Mobile

We’re still waiting for the ability to use Wear OS to unlock Android devices and Chromebooks. Watch Unlock was demoed earlier this year, and ongoing work reveals how Smart Lock will be sticking around as “Extend Unlock.” About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these…

Google launched Android TV in 2014, but it took several years for the platform to really establish itself as a serious player. Now, “Android TV” is on its way out as Google TV takes the reins. Over the course of nearly a decade now, “Android TV” has shown up on TVs and streamers from brands including TCL, Sony, Hisense, Nvidia, and many others. As of 2020, Android TV was on seven out of…

Google is rolling out minor updates to its Calculator (version 8.4) and Clock (7.4) apps on Android. Google Clock just rolled out the ability to record custom alarm sounds on Pixel phones using the Recorder app. On other devices, “Your sounds” lets you select any existing local file. This feature became available via a server-side update, with version 7.3 released in October. That release…

Google’s parent company Alphabet is set to lay off around 12,000 employees with immediate effect. Update: Sundar Pichai has now confirmed Google’s plans to “reduce” the workforce by “approximately 12,000 roles” in a dedicated January update post on the Keyword Blog. This update confirms the previously reported information but also expands upon how Google will handle employee layoffs…