Google

Google’s Expanding Ecosystem: From audio digests to streamlined syncing and Messaging

Published

3 months ago

January 11, 2025

Google continues refining its services suite, introducing innovative features and enhancing existing ones. Recent developments span various platforms, from a novel Discover audio digest to improvements to Drive, YouTube Music, and Messages. These updates reflect Google’s commitment to user experience and its ongoing integration of AI.

Discover’s “Daily Listen”: A New Way to Stay Informed

Google Discover, known for curating personalized content, has introduced an experimental feature called “Daily Listen.” This short-form audio digest, currently available to US English users through Search Labs, offers a concise overview of trending topics.

Daily Listen presents three key stories in a podcast-like format, complete with a human-sounding voiceover and a live transcript. The user interface within the Google app is intuitive, offering playback controls, including speed adjustments and segment skipping. A mini-player remains visible as users scroll through related stories, encouraging further exploration.

This innovative approach to information consumption could significantly impact how users interact with Discover. The audio format may encourage engagement with content that might otherwise be overlooked, potentially driving traffic to articles for more in-depth reading. The integration of AI, evident in the interface’s design and the voice quality, adds a modern touch. The placement of Daily Listen at the top of the Discover feed underscores its importance as a new avenue for content delivery.

While the current format is concise, the potential for expansion is evident. The ability to ask questions or engage in interactive discussions could further enhance the experience, potentially blurring the lines between podcast and interactive forum. The success of Daily Listen could pave the way for similar audio digests across other Google platforms.

Google Drive: Faster Syncing and Enhanced PDF Handling

Google Drive has received several significant updates aimed at improving efficiency and user experience. A key improvement is the introduction of differential uploads for the desktop app on Mac and Windows. This feature allows Drive to sync only the changed portions of large files, resulting in significantly faster upload and sync times. This has been a long-requested feature and will be a welcome change for users who frequently work with large files.

In addition to faster syncing, Google Drive has also improved video playback. Users can now watch videos immediately upon uploading them to the web interface, eliminating previous wait times. This enhancement streamlines the workflow for users who frequently share or collaborate on video content.

Furthermore, Google has integrated its AI capabilities into the Drive PDF previewer. Users can now seamlessly switch between multiple files while using a side panel powered by Gemini to summarize and transform content. This feature complements the existing Gemini integration within the full PDF viewer, offering users a choice between a quick preview with AI assistance and a more comprehensive editing experience. This feature is currently available for users with Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium, and Google One AI Premium subscriptions.

YouTube Music: Top Songs Carousel for Easier Browsing

YouTube Music has redesigned its artist pages to feature a “Top songs” carousel. Previously, users were presented with a static list of top songs, requiring an extra tap to view more. The new carousel offers a more visually appealing and interactive way to browse popular tracks.

The carousel displays four songs at a time, with the ability to scroll through up to 20 tracks. A “Play all” button and a chevron for viewing all songs are also included. This design change aligns with other carousels within YouTube Music, creating a more consistent and user-friendly experience. This update is now widely rolling out on both Android and iOS.

Google Messages: Native Backups and Enhanced Security

Google Messages is set to receive a native backup feature, offering users more control over their message data. Currently, backups are handled system-wide by Google One. The upcoming feature will provide a dedicated option within the Messages app, complete with a storage usage indicator, similar to Gmail. This will allow users to manage their message backups independently.

Beyond backups, Google Messages is also working on enhancing security and spam management. Support for Messaging Layer Security (MLS) is in development, aiming to provide end-to-end encryption across platforms and apps, even in group chats. Additionally, a dedicated unsubscribe button for spam messages is being introduced, offering users a more streamlined way to opt out of unwanted communications.

These updates across Google’s services highlight the company’s focus on improving user experience, streamlining workflows, and integrating AI to enhance functionality. From audio digests to faster syncing and enhanced messaging features, Google continues to evolve its ecosystem to meet the changing needs of its users.

Google

YouTube Music adds new feature to keep song volume steady

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2025

Tom Carter

YouTube Music is rolling out a new feature called “Stable volume” to make your listening experience better. This option helps keep the sound level the same across all songs, so you won’t have to turn the volume up or down when switching tracks.

Sometimes, songs are louder or softer depending on how they were made. This new feature fixes that by adjusting each track so that all music plays at a similar volume. It’s especially useful when you’re using headphones or listening in the car.

You can find this option in the YouTube Music app by going to Settings > Playback & restrictions, where you’ll see a switch for “Stable volume.” It works for both free and Premium users, and it’s now appearing on Android devices (version 7.07 or later). iOS support may come soon, but it’s not available yet.

This is a welcome update, as many streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music already have similar volume balancing tools. It helps make playlists and albums sound smoother and more enjoyable without constant volume changes.

So far, the feature is being released in stages, so you might not see it right away, but it should show up soon for everyone.

Android

Android 16 beta adds battery health info, Pixel Fold gets better at detecting opens and closes

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2025

Tom Carter

Google has released the Android 16 Beta 1 update for Pixel phones, and it brings some helpful new features. One of the key additions is battery health information, which is now available in the settings. Pixel users can now see the battery’s manufacturing date, charge cycles, and overall health score. This can help people understand how well their battery is holding up over time. While this feature is currently hidden under developer options, it might be fully added in a future update.

At the same time, Google is also working to improve the Pixel Fold. With Android 16 Beta 1, there’s a new system that better detects when the phone is opened or closed. This new method uses the hinge angle to more accurately understand the device’s position. Unlike older systems that could be affected by software bugs or slow response times, this new one seems to be more reliable and faster.

These changes are important for people who use foldable phones like the Pixel Fold, as better hinge detection can lead to smoother app transitions and fewer bugs. And for all Pixel users, having detailed battery info can help with managing phone performance and deciding when it’s time for a battery replacement.

Overall, Android 16 Beta 1 focuses on giving users more control and smoother experiences, especially for those with foldables.

Android

Android 16 could bring colorful always-on display to Pixel phones

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2025

Tom Carter

Google is working on Android 16, and it looks like the update could bring more color to the always-on display (AOD) feature on Pixel phones. Right now, the AOD mostly shows white text on a black screen. But a new setting found in the Android 16 Developer Preview hints at the ability to add colors to this display.

The new feature is called “AOD Preview,” and it includes a switch labeled “Color AOD.” While this setting doesn’t work yet, it suggests that Google might be planning to show colorful content even when the screen is in low-power mode.

This change could make AOD look more lively, maybe by adding color to the clock, notifications, or wallpaper. So far, it’s not clear exactly what will change or how customizable it will be, but the feature seems to be in early testing.

Samsung already has more colorful AOD options on its Galaxy devices, so this update could help Pixel phones catch up. Google often introduces new features first on Pixel devices before making them available to other Android phones.

Android 16 is still being developed, and many features are not ready yet. But if Color AOD becomes part of the final release, Pixel users could get a more vibrant and useful always-on display in the near future.