Top 3 Key Points:

1. Google Maps on Android Auto now supports live incident reports for crashes, speed traps, and road hazards.
2. YouTube for Android is rolling out a transparent status bar for a more immersive experience.
3. Android apps targeting API 35 will display edge-to-edge by default, enhancing the visual experience.

After a long wait, Google Maps is finally rolling out the ability to add incident reports on Android Auto, a feature that has been highly anticipated by users. Google originally introduced incident reporting a few years back to allow drivers to alert others about road hazards like accidents and speed traps. However, drivers using Android Auto and Apple CarPlay couldn’t submit new reports, only view existing ones.

That’s now changing. In July, Google enabled incident reports on Apple CarPlay, and shortly after, Android Auto users in India started receiving the update as well. By the end of the month, Google had confirmed that an improved incident report system would roll out on all platforms, including Android Auto.

While the full rollout has been slow, some users are now seeing the feature live. A Reddit user recently shared that a new yellow triangle with a “+” icon appeared on their Android Auto interface. This button allows drivers to report various issues like crashes, slowdowns, construction, lane closures, and speed traps directly from their car’s screen.

This feature brings the mobile app’s incident-reporting functionality to the vehicle interface, making it easier for drivers to contribute real-time information while on the road.

YouTube’s New Transparent Status Bar

Meanwhile, YouTube for Android is getting a small but noteworthy update: a transparent status bar. Previously, a solid bar covered the top of the screen, but with this change, video thumbnails are now visible beneath the time and notification icons. This provides a more immersive browsing experience, aligning with the app’s Ambient mode.

However, it’s worth noting that the transparency effect doesn’t look as seamless when the dark theme is enabled on certain parts of the interface. This feature is being rolled out with YouTube version 19.37.35 but isn’t available to all users just yet.

Edge-to-Edge Screens on Android

Lastly, apps targeting API level 35 (Android 15) will now display edge-to-edge by default. This change aims to create a more premium and immersive user experience. According to an internal Google study, users generally prefer edge-to-edge screens over non-edge-to-edge ones, as it enhance the overall visual appeal.

In summary, these updates mark a shift towards more interactive and visually satisfying experiences across Android devices, whether you’re driving with Google Maps or watching videos on YouTube.

Source/Via

Top 3 Key Points:

1. Google Password Manager now supports saving passkeys on desktop Chrome for easier sign-in.
2. Android Auto now includes support for electric vehicles (EVs) using Tesla’s NACS charging system.
3. The latest Android Auto update makes it easier to find NACS chargers for non-Tesla EVs.

Google has made it simpler for users to save and access passkeys on their desktop Chrome browser through its Password Manager. Previously, passkeys could only be saved through the Google Password Manager on Android devices. To log in from a desktop, users needed to scan a QR code with their Android phone, which added a layer of inconvenience.

Now, with this new update, Google Password Manager on Chrome can store passkeys for macOS, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS (currently in beta testing). Support for iOS is expected soon. This means you can sign in using a passkey by just scanning your fingerprint or entering your device’s passcode directly on your desktop, removing the need for QR code scanning.

When creating a new passkey on your desktop, you’ll be prompted to enter a six-digit recovery PIN. This PIN is essential for unlocking your passkey on other devices. Additionally, your Android’s screen lock can act as a backup security method. Google highlights that this PIN enhances security by ensuring your passkeys are encrypted and cannot be accessed by others.

On a different front, Google is also rolling out a significant update to Android Auto. This update is important for electric vehicle (EV) users, especially those who need access to Tesla’s NACS (North American Charging Standard) charging stations. Until now, Android Auto supported various charging systems like J1772, CCS, and CHAdeMO, but it didn’t support NACS, which is now expanding as a major charging standard.

With this update, users with non-Tesla EVs can now enable NACS charging options through Android Auto. By doing this, they can easily locate Tesla’s NACS charging stations using Google Maps. It’s worth noting that Tesla vehicles do not natively support Android Auto, but this update will benefit non-Tesla EV users who use the NACS charging network.

A recent example of how this is useful is the approval of NACS adapters for GM’s electric vehicles. These adapters allow GM’s EV drivers to use both the NACS and CCS charging options. Google is gradually rolling out this update through the Play Store beta, and it should be available to a broader user base in the coming weeks.

Source/Via

Top 3 Key Points:

1. Google TV adds more free channels, including The Bob Ross Channel, reaching 157 total.
2. Google faces a second antitrust trial, this time focused on its dominance in online advertising.
3. YouTube rolls out Pause ads, encouraging users to subscribe to YouTube Premium.

Google is continuously expanding its free TV offerings. This week, Google TV added seven new channels, bringing the total to 157. New channels include The Bob Ross Channel, Comedy Dynamics, and The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. These channels are available on Chromecast and other Google TV devices, allowing users to watch them directly through the home screen or the Freeplay app.

Initially, when Google TV launched its free channel service in 2023, there were around 80 channels. Through partnerships with platforms like Plex and Tubi, users can now access even more content through Google TV’s “Live” tab. As of now, this feature is only available in the U.S., and there’s no information on expanding it internationally.

On a different front, Google is facing another antitrust trial. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused Google of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online advertising. This is the second major antitrust case against the company in just a few months, following a ruling in August that Google held a monopoly in online search.

Unlike the search case, this ad case is more complex. Google’s dominance in advertising largely stems from its acquisition of several competitors, creating a highly sophisticated system for managing ads across platforms. Now, the DOJ is arguing that Google used these acquisitions to unfairly maintain control over the digital ad market.

As the trial unfolds, witnesses from news publishers and advertising experts are testifying on how Google’s practices have impacted competition. If the court rules against Google again, the company could face serious consequences, possibly even having parts of its business broken up.

Meanwhile, over on YouTube, the platform has started expanding its Pause ads feature. These ads appear when a user pauses a video, with a static ad popping up next to the video screen. YouTube’s goal is to make these ads feel less intrusive compared to the usual pre-roll and mid-roll ads, but it’s also a clear push to get users to subscribe to YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience.

Although some users are frustrated by the increasing number of ads, YouTube claims that advertisers are responding positively to the new format. However, the platform has made no indication that it plans to reduce the number of other ads users encounter, especially for those who aren’t subscribed to Premium.

In conclusion, Google’s expanding presence in TV, ongoing legal battles, and evolving advertising strategies reflect its continuing influence on both entertainment and online business.

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