Google conducts a research on how Malaysians decide on their mobile plans

428

Google and Kantar TNS came together to conduct a research on how Malaysians go through the processor of buying mobile phones plans, while they have hight recall of the brands they still do not know the product offering details and this strongly impacts how they consider a mobile plan.

37% of consumers surveyed said they do not have knowledge of the products, while 41% are informed enough to be able to research and an average of three brands and 22% felt that they have all the information they need. Due to the lack of information provided, consumers will take the initiative to do their own research, nine out of ten consumers will do some research online and a majority of them search for this information through their mobile phones. Thanks to this, 86% of consumers have already decided on the plan they want to subscribe too before walking into a telco store to sign up. Acquiring new subscribers is also vital as 92% of Malaysians start their research online and further come to a conclusion by visiting a provider’s site or visiting social media channels.

Finally, watching online videos is also a go-to when it comes to later stages of the research, one in three consumers will watch videos when checking product reviews and eight in ten believe that online videos will encourage them to trust the brand and product. Providing them with the right content is vital to bring them over to the brand but they also have a high priority in affordability and plan upgrades before considering things like product quality or performance and features.

google
malaysian
mobile
plans
research


Google has confirmed 4th October as the Pixel 2 launch date

377

There was a rumor floating around hinted the Pixel 2 launch will be on the 4th October when Google advertised in certain cities to save the date. Now, Google has openly confirmed that it is indeed the launch date of the new Pixel devices with the tag line “Ask more of your phone”.

Fun fact, the Pixel, and Pixel XL were launched on 4th October 2016 which was why the initial rumor came about. Some of the features we are expected to see in these new phones are better battery life, unlimited storage via Google Photos, faster camera, an upgraded Google Assistant and of course, the first phones to get the latest Android updates. It is also said that HTC will be developing the Pixel 2 and LG will be developing the Pixel 2 XL, but both phones will feature the squeeze gesture we have seen in the HTC U11.

Reports also indicate that Google is going to leave the headphone jack out of the equation. However, they are expected to show off a pair of Assistant-powered wireless earbuds which would make sense if they plan to remove the headphone jack for this phones as well. We will be watching the live stream and giving you updates as it comes in, so stay tuned to KLGG.

android
google
htc
lg
pixel 2
unveiling
xl


Google confirmed to unveil two flagship smartwatches in Q1 2017

262

The wearable technology landscape seems to be dying, especially when it comes to Android Wear, with Google delaying the official release of Android Wear 2.0 till next year, and major manufacturers stating that they won’t be launching Android Wear smartwatches for this year. Google will be attempting to ignite the flame of Android Wear again, as it plans to launch two smartwatches in 2017.

Jeff Chang, product manager of Android Wear has spoken to The Verge, claiming that Google will be unveiling two flagship wearables in the first quarter of 2017. The two smartwatches will be the first to run on Google’s official Android Wear 2.0, ahead of the rest in the wearable world. Google’s devices are often made through partnerships with OEM’s, such as the company’s latest Pixel phone lineup by HTC, but without the HTC branding. No manufacturers were named just yet for the Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches, but both will sport the manufacturers’ branding instead of a Google or Pixel branding, which is good news for the manufacturers.

Chang has further stated that fellow manufacturers will launch new Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches after the unveiling of Google’s two flagship wearables. The 5th Developer Preview of Android Wear 2.0 will roll out in January 2017, and it will be the final one as Google gears up for the official release of the platform after a long wait. Are you still interested in Android Wear smartwatches?

Source:
The Verge

20
2017
android
flagship
google
smartwatch
wear
wearable


Google debuts new Pixel and Pixel XL phones

253

Rumor time is over as Google has finally unveiled their latest lineup of smartphones, carrying the new Pixel branding and putting the old Nexus branding to bed once and for all. After countless rumors from months ago till earlier today, the new Pixel and Pixel XL handsets have finally gone official. Let’s dive in and take a look at what Google has to offer us in this year’s product refresh.

Both Pixel phones are the first ever Android phones to have Google Assistant integrated in them. Designed via a partnership with Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, the Pixel features an aluminium unibody design combined with polished glass, taking a couple of design cues from Apple’s iPhones, plus following up from last year’s Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. The glass panel covers up the top half of the rear panel, coming from the Nexus 6P’s smaller and slightly more protruding rear glass panel.

Let’s begin with what’s the same between the Pixel and Pixel XL, which is pretty much almost everything apart from their sizes so let’s just talk both phones as one Pixel. The Pixel is powered by a Snapdragon 821 clocked at 2.15 GHz and 4GB of RAM. The phone will be offered in two memory configurations – 32GB and 128GB of storage. The 12.3MP rear camera of the Pixel is theoretically the best of its class right now, having scored 89 in DxOMark. Google has also claimed the camera to feature the shortest capture of any smartphone camera out in the market right now. The company also boasts the Pixel’s gyroscope based stabilization when capturing video. On top of that, as rumored earlier, Google is offering unlimited cloud storage for full-sized images and videos captured on the Pixel instead of only “High Quality” copies of them. This includes 4K footage as well, so storage will be one of the least of your worries with the Pixel.

Other specs include the USB Type-C port, Pixel Imprint rear fingerprint sensor, and a 3.5mm headphone jack which Google specifically highlighted. The differences of the Pixel and Pixel XL start with their displays. Both are AMOLED screens, but in different sizes and resolutions – 5-inches at 1080p on the Pixel and 5.5-inches at QHD resolution on the larger Pixel XL. Battery wise, the Pixel and Pixel XL sport 2,770mAh and 3,440mAh capacities respectively. With fast charging support, Google claims up 7 hours of power from only 15 minutes of charging time.

The Pixel starts at $649 (RM2,695.98) for the 32GB model and $749 (RM3,111.38) for the 128GB model while the larger Pixel XL will cost $769 (RM3,194.46) and $869 (RM3,609.87) for both memory configurations respectively. Both Pixels will be available for pre-order in the US, UK, Germany and Australia and will be made available worldwide soon.

821
camera
google
phone
pixel
snapdragon
xl


Google debuts the Google WiFi router and Chromecast Ultra

367

Amidst the Pixel, Daydream and Google Home announcements, Google has also quietly sneaked in two new devices in the form of the Google WiFi router and the Chromecast Ultra.

First off, the Google WiFi Router. Unlike traditional WiFi routers that rely on a single router to handle wireless connectivity across the house, Google’s WiFi Router is a multi-point router. In essence, the Google WiFi router is meant to work with multiple units, allowing for better coverage across the house. As for the WiFi itself, the Google WiFi supports AC1200 wireless speeds and simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Support for Bluetooth Smart and beamforming technology is also present within the router as well. Google has mentioned that the router will be able to handle channel management and traffic routing automatically, while users will be able to manage the device directly via a smartphone app.

Google WiFi will be sold as either a single unit for USD129, or as a multipack that consists of three routers for USD299. The device willl be available in the States in December.

The other device on the list is the Chromecast Ultra. As the leaks previously revealed, the Chromecast Ultra will be able to stream 4K content as well as HDR content in both HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats. Google has also made mention that the Chromecast Ultra is the fastest Chromecast the company has made thus far, being able to load videos 1.8 times faster than the regular Chromecast thanks to its improved Wi-Fi connectivity. In what appears to be a first for the Chromecast as a whole, Google will also be implementing an ethernet port for the Chromecast Ultra. Located on the power adapter, this would allow users to stream content smoothly in the event that their Wi-Fi connection is unstable. As for content, the Chromecast Ultra will be able to stream 4K content from YouTube, Netflix and Vudu at launch, with 4k support for Google Play Movies arriving sometime in November.

The Chromecast Ultra will be available for purchase in the States for USD69 in November. Google has also stated that the device will be available in 16 other countries around the world.

4k
chromecastultra
google
googlewifi
router
streaming
video


Google delays Android 11 event and beta release yet again

320

Google has postponed the event where they would launch the latest Android 11 OS. Android Developers tweeted saying “this is not the time to celebrate”, which it is to program developers when they launch a software.

We are excited to tell you more about Android 11, but now is not the time to celebrate. We are postponing the June 3rd event and beta release. We’ll be back with more on Android 11, soon.

— Android Developers (@AndroidDev)
May 30, 2020

But why?

This is most likely the company showing solidarity with those affected by the events transpiring
in New York, where riots what broken out in protest of the alleged killing of George Floyd.

So when then?

The launch event was due for June 3 and would also see the beta software being released for the public to use. No new date was revealed but Android Authority suggests that June 13 could be the date since the Google Pixel 4a is also scheduled to release that day.

Image credit: Times24 News

Android 11 is set to have several interesting additions including battery share, native screen recording, bubbles, live transcribe and more.

Good Google

We say good on Google for being sensitive to the events transpiring in its native USA – we’ll keep you updated on the new launch date as soon as Google announces it.

android
android 11
android 11 event
beta
google
new york


Google Discover is coming to its homepage on mobile web

351

The Discover feature is now available on Android and iOS devices that has the Google app or uses the mobile site. This is already available for Android users on their devices, but it is a first for the feature to appear on
Google.com
’s mobile web and Google app.

The feature basically shows users relevant informations that are tied to what they’ve searched before or what might be of their interests. It is somewhat similar to having a news feed, which will make the homepage less neat and simple-looking.

Of course, users can customise their Discover tab by following topics such as sports, entertainments, hobbies and so on, and they can also remove topics that they find irrelevant by clicking on the “Not interested in…” option. Furthermore, the Discover feature can also display the weather updates and commute information that are based on users’ information.

Google will definitely have to be more responsible when it comes to the algorithm of the news feed and how it curates contents to be displayed in the Discover tab. It is definitely a resourceful feature, though some might dislike how it changes the way the homepage looked.

discover
google


Google ditches Flash for HTML5 in September

348

In yet another story about how Flash has become irrelevant, tech giants Google have announced that an upcoming update to Chrome would begin blocking Flash.

Google Chrome 53, scheduled for release in September, would see it block all known instance of Flash, including those that load “behind the scenes.” Replacing the pretty-much-defunct Flash is HTML5, which is expected to deliver improved security, reduced power consumption and faster page load times when compared to Flash.

Blocking Flash is just the first phase for Google as the company is looking to make HTML5 the default browsing experience in Chrome 55. Expected to arrive in December, Chrome 55 would only enable Flash should you personally ask it to, much like how other
web

browsers
 treat Flash in their recent updates.

With Google now abandoning Flash for HTML5, Flash is pretty much an afterthought on most web browsers. Seeing as how Apple, Mozilla and Microsoft has moved on from Flash, it seems that Adobe’s Flash platform is pretty much dead.

Source:
Google Blog

adobe
chrome
flash
google


Google Docs will soon get AI-powered feature, Smart Compose

352

As announced by Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, the AI-powered Smart Compose will be coming to G Suite’s Google Docs soon.

Smart Compose is current available in Gmail, whereby AI technology is used to predict words in an email, shortening the time needed to compose them. It is first introduced in May 2018 and now has been expanded to Gmail — both desktop and mobile version.

Now, the AI feature will be integrated in Google Docs so that it can provide assistance in composing longer texts. However, Google Docs can be assumed to cover a larger range of writing styles and purposes, so the algorithm may need to be improved to offer the suitable word suggestions.

As of now, Google Docs’ Smart Compose is only available for domain administrators in an English beta version. You can sign up for it
here
 if you’re interested.

g suite
gmail
google
Google Docs
Smart Compose


Google Drive now allows commenting on Microsoft Office files without converting them

581

Google is adding a new feature to Drive that will add convenience to those of you that have to work with Microsoft Office files on Drive. The new update will allow users to comment on files without converting them first. This new feature will work on Docs, Sheets and Slides for now.

Prior to this, users could view Word, PowerPoint and Excel on Google Drive but they could not comment on it unless they convert them to Docs, Slides, or Sheets format. With this new update, users can comment, assign tasks or mention coworkers and they can reply even if they are not using G Suite. Using this feature is easy, just highlight the area they want to comment on Preview Mode and click the Comment icon.

This new feature is to bridge the gap between G Suite and Microsoft Office, to make it easier for people to collaborate and work together even if they are on different platforms.

commenting
drive
files
g suite
google
microsoft
office


Google Drive redesigns its mobile app for Android and iOS users

1.2K

Google Drive’s new update in its mobile app for iOS and Android revamped its UI to enhance user experience, including several changes to its navigation, actions menu, search bar and account switching experience.

Google Drive’s mobile app now has a navigation bar at the bottom with four tabs: Home, Starred, Shared and Files. On the Files tab, users can access files from their own drives, team drives and even synced computers. If you have backed up documents or files from your computer that you sync to your Google Drive, the Computers section in the Files tab is where you’ll find them.

Image credit: Google

There is also a minor change in switching accounts in the new update. While previously you can switch accounts through the navigation menu on the left, now there’s an icon on the top right of the app that lets you do so. It doesn’t make a huge difference, but it is more convenient and accessible.

Image credit: Google

Moving on to the actions menu, it has been slightly revamped from toggles to buttons. The old menu will show you a toggle on the right, next to the “link sharing”. And “available offline” options; however, now it’s button-based. Also, the search bar is no longer a magnifying glass icon as it has been replaced to a horizontal search bar on the top of the app that can be accessed easily, even when you switch between tabs.

android
google
google drive
ios


Google Drive rolls out search function

325

Is your Google Drive filled to the brim with various documents, images and files? Well, Google has now introduced a search function into their cloud storage service, allowing you to find what you’re looking for in your own Drive.

According to Google, the new search engine implemented allows users to search across all files, regardless of the device they came from. Users are able to search for files via file type on Android, iOS or the web. An advance search function can be accessed via the search box.

For iOS users, you can search through your own Google Drive from the home screen using 3D Touch. You can also use the iOS search bar to search through your Drive without ever having to open the Drive app.

To complement the implementation of the search feature, several behind-the-scenes improvements were introduced to give your search queries even better results than they did before. Some of the improvements includie searching for shared files by file owner using their name or email address, and searching a file via its date of last modification, words contained, and who its shared with through the advanced search option.

SOURCE:
Google Drive Blog

google
googledrive
searchfunction


Google drops "Google Cast" branding for TVs and Speakers

380

The Google Cast branding has been used by Google to inform customers that the TVs or speakers they’ve purchased comes with Chromecast functionality built into the device. Unfortunately, it appears that the branding isn’t as effective as Google hoped it would be. That is why Google has reportedly dropped the Google Cast branding from use, opting instead to label these devices as “Chromecast built-in” devices.

According to a report by Variety, a Google spokesperson has confirmed that the company’s decision to drop the Google Cast branding is merely a name change. “First, nothing about the technology has changed. We’re rebranding Google Cast to “Chromecast built-in” to help users identify the technology that they’ve come to enjoy and appreciate. The new branding officially starts in 2017, which is why you’ll see it slowly rolling out in the meantime.”

From Google Cast ➡
@Chromecast
. New name on Twitter, same device you know, stream from and love.
pic.twitter.com/MnWEj39GuG

— Google Chromecast (@Chromecast)
November 22, 2016

Google has already begun fading off the Google Cast brand in favour of the “Chromecast built-in” moniker. This can be seen in from the now renamed
Google Chromecast Twitter account
,
Google’s Cast website
, and the
Google Home website
.

Source:
Variety

androidtv
chromecast
google
googlecast
googlehome
speaker
television


Google Duo now lets you make voice calls

289

Google Duo has been a really cool video calling app announced last year, while I do find using the app an issue when it comes to privacy as the Knock Knock feature can be kind of creepy, and thankfully Google is finally rolling out voice call functionality to the app, which will allow people make voice calls to me if they ever want to use Google Duo, it may be nothing new of sorts compared to many other apps out there, but its a good thing that Google is at least making some necessary changes to its internet calling app. *cough* Facebook *cough*.

Duo works differently like Hangouts by having the users sign up using their phone numbers, unlike other chat apps Duo has a simple user interface and works extremely fast when it comes to connecting to a caller, the app was launched together with Allo, the company’s instant messaging app that comes built-in with Google Assistant, as part of the company’s messaging strategy on smartphones. The voice calling feature is currently being rolled out worldwide, and it should reach your phone pretty soon so do remember to hit up the Play Store and App Store to check if there are any updates to the app.

SOURCE:
Engadget

google
googleduo


Google Duplex is now available to some Pixel owners

395

Previously Google promised to provide Google Pixel owners with a Duplex service, which means Google Assistant in their smartphones will help them perform tasks such as purchasing movie tickets, making reservations in restaurant and so on.

With the Duplex technology, the Assistant can comprehend human speeches regardless of the sentence complexity or the speed and length of speech hence allowing natural response in conversations. The Assistant

can also perform online booking services and will then put a calendar reminder in the user’s smartphone once they have booked an appointment for the user, whether it is by phone call or online booking.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5VN56jQMWM?start=68]

The exciting part is that Duplex has already reached a number of Pixel owners, thus giving them the opportunity to test out the new technology. The Duplex technology is great because it makes an AI sound like a human, but at the same time Google designed it with built-in disclosure so that it will not be perceived as a form on deception instead.

That being said, it is not wrong to be worried about how this technology might be adapted to be used in scams and what not, but it is also an amazing achievement that when used correctly can greatly benefit and ease humans’ daily lives.

ai
Duplex
google assistant


Google Earth Outreach assists NGOs with their research of preserving the country’s ecology

353

Google has been all about helping the community with its various apps like Maps which was extremely useful to get to your location as well as share a location with your friends and family. Other than that, apps like Street View and Google Earth has helped us explore different parts of the world without leaving the comfort of our homes. However, they took Google Earth to the next level with their Google Earth Outreach program which allows non-profit organizations to create a positive change to our world.

The first case study that they showed is from the Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) and Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) which has put the indigenous Jakun community of Kampung Peta on the map, which was previously never been on any map. By using Maps, the organizations were able to map out the border of the Kampung and raise awareness of Kampung Peta’s existence. The outcome, 19,000 acres of the park was returned back to the villagers.

Next was the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) which has managed to monitor the dwindling numbers of Malayan Tapirs and map out their trails. In June 2016, MNS determined Bukit Tiong to be the best observation site and on the same year, the organization has placed camera traps to capture any passing wildlife. They also used Maps to pinpoint hotspots of Tapir roadkill accidents so they can take the necessary precautions to avoid any more death of these animals.

Lastly, Rimba Ilmu also showed us their efforts to preserve urban-based nature to bring awareness of the biodiversity in urban areas. They did this by pinpointing the different types of flora and fauna in urban areas with the help of 400 students from 13 schools which made over 5000 observation of local animals and wildlife. After collecting the data, the organization informed relevant authorities of their finding so the ecosystem could be preserved.

With the lack of proper funding for these organizations, Google Earth Outreach has helped them tremendously in their research which will only benefit the average Joe like you and me. At the same time, preserving the ecology of our country which is a beautiful mix of urban and nature.

animals
earth
google
nature
ngo
outreach
plants
research


Google encourages to use HTTPS for your websites

331

We always neglect the HTTP word when entering a web address, and that can sometimes lead us to insecure sites which will compromise our identity and privacy. That is why Google encourages websites to be HTTPS enabled while promising to give higher ranking in search results for websites that implement the secure protocol. Here’s the statement that Google has given.

For these reasons, over the past few months we’ve been running tests taking into account whether sites use secure, encrypted connections as a signal in our search ranking algorithms. We’ve seen positive results, so we’re starting to use HTTPS as a ranking signal. For now it’s only a very lightweight signal—affecting fewer than 1% of global queries, and carrying less weight than other signals such as high-quality content—while we give webmasters time to switch to HTTPS. But over time, we may decide to strengthen it, because we’d like to encourage all website owners to switch from HTTP to HTTPS to keep everyone safe on the web.

Google has been encouraging this initiative through its “HTTPS Everywhere” session at Google I/O and we believe you should try implementing this if you want to ensure a safe visit for your visitors as well as securing a high search ranking in Google’s SEO. Head over to the source link down below for more details.

Source:
Google

Via:
9to5Google

Image Credit:
Eltallerweb.com


Google expands its Neural Machine Translation system to cover more languages for Google Translate

310

When it comes to translating sentences, Google Translate’s accuracy varies from sorta correct to wildly off the mark. Google’s first attempt at rectifying this is to roll out its Neural Machine Translation (NMT) system, a system based on machine learning that the company claims would result in more accurate translations. First tested out on Mandarin Chinese, Google has announced that the system will be rolled out to additional languages as well.

According to Google’s Keyword blog, NMT will be expanding to English, French, German, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese and Turkish. Google mentions that the languages listed above covers one-third of the world’s population and more than 35% of Google Translation’s queries. Because of the way NMT works, Google believes that by applying to system to the languages listed above, Google Translate will be able to show results that are far more accurate, particularly over time.

Expanding NMT to these seven languages is just the next step in Google’s plans for Translate. The company is looking to rollout NMT to cover all 103 active languages that are in use today. In the meantime, Google is looking to open up its NMT tech to other businesses so they can use it as they see fit.

Source:
The Keyword

english
french
german
google
japanese
korean
neuralmachinetranslation
portuguese
translate
turkish


Google expected to launch Daydream VR platform in the coming weeks

411

With Android Nougat now out, Google’s own mobile VR platform Daydream should be arriving shortly as well. If reports are to be believed, Daydream will be launching sooner than expected.

According to reports by Bloomberg, Google has been busy investing in virtual-reality films and programs as part of the company’s plan to line up exclusive content for the debut of Daydream within the “coming weeks.” The investments done by Google will see the company help promote projects from Hulu. It will also fund the production of 360-degree videos with famous YouTube stars like the Dolan twins and Justine Ezarik. For those who are more interested in gaming, Google has reportedly partnered with video game producers and sports leagues in an attempt to boost the its biggest virtual-reality initiative.

The launch of Google’s Daydream platform is expected to coincide with release of new Android phones, VR headsets and controllers. With IFA 2016 taking place next week, we expect the first batch of Daydream-ready smartphones, and maybe even the Daydream VR headset itself, to be announced at the event. Some of the apps that will be available within Daydream includes YouTube, Hulu, apps from various sports leagues, as well as HBO’s own streaming service.

Source:
Bloomberg

daydream
google
virtualreality


Google’s experimental app seals your phone in an envelope that can only be used to dial numbers

309

Google’s attempt to help users control their screen time is apparent when it launched Digital Wellbeing but to take it up a notch, the tech giant has also launched a few new experimental apps that can help reduce phone usage.

One of the three new experimental apps is something called Envelope, an envelope made of paper that will seal your phone in it so that you can only dial phone numbers or use speed dial. Envelope can be downloaded in Play Store and it’s basically a template for you to print out and make an envelope yourself to store your phone. It currently only works with the Google Pixel 3A.

Once you’ve printed the template, you just need to follow the instructions to turn it into an envelope, put your phone in the envelope, then seal it shut. This means that the envelope you’ve made can only be used once; you’ll need to rip it apart to get your phone out. This app will either help you reduce your phone usage or lead to you wasting lots of paper.

Image credit: Google

Another experimental app is called Activity Bubbles; this app adds a bubble to your wallpaper each time you use your phone and the more you use your phone, the bigger the bubble gets. This is a creative way to remind users that they’ve been on their phones for too long if their home screen filled with bubbles.

Not a fan of bubbles? Google also has something called Screen Stopwatch that counts the time you’ve been on your phone via a live wallpaper — the numbers are huge so it’s very obvious.

Activity Bubbles
Digital Wellbeing
Envelope
Experimental apps
google
Screen Stopwatch


Google offers fingerprint verification for its services on Android devices

320

Finally, Google is offering fingerprint verification for its services so that Android users will no longer need to rely on passwords.

According to Google, Android users will finally be able to use their fingerprint or screen lock to access to several Google services — this includes logging in to their Google Accounts. However, this security feature will first be available to Pixel devices and will only come to Android 7+ devices later on.

Google also pointed out that the security enhancements use FIDO2 standards, W3C WebAuthn and FIDO CTAP but users’ fingerprint data will never be stored on Google’s servers. Simply put, you won’t have to worry that someone else has access to your fingerprint data since only your device has the data.

In addition, Google also mentioned that it has automated defences for excessive sign-in attempts and advises its users to enable two-step verification for higher security. Users who are interested to test out the new security feature need to ensure that their Google Account is already added to their Android device and that their device is running Android 7.0 and above. Needless to say, they should also have a valid screen lock. For the full instructions on how to try out the new feature, click
here
.

android
google
Google Accounts


Google fires back at Microsoft with its own battery comparison test

336

Remember that time when Microsoft place the Edge up against three other browsers in
a battery test
? Remember how the test showed that the computer running Chrome was the first one to fail, thereby implying that Chrome was the most power consuming browser available? Well, Google has replied to this test by publishing its own battery life that shows of how long the latest build of Chrome, Chrome 53, is much more efficient than its predecessor.

In a Youtube video published by Google itself, the test shows two identical Surface Books running two different versions of the Chrome browser. One of the Surface Books was tasked to run Chrome 46, while the other runs Chrome 53. To test the battery life, Google has decided to let both browsers stream identical Vimeo footage non-stop. The result? The laptop running Chrome 46 was the first to give out, clocking in at 8 hours and 27 minutes, while the laptop running Chrome 53 lasted 10 hours and 39 minutes. Doing the math, this shows that the laptop running Chrome 53 managed to last 2 hours and 12 minutes longer than the Chrome 46 laptop.

While the result shows that Chrome’s power consumption has been improved upon over iterations, this result does not mean that Google’s own browser is now superior to Edge in any way. However, if Microsoft would like to do yet another battery comparison test with Chrome 53 and Edge, we won’t mind watching it either.

Source:
Google Chrome Blog

batterytest
chrome
edge
google
microsoft
surfacebook


Google Fit introduces new heart rate and breathing sensor feature that uses just your phone

479

Who needs a smartwatch to read your heart rate when all you really need is your smartphone! Google is introducing to its
Fit
 app a new feature that lets you measure your heart rate by using your device’s cameras!

Just Google for now

This new feature will be available only for Pixel smartphones for the time being, other Android phones will get the update in the future.

How does it work?

The way it works is by placing your finger over the rear camera; the software then ‘sees’ the
colour
 change in your skin as blood moves through your fingertips. It needs to be mentioned however, that this isn’t an entirely new thing – Samsung has done this before on their older Galaxy smartphones, which they then removed starting with the Galaxy S10 devices.

What is possibly entirely is a feature that measures your respiratory rate using your phone as well – to do this, users must face the selfie lens and have their head and chest visible in the viewfinder. The software then monitors how your chest rises and falls while the user breathes and uses machine learning to gather an analysis report.

The respiratory rate is accurate to within one breath per minute for folks without health conditions, said
Jiening
 Zhan, a technical lead at Google Health. Meanwhile, the heart rate sensor was accurate within 2 percent, and was tested on people of different skin tones.

We’re
definitely up
 for health-centric innovations like this, and it will make it easier from more diverse financial backgrounds to keep tabs of their general health, since there’s no need for a smartwatch now.

android
google
google fit
heart rate sensor
respiratory sensor


Google flaunts 3 standalone apps for Android Wear 2.0

331

Earlier this week, Google has released Developer Preview 4 for Android Wear 2.0, which is slated to have its final release early next year. Developer Preview 4 added a couple of handy features such as One-Click Google Sign-In, and also the good old Swipe to Dismiss gesture from Android Wear 1.0. Google has made a new announcement whereby Android Wear 2.0 will have standalone apps available.

With Android Wear 2.0, users can install, search and use apps independently on their own Android smart watches, without having to refer to or complete further steps on the paired Android device. With the announcement, Google has previewed 3 standalone apps for Android Wear 2.0 – Glide, Foursquare and Lifesum.

First off, Glide enables live broadcasts directly from the watch face. The app will allow you to tap on contact shortcuts, initiating a conversation in an instant, with the assistance of Wear Complications API. Google aims to make the wrist based communication experience to be more effortless and accessible at the same time. Next up is a more familiar app – Foursquare. The app will feature a clean new canvas, providing a more immersive experience for users. Foursquare’s software engineer Kyle Fowler claims the app to be more responsive so that users will spend less time staring at the screen with more time to explore the world around them. The last app focuses on fitness and health. Lifesum is an app that assists users in their food choices and exercise routines to help them achieve personal fitness goals. The standalone app experience of Lifesum will provide users a more simple experience, making it easier for them to track their health and fitness activities.

Android Wear 2.0 Developer Preview 4 has already been made available for testing, and Google has stated that there will be at least one more preview build for Android Wear 2.0 before getting a final release in 2017.

Source:
Android

20
4
android
apps
developer
foursquare
glide
lifesum
preview
standalone
wear


Google Flights lands in Malaysia

336

After a 5 year wait, Google Flights is now available for use in Malaysia.

To those who are unaware of what Google Flights is, the service functions as both a trip planner, and a plane ticket price aggregator. With this service, you can select your duration and period of your trip and location, and the service would automatically list down all known flights that will be departing from the nearest airport.

Once you’ve selected your flight, Google Flights would then provide you with the link to the airline’s website, allowing you to confirm your booking on the spot.

The same service would also allow you to book hotel rooms as well. Much like the booking a flight, all you need to do to book a hotel is to enter your destination, and Google will pull up a list of hotels and list them depending on quality or price. From there, all you need to do is to find the one that suits your budget, and the service would lead you to the hotel’s website.

google
googleflights


Google gives 2GB cloud storage for security checkup

295

In conjunction of Safer Internet Day, Google is giving out free additional storage to its users as a motivation for them to perform a security checkup on their Google Drive accounts. The announcement states:

This Safer Internet Day, we’re reminded how important online safety is and hope you’ll use this as an opportunity to take 2 minutes to complete a Simple Security Checkup.

According to the announcement, the security checkup is to ensure that you’re making full use of Google’s 24/7 protection over your account. If you complete the checkup by 17 February 2016, Google promisees a 2GB bump to your Google Drive storage.

There are three things to be checked, namely to ensure your account recovery information is current, reviewing your recent sign-in activity and confirming the apps and devices that access some account information. After finishing the checkup, you’ll be eligible for the free storage which Google will be granting to users around 28 Feburary 2016.

Google also reminds you to perform the checkup in the event where you sign in on a new smartphone or laptop. However, one thing to note is this upgrade doesn’t apply to Google Apps for Work and Google Apps for Education users.

Source:
Google

day
drive
free
google
internet
safer
storage


Google Glass is back and is making headway in the medical field

553

When Google Glass first launched, it was building hype all around the world with what it could do and offer to our lives. Sadly, a lot of promises were made but not much was delivered. Today, Google announced a new chapter for the wearable, and it is being focused on a variety of industries like manufacturing, logistics, field services and healthcare. It also has a new design that is focused on comfort and longer battery life.

In the field of medicine, it seems to be showing its worth. Doctors at Dignity Health has been using Glass to conduct a conference with their patients. Now, instead of typing down notes, all the note taking is done in the background and doctors can give their full attention to the patients. In addition to that, Dignity’s Chief Medical Information officer Dr Davin Lundquist said that Google Glass has reduced the time taken on typing up patient notes and other administrative work from 33% of their day to only 10% of their day, giving them more time to interact with patients.

It looks like Google has finally found a place for Glass to call home and it is nice to see a tech that had so much potential being utilised for the most important of reasons.

doctors
field
glass
google
medical


Google Glass Enterprise Edition spotted on Ebay

286

A few months ago, we’ve mentioned that Google is currently working on the second generation Google Glass. The Google Glass Enterprise Edition was supposed to be available only for businesses. Well, not anymore as if you’re rich enough, you can get the prototype Google Glass right now on
Ebay
!

Currently sitting at USD 7,000 with roughly three days left to go on before bidding closes, the Google Glass’s auction is created by a representative for A to Z Pawnbrokers. Yes, you read that right. Assuming that the Google Glass that is on auction right now is an internal unit, it means that someone on Google has decided to pawn off a Google Glass that is currently in its prototype stages.

Google themselves have yet to respond to the auction so far, but even if they do, it’s hard to say if they would force the person who hosts the auction to take it down. Whatever the case, if you have some spare change to burn and you’re know someone in the U.S. that is willing to ship things back to Malaysia, why not make a bid for this Google Glass yourself.

Source:
The Verge

ebay
googleglass


Google Glass gets its first update in almost three years

289

Some of you might have already wiped your memory of the Google Glass or have one but stored in the deepest and darkest parts of your home, well time to find them and dust them off because it finally got its first update in almost three years. It now has a MyGlass companion app update, bug fixes and now supports Bluetooth. The update came out just a few days ago and the firmware update followed with.

Google Glass was Google’s attempt at creating a mini computer that you can wear and at the start, showed some real promise on how it can augment and improve our lives, sadly after it launched it was very underwhelming, as it was really limited and had nothing much to offer. Those that bought it waited patiently for new add-ons and update to the software, but Google never responded and seem to have let it die. Currently, the Google Glass is not available to be purchased and Google has also shut down the website back in  2015.

So where is the future of this wearable going? It is really unsure, as this update feels like it’s just a feeble attempt to let its consumers know that it has not been forgotten as they might still do something about it.

glass
glasses
google
update
wearable


Google Go can now read websites out loud in 28 languages

371

Google has said that they are constantly improving their Android Go apps and back in July, they said that Google Go will eventually read web pages for you.

It looks like that feature has arrived on Google Go and it can support up to 28 languages including Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil and more. The feature will help users that have trouble reading or don’t understand the language used on the website. It will even highlight words as it reads for you which could help in improving the understanding of the language. The feature will even work on 2G networks and requires very minimal data, as it uses AI to shorten paragraphs to highlight the important points.

The feature is mainly made for the Indian market as very few of them have access to an Internet connection as it will help expose them to the other languages around the world.

go
google
outloud
read


Google Hangouts has its own webpage

287

I am not sure how many of you use Google Hangouts, but for us at KLGadget, we find it useful when we want to do a discussions with a group of other techies. Anyway, Google Hangouts now has its own website instead of being part of Gmail and Google+. It has now big buttons – which you won’t miss spotting, where you can launch instant messaging, video calls and voice calls easily.

If you’ve noticed, Google Hangouts for iOS and Android has also been updated and it looks just as minimalist as the website. This makes the service much easier to use, and is in line with Google’s Material Design style. With this update, hopefully casual users will use it more frequently, although I still think having to open another tab is still not the perfect solution.

I do like the changing photo backgrounds though. I find this little touch makes the website look good, and at the same time giving photographers a nice place to show off their photographs.

You can check out the website, which is live now, at
hangouts.google.com
.


Google has confirmed that Android P will be called Android Pie

253

After many weeks of speculations on which dessert will Google call their new mobile operating system, they have finally settled on Pie. Othe than that, they also provided a summary of features and changes that will come to Android Pie (9.0) when it releases.

Google has mentioned that they have included many AI functions that will learn based on your phone usages and the actions that you will take throughout the day on your phone. Some of the features highlighted is Adaptive Battery which learns the apps you use the most and prioritise battery life for those apps and Adaptive Brightness which learns your brightness settings depending on the situation and automatically does it for you.

Perhaps one of the most fascinating functions is App Actions which will predict what you will do next based on the context and displays it on your phone. Examples that were shared were, in the morning, your phone will suggest the best way to commute to work or resume an audiobook. After work, it might give home a call or start your favourite Spotify playlist.

From today onwards, the Android Pie update will be rolling out to Pixel phones as well as phones that were part of the Beta program and Android One devices will receive the update by the end of fall.

9.0
android
features
google
pie


Google has confirmed the launch of the Pixel 3 phones will happen on 9th October 2018

363

Google is about to unveil their new Pixel phones as well as other Pixel devices. The company has confirmed to be hosting an event on 9 October 2018 and have already sent out invites to the international media, asking to reserve the date.

Prior to this, the company has always had launches on 4th October in San Francisco, but this year they have changed the date as well as the location, as it will be held in New York City. While Google has plans to release new home appliances, the main focus of the even is the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL devices. There are a lot of leaks for these phones and it seems like we know everything about the phone, but Google might have something hidden up their sleeves. Other than that, they are expected to announce the Pixel Stand, a wireless charging dock that turns your phone into a Smart Display for Google Assistant. They are also expected to launch their own Smart Display and there are rumours of two Pixelbooks and a new Pixel Bud.

We will be covering the event as they will be having a live stream, so stay tuned to KLGadgetGuy for more information.

buds
google
phone
pixel
pixelbook


Google has developed a search engine for China that censors controversial topics

378

Back in 2010, Google was banned by the government of China and was replaced with China’s own Baidu platform which did the same conveniences that Google provided. After 10 long years, it would seem that Google might be trying to get back into China with a new censored search engine.

Codename, Project Dragonfly, this search engine will blacklist websites and terms about human rights, democracy religion and protests, topics that are sensitive in China. The project started back in 2017 and has been demonstrated to Chinese officials at CES 2018. The final version could launch in the next six to nine months based on approval from the Chinese Government and it will start as a mobile app before the desktop app arrives. Based on a report that was acquired by The Intercept, the search engine will not only filter and block certain websites, like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and adult websites.

The source also said that a handful of Google employees know about this project and were not allowed to share this information which has sparked concern on censorship which might be skewed morally and ethically. However, Google has to respect the wishes of the Chinese government and it would be a beneficial improvement to tourists that would still like to use Google products without using a VPN in China.

censor
china
engine
google
search


Google has launched Continued Conversations update for Assistant

372

Google Assistant has been updated with a new conversation feature that was shown during Google’s I/O event a few months back. The Continued Conversation is now live and changes the way you interact with your Assistant.

Continued Conversation has now rolled out to Assistant for users in the U.S. that own a Google Home, Home Mini and Home Max. The new setting will allow users to have a more human-like conversation with Assistant without the need of saying Hey Google, every time you want to give it a command. You will still need to say the initial OK Google or Hey Google, and Assistant will be listening to you for up to eight seconds without you saying anything. The feature can be found in Settings – Preferences – Continued Conversation.

If you are worried about the speaker listing to you for eight seconds, the feature can be turn off. Google has also mentioned that they are taking all the necessary precautions to ensure your Assistant device is not listing to you without saying the trigger word. There is no mentioned if this feature will come to Google Assistant on mobile devices, but seeing as Assistant works on the cloud, it should not be an issue to bring this feature to Android phones.

assistant
continued
conversation
feature
google
update


Google has now shipped over 10 million Cardboard viewers, and more Daydream VR announcements

376

Google has decided that its Cardboard viewer stats are now boast-worthy, hence the company has revealed some of them conveniently at Mobile World Congress Barcelona. Google has now shipped more than 10 million Cardboard viewers, and has recorded over 160 million downloads of Cardboard apps on the Google Play Store, 30 of them surpassing the 1 million mark.

Google has also claimed that people spend more time using its Daydream VR headset – roughly 40 minutes in a week. Also, there are now six Daydream ready smartphones in total and 100 Daydream apps to fiddle around with. With the statistics, Google has announced Sky VR, an app which offers premium content such as 360 videos exclusively from Sky’s partners such as Star Wars: Red Carpet, The Jungle Book by Disney and more.

In developing the growth of Tango technology, Google has brought in The Sims, Chelsea Kicker and WSJ AR, 3 new Augmented Reality (AR) experiences for Tango smartphones such as the ASUS ZenFone AR and the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. The Sims AR will allow users to travel around in a Sim’s home, Chelsea Kicker places a Chelsea soccer player in front of your eyes (in the smartphone), making him available to be taken pictures with, or best him in soccer tricks. WSJ AR enables users to visualize stock trends.

It seems like a bright future ahead for both VR And AR technology. We should be expecting more Tango enabled smartphones to be made and more people acquiring Google’s Daydream headset in the days to come. Thoughts?

Source:
Google

ar
augmented
cardboard
chelsea
daydream
google
headset
reality
sims
sky
tango
the
virtual
vr
wsj


Google has plans to launch a mid-range Pixel phone

408

It would seem that Google is making plans to release a mid-range Pixel device according to sources that leaked the company’s future plans. The device is looking at a summer launch and they are specifically targeting markets like India.

Based on leaks from within Google, the company has plans to release the mid-range Pixel device in either July or August in India and other markets where lower cost devices are in demand. However, they did not mention which countries will be getting the phone. This strategy is to get Pixel devices into the hands of more consumers. Other than that, they are also planning to launch other products in these markets like the Google Home speakers, the new Pixelbook and various automation products.

Mid-range devices seem to sell pretty well in Malaysia, with companies on their toes when pricing their device and some even offering massive discounts on their product just a few months after launch, there could be a high chance we might see the mid-range Pixel phone here in Malaysia.

google
mid-range
phone
pixel
plans
release


Google has reportedly shelved Project Ara

322

Project Ara, Google’s attempt at a modular smartphone, may have just been put on ice indefinitely as Reuters is reporting that the tech giant has suspended the project as part of a broader push to streamline the company’s hardware efforts.

First announced as a fully modular smartphone, Project Ara has not gone exactly to plan as Google has envisioned it to be. The smartphone has seen numerous setbacks, from removing the ability to customize the interior components of the phone, to a delay in the initial 2015 launch plans. At Google I/O 2016, Google did mention that developer versions of the Ara were supposed to be available in the coming months, but with this report, it appears that Ara as a whole might not see the daylight.

While the news of Google discontinuing the Ara is disappointing, Ara may not be entirely dead. Google may not be releasing the phone itself, but the company may work with partners to bring the technology developed for Project Ara to the market through licensing agreements. With semi-modular smartphones such as the Moto Z now available in the market, the technology gained from Project Ara may be put to good use by other companies.

Source:
Reuters

discontinued
google
modular
projectara
smartphone


Google Health’s AI surpassed human experts at detecting breast cancer

376

Google is developing an AI tool to better detect breast cancer and it has been successful so far, based on a research paper that was published yesterday.

Breast cancer can be detected through a mammogram — an X-ray diagram of the breast — which is further examined by the doctor. Based on the mammogram, doctors can discover symptoms of mammograms, sometimes much earlier before women can feel it when they examine themselves. However, it is not easy to analyze these X-ray images which can lead to many false negatives and false positives.

Google’s Health division has taken this issue into their hands by working with several clinical partners — Deepmind, Cancer Research UK Imperial Centre, Northwestern University and Royal Surrey County Hospital — and publishing their initial findings that reveal the AI tool to have greater accuracy compared to human experts.

Using data sets of more than 28,000 women from the U.K. and the U.S., the AI model managed to outperform the human experts despite having less information about the patient (histories and previous mammograms). The model reduced false negatives by 9.4% in the U.S. and 2.7% in the U.K., while the false positives were reduced by 5.7% in the U.S. and 1.2% in the U.K.

However, this doesn’t mean that Google is trying to create something that can replace the radiologists. Google researcher, Shravya Shetty told
The Verge
, “There are a number of cases where the radiologists catch something that the model misses, and vice versa. Bringing the two together could strengthen the overall results.” Google is simply trying to create a tool that can help radiologists make a better judgment, reducing misdiagnosis and increasing efficiency.

ai
google
Google Health


Google hires Christopher Poole

634

Christopher Poole, more commonly known as moot, was the owner of 4chan until he sold the website off to Hiroyuki Nishimura last year. Since then, the man has remained silent as to what he’s been up to. Today, the man himself revealed that he has been hired by Google.

In a blogpost, Poole reveals that he finds himself drawn to the intelligence, passion and enthusiasm of current and former “Googlers”. Poole further says that he can’t wait to contribute his own experience from a dozen years of building online communities to Google.

Thus far, Google has yet to reveal what Poole’s position at Google would be, but judging by Poole’s experience with “building online communities”, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to imagine that he would be part of the team handling Google’s social media-based projects. Whatever the case, Poole’s employment with Google is a drastic change in pace when compared to the utter chaos that is 4chan.

Source:
Chris Poole’s Blog
,
Engadget

google
moot


Google hires ex-Pixar and The Onion writers to work on Google Asssistant

374

Back at the Made By Google event, Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai mentioned that they wanted Google Assistant to be much more personable than your the robotic monotone that defines the modern day digital assistant. Today, the Wall Street Journal has given us some hints as to how Google hopes to achieve that, as it reports that Google is apparently hiring writers who used to work for Pixar and The Onion.

The logic behind Google’s hiring is simple: by humanising Google Assistant, Google hopes that an emotional connection between the user and the AI assistant could form at a faster rate. In short, Google’s believes that writers are necessary to give Google Assistant some personality. This would then translate into a better user experience.

With both Google Home and the Pixel smartphones scheduled to be launch next month, it’ll be interesting to see if Google’s attempts to humanize its AI assistant manages to pay off.

Source:
The Wall Street Journal

artificialintelligence
google
googleassistant
pixar
theonion
writers


Google hires mobile chip designer from Apple for new Pixel phones

334

Google is making their Pixel phones into iPhone replacements by providing the phone at a premium price and specs. Now Google is taking a step further to make it an iPhone replacement by hiring Manu Gulati, one of the chip designers at Apple to be its lead system-on-chip architect. Sources claim that Google hired him to design its own CPUs for the next Pixel phones.

No surprise here as there were rumors floating around in 2016 that the Pixel phones will eventually adopt custom processors, its still questionable why would Google want to push their on chips as they have not had a foothold in the smartphone market as Samsung, Huawei, and Apple which justifies why they created their own chip. Doing this might also increase the price of the phones due to the fact that they would have to create the chips in smaller amounts compared to just buying a bulk of those chips.

Perhaps this is the way Google wants to stand out from the other Android phones who have been using the standard Qualcomm chips, creating a new chip might be the best way they could make a difference in their phones, and if creating their own chips will bring performance improvements or process the Android OS better, then it would make even more sense.

android
apple
google
pixel
processors
smartphones


Google Home Max is made to fight the HomePod

399

Google’s live event at San Francisco is currently commencing as we speak. While most of us are looking forward to the Pixel 2 series, Google has launched a larger version of its previously launched Home, with a couple of minor refinements and improvements – the Home Max.

First of all, the speaker is blanketed by a piece of fabric, which houses two 4.5-inch woofers. The microphones are pretty impressive as well as Google claims them to be far field microphones that can capture your commands even while music is playing. The Home Max comes with Bluetooth and Google Cast support, a 3.5 mm audio jack. The speaker also comes with touch controls

The Home Max by Google is definitely made to compete with the likes of Apple’s HomePod, hence it will have a bunch of similar features as well, just like this one. Google’s Smart Sound technology will enable the Home Max to learn the surroundings of a room and tune itself to accommodate the room. It can also automatically tune to volume based on the type of audio that is fed out of the speakers, and increase or reduce the volume according to what’s happening around it.

The Google Home Max will be made available in the US this coming December for a price tag of $399. Google will offer 12 months of ad-free YouTube music subscription with the purchase of the Home Max.

google
google assistant
home max
homepoda
pple
speakers
woofers


Google Home will finally support multiple users soon

371

Google home is probably the most pick home assistant aside from Amazon Echo, but the main issue with this home assistant devices is that it lacks the feature to differentiate the different users. You would think it could, seeing as a regular household would averagely have 4 people living in it. Well Google has an answer for that in the newest update for the Google home by finally supporting multiple users.

Getting Google Home to detect multiple users can be as simple as using voice recognition to swap Google accounts depending on which user is currently interacting with the device, which can eliminate the need to open up the Google Home app and swapping users manually, which honestly kind of defeats the purpose of having a home assistant. Many people have been requesting Google to implement a feature to make it more of a “home” assistant and not a “personal” assistant as stated in its name Google “Home”. It looks like Google has finally heard the complains and is already working on the solution

The announcement of the update which appeared to be a mistake, can be seen in the Google Home app but it appears that the update has still not been implemented. But we should be expecting an update for the device very soon.

Source:
Engadget

assistant
google
google home
home
ok google


Google I/O 2019: Android Q beta 3 now online, includes security features and much-requested dark theme

301

An hour past midnight this morning saw the commencement of the first day of Google I/O 2019 – the developer conference saw over announcements of several updates and releases of Google products – and one of the biggest news to emerge are updates on Android Q.

In essence, Android Q brings about improved privacy, tweaks to how notifications are presented, dark mode (or dark theme as Google calls it), and more. This brings about beta 3 for the OS which is now available from a select number of devices.

Now, let’s talk a bit about what’s changing in the upcoming Android OS. In terms of navigation and UI, Android Q will put in place a new set of gestural systems – the biggest change happening to the good ol’ back button, which is now a swiping gesture. The problem with this is that gestures are more akin with iOS devices – what Android users like (especially purists), are the simple, yet effective buttons that perform with a single tap. Needless to say, this new gesture implementation has irked a number of people.

Image credit: The Verge

Notifications will also see some tweaks – Google’s “Notification Assistant” will suggest likely replies to texts and e-mails that you receive all within the notification tray. So we’re talking about a single swipe and a tap to complete a conversation – useful for busy individuals, cheesy for the rest.

Image credit: Trusted Reviews

You’ll also be able to view your notifications in Dark Theme – because that’s seemingly where software development is heading: the need for pitch black backgrounds to accent words and images. Well, we like it because it’s cool and people say it saves power. Enabling Dark Theme on Android Q simply needs a down-swipe on the Quick Settings menu and a quick tap on the option – now everything’s dark.

On to more pressing matters: security – Google had announced the Project Mainline initiative to focus on pushing out security patches to more devices faster; and it will apparently do so via the Google Play Store infrastructure.

Image credit: Engadget

Also, Google will be working on improving on accessing user permissions and securing privacy. A “Privacy” tab will be accessible from the settings menu where a list of options and controls will be at hand. Google claims that there will be a total of 40 updates to security and permissions, so we expect Android Q to instill a sense of privacy when used.

In terms of quality of life improvements, you can look forward to the live caption feature that transcribe audio or videos into text. Folks like you and I will probably use it to figure out lyrics to a song; while for others, especially for the hearing-impaired, we think this could add a lot of value to how smartphones can be used.

The beta is now available for 21 devices, including all Google Pixel phones as well as OnePlus 6T, Xiaomi Mi 9, LG G8, OPPO Reno, Realme 3 Pro and more.

Android Q
google
google i/o
os
updates


Google pushes identity verification program to all advertisers, but it could take years

315

Google is moving towards a more transparent policy; the company announced an identity verification policy back in 2018 for political advertisers, but now it’ll be applied to all advertisers.

When advertisers buy ads from Google, they’ll be asked to complete a verification program which includes submission of business documents, personal identification and so on. This will allows users to find out more about why they’re seeing an ad or who is the advertisers behind these ads.

This has been done to political advertisers who wanted to run their election ads on Google platforms. As of now, Google has already verified political advertisers in 30 countries. The tech giant believes that the decision to verify every advertiser on its platform will lead to a healthier digital advertising ecosystem.

However, this is not something that can be achieved overnight — Google pointed out that it could take a few years to completely verify all their advertisers, and that the company will start its verification process in phases in the U.S before it expands to other countries.

google
identity verification program


Google improves search engine to make searching for medical symptoms easier

272

Searching for medical symptoms via Google will be made a whole lot easier as the company is improving its search engine to streamline and simplify symptom searches in the coming days.

According to Google, when the improvements gets rolled out, searching for a medical symptom such as “headache on one side” will show you a list of related conditions, ranging from headache to the common cold. Searching for individual symptoms will also give you an overview description along with information on self-treatment options and what might warrant a doctor’s visit.

While the improvement would help you in some case, Google would like to emphasize that the symptom search improvement is intended to be for informational purposes only. At the end of the day, a search engine is no substitute for a licensed physician. The improvement will be available for mobile users in the U.S. to start. Google has stated that they intend to roll out this improvement to other languages and nations, while also expanding upon the service to cover more symptoms.

Source:
Google

google
health
search
symptoms


Google in talks with NetEase to launch the Play Store in China

267

China is a notoriously tough market to get into for a western tech company, regardless of how prolific you may be. No surprise then that Google is supposedly in talks with Chinese internet company NetEase that may see both companies form a partnership to launch the Play Store in the country.

According to a report by The Information, NetEase has approached Google with the idea of launching Google’s App Store in China under the name of Google Play. While both parties have yet to publically comment about the matter, should the deal manage to go through, Google would be able to gain more control over the Chinese app market, a sector that has thus far been dominated by the likes of Tencent and Alibaba.

Needless to say, Google will also need to compromise on the application it hosts on a China-based Play Store. Seeing as the Chinese government doesn’t pull punches when it comes to censorship, Google will need to toe the line accordingly or risk getting booted out of the country altogether.

Source:
The Information
,
Engadget

app
business
china
google
market
netease
playstore


Google in the works of a hybrid Pixel 3 running Andromeda OS

367

A new Andromeda OS went through the rumor mill all of a sudden, an operating system said to be an initiative to combine Android and Chrome OS into a single hybrid platform. Now we have fresh new rumors regarding the OS, plus the next Pixel laptop to run the said Andromeda OS.

The new laptop is rumored to be launched in Q3 2017. Yes, still around a year to go. The “Pixel 3” (that’s what we’re calling it for now) has a Bison codename internally. As mentioned earlier, it will be running Google’s rumored Andromeda OS. Although Andromeda OS is said to be a Android and Chrome OS hybrid, the platform is said to actually have Chrome OS and its features integrated into Android, the total opposite of ARC for Google’s own Chromebooks, which makes Chromebooks support Android apps. It does sound like a really huge development and effort within Google, hence the reason why we’re not getting any rumors of Google releasing a Pixel Chromebook next week.

Android Police has stressed that the Pixel 3 will be subject to a lot of change and evolution since we’re still very far from the rumored time frame for its launch. But according to the source, The Pixel 3 is said to be sporting a Lenovo Yoga like design, which might make it a convertible laptop/tablet hybrid. It’s screen size will be of 12.3-inches. Underneath the hood, the Pixel 3 is rumored to be powered by an Intel m3 or a Core i5 processor with 8GB or 16GB of RAM, and 32GB or 128GB of onboard storage respectively. Other specs include two USB Type-C ports, a fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers and quad microphones, support for stylus, a backlit keyboard, and a Macbook-esque touch sensitive glass trackpad with haptic feedback. Its battery is slated to last around 10 hours.

Pricing for the new Pixel will be a little steep if compared to the Chromebooks of today. The Andromeda OS laptop is expected to carry a price tag of $799 (RM3,300.07), which will place itself in a different budget spectrum. A higher priced Google laptop will bring a whole new different game as opposed to the current affordable Chromebooks by the company. Time will tell if Google will fully embrace Andromeda OS in the future, or will it still continue its development for Chrome OS. Nevertheless, do bear in mind that these are very early rumors, so do take them with a huge grain of salt, or a sack of salt. Let us know your thoughts at the comments section below!

Source:
Android Police

2017
3
android
andromeda
bison
c
chrome
google
hybrid
laptop
os
pixel
tablet


Google is integrating Smart Reply to all major messaging apps

315

Google is working on a new way for users to send quick replies without typing anything. The company is working on implementing Smart Reply to third-party apps like Messenger, WhatsApp and other major chat apps. We have already seen Smart Reply in Gmail, Inbox and Google Allo, where it is able to show you suggestions on replies you can do based on the context of the email or message.

However, Google is taking this feature one step further by using AI to scan the message and take into account things like your location, events in your Google Calendar and time of the day to suggest replies. If someone were to ask you “when will you be home?” The feature will take into account of your current location and calculate the duration to which you will reach home and recommend that as a reply. Other than that, this feature can also scan your calendar and recommend replies based on your availability when someone asks you if you are free on a certain date and time.

Currently, this feature is still in beta, but those of you that want to try out the feature can sign up for the beta and Google will send you an email if you are selected to be a tested

apps
google
messaging
reply
smart


Google introduces Instant Tethering feature for Pixel and Nexus smartphones

376

Tethering your devices to a single hotspot may soon be a lot easier for Android users as Google has rolled out a feature called Instant Tethering.

Currently only available on Pixel and Nexus devices which are running Android Nougat 7.1.1, Instant Tethering is part of Google Play Services 10.2. With this feature enabled, Instant Tethering would link up devices that are associated with your Google account. In the event that one of the linked devices loses connection to the internet, Instant Tethering would automatically ask if you would like to tether said device to another device that has an internet connection. If you reply in the affirmative, both devices will be tethered to each other automatically. Besides tethering two devices together, the feature will also display the battery level of all other linked devices.

As mentioned earlier, this feature is currently limited to Nexus and Pixel devices. In addition to that, only phones like the Pixel and Pixel XL can be used as hotspots. Tablets such as the Nexus 9 and the Pixel C will only be able to connect to the hotspots and are unable to become hotspots of their own. Additionally, the feature’s availability is also reliant on whether or not your phone carrier allows data tethering in the first place.

Source:
Android Police

data
google
hotspot
instanttethering
nexus
pixel
smartphone
tablet


Google introduces Tap to Translate on Android

381

Currently, Google Translate supports a total of 103 languages, being the translator for over 200 million users every day. Google has just announced a feature from Google Translate that will make your life so much more easier, and guess what, the feature arrives with the latest version of Google Translate.

Introducing Tap to Translate, which eliminates the hassle of having to first copy the text, switch to the Google Translate app, pasting the text and copying the translated text if you intend to reply in that unfamiliar language. With Tap to Translate, users only have to highlight a text in an app and the Google Translate icon, which looks identical to a chat head from Messenger, will pop out at the corner of your screen, allowing you to translate your text instantly. No internet? Google has also got you covered as the new feature does work offline as well.

According to Google, Tap to Translate works in any Android app. With the feature, plenty of time is saved in the process too. Instead of taking a minute for the usual translation plus copy and paste process, it can now be done in a couple of seconds. What do you think about this new Tap to Translate feature for Google Translate?

Source:
Google

android
app
copy
google
highlight
paste
tap
to
translate


Google I/O 2016: Chrome OS will receive support for Play Store apps this year

305

Chrome OS is about to receive a major update later this year as Google has just made it official that they will be bringing the Play Store apps to Chrome OS.

Currently, there are a few Android apps that can work on a Chromebook. In the upcoming update for Chrome OS, users of Google’s desktop OS will gain access to the millions of apps found inside the Google Play Store.

Google has been busy trying to bring the Play Store to Chrome OS for a long time of course. Their first attempt using App Runtime for Chrome (ARC) and Native Client wasn’t exactly a success as it requires app developers to tinker on the apps in order to make it run on Chrome OS. With this attempt, Android on Chrome OS will now run in a Linux container. This would allow the apps to run without requiring additional work from developers, and it would not require any emulation as well. Both Chrome OS and Android will use the same kernel and resources on the Chrome OS machine.

Before you get too excited about the upcoming update though, do note that Google will be releasing the Play Store update to
select Chromebooks
 first. The reasoning behind this decision is that Google is allowing Android developers to add improved keyboard support to their apps before the wider release. No release date was given as of yet, but Google has revealed that the Play Store update will be coming to the Chrome OS dev channel in June.

Source:
TechCrunch

android
chromeos
google
googleio
playstore


Google I/O 2016: Google debuts Allo and Duo apps

314

We’re going to assume that Google is aiming to phase out Hangouts in the near future as the company has debut a brand new AI-based chat app and a HD video calling app.

First off, the AI-based chat app. Called Allo, this smart messaging app will feature machine learning as well as Google Assistant. Much like other messaging apps, Allo users can find people to chat with based on their phone numbers, as well as Google accounts for services like Gmail.

While the app itself functions much like other chat apps such as WhatsApp, Allo will come with features that would make them look primitive. For one, Allo’s machine learning means that Google is able to implement a feature called Smart Reply. Similar to the one found in Inbox, Smart Reply will suggest responses to you for conversations, allowing you to chat without actually needing to type out a sentence. Thanks to machine learning, Smart Reply will ‘learn’ from your replies to provide you with relevant suggestions.

Not everything is AI-centric on Allo though as the chat app will come with what is called the “whisper shout” mode. Designed to be an alternative to Caps Lock, this feature will allow you to enlarge or shrink text, which mimics either shouting or whispering. Incognito mode will also be available on Allo, causing chats to be encrypted end-to-end with discreet notifications.

Next up, the HD video calling app. Titled Duo, this HD video calling app is meant for one-on-one conversation. One of the features that Duo will have is something called “Knock Knock”, a feature that gives users a real time image of the person calling you prior to the call being connected. Google has also boasted that Duo will run smoothly regardless of your connection quality. Much like Allo, Duo will come with end-to-end encryption.

Both apps will be coming to iOS and Android this coming Summer.

allo
duo
google
googleio


Google I/O 2016: Google introduces Android Wear 2.0

299

Android-powered smartwatches are about to get a considerable upgrade as Google has announced that Android Wear 2.0 is currently in the works.

Touted to be the “biggest platform update yet”, Android Wear 2.0 will feature major overhauls to the platform. Overhauls aren’t the only thing that will be coming to Android Wear 2.0 of course, as the update will also introduce features like new input methods to Android-powered wearables.

One of the biggest additions to Android Wear 2.0 is the ability for apps to communicated directly over the internet via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular. This means that an Android-powered smartwatch will no longer need to rely exlusively on a tethered phone or cloud syncing between the watch and the phone. This feature allows the wearable to be much more useful when it is connected to the internet despite the lack of a phone.

New input methods will also be available on Android Wear 2.0. Google will be introducing a swipe-style keyboard to the platform, as well as a handwriting recognition mode that allows you to trace letters on the screen to spell out messages. Smart Input will also be available on Android Wear 2.0, allowing you to respond to messages as quickly as possible.

Fitness was not neglected as Android Wear 2.0 now comes with automatic activity recognition. For fitness apps, Google Fit API will allow apps to communicate with each other. One example that Google pointed out on stage is that information gathered by a nutrition app can be synced with an app that calculates calories burn, allowing you to fine tune your exercise routine.

Watch faces are also an important point of Android Wear 2.0. The upcoming update will allow you to display any information you want on any watch face, allowing you to mix and match styles with the information you need. To assist developers who are interested in designing watch faces and apps for Android Wear 2.0, Google has released a
Material Design guide
 that explains every aspect of Android Wear software design.

No solid release date has been given for Android Wear 2.0, but a developer preview will be available starting today.

androidwear20
google
googleio
smartwatch


Google I/O 2016: Google launches 'beta-quality' Android N preview

431

Android N is about to get some major updates as Google has announced at I/O that the company will be receivng the third Android N preview release.

Considered by Google employees as a ‘beta-quality candidate’, the third version of Android N will be bringing some new improvements to the OS, on top of pre-existing features such as multi-window support. For starters, this new version of Android N will support the Vulkan API. Thanks to Vulkan’s lower CPU overhead, this would translate to better performance for games on Android N.

Android N’s Vulkan support may also be beneficial to Google’s Daydream VR platform and Android N’s VR mode as well. According to Google, VR mode would give VR apps priority access to the CPU and GPU on a phone. It will also feature a couple of software techniques that would minimise the latency between head movements and the time updates to reflect this as short as currently possible. According to Google, this mode has allowed them to reduce latency on a Nexus 6P with Cardboard to under 20ms, which is an impressive feat if proven true.

The runtime for Android N has also been improved upon, and Android N will be receiving a new Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler that would improve software performance, makes installs faster, and reduces the amount of storage needed for apps.

Updates have also been revamped in the new version of Android N as the OS will now quietly download an update and set it up on the background. This would allow the operating system to switch between the old and new image once you’ve restarted the device. If you’re one of the few who uses Chrome OS, the update system for Android N is almost identical to the one found on it. While this may be good and all, it remains to be seen if Android N will allow you to disable this sort of automatic updates.

There are other features that will be available on Android N of course, but Google is currently keeping mum on them for now. In the meantime, Google will be running a contest to choose the official name of Android N. The company has mentioned though that the names will be chosen by them, and as such, joke entries like “Namey McNameface” would probably not be the official name for Android N. Regardless, if you think you have a decent name for Android N, you can submit your entries
here
.

The final version of Android N is scheduled to be released this Summer.

android
androidn
googleio
vulkan


Google I/O 2016: Google reveals a high-quality mobile virtual reality platform called Daydream

276

Virtual Reality is hitting its stride this year and Google does not want to be left out. As such, the company has announced the launch of Daydream, a new platform designed to provide a better VR experience on mobile devices.

Build on top of Android N, Daydream is stated to be a more advanced successor to the Google cardboard. This mobile VR system will come with its own VR headsets and motion controllers, both of which will be available in Fall. The platform itself will be powered by the next wave of Android N devices, all of which will be built to Google’s own standards.

For phones that have the performance for it, Google will be equipping them with Android VR mode into the latest version of its operating system. This mode will come with a series of optimizations that aims to improve app performance. It also doubles as an ecosystem that users will be able to navigate inside virtual reality.

Google has announced that Samsung, HTC, LG, Xiaomi, Huawei, ZTE, ASUS and Alcatel will be making Daydream-ready phones. With these eight companies focused on creating Daydream-ready phones, Google themselves will be developing the new VR headset and controller.

daydream
google
googleio


Google I/O 2016: Google reveals a smart speaker known as Google Home

254

Remember when Amazon released its own smart speaker called Echo? Well, said speaker has finally received a competitor as Google has unveiled the Google Home during the Google I/O keynote.

Slated for release later this year, Google Home is a speaker that comes with always-listening, far-field microphones that Google claims could hear you from across the room. Appearance-wise, the Google Home is a rather compact thing that comes with LED lights as well as a modular case that can be customised with different base shells.

While the device seems portable, this device must be plugged into a power source for it to work. That said, Google Home is a rather ambitious device by itself. For one, the device can communicate with any other Chromecasts you have in your house because the device utilises basic Cast standard. Assuming that you have other Chromecasts located around your house, you’ll be able to control that device through Google Home via voice through the built-in Google Assistant feature.

In the event that you have multiple devices that are connected to a Chromecast, the Google Home will effectively double as a pseudo smart home hub, allowing you to control your televisions or speakers through the Google Home itself.

One drawback that the Google Home will have is that the Google will not be opening up a developer API for both the Google Home or Google Assistant just yet. For now, Google Home will work with a smaller set of home automation devices. Once they’re done tuning the device though, Google may decide to release an API for the Home.

chromecast
google
googlehome
googleio


Google I/O 2016: Google reveals its own digital assistant: Google Assistant

304

They say that it’s better late than never. Well, Google believes in that old saying as the company’s first announcement for this year’s Google I/O event is to reveal the company’s own answer to both Cortana and Siri. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Google Assistant.

Google Assistant looks to be an upgraded version of the existing Google Now feature. Much like Siri or Cortana, Google Assistant will be voice-activated. Users are able to ask it a question, and when Google answers the initial question, users would then be able to ask it other questions that follow up from the original question asked.

“We think of it as a conversational assistant, we want users to have an ongoing two-way dialog,” says CEO Sundar Pichai.

During the presentation, Google demonstrated its assistant by asking ask it who directed The Revenant. Once Google Assistant answered the question, the presenter followed up the question by asking Google Assistant to list out the accolades of the director.

Besides questions, Google Assistant will also be able to help you with various tasks. One such task that was demonstrated live on stage is that you can ask Google Assistant to book movie tickets for you using just your voice. Google Assistant would then automatically book tickets for the movie you want at the cinema nearest to you.

As Google’s own personal assistant, Google Assistant will be integrated into the company’s other products. More specifically, Google Assistant will be built into Google’s new messaging app Allo, as well as Google’s smart speaker Google Home.

digitalassistant
google
googleassistant
googleio


Google I/O 2016: Google will launch Project Ara phone in 2017

266

Remember Project Ara? Google’s experimental modular phone? Well, that device will soon be available for purchase as the company reveals that the consumer version is expected to go into circulation in 2017.

The Project Ara smartphone has had a rather shaky history when it comes to its development of course. From failed demos to cancelled prototype programs, Google’s attempt at creating a modular smartphone has been one full of trial and error. So it was kind of a surprise to find out that Ara will be an actual purchasable product by next year, assuming that nothing else goes wrong for the smartphone.

As for what to expect from Ara, Google has quite noticably toned down some aspects of the modular smartphone. When it was first announced, Ara was going to allow you to swap out components such as the processor, allowing you to customised the phone much like a desktop. Now though, all of the main hardware is built into the phone. While you can’t exactly future-proof the Ara, you can instead opt to customize the features on your phone. Some of the modules that were displayed at the event includes an E-Ink display, a speaker, a camera, and an expanded memory module.

“OK Google, eject the camera.” Now that’s what I want in a modular phone. Assuming it only recognizes me, that is!
pic.twitter.com/y7gzXpkL8l

— Sean Hollister (@StarFire2258)
May 20, 2016

While the consumer version of the Ara won’t be available till next year, the Project Ara Developer Edition is expected to ship out this fall. Will the Ara become the next big deal in a market that has been steadily growing stale for the past few years? Only time will tell.

Source:
CNet

google
googleio
modular
projectara
smartphone


Google I/O 2017 to be held from May 17th to 19th at Mountain View

300

Google fans take note, the company has announced the dates for its annual I/O Conference. The conference will run from the 17th until the 19th of May, and it will take place at the Shoreline Amphitheater at Mountain View.

Seeing as we’re still four months away from the conference, we still don’t quite know what Google will be announcing at the event. Nevertheless, Google has since opened up a
webpage
 for the event with a simple line of text that says “check back for more details”.

In the meantime, Google appears to have started a
treasure hunt
 of sorts for developers that will potentially reveal what may be in store for the I/O Conference. Those interested in participating in the event can start their journey at this
GitHub
 page.

conference
google
io2017


Google is adding 6 new voices to Assistant, one of them will be John Legend’s voice

387

Google has just shown us why Assistant is now the
smartest voice assistant
, but they also showed how they are making it the most fun by adding different voices to replace the default voice we have grown accustomed to.

The company has announced that six new voice are coming to Assistant including the famous voice of John Legend which they used WaveNet. WaveNet is the same program that is powering Google’s DeepMind AI, and by feeding it voice tracks from a source, the final product is a working, functioning voice that Google can use to replace the default voice of Assistant.

Google has mentioned that the new voice will become by the end of the year and in the future, they plan to have different ethnics things and accents so it would make everyone from all around the world more comfortable to have a conversation with the smart assistant.

assistant
google
john
legend
voice


Google is adding iPhone X-like gestures in Android P

315

Google is changing the way we interact with our phones when Android P rolls out. The company is now adding iPhone X-like gestures to its operating system and it looks like it might actually improve the interactivity with the OS.

Demoed at their Google I/O conference, Android P will get rid of the navigation buttons and replace them with just an icon at the bottom of the screen, similar to the icon on the iPhone X. The Verge has provided the exact details on how this new gesture feature will work. Tapping the icon will go to the home screen, long press will activate Assistant, half swipe up will go to the overview screen, full swipe up will bring up the app drawer, sliding to the right will scroll through recent apps, and finally is the back button which will only appear in apps.

We assume that users will still be able to bring back the navigation buttons in the settings but for those of you that prefer gesture controls will love this feature as it not only will make your phone screen cleaner, it is a much better way to traverse the operating system without tapping the screen too many times.

android
controls
gestures
google
navigation
p


Google is beta-testing extention-free Casting for Chrome

324

Mirroring a Chrome tab onto your TV via Chromecast would soon be a lot easier as the company is currently beta-testing a feature that will allow you to do so without installing an extension.

Google evangelist François Beaufort revealed via his
Google Plus page
 that the chromium team is currently experimenting with casting tabs without the Google Cast extension installed. This new feature, should it be implemented, will allow you to right-click on the page and select ‘Cast’, negating the need for the Google Cast extension. This functionality is available for the beta version of Chrome and you can access it by typing ‘
chrome://flags/#media-router’
 into the adress bar and enabling the ‘Media Router’ flag.

Should the feature make it out of Beta and into the consumer-ready version of Chrome, casting websites onto your TV would become much more convenient.

chrome
chromecast
google


Google is building an app to rival Periscope

354

In August 2015, Google launched YouTube Gaming, to bring gamers all over the globe together, and allowing access to live game streams and videos alike, specifically for the gaming community. Ultimately, if not obvious enough, YouTube gaming was created to compete with Twitch, which is the world’s leading video platform and community for gamers. YouTube gaming took off, but did not fly as high as expected.

The folks at VentureBeat have found out that Google wants to compete again. This time, with another rival, Periscope. Google is said to be building a Periscope alternative, known as YouTube Connect. The app is said to be coming to iOS and Android platforms, and works just like Periscope and Facebook Live. There will be features like tagging and chatting, and a YouTube version of your newsfeed of your fellow YouTube friends.

The app is also rumored to be able to store previous broadcasts, after being streamed live. Live streaming is currently available on YouTube, but only true their Creator Studio app. Not only that, your YouTube account has to be “in good standing’. We’re not sure what that means but YouTube Connect will most probably make live streaming available to everyone out there. What do you think about this initiative?

Source:
VentureBeat

app
connect
creator
facebook
live
periscope
studio
twitch
youtube


Google is enabling Picture-in-Picture mode for all YouTube users

372

YouTube is getting an update that will add picture-in-picture mode which was previously only available from a YouTube Premium subscription. However, there are some limitations to this feature, not allowing some of you to use this feature.

Currently, it is only available in the US for now but there are some reports that stated it will be coming to other regions soon. The other problem is that you will need an Android Oreo device and only 5.7% of Android devices are running on Oreo. People did not understand why such a feature was only available on the Premium subscription which we agree, it did not make sense. Picture-in-picture, for those of you that don’t know, will allow you to minimize an app to a small window on your phone which then allows you to run another app while the window of the previous app floats on the screen. When the feature arrives here, you will be able to activate this feature by heading to the Settings section of the YouTube app. Once activated, if you press the home button when watching a video, it will appear at the top of other apps.

XDA Developers where the first ones to spot this feature but they also mentioned that it is up to the video creator to allow this feature for their videos, as the way some videos are shot might not be ideal for picture-in-picture mode.

mode
picture-in-picture
pip
youtube


Google is ending Android Nearby Notifications that spams its users

341

Google is discontinuing Android Nearby Notifications, a feature launched 3 years back that will be gone from 6 December this year.

The Android Nearby Notifications is made for users to discover their surroundings by showing notifications of apps and websites that users can interact with such as providing information on nearby stores and products, letting you know if there’s free WiFi in coffee shops or launching conversations in messaging apps.

This feature caused Android users to be spammed with many unwanted and irrelevant notifications, and even though Google tried filtering and tuning the links and apps provided, there were still many spam content that were provided to users. Hence, Google decided to stop the program, so that Android users will no longer be spammed by unnecessary content.

Though the Nearby Notifications will no longer be available, Google still has the Nearby Messages and Connections features, which allow multiplayer gaming, realtime collaboration and also gaming and file sharing among users.

android nearby notifications
google


Google is integrating Google Translate into GBoard

405

GBoard, Google’s own keyboard for mobile devices, is getting a new beta, and with it, you can now access Google Translate directly through it.

Assuming you’ve gotten the Beta update for GBoards, you’ll now be able to see the Google Translate icon when you tap on the Google button on GBoards. Once you’ve selected the language you wish your text to be translated to, typing into the provided text box will cause the translated version to appear on the selected text field. While the feature in itself is rather handy, do note that the accuracy of the translation is still subjected to Google Translate’s proficiency with the language.

Live translations aside, the GBoard beta will also be introducing a new update to its Themes feature. With the beta, Themes now sports a slide picker that lets you scroll through recently used themes. Additionally, Landscapes are now available in the themes section. These Landscapes can be used as background images for your GBoard.

All of these features will be coming to GBoard in the near future. However, if you wish to access said features right now, you can choose to opt in to the Gboard beta manually.

Source:
9to5Google

android
beta
gboard
google
googletranslate
landscapes
themes