April Fool’s Day is today, but this is not a prank. Google’s April 2019 security updates are here. Head to Settings > System > Advanced > System update to get the OTA.
April update for Pixel phones now out
Harry Potter fans: Try out this new game in the Google Assistant
Who doesn’t like Harry Potter? Recently, Warner Bros. released a new Google Assistant action called “Wizarding World.” To try it out, all you have to do is simply ask your Google Assistant to “Talk to Wizarding World,” and this can be done on any Google Assistant-enabled device—your Android phone, Google Home, etc. If you’re an iOS user, you can install the Google Assistant app from the App Store.
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Google Camera v6.2 brings faster launch times and mode switching
The Pixel phones are known for their best-in-class cameras, but the camera app’s performance has degraded somewhat in the past couple of months. However, with the v6.2 update, users are reporting “noticeably quicker launch” times.
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Why custom ROM users are quick to dump OxygenOS
Back in November of last year, we discussed how Android 9 Pie on the OnePlus 6 differed from that on the Pixel 2 XL, which can be regarded as nearly stock AOSP. While there might be little to no difference at first glance, a closer look reveals that such a claim couldn’t be more wrong. Not only does OxygenOS offer more features that enrich the functionality of the phone, but it does also have some noticeable design alterations. This lightly-skinned version of Android Pie might appeal to the overwhelming majority of users. However, quite a lot of the tech-enthusiasts feel like being left in the dark following this mindset transition, myself considered. So what is it that makes the die-hard custom ROM enthusiasts dump OxygenOS in a heartbeat and flash a custom ROM on their phones? Well, without further ado, let’s dive in and find out.
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Google unveils Stadia, a cloud gaming service
Today, at Game Developers Conference 2019, Google unveiled “Stadia,” a cloud gaming service. Using this service, you can play AAA games on multiple devices without the need for a dedicated graphics card. All the processing is done on Google’s servers and you can simply stream the gameplay right onto a laptop, desktop, tablet, phone, or even a Chromecast.
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As a longtime Windows user, I made the switch to Chrome OS: How does it fare?
I’m a Google fan, but there has always been one product that I’ve been hesitant to try: Chrome OS, Google’s desktop operating system that powers all Chromebooks on the market. If you’ve ever heard anything about Chromebooks, chances are that you’ve heard the stereotype that it’s just a “glorified web browser.” I’ve been following Chrome OS for years and I know that there is so much more to it now—Android apps, Linux support, etc. But I never actually ditched Windows and exclusively used a Chromebook as my only laptop—until now.
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Android Q Beta now open for all Pixel phones
Today’s the day! The public beta for the next version of Android, Q, is finally open. It’s available for all Pixel phones, including the first-gen Pixel, which technically reached EOL for Android version updates in October of last year.
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YouTube Premium and Music launch in India with competitive pricing
Just two weeks ago, Spotify finally launched in India with Spotify Premium starting at 119 INR ($1.67) per month. Today, Google India announced that it’s bringing YouTube Premium and YouTube Music to the country.
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March patches for Google devices now out: Pixel 3 camera performance issues addressed
It’s the first week of March, and right on cue, Google’s monthly security updates are here. Head over to Settings > System > Advanced > System update to update your Pixel devices.
Google Duo is now available as a web app
Finally! After only being available on Chromebooks through the Android app, Google Duo now has a proper web client for both video and audio calls.
