A year ago, Google streamlined Assistant preferences by switching to one unified list showing all features in alphabetical order. The latest step to simplify Google Assistant settings involves splitting Voice Match and other options by device type.
Opening “Voice Match” now reveals two tabs. “This phone” lets you enable/disable “Hey Google,” as well as retrain the hotword. “Other…
Google Phone rolls out Material You redesign in beta
September 10, 2021
Google Phone is the latest app to get a Material You makeover ahead of Android 12’s release later this year.
In the last few weeks, Google has been rolling out Material You redesigns with greater frequency, with Android 12 Beta 5 bringing colorful new designs for the…
Android’s Private Compute Services allow ML features to securely get cloud updates
September 10, 2021
With Android 12, Google announced the “Private Compute Core” to allow for “new technologies that are private by design.” The company shared more details today about Android’s Private Compute Services.
The Android Private Compute Core is “isolated from the rest…
Stadia is losing another member of its original team, as Jack Buser is moving away from Stadia directly and will instead work under Google Cloud.
ZDNet reports that Jack Buser will depart Stadia and move to Google Cloud as the Director of Global Gaming Solutions starting next week on September 13. Buser spent over five years working on Stadia.
His role will apparently involve developing…
Google Weather redesign widely rolls out on Android [U]
September 10, 2021
After initial testing in May, Google today has widely rolled out a redesign of Android’s default Weather app. Part of Google Search, the experience was overdue for a modernization.
Update 9/9: As of today, the new Google Weather is widely available for all Android…
Google rolling out Material You for Calendar, Drive, Docs, and other Workspace apps [Gallery]
September 10, 2021
Following the Gmail redesign last week, Google today showed off Material You for the key Workspace apps on Android 12. This includes Google Calendar, Drive, Docs, Gmail, Meet, Sheets, and Slides.
To start, Google confirms that Gmail’s Material You redesign is rolling…
Samsung’s transition to Wear OS left behind a few apps on Tizen, but slowly, the transition is happening. This week, Samsung has quietly released its PPT Controller app for the Galaxy Watch 4 series.
The PPT Controller app has been available for Samsung’s Tizen watches for some time now, but it wasn’t available at launch for the Galaxy Watch 4 series. That’s because, of course, the Watch…
Video effects are useful for both personal and work calls. Google Meet is now making it easier to set visual effects on the web with a new settings panel.
An “Apply visual effects” button appears in the three dot overflow menu next to Google Meet’s end call button.
Tips and tricks for playing your favorite shooters on your Android phone or tablet
September 10, 2021
With the power of and cloud gaming, you no longer need to play watered down “mobile” versions to enjoy your favorite shooters from your Android phone or tablet. And it’s about to get even better with Far Cry 6 coming soon to GFN and of Rainbow Six Siege launching…
Google Search on desktop web officially gets a dark theme
September 10, 2021
In May of last year, Google officially rolled out a night mode for the Search apps on Android and iOS. Google.com on desktop web is now officially getting its dark theme.
Open settings (at the bottom of the homepage or in the top-right of a results page) and you’ll see “Appearance” at the end of the menu. That will take you to Search Settings > Appearance with the ability to…
