Google

Google’s Latest Tech Updates: Weather app launch, Chrome blocks adblockers, and YouTube Music tweaks

Published

1 month ago

August 12, 2024

Tom Carter

Top 3 Key Points:

Google Weather App Launch: Google’s first weather app is now available for Android 14 users.
Chrome Blocks Adblockers: uBlock Origin faces challenges as Chrome moves to Manifest V3.
YouTube Music Updates: Subtle design changes improve user experience on Android and iOS.

Google has introduced its first-ever weather app, now available for Android users running Android 14 or later. The new Google Weather app boasts a clean, modern design that allows users to customize their weather view. You can choose between hourly forecasts, long-term outlooks, and more, all presented in a visually appealing format. Additionally, the app offers notifications for weather changes, such as rain or storms, and Google plans to add interactive weather maps in the future. Though the app isn’t yet on the Google Play Store, it can be downloaded as an APK file.

In other news, Google has updated its Chrome browser, transitioning from the Manifest V2 framework to Manifest V3. This change significantly impacts popular ad blockers like uBlock Origin, which currently has over 30 million users. While uBlock Origin still works, future Chrome updates will eventually disable it. Users may temporarily re-enable the feature, but this option will soon be removed, forcing users to seek alternatives. A new version, uBlock Origin Lite, is available and compatible with Manifest V3, but it has fewer features and is less effective against anti-ad-blocking systems.

Lastly, YouTube Music has made some subtle yet noticeable changes to its Home feed design on Android and iOS. The “More” button has been replaced with a right chevron, simplifying the user interface. Carousel titles have been reduced in size, and extra description lines have been removed to create a cleaner look. These updates are now available on the YouTube Music app, but the web version remains unchanged.

Android

Android 15 delayed, Gemini Live now free for Android

Published

6 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Tom Carter

Key points:

Android 15 for Pixel devices was pushed back to October 15.
Gemini Live, Google’s AI assistant, is now available for free Android users.
Pixel 6 and later devices will get Android 15, but Pixel 6/6 Pro won’t get future updates.

Android 15 Delayed

Google’s latest Android update, Android 15, is taking a bit longer to reach Pixel phones. While it was released for developers in September, it won’t be available for Pixel users until October 15th. This delay is likely due to Google wanting to make sure the update is as bug-free as possible.

Gemini Live Goes Free

In other Google news, Gemini Live, the company’s AI assistant, is now free for Android users. This means you can use Gemini to help you with tasks like writing emails, summarizing articles, or even translating languages.

Pixel 6 and Later

The Pixel 6 and later devices will be the first to get Android 15. However, this will also be the last guaranteed update for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. While they will continue to receive security updates, they won’t get any new features after Android 15.

Google

Google Calendar and Circle to Search expand to more devices

Published

16 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Tom Carter

Key Points:

Google Calendar is coming to the New Tab Page in Chrome for Workspace users.
Circle to Search is expanding to more Android devices, including Xiaomi 14T.
Chrome is getting other new features for enterprise users.

Google Calendar on Chrome’s New Tab Page:

Google Workspace users will soon see their Google Calendar on the New Tab Page in Chrome. This will make it easier to see upcoming meetings and join them quickly. You’ll also see your daily schedule below the calendar.

Circle to Search Expanding to More Devices:

Circle to Search, a feature that lets you search by drawing circles around objects in your photos, is expanding to more Android devices. This feature was previously limited to Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, but now it’s coming to Tecno and Xiaomi devices.

Other Chrome Updates:

Chrome is also getting other new features for enterprise users, such as a new sign-in flow that provides more transparency and a feature that lets admins set site shortcuts.

These updates are all designed to make it easier for businesses to use Chrome and Google Workspace.

Source/Via

Google

YouTube gets smarter: AI boosts Shorts and Studio

Published

17 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Tom Carter

YouTube is making content creation easier and more fun with new AI features.

AI-powered video backgrounds: Create stunning visuals for your Shorts videos with Google’s Veo AI model.
AI-powered video ideas: Get inspiration for your next video with YouTube Studio’s AI-powered brainstorming tool.
AI-powered comments: Quickly respond to your viewers with AI-suggested replies.

YouTube is adding more AI features to help creators make better videos. One of the biggest announcements is the integration of Veo, a powerful AI model, into YouTube Shorts. This means you can create high-quality backgrounds and even short video clips using just a few words.

Imagine being able to describe a scene, like “a bustling city street at sunset,” and having Veo instantly generate a visually stunning background for your Short. Or, perhaps you need a quick clip to transition between two scenes; Veo can create a short video that perfectly fits your needs.

Another exciting feature is the new AI-powered brainstorming tool in YouTube Studio. This tool can suggest video ideas based on your channel’s history and what’s popular on YouTube. It’s like having a creative assistant that always has fresh ideas.

For example, if you’ve been creating cooking videos, the tool might suggest ideas like “Vegan cooking hacks” or “Quick and easy weeknight meals.” Or, if you’re a gaming channel, it could suggest ideas like “Top 5 new games to try” or “Let’s play a classic game.”

YouTube is also working on AI-powered comments. This feature will suggest replies to comments, making it easier for creators to engage with their audience.

For example, if a viewer leaves a comment saying “Great video!” the AI might suggest a reply like “Thanks for watching!” Or, if a viewer asks a question, the AI could suggest a helpful answer based on the video’s content.

These new AI features are making YouTube an even more powerful platform for creators. By automating tasks like background creation and idea generation, creators can spend more time focusing on what they do best: creating great content.