Google is in the process of rolling out the “M89” update for the Nest and Google Wifi. There are several user-facing additions, as well as underlying improvements.
The M89 release, dated June 2021, starts with an expansion of what third-party services are supported by “Preferred activities.” “Video conferencing” — released in November — already prioritizes Google Meet and Zoom…
Google Home Essentials: SwitchBot offers a slightly inelegant path to Assistant-controlled curtains
June 23, 2021
Google Assistant is capable of controlling literally hundreds of different kinds of devices, but some can get fairly expensive. Smart curtains and blinds, for example, can cost hundreds of dollars and require new hardware to install. SwitchBot, though, has a clever solution…
Google offers official instructions on how to know if your Nest Hub is running Fuchsia OS
June 23, 2021
Google has shared official instructions on how to know if your Nest Hub has been updated to run on Fuchsia OS.
Last month, Google launched an update for the first-generation Nest Hub, switching it from Cast OS to Fuchsia, an operating system Google built from scratch that…
UK government to send out test emergency alerts to iPhone and Android users later this month
June 22, 2021
The US is already accustomed to the idea of a loud siren emanating from their phones to announce an official Emergency Alert message. That same system is now being tested by the UK government to send out important messages to people in the United Kingdom.
The tests will run over the course of the next week. Assuming all goes wall, the government will start using the Emergency Alerts system for…
Both Foxconn and Pegatron are offering substantial bonuses to help recruit workers for iPhone 13 production, according to a Taiwanese report.
Both companies are offering recruitment bonuses worth well over a month’s average salary, with additional bonuses offered to…
Jamf has released a new iPhone app called Jamf Unlock that’s designed to streamline logging into and unlocking a Mac tied to an enterprise management system.
Even though macOS doesn’t yet support Face ID, Jamf is bringing Face ID unlock technology to the Mac using the…
iPadOS 15 brings fundamental improvements to multitasking on the iPad with features like App Library and more flexible Split Screen management. While those changes are by far what defines iPadOS 15, there are a handful of minor changes that improve quality of life on the iPad. How iPadOS 15 handles iPhone-only apps is one of those features.
From day one, the iPad has been able to run iPhone apps…
Concept: How Apple could bring Safari’s new design to other built-in apps on the iPhone
June 22, 2021
Yesterday I published a piece about how Apple could address concerns about Safari’s new bottom bar centric design in iOS 15. Many folks are unhappy with the redesign, but some of us (me included) really like it. I spent some time figuring out different ways Apple could…
Samsung has very quietly launched the Galaxy Chromebook Go as what we can only assume will be yet another affordable Chome OS-based laptop for the masses.
2020 and 2021 have seen Chromebooks and Chrome OS explode as the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed people to a…
Google Discover redesign rolling out on Android 12, drops cards & descriptions [Update: Back]
June 22, 2021
Starting on Android 12, Google is rolling out the next big redesign of Discover. This visual revamp of the feed was first introduced on iOS and is now coming to Android.
Update 6/22: After disappearing in the past month, the Discover redesign on Android 12 is back with the Google app 12.24 beta yesterday. This includes the left-aligned Google logo and the lack of cards/descriptions for…
