News and notes on the latest from Google.
Google Lens was introduced in 2017 as a standalone app, but with a recent update, it is now integrated within Google Maps. Lens is a recognition software that works with images. Now, it can help you to choose a restaurant to visit.
Continue reading “Google Lens is now integrated in Google Maps for menu help”
Previously, it was announced that Google would only be canceling the in-person I/O event in May. Now, however, the Google Developers account has released a statement on Twitter that the company “will not be holding an I/O event in any capacity this year.”
Continue reading “Google completely cancels I/O 2020, including the online event”
Update 3/21: Congrats to Dan on winning the giveaway, and a big thanks to all for participating!
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Update 12/22: Congrats to Logan Hawker on winning the giveaway, and a big thanks to all for participating!
End of Update
Chances are, you’ve heard of Fitbit. They’re one of the leaders in the wearable market for health and activity trackers. Today, Google announced that it will be buying Fitbit as a whole for $2.1 billion. It’s also important to note that this isn’t Alphabet, Google’s parent company, acquiring them. Fitbit will fall under the Google brand, just like Nest and all other Google products.
Continue reading “Google acquires Fitbit for $2.1 billion, still commits to investing in Wear OS”
Nearly two weeks ago, Google announced its new lineup of Made by Google hardware. This included Stadia, Google’s cloud gaming service; Pixel Buds (2nd Gen), truly wireless earbuds; Pixelbook Go, a premium yet traditional clamshell Chromebook; Nest Mini, a more powerful and versatile Home Mini; Nest Wifi, a Google Wifi router and Google Home speaker combined; and, of course, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, Google’s latest flagship smartphones.
Continue reading “Weekend Poll: What is your favorite Made by Google product of 2019?”
Back in 2017, Apple kickstarted a new trend of UI navigation on our phones via dedicated navigation gestures instead of using on-screen buttons (or a dedicated button tucked in the bottom bezel in the case of the iPhones). There’s no denying the fact that there was a somewhat steep learning curve to go through before getting used to the new navigation gestures on the iPhone X. But ultimately, this became the new trend going forwards that all OEMs sought to join. Google had a go at it the following year, though Android Pie’s navigation gestures looked like a hasty attempt to announce Android as a native supporter of gestural navigation. This year though, Google went back to the drawing board and gave it a more serious thought.
Continue reading “Opinion: Android 10’s new gestural navigation is far from ideal”
RCS (Rich Communication Services) deployment over the last 3 years seems to have been progressing at a snails pace. Just recently, the big four US carriers announced the formation of the “Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative” (CCMI) with the goal of bringing RCS to Android by 2020. Most frustratingly, there are plans for a new app and the carriers don’t seem to be collaborating with Google at all.
Google’s yearly hardware event launch is now over and the ‘Made by Google’ brand of devices has now expanded. There have been a couple of big announcements, so in case you missed them, here’s a quick recap of everything released today.
Continue reading “Recap: Here’s all the new hardware Google announced today”
I could probably go on a whole rant here about YouTube Music, but let’s just save that for another day. Today, however, Google announced that the YouTube Music app would come preinstalled on all new Android 9 and 10 devices, explicitly noting the Pixel series.
Continue reading “YouTube Music will come preinstalled on new Android 9 and 10 devices”
