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