS or Android device to be getting this feature yet. I do hope this feature come soon because it’ll be a great help especially to people who have no sense of directions.

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Google is testing Play Pass — a subscription service that gives you access to premium apps

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Google is reported to be developing a subscription service that will allow subscribers to access premium apps and this service is dubbed Play Pass.

According to Android Police, Google has already confirmed the existence of the subscription, though there’s almost minimal information about it. Currently, Play Pass is reported to cost S4.99 a month with a 10-day free trial for those who’d like to test it out.

We could say that it’s similar to Apple Arcade — the in-game subscription service, but it’s more than that. Play Pass will include other premium apps that aren’t just in the game category — perhaps music apps and fitness apps.

The assumption now would be that if you’re subscribed to Play Pass, games that usually require payment for you to download them will automatically become free. In-app purchases will also be covered, which could really save us some amount of money. However, it is just an assumption, especially since it might be affecting the profits of those apps.

google
Play Pass
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Google is updating Wear OS with new features and better health tracking

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Google has recently announced that they will be revamping Wear OS that will provide quicker access to your information and notification, better help from Google Assistant and better fitness tracking.

The notification menu has received a nice new update that allows users to swipe up to see all the notifications and if there is an important notification, simply tap on it and use the smart reply. Swiping down will give you access to shortcuts like Google Pay and Find my Phone.

Google Assistant is now more intuitive on Wear OS, you can now swipe to the right and it will show you your flight status or hotel reservation when you are on your way to the airport. It will also tell you when it is raining, meeting appointment and even suggest to you features that you you have not tried.

 Lastly, Google Fit has been added with two new activity goals, Hear Points and Move Minutes. It can recommend activities that benefit your heart and mind.

Google has said that these features will be rolled out over the next few months and if you own a Wear OS device, don’t forget to check for updates in the coming weeks.

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Google is using machine translation as a grammar checker for Google Docs

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Most of you that use Google Docs know that the grammar checker is not the best out there, as it sometimes does not understand the context of your sentence and therefore, fixes your grammar with the wrong words. That is about to change because they are incorporating machine translation to Google Docs.

If the term, ‘machine translation’ sounds familiar to you, that’s because they are using the same technology in Google Translator. Instead of translation from, for example, Chinese to English, it translates broken grammar to grammatically correct words or sentences. How the new feature works is still unknown, but Google has been working with machine translation for a long time with the aim to achieve human-level accuracy. The technology is similar to another grammar checker called Grammarly which is a desktop and browser extension, who are also using AI to analyse sentences.

Sadly, the grammar checker for Google Docs will not be available to everyone on launch, they are currently targeting business users for now and did not mention when they will release the full system to the public as well as which languages will be supported.

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Google is working on a 'Kill Switch' to interrupt artificial intelligence

455

Artificial intelligence has always been a subject of much apprehension, what with Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking being wary of what the technology could do. Apparently, Google has also been thinking along the company has recently published documents that reveals that Google is currently working on a way to implement a Kill Switch into their DeepMind self-learning platform.

The document, titled
Safely Interruptible Agents
, is published on the website of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI) and was written by Laurent Orseau, a search scientist at Google DeepMind. According to the paper, this kill switch would allow a ‘human operator’ to repeatedly and safely interrupt an AI, while making sure that the AI doesn’t learn how to prevent or induce the interruptions.

“Safe interruptibility can be useful to take control of a robot that is misbehaving and may lead to irreversible consequences, or to take it out of a delicate situation, or even to temporarily use it to achieve a task it did not learn to perform or would not normally receive rewards for this,” states the papers.

Source:
Business Insider

artificialintelligence
deepmind
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killswitch


Google is working on a streaming platform for games

374

You know gaming is becoming huge when a massive company like Google is setting its sights on the industry. The search giant’s plans of launching a gaming-themed streaming service which they discussed with game development studios back in E3 2018.

Google is not only getting developers on board with this new service, Codename Yeti, they are also acquiring studios to work solely on this platform. This is not their first try at gaming, as they used to own Niantic, the AR game studio that developed Ingress and Pokemon Go. They set their sights on Owlchemy Labs, best known for games like Job Simulator, Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality and their upcoming game, Vacation Simulator. Yeti will allow gamers to simply stream games to their PC or mobile device, similar to Nvidia’s GeForce Now service which is in beta for Windows an MacOS.

The report also mentioned that the company is working on some sort of hardware for this service but it is still unknown if the device will just act as a medium to connect the streaming services to your system or it will be a full-fledged computing device.

games
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Google joins hands with UNICEF to combat Zika virus through search results

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Google has announced on its official blog that it is working with UNICEF to fight the deadly Zika virus outbreak which possibly contributed to WHO’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency. According to Google, the company’s engineers and UNICEF have been working behind the scenes, analyzing and further mapping data of the difficult to contain virus.

Firstly, a platform is being built to process data from various sources, for instance, weather and travel patterns. This enables UNICEF to better visualize potential virus outbreaks and ultimately, to identify the risk of Zika transmission in different countries and regions so that UNICEF, governments and NGO’s can prioritize their resources more efficiently.

Google has also improved search results on Zika, which is now available in 16 languages globally, alongside an overview of the virus, symptoms and public health alerts which are updated accordingly. In addition to that, Google has collaborating with YouTube creators like Sesame Street and Brazilian physician Drauzio Varella to raise awareness about the virus prevention through their own channels.

Also, a $1 million grant is provided by Google to UNICEF to assist them outside the virtual world. Google claims that 4 in 5 people who carry the virus do not display any symptoms, making Zika harder to be identified and traced. Let’s hope that Google’s efforts will not go to waste.

Source:
Google

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information
mapping
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Google Keep rolls out new update, expands canvas for handwritten notes

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Google Keep has recently launched a new option for those who likes to jot down their notes by hand, by supporting a larger drawing canvas that user could scroll through.

Previously, the size of the canvas display was only the size of the device that you use the Google Keep on or as big as the size that you want to put on the canvas, but after expanding its canvas size, users are now able to draw and jot down their hand written notes on a bigger canvas that they could scroll on, revealing more space.

The new canvas feature is available on both mobile devices as well as on web. To use Google Keep on smartphone or tablet, users can swipe the display with two fingers to reveal more space, however the app will also automatically move up the canvas when it detects the canvas ran out of space. Whereas for web, users can scroll down with their mouse as they would scroll in any other place.

The new update is now available on Android, in the latest update from Google Play.

google
Google Keep


Google has launched an optimized version of Android Oreo for budget phones

314

Cheaper smartphones tend to have issues when it comes to updates, mainly because their hardware just can’t keep up with the latest advancements that Google provides with new versions of Android. However, they plan to change that by releasing a toned down version of Android which they showed off at I/0 2017 back in May.

Android Oreo Go is now available to manufacturers and it comes with Android 8.1. This version of Android is created for devices that have only 512MB to 1GB of memory, it is also said to be 50 percent smaller and 15 percent faster than regular Android. Google has also included pre-installed apps that are slightly stripped down versions of available apps like Google Assistant Go, Files Go, Google Go, Google Maps Go, Gmail Go, YouTube Go, Gboard, Chrome and Play Store.

The tech giant has already revealed its partners for the first Go phones which will be available early 2018 in India. There is no news if it will come to the rest of the world but it would definitely be a game changer for those of you that prefer getting budget phones over flagships.

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Google launches gender-specific translations on Google Translate

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In today’s society, everything is all about gender equality and Google is implementing that for Google Translate. In an effort to reduce gender bias in its translations, Google Translate will now show gender specific translation for some languages.

Before this, Google would only show one translation for words that could either have a feminine and masculine form. Words like “strong” or “muscular” are usually perceived as masculine, whereas words like “beautiful” or “nurse” is perceived as feminine. With the new implementation, now Google Translate will show both feminine and masculine translations for selected languages.

For now, the gender specific translations are available for English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, whereas Spanish to English is the only language pair that provides both translations for sentences, for example, as seen above, in which typing “o bir doktor” in Turkish will turn up both “she is a doctor” and “he is a doctor.”

This new feature would only work on browsers such as Chrome and Firefox, and it will soon be available on iOS and Android.

google
Google Translate


Google launches the Android Taste Test to help you customise your Android experience

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Customising your Android device can be a rather time consuming affair thanks to the wide range of skins, themes and what-have-yous that Android has. In order to simplify the whole personalisation process, Google has launched the Android Taste Test website to help you choose the ideal look for your Android device.

Android Taste Test is functionally similar to some of the personality quizzes that you can find online. However, instead of revealing your personality through the answers you inputed into the quiz, Android Taste Test would cough up links to various themes, wallpapers and widgets that would fit your taste instead. This website will ask you for your preference on number of topics, and once you’re done with it, suggest a combination of downloads that suits the answers you submitted.

The suggestions that Google gives once you’re done with the Android Taste Test will come with links so you can download and install them on your device on the spot. The best part about it is that the quiz is also geared towards those that are new to the Android platform, allowing them to get their own customised Android experience without needing any background Android knowledge on their part.

Source:
Android

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Google launches the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, starting from $399

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Yes, the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are announced today at Google I/O and we’re not suprised at all. Rumours and leaks have all been leading up to this moment, and the announcement of both devices are within expectation.

To simply explain, the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are

like the Lite version of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. No worries though, the awesome Pixel camera is still available in the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL.

With a 5.6-inch OLED display, the Pixel 3a comes with a traditional design, while the larger Pixel 3a XL comes with a 6-inch OLED display. Both devices sport a fingerprint sensor on their backs, and has stereo speakers and two microphones. As usual, Google is creative with the names of the colours — Clearly White, Just Black and Purple-ish.

Aside from one being larger than the other, the devices are almost alike. They ship with the latest Android 9.0 and are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 chipset, and only come in one configuration: 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Even their cameras are the same, in which its rear holds a 12.2MP dual-pixel camera with f/1.8 aperture while its front houses an 8MP camera with f/2.0 aperture.

Image credit: Google

While both devices support 18W charging via USB-C, the Pixel 3a XL has a larger battery capacity at 3,700mAh whereas the Pixel 3a only comes with a 3,000mAh battery.

Both phones are available immediately, in which the Pixel 3a will cost $399 and the Pixel 3a XL will cost $479.

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Google Lens is now rolling out to Samsung Galaxy S8 phones, S9 phones and Note 8

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Google Lens, the AR application that allows you to point your camera at a certain object and get your phone to tell you more about it, is now coming to more devices other than just the Pixel phones.

It looks like the next set of phones that will receive the feature is the Samsung Galaxy Devices mainly, the S8/S8+, S9/S9+ and the Note 8. Google Lens will now allow Galaxy users to be able to search for information by offering you Google Searches and if you point it at a business card, it can save the contact to your Google Account. This is is the full version of Lens and not the Google Photos version that we previously reported, that will only scan the pictures that you have already taken.

Google has already started the rollout of the update to Android flagship phones and the feature can now be found on the mentioned Galaxy phones. To use the feature, simply open up Google Assistant and tap on the Lens logo at the bottom right.

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Google Live Album now supports up to 20,000 photos and videos

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A new feature called Live Albums was introduced by Google in Google Photos back in October, and the Live Album is a convenient way of creating albums that will automatically add new photos of people or pets to the album so you don’t have to manually do so.

The Live Album recently got a new minor update in which the album limit is now at 20,000 images, twice more than when it was first introduced. While 10,000 images seem like a lot, it really isn’t as time passes and you’re constantly creating new memories with your friends and family, which is why Google brought in the new update.

However, Google did state that some features might not be available when the album is too large, but they did not specify the features that might be missing. That being said, they did announce in the support page that users can add up to 20,000 photos or videos to their album.

To create a live album, just create an album in Google Photos, and then click on “Automatically add photos of people” and you’ll be given the option to select the faces of those you want to add into the album. After you’re done selecting, click the “Turn on” button and all images of the people and pets you’ve selected will automatically be added in the album.

google
google photos
Live Album


Google looks to enter virtual reality market

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Google being excited about virtual reality is nothing new. What is new is that Google now wants to make hardware for VR that is far more sophisticated than its Cardboard.

At Google’s Careers page
, a number of positions can be seen for the company’s VR division. However, some of the positions being offered are interesting. Positions such as Hardware Engineering Technical Lead Manager, Engineering Project Specialist, Electrical Hardware Engineer and PCB Layout Engineer are among some of the positions that Google is currently hiring.

These positions leave little doubt as to what Google hopes to achieve in the VR market. As the positions were open not too long ago, no one is really sure how Google’s take on the VR headset would function. One speculation is that Google intends to create a mobile-based VR headset in the Nexus line, much like Samsung’s Gear VR.

Currently, Google has been more of a VR enabler rather than a provider, with the Cardboard VR being a gateway to actual VR technology.

Source :
Road to VR

careers
google
hardware
virtualreality


Google has made Assistant even easier to integrate with third-party apps

336

Google Assistant just keeps getting better, a few months back, they announced that Assistant will better integrate with third-party apps and last well, they announced that Assistant will be available in over 30 languages by the end of 2018. Now, during MWC 2018, Google made another major announcement which is Android Link to make the integration with third-party apps even easier.

The new function will allow developers to create Actions which will allow Assistant to retrieve information and tasks in other apps. This will be extremely useful for developers and users as it will allow you to complete a specific task that would require multiple inputs such as booking an Uber. Usually, you will need to enter your pick up location, drop off location and type of Uber to order. With a new function called askForPlace, Assistant will help to enter all these data from the information saved in your Google account and your Uber account. It will follow the steps of ordering an Uber by asking you questions to which you answer with a simple yes or no. Below is an example of how the new function will work.

Assistant will also remember the information that you gave it so it will not ask for your home address if you have already told it previously. The best part of this function is that it is built into Assistant so developers will not need to modify their app to integrate it with Assistant.

android
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Google has made a fun smartboard for businesses

465

Google has just released a very interesting collaboration device for big and small enterprises called the Jamboard. Essentially, its a 55-inch smart white board that has Internet connection and will utilize G Suite to give you a wide variety of applications and allowing for even more collaborative options.

One of the biggest feature of this board is the writing that can be done on the board, using a stylus that comes with the board you can write notes, draw shapes and even highlight text. In addition to that, anything drawn or written on the board can be zoomed in and magnified by pinching it. It also comes with a web browser which you can crop out the pages and throw them on the board to display and share with another person through a conference call, as the board also has a front facing camera. There is also a companion app for the board that does the same features making it a mini Jamboard, it can also act as a remote for the main board and is available for both Android and iOS.

Google has announced that there will be other third party apps for the board aside from G Suite and will retail for $5,000 and additional $600 annual maintenance fee. It will come with two stylus and a eraser that doubles as a screen cleaner. The Jamboard is currently available in US with a UK and Canada launch in summer, there is still no word on a worldwide launch but we will be sure to update you when more information comes in.

google
gsuite
jamboard
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Google makes SyntaxNet open source

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Google’s own language parsing neural network framework will soon be available to everyone as the company has made SyntaxNet open source today.

Available for download
here
, SyntaxNet is a neural network framework implemented in TensorFlow that provides a foundation for Natural Language Understanding (NLU) systems. Inlcuded in this release includes all the code needed to train new SyntaxNet models on your own data, as well as an English parser that google have trained called Parsey McParseface.

Based on a benchmark done by Google, Parsey McParseface is able to recover individual dependencies between words with over 94% accuracy. According to Google, the result is encouraging as the in-house annotation projects that linguist trained for this task agree in 96-97% of the cases.

“The way we evaluate technologies internall is actually pretty different. We care much less about benchmarks and much more about how they impact performance of downstream systems. Our goal is to improve user experiences,” says Dave Orr, product manager for Google Research.

Source:
VentureBeat
,
Google Research

google
opensource
parseymcparseface
syntaxnet


Google is making it easier for users to purchase online goods

413

Google has a new feature added to their search engine which they aim to make online shopping faster and easier with Google Shopping Ads. These ads will be shown in the search results alongside standard text ads which include product images and other useful product information generated automatically by feeds managed by retailers.

Ramadan and Raya seasons are the best time to shop and because of that, Google has seen that seasonal excitement on their search engine tends to start as early as eight weeks before the festival. They also found that not only Raya goods are being bought, fashion trends, decoration trends, food, and beverage will also surge. This new feature works on it own, as users would just need to input a certain product and if merchant enabled this feature, a listing of their products will appear above the text ad for that search.

Users are not the only ones benefiting from this new feature as Peter Lee, Vice President of Marketing at 11street mention that they have been beta testing this feature with Google since the start of this year and they found that it efficiently drives traffic to their sellers and since the feature went life, 11street has seen a cost-per-acquisition improvement of 85%. Try this new feature for yourself by searching for a product you want to get this Raya.

11street
ads
ecommerce
google
online
shopping


Google Map now available offline, sort of

307

Google understands that there are roughly 60% of the world without internet today, and even where online access is available. That means that quick and easy access to information is still impossible for a majority of the population and this is a huge problem, especially as people attempt to navigate and explore the world around them, so Google Maps is taking steps to help people across the globe to find directions to where they’re going.

You can download an area of the world to your phone, and the next time you find there’s no connectivity, Google Maps will continue to work seamlessly. You can simply view an area of the map offline, and able to get turn-by-turn driving directions. Just follow the steps as following:

1) Search for a city or country.
2) Tap on “Download” on the resulting place sheet, or by going to “Offline Areas” in the Google Menu.
3) Tap on the “+” button.
4) Google Maps will move into offline modes automatically when it recognizes you’re in a location with spotty service or no connectivity.

Google will gradually roll out the first set of these improvements with the latest version of Google Maps on Android first, in iOS on a later date. The company also promises that they will be introducing more offline features to help you find your way even without any connectivity.

SOURCE:
Google Blog

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Google Maps adds support for picture-in-picture and shows your driving stats

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Google Maps is pretty much almost everyone’s must have navigation app, the company has been adding new features every now and then (shame on you Apple Maps!) and it is now adding a few more features in the current beta, one of it is a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode that shows your navigation at a small corner of the screen when you are using the app minimized, a very useful feature especially for walking navigation if you want to perform stuffs such as texting your friend that you are on your way, without the need to miss out on important navigation prompts.

The Maps version in question is v9.59, which can be updated if you are currently a beta tester and have a device running on Android O, you’ll also be getting monthly driving stats such as average speed time saved, time in traffic, number of trips and total time of driving, though not useful but its still interesting to know how much you have been driving for that month alone. Do note that the PiP mode is still in its early testing stages and you should expect some glitches along the way, you can sign up as a beta tester over at Google Play on the Google Maps app page.

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Google Maps returns to Apple Watch after years of absence

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Google Maps
 is finally coming back to the Apple Watch after being removed a few years back. According to
Google
, Maps will be compatible with Apple’s CarPlay Dashboard and will be available for Apple Watch in a new app.

Google Maps on the Apple Watch offers step-by-step directions

Image credit: Google

Apple Watch users can use Google Maps to navigate by car, bike, public transit or on foot. You can also check your ETAs and get step-by-step directions to places you’ve saved — meaning you don’t have to depend on your phone after setting your destination.

Google Maps supports split-view in CarPlay Dashboard

Image credit: Google

Apart from that, Google Maps will also be supported in the
CarPlay
 Dashboard in a split-screen view. This allows users to continue controlling their music playbacks, notifications and more without leaving Google Maps. The map will appear on the left while the upcoming directions will appear on the top-right.

Google says that Google Maps will be rolling out this week to all CarPlay supported vehicles globally while the app for Apple Watch will be coming in the next few weeks.

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Google Maps for iOS now displays gas prices

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Google Maps for iOS has received a few new features recently, key among them being the ability to look up gas price along the route you’re travelling on.

Rolling out in the United States and Canada, users are now able to receive gas prices of various gas station along the way. At any point in time, users can tap on a gas station to get a much more detailed look at the gas prices for that particular station.

Understandably, this new feature has very limited usage in Malaysia as gas price are more or less fixed from one gas station to another, unlike the US where gas prices fluctuate from region to region.

Regardless, this feature is one of many new features that Google has introduced to Google Maps. Just last month,
Google has introduced
 offline search and navigation to Google Map.

Suffice to say, at the rate Google Maps is going, we can expect another new feature within the next 2 months.

Source:
Engadget

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Google Map’s For You tab is now available to iOS users

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The Google Maps had a new feature earlier this year whereby users get recommendation on places to go depending on their preferences in the new For You tab. Though it wasn’t available to many other countries’ Android users and iOS users, that is all about to change as Google has now made it available to both segments.

The For You tab will be rolling out to over 40 countries for iOS users and more than 140 countries for Android users, and the tab consists of several recommendations on places to go to including entertainment places, restaurants suggestion and even travelling locations. These recommendations are based on each user’s preferences, which is obtained from either the user’s ratings on places they’ve been to or their search history.

Image credit: Google

The For You tab will be placed next to the redesigned Explore tab and the Commute tab, and it also allows the users to follow places and areas which will show updates and recommendations of the locations they’ve followed. The follow button is also a relatively new feature, where it is similar to the Facebook and Instagram follow button that allows you to be updated with whoever or whatever pages you follow, so in the case of the For You tab, users will get to see updates and recommendations from the places they follow.  They can even follow places that have yet to be opened to be updated with the opening launch and so on.

The For You tab will definitely be useful for Google Maps users, especially those who are indecisive and always take forever to decide where to eat, so hopefully it’ll reach the global users and iOS users soon.

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Google Maps is now available on Apple CarPlay

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One of the biggest features of iOS 12 is the support for third party navigation apps on Apple CarPlay, with Google Maps and Waze as the two highlighted apps, the former has finally updated its iOS app to version 5.0, which will finally enable you to use it for navigation instead of the default Apple Maps.

In the case of Malaysia, Apple Maps may have improved slightly over the years, but it still doesn’t have as much destinations as Google Maps and lacks on-the-fly route suggestions. Unfortunately, Siri currently still doesn’t work with Google Maps, but there is a voice button within the Google Maps app which you can still use to enter destinations using your voice with Google’s speech-to-text engine.

The Google Maps update should have reached your phone by now if you are already on iOS 12. For users who use Waze, we’ll announce it here once it becomes available, meanwhile start beating the traffic today with Google Maps and let us know what you think about it.

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Google Maps new update helps you remember where you parked your car

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Do you feel anxious when you park your car in a huge open carpark, thinking to yourself “I hope I can find my car” With the recent update added into google maps you might not need to worry about that anymore, with a few taps on Google Maps, you can easily save the location of your car as a pin.

To use the feature, simple tap the blue dot that indicates where you are and a menu will appear with an option “save your parking”, tapping on that will place a “P” indicating where you parked your car. On iOS however, the process is more simplified. The automatic parking detection will detect that you have left your car after your iPhone has disconnected from the Bluetooth of your car and automatically place a parking pin on Google maps based on your location.

Google was also nice enough to include, parking notes, share location, add pictures and even a time left which includes a 15 minutes reminder. To make use of this feature, make sure you are running the latest version of maps which can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store.

Source:
9to5Google

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Google Maps now lets users message businesses within the app

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Google Maps has been a great navigation app and with new features it has added back in 2018, it became even more useful and assistive to its users.

Now in 2019, Google Maps is seen to have a new feature; instant messaging. While it’s uncertain how many users are already getting the new feature, it’s certain that it’s available to both iOS and Android devices.

The new feature is hidden at the sidebar menu, in which users will see a new tab called “Messages”. Clicking into it will show you the messages you’ve had with businesses.

Yes, it’s only to contact businesses, not for chatting with your friends and family, so users will not have to worry that their Google Maps become an app filled with message notifications.

Being able to message stores and restaurants will definitely be helpful especially when you need more information before you actually visit the places. You can ask the store to check the product availability before you go over, or make reservations through the app itself so you can skip calling.

Although this feature will be convenient, it still doesn’t compare to calling the businesses because it’s much faster. That being said, businesses might sometime forget to update their contact details or be too busy to answer your calls, so messaging them can be a rather useful alternative.

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Google Maps can now predict the crowdedness of trains, subways and buses

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Google is taking it up a notch when it comes to Maps, bringing in a new and useful feature called crowdedness predictions.

With this new update, users who are on Google Maps can directly provide updates on the crowdedness of their trains, subways and even bus rides. Of course, you’ll have to be navigating in transit mode first for the app to ask for your feedback.

Once the feedback is received, Google compiles the data and informs others who are using the app to find out how busy their public transport might be. Several options that were revealed included “many empty seats” and “cramped standing room”.

According to Venture Beat, this new feature will be available across US, Canada Europe, Japan, Australia and some other countries for both iOS and Android devices. Google is also introducing live traffic delays so users can keep track of the real-time information on their public transports.

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Users can now report crashes, speed traps and traffic slowdowns in Google Maps

308

Google has finally brought the long-requested feature to iOS users on Google Maps users can now report crashes, speed traps and traffic slowdowns via the app.

One huge feature that made people choose Waze over Google Maps all these times has been the ability to warn other users whenever there are crashes, speed traps, and even when there are police nearby. This feature is said to be available on Android phones already, but now it’s going to be extended to iPhone users too.

Google is also adding four new types of incidents to the report feature; you can now report when there’s construction, lane closures, obstructive objects and also when there’s cars that have broken down in the middle of the road.

Perhaps with the ability to do what Waze could will convert more Waze users to Google Maps. These features are rolling out globally to both Android and iOS users, so be patient if your Google Maps hasn’t receive the update yet.

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Google Maps to add Waze-like features like crash and speed trap reports

390

If you’re reliant on navigation apps to get around, you’re likely a Waze user; some people prefer Google Maps, and while it’s a great tool for on-foot navigation as well as public transport route info, Waze still takes the cake for optimisation for driving.

Waze is more polished in the sense that it has more features, a subjectively easier to follow route guiding system and has funny pronunciations of local street names – which we find amusing. However, it turns out that Google are not quite ready to admit defeat as they’ll be rolling out improvements for Google Maps that’ll add a couple of features that are found on Waze.

Image credit: Tech Nave

Google are rolling out features such as speed trap reports as well as crash reports to Google Maps making it a more holistic navigation tool. You will soon be able to mark traffic slowdowns meaning you can plan your route to avoid congested areas.

Google Maps, after all, relies on crowd-sourced data to provide information, so it’s likely that reports on Google Maps may appear too late by the time you hit the road. Regardless, this is a welcome addition to the app for those who prefer it over Waze, and we foresee more improvements in the pipeline.

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Google Maps to implement "Wi-Fi Only" mode

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Google Maps is implementing a new feature that will make those with strict data quotas happy as users have spotted that a “Wi-Fi Only” mode will be coming to Google Maps.

According to users, this “Wi-Fi Only” option will be located in Google Map’s Settings menu and will be replacing the current “Offline areas” option. Once activated, Google Maps would then load the majority of data through Wi-Fi signals. However, the app will warn you that a small amount of cellular data will still be used, which means that you’re going to need to disable the data on your phone to ensure that no data is used during navigation.

Google has yet to officially announce this feature, meaning that the implementation of this feature may or may not be coming soon. Implementation may also change prior to the feature’s debut, meaning that it would be a standalone feature instead of replacing the current “Offline areas” option.

Source:
TechCrunch

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Google Maps update brings Hashtag support in reviews for easier search

322

Since the existence of the hashtag feature has started from Twitter, other mobile apps and websites had also adapted it into their platform. Google Map is also jumping into the wagon by enabling their users to use the hashtag feature while writing an review on Google Map.

It is said that the feature has already been rolled out globally a week ago on Android devices, but there is no confirmed timeline of when the feature will be on iOS and Web version.

The enabling of the hashtag feature allow users to check on relevant topics and places posted by reviewers on the app quicker. For each review written by users, they are able to add up to five hashtags per post by inserting it at the end of their review to make texts easier to read and use specific terms to make it more relevant.

The written hashtags must be relevant and helpful, for example dietary options like #Vegetarian or accessibility such as #WheelChairFriendly. As for outdoor locations, users could hashtag #PetFriendly, #SelfieWorthy, #SunsetView or anything that is related to help other users to get to know about a place.

To use the hashtag feature, tap the blue link in a review to be taken to a list of the other nearby places that have the same hashtag.

Google Map
Google Map Hashtag
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Google Maps update on iOS allows you to check restaurant waiting times, and more

394

It is always a bummer when you have to pull up in front of a restaurant to find out that it’s still packed with customers, and waiting for your turn will take longer than expected. That’s why Google Maps decided to make that hassle-free for users with its latest update for iOS, to version 4.4.7, which includes a new feature that will show the average waiting times at certain eateries throughout the day.

The update will also be including a few other features like the convenience of searching and sorting through reviews of a place, and getting transit directions for when you need to know the exact entrance to enter into. This makes it relatively easier for iOS users who are especially taking public transit, as it will help to save a lot of time.

Though the transit directions are only currently available in 12 major cities across the world; New York, Hong Kong, Taipei, Paris, Los Angeles, Delhi, Moscow, Singapore, Madrid, Barcelona, Kiev, and Budapest, the list will be expanding to serve to more places, making it a daily convenience for iOS users. We’re not exactly certain if the update will be released to Android users, but time will tell.

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Google Maps uses Street View to tell you where to turn

349

Google has released a new update for their navigation app, Maps, which in the form of a small design update but makes a substantial change when using the navigation to get to where we want. The app will now show you a street view preview showing you the roads that you need to turn into and tapping the image will open Street View, showing you an arrow in the direction of the turn.

This minor change can really help people that are bad or unsure about directions or confusing street turnings, but the Street View images that pop up are in the form of a thumbnail and might not be easy to see when you are driving, you would still need to tap on the image to view more information on it. Android Police also pointed out that the bottom navigation bar has been changed, being more explicit about what tapping certain things will do.

The feature is currently on Android new but seeing as how the app on the iOS is designed the same, it is just a matter of time before iOS will be getting this update.

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Google Maps vs Waze: What do they individually offer that's helpful?

1.1K

Before Google bought over Waze for $1.1B, there was (and still is) a large following of GPS users who think that Waze is the best thing since sliced bread. Instead of saying, “Did you use a GPS to get there?”, people use, “Did you Waze there.” So, now that Google is using the same data from Waze to provide better directions on its Google Maps, both these GPS apps have more or less the same offerings. But, what exactly are the differences? Google can’t be porting Waze entirely into Google Maps, so why would you choose to use either one of them? Here we explore the differences.

#1: Reporting

Google Maps doesn’t allow reporting, so if you’re the type who like telling other fellow drivers about bad traffic or if there was a roadblock up ahead, then you would probably prefer using Waze instead. Waze allows you to report roadblocks, policeman sightings, bad traffic on either side of the road, accidents and more. Although Google Maps uses the data from Waze, it doesn’t tell you all these details although it will take the traffic conditions into consideration when calculating the fastest route.

#2: Navigation

When it comes to ease of navigation, Google Maps gives you better voice directions as it specifies whether you need to be keeping left at the fork or maybe go under or over a ramp. This is really helpful especially in the Klang Valley where the roads keep changing and road signs a test of your precognition skills. Waze is great for navigation but it just doesn’t mention specifics, instead using “keep-right-keep-left” sort of directions; and we all know, sometimes when you miss a turn, you end up paying for tolls.

#3: Popular Spots

If you need to navigate to a specific type of place that is the closest to you such as the gas station or the nearest fast food joint, then Waze would be the better option as it has categories to select from. All you need to do is select which category you’re looking for and you get a list of places sorted by distance, with the ones closest to you listed first (unless it’s an ad). In Google Maps, you don’t have that sort of feature as you need to input the exact place directly to get directions.

#4: Sharing

While Google Maps offers sharing of routes, it doesn’t allow you to share with your drive with friends like how Waze does. There are times when you need to meet up or pick friends up, and the best way to prove to them that you are not still at home rolling in bed is to send them your location and they can see your actual location as you navigate the route. Not only can you send to other friends on Waze app itself, you can also send via SMS, Whatsapp and more.

#5: Other Modes

Not only do motorists use a GPS system; if you walk or need to take public transport to a destination, Google Maps can actually guide you on that. It guides you on your walking direction, which bus to take and even how many stops before you get off. You can customize your options on whether you prefer a route with lesser walking, fewer transfers and even your preferred mode of public transport. There is even a little ad to encourage you to take an Uber instead.

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Google Maps will let you set public events soon

325

Google Maps has many uses – it’s a navigation tool, it helps you work on your geography knowledge, and my personal favorite, it lets you virtually travel anywhere in the world (except North Korea for obvious reasons) via the street view functionality.

According to Engadget, the ever-useful app is adding to its repertoire of functions by letting users set public events within the app itself.

Image credit: Android Police

The feature hasn’t quite rolled out to every device yet, but for those who have it can set public events via the Contribute tab. Simple pick a location – may it be a park or a pub – and key in details like time, dates and event type.

However, Engadget reports that the feature may still be incomplete are is  facing several bugs; while certain regions for setting your events are unavailable for the time being.

But Google could very well be working on the feature now and users can expect a wide rollout soon.

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Google Maps will soon be able to warn users of speed traps ahead

351

One of the best feature that Google Maps need to adopt from Waze is the ability to create reports so that users are more aware of the traffic situations when they’re on the roads. That being said, Google Maps users who have been waiting for this feature might not have to wait much longer because someone started seeing speed traps on the Google Maps.

According to Android Police, there have already been crash and speed trap reports back in November 2018, however it was only limited to certain users and still not globally available. The long-awaited feature was also slightly off as it only allowed users to report crashes and speed traps but users failed to see what others reported.

However, this feature that was rediscovered recently was said to be visible on Google Maps when you’re on the road, and there’s even an audio cue when users are approaching the speed camera. However, Android Police did state that they couldn’t find the similar speed camera icons when they browse the same location, so it might be possible that the feature is still rolling out.

If Google Maps really brings in this feature that can alert users of speed traps ahead, it will definitely reduce the amount of drivers who get tickets for going over the speed limit. In addition, they might just be more inclined to switch from Waze to Google Maps if Google Maps is quicker at introducing all these practical features.

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Google may be working on three new phones to succeed the Pixel

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Rumours of the successors to Google’s Pixel smartphones have begun leaking this week, and judging from the rumours that circulating on the web, it appears that the second generation phones from Google may come in three flavours instead of just two.

According to a report from Droid Life, sources have mentioned that the Pixel successors are currently codenamed “Muskie” and “Walleye”, which continues Google’s tradition of naming their hardware after aquatic animals. While little in way of specifications have been given about both these phones, sources have mentioned that the “Muskie” is a 5.5″ device while the “Walleye” is a 5″ device.

However, it appears that “Muskie” and “Walleye” will also be accompanied by yet another device codenamed “Taimen”. Little is known about “Taimen” at the moment, but from what the sources are saying, it appears that this device is a smartphone and that it will sport a screen that is larger than both “Muskie” and “Walleye”. Assuming that the phone is part of the Pixel line, it appears that “Taimen” will be the flagship device of the line for this year.

Source:
Droid

Life

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Google Meet adds noise cancellation, low-light mode and expands tiled layout

324

As the current situation pushes us towards remote working, Google adds more features to its video conferencing app — Google Meet.

Now, Google Meet users get an extended tiled layout, allowing them to see up to 16 participants at once — previously, only four participants were allowed at one time. In addition to this, Google will also be adding more updates in the future to help bigger companies hold meetings at a larger-scale.

Apart from that, Google is also enhancing the video and audio quality of Meet meetings, and adding the option for users to present a single Chrome tab instead of their entire screen during the presentation. For those who are using the mobile app, Meet will also use AI to switch to the low-light mode when it detects bad lighting conditions.

Noise cancellation is also rolling out in the coming weeks; this will help limit external audio disruptions such as background noise or the sound of your keyboard when you’re typing.

Google also promises that the app prioritizes user privacy and safety and video meetings are encrypted by default. The company is also going to add new moderator controls for enhanced security.

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Google Meet gets noise cancellation on iOS and Android

533

The noise cancellation feature in
Google Meet
 is now rolling out to Android and iOS, allowing users to reduce environmental noise when they’re on a Google Meet call.

Google Meet noise cancellation already available on web

First introduced in June, Google Meet’s noise cancellation is automatically turned on for web users but turned off by default on mobile. Users will have to check their call settings to activate the feature. Google also stated that the new feature is only available to G Suite Enterprise and G Suite Enterprise for Education customers and it’s not available in some countries.

VentureBeat
 also posted a video previously in which Serge Lachapelle, G Suite’s Director of Product Management, tested out the new feature in which the noise cancellation technology reduced the surrounding noises in his room.

Google
 says that the feature is rolling out in one to three days starting September 28, 2020.

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Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter will back Apple in encryption case

303

Apple won’t be standing alone in its case against the FBI as Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter will be providing legal support in the ongoing encryption case.

Yesterday, Microsoft’s president Brad Smith said that they will be “wholeheartedly” siding with Apple in its legal battle with the FBI. Smith further states that Microsoft will be filing its own amicus brief next week at a congressional hearing on the laws governing data transfers across borders, and government requests for that information.

“We do not believe that courts should seek to resolve issues of 21st Century technology with a law that was written in the era of the adding machine,” says Smith, referring to the FBI’s use of the 1789 All Writs Act.

Not long after Microsoft declares that they will be siding with Apple, Re/Code reports that Twitter and Facebook will also be giving legal support to Apple in this case. There may also be a possibility that more technology companies will be getting themselves involve in the encryption battle as one source told Re/Code that “the industry is aligned and working on a joint submission to the court”.

Source:
Seattle Times
,
Re/Code

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Google might fix the colour issues on the Pixel 2 XL’s display

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There are complains from Pixel 2 XL users that the OLED display, although is supposed to produce natural colours, are coming out dull when compared to other phones that are using the same type of display. Google’s answer to this is to add an extra colour option other than vivid colours option that is currently on the phone already.

Although Google is not confirming that they are going to implement this new option it still sounds very promising and something that might just fix the issue users are facing. The issue comes about due to a debate in the mobile world where is it better to have a natural more colour accurate screen or a screen that would make colour and details pop out, making it slightly exaggerated. Although Google went with the colour accurate screen, users have commented that the screen feels a little lifeless and would have appreciated if Google added more options to tweak the colour settings.

In addition to that, the P-OLED panel on the phones is producing a bluish tint when looking at the phone in a particular angle, a hardware issue that will be tricky to fix. You won’t see this issue on other phones with OLED panels but it is not an issue that will disrupt the experience.

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Google might give Android Wear a name change to Wear OS

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The Android Wear devices and the operating system has not been getting a lot of love from the company but it seems that Android Wear is going to get a new face and branding as there are hints that Google will be rebranding the OS.

This was first seen in the Android P Developer Preview as they refer Android Wear as Wear OS and replaced the watch icon with a “W”. This might not mean that they will change the name, but if they do it would probably be during the Google I/O conference in May. The reason for this is probably due to neutrality, same reason that Android Pay was rebranded to Google Pay which is because Android Pay could be used on Apple phones. There are some Android Wear devices that can be used with Apple as well so it would make sense to call them Wear OS, keeping it neutral across all devices.

These are all opinions on why the name change, but for the more solid reason we would have to wait for the official announcement of Android P during the Google I/O conference.

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Google might introduce a Pixel 3 Mini during their 9th October launch event

371

Google is about to launch their latest generation of Pixel devices next week and we are expected to see two new phones, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. However, it looks like there might be another Pixel 3 device that will be launch to meet the demands of the mid-range market.

A few months back, there was a rumour going around about a Google Bonito device, a mid-range device that supposedly comes with the Snapdragon 710 processor. Google actually shared an image toying with the idea of a Google Pixel Mini and left us with a caption asking us to stay tuned to the launch event to find out for our selves.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BodBZRRAK39/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Roland Quandt, a popular leaker mentioned the Bonito name and said that someone has been testing the device with GFXBench lately, but he went on to talk about other Nokia phones.

Someone has been testing Google "Bonito" with GFXBench lately. Make of this what you will. And HMD "Phoenix" is coming soon. I think that's Nokia 7.1 Plus, while "Rooster" (aka ROO) is Nokia 7.1. (big bird, small bird, you know…)
https://t.co/G95tIm1EN1

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt)
October 3, 2018

Take this information with a grain of salt as these are still rumours and none of this has been confirmed by Google. We will get all our answers during the launch event which is happening on 9th October 2018.

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Google might be releasing a Google Assistant-powered headphones

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Ever wanted to say Ok Google in the middle of the LRT during rush hour? Or even ask hows the weather like to no one while you walk on a busy street? Well, soon you will be able to because there are hints hidden the latest Google App APK that points to a Google Assistant-powered headphones, codename Bisto.

9to5Google has been hard at work digging and poking at the updated APK and found that Google is preparing to launch these magic pairing headphones which were heard of back in April. Based on some lines of code, the headphones will come with two buttons, one to interact with the assistant and another for reading your notifications back to you. Further analysis of the codes also shows that the headphones will also receive OTA software updates which are assumed linked to Android Wear.

It won’t be a surprise if these headphones are real as rumours are claiming that Google is also releasing a
new Chromebook Pixel
 to succeed the 2015 Chromebook Pixel which was left in the dark and a cheaper and
smaller Google Home
 during the launch of the new Pixel phones this year

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The new Google Nest Mini comes with a wall mount so you can hang it on your wall

626

Aside from the Pixel 4, we’re also expecting Google to launch an updated Home Mini smart speaker called the Google Nest Mini. While it does look pretty similar to the Google Home Mini, it does come with some minor changes.

We’ve yet to see pictures of the Google Nest Mini, but sketches of it have revealed a wall mount. The current Google Home Mini doesn’t have that and will require an extra accessory for users to be able to hang it on their wall.

In addition, there’s a cutout that could either be the mute switch or an audio port. The mute switch on the Google Home Mini has been quite practical to protect users’ privacy, but an audio port would be great too since it’ll let users connect the speaker to a laptop or phone.

We’ll just have to wait for Google to confirm our speculations, but if rumours are true, then the Pixel 4 and the Google Nest Mini will be debuting in October.

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Google Nexus 6 goes official, made by Motorola

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With all the rumors going on about the next Nexus smartphone, Google has finally pulled the curtains off the
Nexus 6
 and this time, the phone is manufactured than no other than the company’s previous acquisition – Motorola. The Nexus 6 looks very much like a
Motorola
 inspired designed smartphone and will come with the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop onboard.

We are looking at very high end specifications here, the
Nexus 6
 will pack a super huge 5.96-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 13 Megapixel f/2.0 main camera with OIS and 2 Megapixel front-facing camera, 3,220mAh battery with support for Motorola’s Turbo Charger which will promise to charge the phone for 6-hours of use in just 15 minutes. The phone also features dual front firing speakers and will come with 32GB and 64GB internal storage options.

Preorders of the
Nexus 6
 will start late October in the US and the device should probably ship in a couple of weeks, we won’t be expecting a launch here any time soon however do give sometime for the local
Motorola
 folks to bring the largest Nexus smartphone in here. One thing we know at least, the
Nexus 6
 supports our LTE bands here.


Google offering Android programming course on Udacity

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Have you always wanted to make your own Android App but you have no experience whatsoever in app development or even programming? Well, Google has just launched a basic programming course on Udacity that has experts teaching you the basics of programming an Android app.

For those who do not know, Udacity is a website that offers free online courses much like Coursera and the likes. Google has partnered up with this service to introduce an Android Basics nanodegree. In this course, experts from Google itself will be teaching you how to write simple Android apps, even without any prior knowledge of coding.

Currently, the course has a free one week trial, after which there will be a subscription in order to continue the course. You can also pay to receive coaching, career counseling and other help, but that is optional. To further promote the course, Google will be offering a scholarship to the first 50 people that manage to complete the Basics course. If you’ve ever wanted to make Android apps for a living but don’t know how, this program would be your best option.

Source:
Engadget
,
Udacity

android
app
education
google
programming
udacity


Google offers 1 million US Dollars in research grants for cybersecurity

307

It shouldn’t be surprising that Google is very interested in cybersecurity. As one of the biggest tech companies who provide cloud storage, e-mails and so much more, Google has a vested interest to make sure that their security is up to snuff. To that end, the company will be dedicating 1 million US Dollars for cybersecurity research through their research grant program.

Google’s Vulnerability Research Grant
 program is available for independent security researches to contribute to Google’s data security. There are multiple sectors of research available in the program, each of which comes with its own grant funds.

The increase in research grant will not affect the USD 20,000 offered by Google to anyone who finds and reports a qualifying issue in Google’s security.

For those of you who have experience working in the cybersecurity field, you can apply for the grant
here
.

Source :
Google Drive Blog

cybersecurity
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googledrive
researchgrant


Google offers European Android users the option to pick their browser and search app

431

Last year, Google was fined by the EU authorities for $5 billion, which led them to a decision: imposing licensing fees on Android manufacturers in Europe who wants to pre-install Google Play Store in their phones. The tech giant now takes it a step further by offering European Android users the option to choose their browsers and search apps on their devices.

“On Android phones, you’ve always been able to install any search engine or browser you want, irrespective of what came pre-installed on the phone when you bought it,” said Google’s SVP of Global Affairs, Kent Walker. To ensure that manufacturers will also get the freedom to choose the apps they can install on their devices, Google created new licenses respectively for Google Play, Google Chrome and Google Search.

The decision is made to help Android users understand that they have various browsers and search apps options, enabling a fair competition among other companies. “Throughout this process, we’ve always agreed on one thing一that healthy, thriving markets are in everyone’s interest.”

The company also announced that there will more upcoming updates to Google products in Europe, but a specific date is not revealed. However, it’s less likely for Android users to switch to other browsers and search apps, especially since Google Chrome, Play Store and Search have been the default go-to options.

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Google Search


Google on VR: Jump, Improved Cardboard headset and crazy GoPro camera

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Google has been doing a great job on promoting virtual reality, when not many could afford an expensive yet limited Oculus Rift, there’s the cardboard and shortly after, YouTube 360 that doesn’t even require you to wear a headset to enjoy 360-degree panoramic videos. The company has announced a couple of new stuffs on its commitment to support VR content creation.

New Cardboard to fit 6-inch phones, SDK works with iOS

Google has updated its Cardboard headset to support 6-inch smartphones, given that its own
Nexus 6
 also comes with such screen size, it makes sense that the company start supporting that huge screen size, there’s also a new top button that makes it possible to fit in any phones. On top of that, Google has added SDK support for the iPhone to make it a truly universal VR headset.

Jump, now anyone can create VR content

You see, there isn’t exactly a perfect tool out there that could enable anyone create VR content and that is why Jump comes into action, this VR creation platform features a camera geometry, an assembler and player, which literally allow any VR content creator to edit, stitch and produce amazing 360 degree videos effortlessly, Google has also made an effort to introduce such platform to expeditions and classrooms to enable new ways to watch and learn content.

GoPro + Jump, the crazy hardware and platform combo

Having acquired Kolor last month, GoPro has finally unveiled its very first VR producing rig for content creators which is built out of 16 units of GoPro, this is one of the first devices that will work with Jump and will feature camera syncing, multi-camera control and a superb long battery life, this setup definitely isn’t going to be affordable and Google will begin to seed test units to selected YouTubers (definitely not us) while we should be expecting some cool stuff coming up really soon on YouTube.

Virtual Reality getting common and could become affordable in the long term

With Google’s initiative in promoting VR content creation and coupled with YouTube 360 and Jump, we could expect VR content to get more common in the long term as VR does introduce a new way to learn and enjoy breathtaking content, hence making VR hardware more accessible than ever and affordable in time to come. Bring it on, Google and content creators, Jump!


Google One paid storage plans are rolling out now

1.3K

Google drive is one of the widely used cloud storages today, and they don’t only offer a place to store all our files, pictures and video, it also has the ability to replace Microsoft Office with Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. Now, Google has offering attractive prices to boost the storage capacity of your Drive.

The new plan is called Google One and its prices are as follows:

• 100GB = $1.99 per month

• 200GB = $2.99 per month

• 2TB = $9.99 per month

• 10TB = $99.99 per month

• 20TB = $199.99 per month

• 30TB = $299.99 per month

In addition to that, you will also get access to Google Experts customer support for any of the paid tiers. Google One will also allow you to share your storage with up to five family members and everyone will get their own private storage. Customers will also get extra benefits like credits on Google play and even deals on selected hotels in Google Search in the future.

Google One has currently launched in the US and it will expand globally in the next few months. The company will be sending users an email when the plans become available in Malaysia, prices might vary when it releases here.

drive
google
one
plans
storage


Google outs Games in Motion for developers to make apps for Google Fit and Android Wear

273

Most smartphone users and developers are probably stuck to their screens all the time without doing some fitness. Therefore, Google has announced Games in Motion, an open source game sample to demonstrate how developers can make fun games using Google Fit and Android Wear.

Since workouts are all about earning achievements for motivation, Games In Motion tend to simulate things in a way that users will need to complete missions by performing an action on their Android Wear device as seen on the screenshot above. We could hazard a guess for instance, if you want to kill a monster, you would probably need to do push ups for ten times.

Games in Motion is written in Java programming language using Android Studio and demonstrates a couple of Android technologies down below according to Google:

Android Wear bridges notifications from a phone or
tablet
 to a paired Android Wear device. The notifications are stacked so we can show multiple stats at the same time

Google Fit API collects and processes fitness data and sessions. This allows us to use the fitness data to show user progress. All exercise session done in Game in Motion will be recorded to Google Fit as well

Google Play Games Services is used to create and unlock achievements

Several different Android audio APIs are integrated

Android Audio Manager is used for volume and vibration control

Android Media Player plays back raw sound files

Android text to Speech generates in-game spoken speech

Audio Focus is used to make sure we transition smoothly between in-app audio and audio from other apps, such as music-playing apps

Junit tests are present for the data-driven parser, which demonstrates how unit testing can be done within Android Studio

Interested developers could head on to the source link down below to check out on how to develop apps for both Google Fit and Android Wear and we definitely look forward to games like this.


Google: over 5 million cardboard viewers shipped

300

Google has released some interesting numbers and statistics on its blog about the VR world we know about today. With Google Cardboard being out there for 19 months, the company has decided that it should now boast some numbers for us to crunch on.

Since the beginning of Google Cardboard, over 5 million Google Cardboard viewers have been shipped to consumers worldwide and this includes 3rd party ones as well. Also, there has been more than 25 million installs of over 1000 Cardboard apps in the Play Store over the last year and a half.

Other interesting statistics include over 350,000 in views of VR videos watched on Google’s video streaming site, YouTube and over 750,000 VR photos captured from the company’s recently launched Cardboard Camera.

Cardboard viewers work with smartphones to create a VR experience, like on VR headsets. What do you think about this affordable headset? Or do you prefer going full on like the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR? Let us know your thoughts!

Source:
Official Google Blog

cardboard
google
headset
reality
virtual
vr


Google is developing its own version of AirDrop, called Fast Share

325

One thing Apple users love about its ecosystem is AirDrop — the ability to share almost anything to other Apple users seamlessly and easily. While Apple recently made swipe-typing available on iOS 13, Google is reported to be bringing an AirDrop-like feature called Fast Share.

According to 9to5Google, Fast Share will let you share files to Android devices, Chromebooks, iPhones and even smartwatches. You just need to turn it on — requiring you to turn on your Bluetooth and Location — and you’ll be able to start sharing files and whatnot to nearby devices.

Image credit: 9to5Google

There’s also a preferred visibility function that allows other’s devices to detect your device when you’re nearby, and you’ll of course get the option to accept or decline files sent by others. For now, the closest you can get to this is Files by Google, but you’ll have to download the app from Google Play Store.

Fast Share is said to be tied to Google Play services, so it does make us wonder if Android devices without Google Play will be getting this feature. Nonetheless, Android users will be rejoiced to see this feature in the future, especially if it’ll be able to share files and links to iOS devices too.

android
Fast Share
google


Google partners with Movidius to improve "deep learning" on the company's smart devices

272

Movidius has announced that the company has entered a partnership with Google in order to accelerate the adoption of deep learning within mobile devices. Both companies have collaborated with one another back in 2014 for its “Project Tango” devices.

As part of the agreement between both parties, Google will be sourcing the Myriad 2 MA2450 processor from Movidius. This processor is referred to as a “vision processing unit” and as created only for image recognition purposes. As such, the power draw of the chip is much, much lower than a standard smart device processor.

Google’s partnership with Movidius is part of the company’s plan to “accelerate the adoption of deep learning within mobile devices”. Deep learning refers to a complex neural network – a computer program that mimics the human brain. These neural networks have been utilised in image and speech recognition tools. Some applications that uses neural networks includes SwiftKey and Translate.

Not much is known about what Google intends to do with the processor, but as the announcement says that Google will be implementing said chips into personal devices, we speculate that it will have something to do with biometrics. Seeing as Google is also working on its own self-driving car, this partnership may not only be limited to smart devices.

Source :
Engadget
,
Movidius

google
movidius
neuralnetwork
partnership


Google patents "intra-ocular device"

292

Augmented eyes may become a reality sooner than expected as Google has filed a patent for an “intra-ocular device.”

Based on the information available at the
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office website
, it seems that this device is meant to replace the eye’s natural lens and is injected in a solution that congeals and attaches to the lens capsule. Interestingly, the device itself doesn’t only include an electronic lens, it also comes with a storage, sensors, a battery and radio components that can communicate with an “interface device.” Said “interface device” would contain the processor that would do the necessary computing. As for powering this ïntra-ocular device,” the patent states that the internal battery would draw power from an “energy harvesting antenna.”

Simply put, Google’s little “intra-ocular device” is capable of more than just correcting poor vision. It’ll be interesting to see if the possibilities that this eye implant will have in the future.

Source:
Engadget
,
Forbes

eye
google
intraoculardevice
patent


Google phases out Pixel and Pixel XL from Google Store

382

After the premium priced Nexus 6 and Nexus 6P from Google, the company officially made the switch to premium territory by closing the Nexus chapter, welcoming the new Pixel lineup of smartphones. The Pixel and Pixel 2 series proved to be formidable in the smartphone market, with the former still staying on the Google store during the unveiling of the latter, until now.

Google usually launches its smartphones in Q4, which is not according to the usual cycle refresh of smartphone makers like Samsung and Huawei. The Pixel and Pixel XL are both still impressive devices in their own stride, packing top tier specs from its time. Both phones feature the Snapdragon 821 processor, 4GB of RAM, up to 128GB of onboard storage and a 12MP rear camera which is considered to be the best in the market at that time. The main difference lies in form factor with the Pixel sporting a smaller display at 1080p resolution and the larger Pixel 2 screen at QHD.

Nevertheless, it is not surprising at all that Google has phased out its pioneering series of Pixel handsets, giving all the limelight to its current Pixel 2 lineup, and approximately 6 months’ time making way for the Pixel 3 series.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, although still worthy competitors will soon be overtaken by the rest of the competition in no time before Google unveils the Pixel 3.

google
google store
pixel
pixel 2
pixel 2 xl
pixel xl


Google Phone app to record calls from unknown numbers

350

The
Google Phone
 app is apparently being updated to feature automatic call recording when the user is engaged with an unknown number.

This is a feature that will require the user to enable manually, so it’s not active at default – although reports didn’t suggest the main reasons for Google to introduce this feature, but a logical deduction would be to prevent call scams.

Image credit: Beebom

When the feature is active, both parties on the call will be notified of the recording and will require consent to proceed – should any
one party
 decline, they may just end the call. The recorded calls will be saved only in the receiving phone. The idea behind this is, of course, provide a crucial piece of evidence, should a scam occur, for the victim to
protect
 themselves.

I can at least attest to receiving robo-calls regarding my supposed tax fraud – you know the kind. Therefore, a feature like this would be a godsend in Malaysia too, especially for those unlucky enough to fall for scams like these.

google phone
scam call


Google Photos can instantly share photos and videos to your loved ones

463

The joy of taking pictures is sharing them with your loved ones, and with the age of digitalized photos, it just becomes that much easier to share your memories. Google understands that and has added a new feature that has been rolling out since last month. The new update will allow you to share these memories through the Google Photos app.

The app has a dedicated sharing tab at the bottom of the app and it offers different ways to share the app, it can suggest photos for you to share and suggest who should you share them with. This feature uses facial recognition, if Google realises you share photos with a regular person with a specific email address, it will offer to send them any new pictures. The tab will also show you pictures and albums that have been shared with you, making it easier to keep track of shared photos. Another feature that adds to the sharing function is automatic sharing of images to another person, it features is optional and can be turned off.

We have seen some devices that already have this function, if you would like to use this feature, you can either wait for the update or check on the Google Play if you can update your app to take full use of it.

app
google
photos
sharing
update


Google Photos for iOS introduces Depth Slider and Colour Pop in its update

326

Portrait mode has been one of the features that attract the attention of smartphone users, especially those who love taking selfies and now with Google Photo’s new update for iOS users, users can use the app to adjust the background blur of their portrait photos.

The new feature known as Depth Slider is already available last month for Android users though it wasn’t made available for all devices, just several supported ones. The feature is appearing for the first time in Google Photo for iOS but the current available version has not shown the feature yet so it might be out after awhile.

For the new feature to work, the photos need to be portrait photos that supports depth data. This means that it will work on portrait photos taken on the iPhones that have dual camera, and probably also the portrait photos taken on the iPhone XR.

Besides that, the new update also includes a Colour Pop feature which can desaturate the colour of your background while your subject remains coloured and vibrant. This feature is called colour pop probably because it makes the subject and the colours on the subject look even more prominent as the background loses its saturation which highlights the subject.

colour pop
depth slider
google
google photos
portrait mode


Google Photos get a slight overhaul

274

Google Photos has received an update, bringing a slight makeover to the app’s design and interface.

Firstly, Google has decided to ease up on navigation within the app. The Assistant, Photos and Albums section can now be accessed at the bottom of the app’s screen instead of the sidebar. This makes switching between sections a slightly quicker process. The Assistant section has received a colorful makeover, with quick access buttons for users to create an album, a collage, an animation and a movie. In the Albums sections, you can now access personal and shared albums easily and searching for photos of specific people or places won’t be much of a hassle.

On its web counterpart, Google’s cloud-based photo management service has added some new editing features. Common aspect ratios for cropping are now available on the web’s editing interface. On top of that, you can navigate and browse through multiple photos while in Edit mode and edits will be on auto-save, but of course, with the option to revert and undo.

Last year, Google Photos received a revamp, breaking away from Google+. Having dislodged itself from Plus, users were able to backup unlimited photos. Prior to Google I/O, this overhaul tells us that Google is going the right way.

Source:
Google
 Via:
Android Central

albums
assistant
google
photos
update


Google Photos gives you unlimited storage for your 16MP stills and 1080p videos

281

If you’ve been using your smartphone extensively for photography and backing up to the cloud, you’ll be happy to know that Google has announced its all new photo and video storage that offers unlimited storage for your 16-megapixel stills and 1080p videos, Google Photos is now available on Android, iOS and the web, and for iOS users, this is a great solution without having to pay monthly cloud storage fees.

In terms of content quality, Google has made sure that both original and compress copies of your masterpiece is stored in the cloud, making a lot of sense since some users might not want to sync full size photos to every of their Android powered devices, similar to what Apple has done to Photo stream.

Google has added neat photo editing features onto the app as well, offering auto enhancement of pictures and videos, simply create automatic slideshows or collages of your pictures based on locations and faces with super cool animations and built-in free soundtracks.

With Google Photos, you no longer need to download the pictures just to share them over to social media because Google has simply integrated direct sharing over to Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and etc, which immediately translate into cellular data savings and your paltry internal storage could be saved due to this useful feature.

Excited already? Head on to Google Play and the App Store to start uploading your collection of precious photos to Google’s kickass unlimited photo and video service.


Google Photos makes it easier to share and upload videos for slow Internet connections

349

Google Photos has the ability to back up your images to the Cloud without taking up storage while saving the images in a high-quality format. If you don’t have a fast Internet connection, it will save the images in a lower quality format and when you have good Internet connection like WiFi it will replace those images with a higher quality image.

The feature mentioned was released back in March but now they are extending this feature to videos too. In the 3.6 version of Google Photos, you should be able to notice the change as now they have implemented the backup feature to videos as well. The low-quality videos can be shared with friends and family, giving them the chance to watch the video, when you get a better connection and the high-quality video is uploaded, your friends and family would just need to open up their share folder and they can watch the high-quality upload immediately.

The feature is currently available on Android as of now and there is no mention of the exact quality of the videos that are uploaded. Seeing as they still recommend that we can share the uploads, we would assume the quality is not terrible and still watchable.

android
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You can now manually tag people’s faces on Google Photos

366

Google Photos has many great features, and the newest one might delight us all — manual face tagging.

Google has been using its algorithm to automatically tag your friends and family and while 90% of the time it’s proven to be accurate, there are still times where we wished we can just manually tag people. With the new feature, you can add a new tag, edit or even name the tag.

Image credit: Android Police

However, manual face tagging still relies on Google’s face detection algorithm. This means that you can’t just manually click anywhere and start tagging if Google doesn’t detect a face. Who knows, Google may the ability to do so in the future.

Google is already implementing a server-side update so you’ll need to be patient if your Google Photos doesn’t support manual face tagging yet.

google
google photos


Google Photos introduces Memories, a feature combining Facebook Memories and Instagram Stories

335

Almost everyone is hooked onto Instagram Stories, so it’s no surprise that Google Photos is “inspired” to do the same by adding a new feature called “Memories”.

The new feature is like a combination of Instagram Stories and Facebook Memories where you get to check out your old pictures dated a year ago and so on. This collection of photos appear in small circles similar to Instagram Stories, but don’t worry, not all of your photos will be shown.

This new feature should be replacing the feature known as “Rediscover this day”, found under the Assistant tab. David Lieb, product lead for Google Photos also mentioned that “Not all memories are created equal,” so you can also choose to disable this feature or hide certain time periods and people.

This new feature is currently rolling out to both Android and iOS users so if your Google Photos doesn’t have it yet, just be patient.

google
google photos
Memories