Google TV app is now available on iOS, replaces Play Movies & TV
Almost two years after it hit Android, the Google TV app is finally coming to iOS for iPhone and iPad users.
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Author
Ben Schoon is a Senior Editor at 9to5Google, a sister site of 9to5Mac. Ben has been working for the publication as one of its primary news writers for the past 5 years. In 2013, Ben helped start an independent tech publication where he learned the skills used at 9to5Google including writing, product photography, and videography. He is located in the city of Winston-Salem in North Carolina where he lived with his wife Melissa, married in 2019.
He primarily covers Android products, including Google Pixel devices, Samsung Galaxy smartphones, as well as devices from OnePlus, Oppo, LG, Motorola, and more. Beyond just covering news about these products, Ben also spends time using these products himself, speaking from experience with the articles he writes. Some of Ben’s most recent hands-on reviews include; Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, Fitbit Versa 3, Nest Thermostat, Galaxy Z Fold 2, and Fitbit Sense.
Ben is also a leading source for information about Google’s Android TV, diving deeply into important parts of the platform including its powerful Operator Tier, explaining future changes to the platform, and reviewing its products such as Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield TV, and more.
In 2019, Ben leaked one of the first in-person photos of the Pixel 4 before later revealing the Recorder and Pixel Themes apps months ahead of launch. In 2020, Ben also reported on multiple upcoming Pixel devices including Pixel 5a and the first report of Google working on a foldable Pixel smartphone. That same month, he was also the first to correctly report the $49 price point of what became the Chromecast with Google TV.
Ben Schoon is active on Twitter, @nexusben, but can also be found on Instagram and LinkedIn. For questions or tips, you can email him directly, and his portfolio is also available online.
Email: schoon@9to5mac.com | Encrypted Email: benschoon@protonmail.com
GeForce Now rolls out Fortnite with touch controls to everyone on Android and iOS
Playing Fortnite on mobile phones is about to get a lot better, as Nvidia GeForce Now is rolling out support for the full hit game with touch controls on both Android and iOS.
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Spotify Stations app is shutting down on May 16
A few years ago Spotify opened up a second app that offered an experience based around “radio” stations. Now, Spotify Stations is shutting down later this month.
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GeForce Now adds support for 4K streaming on Windows and macOS
A couple of years after its debut, Nvidia GeForce Now is finally expanding its streaming options on PC and Mac. Starting today, GeForce Now supports 4K streaming on Windows and macOS.
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Peacock is revamping its terrible TV interface, shares a first look at the new design [Gallery]
NBC’s Peacock is the home of hits such as “The Office” and “Parks & Rec,” but the streaming service has long felt like a chore to use due to its unintuitive app layout. Today, Peacock is sharing a first look at its TV interface redesign, among other announcements.
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Telegram ‘Premium’ subscription adds exclusive reactions and stickers, but the cost is unclear
The popular messaging app Telegram is working on a Premium subscription that adds new exclusive reactions and stickers, but is only available on iOS for the time being.
Read MoreNvidia GeForce Now app adds native support for Apple M1 Macs just in time for Lost Ark arrival
After adding support for the M1 through Rosetta last year, Nvidia has just announced that its GeForce Now cloud gaming service is picking up native support for M1 Macs through its latest app update.
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TCL adds AirPlay 2 and Homekit to its refreshed Google TV lineup
Last year TCL launched itself into the Google TV experience with a batch of pretty solid 4K TVs. Earlier this month, the brand refreshed that lineup in Europe, and one detail that flew under the radar until now is that the entire lineup is equipped with support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Homekit.
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Subaru adopts wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, starting with 2023 Outback
Wireless Android Auto has been around for a few years, but it’s been slow to adoption from carmakers. This week, Subaru announced it will adopt both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in its 2023 Outback.
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[Update: False alarm] YouTube for iOS rolling out picture-in-picture support in a ‘matter of days’
This weekend, YouTube removed the long-running experiment that allowed iPhone and iPad users to keep watching videos in picture-in-picture mode. Now, YouTube has confirmed that its iOS app is in the process of rolling out picture-in-picture support to everyone on iOS 15 and up.
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Spotify Car Thing update adds the ability to control other media apps, answer phone calls
While Spotify’s Car Thing device isn’t exactly pointless, it certainly has a narrow use case as we detailed in our recent review. Now, Spotify Car Thing is picking up its first major update with the ability to answer phone calls, control other apps, and more.
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Verizon’s Visible unexpectedly terminated accounts that apparently ‘violated’ terms of recent promotion
Cellular plans in the US are far from cheap, but there are some good deals out there. Verizon’s Visible has become a favorite by offering one of the best networks in the US, unlimited data, and affordable prices. However, following a recent promotion, some Visible account holders have unexpectedly lost their accounts.
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Spotify ‘Car Thing’ now available in the US for $90, no invite needed; new features also coming
Spotify has been working on its own car hardware for a while, with “Car Thing” having gone on sale last year for a limited number of interested users. Starting today, though, Spotify Car Thing is available to everyone in the US, just in time for a major update to the product.
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YouTube TV bringing picture-in-picture to its iOS app, wider surround sound support coming too
Google’s YouTube TV service, despite its high price, is one of the best ways to keep live channels without traditional cable. Now, in an interview, a YouTube TV exec has confirmed that picture-in-picture support is coming to iOS and surround sound will see expanded support too.
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Verizon moves to 36-month payment contracts, ditching 24-month and 30-month plans
In the United States, carriers are the place where most smartphones are sold. Rather than buying these devices at their full cost, too, payment plans are usually the go-to for many. This week, Verizon has quietly done away with shorter payment plans, in favor of a new 36-month device contract.
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GeForce Now brings Fortnite back to Android and iPhone with new touch controls
Fortnite is still a massive hit, but Epic Games’ war on app stores has left the popular game absent from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store for a long time, with no signs of returning. Today, Nvidia and Epic Games have announced that touch controls are coming to Fortnite on GeForce Now.
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Here are all of the times Google has tried, and failed to stick with an iMessage competitor
Messaging is a core part of any smartphone, and it’s something that Apple has really nailed with the iPhone and iMessage. Googlers have voiced their frustration recently over how Apple uses iMessage as a tool for lock-in and while Apple’s resistance to RCS and other cross-platform standards is certainly annoying, the context of Google’s countless failures in messaging don’t really help the company’s case.
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Google Chrome for iOS freezing for some users following latest updates
While many iOS users default to Safari for their browsing needs, Google Chrome is ready for cross-platform syncing and more. However, an update rolling out over the past few days is causing issues for Google Chrome users on iOS that result in the app freezing entirely.
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Garmin’s new fitness-focused smartwatch can use Assistant or Siri from your phone
While Android users usually turn to Wear OS for a smartwatch and iPhone owners default to the Apple Watch, there are some great options out there that focus on fitness above all else. That’s what Garmin has been known for, and this year, the company is introducing the Venu 2 Plus and Vivomove Sport, both with a neat take on how to use a voice assistant on your smartwatch.
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Telegram adds message reactions, bigger emoji animations, and more in latest update
Messaging on Android is still sort of a mess, but third-party apps can step in to solve the problems that Google apparently cannot. Today, one of the best messaging services, Telegram, announced the long-awaited debut of message reactions and more in its latest update.
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Nvidia GeForce Now adds support for 1600p gaming on M1 MacBooks w/ RTX 3080 tier
Cloud gaming had a bit of a rocky start on iOS, but Mac services such as Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now have been able to deliver games that might otherwise not be available on macOS to Apple’s computers. Today, Nvidia is expanding GeForce Now to support 1600p resolution on MacBooks with the upgraded RTX 3080 tier.
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Rocket League ‘Sideswipe’ is now available on Android and iOS worldwide
After launching a beta test in recent weeks, Epic Games and Psyonix are now launching the mobile version of Rocket League, “Sideswipe,” on Android and iOS devices across the globe.
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MediaTek Dimensity 9000 claims to match Apple A15 performance, beat Google Tensor on AI
MediaTek powers quite a lot of Android phones, but the company’s higher-end offerings have never lived up to the likes of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon line. However, the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 may finally change that story if the company’s claims turn out to be true.
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Google Tensor shows stunning results in Pixel 6 Pro speed test, just seconds short of iPhone 13 Pro [Video]
Tensor is the first mobile chip Google has ever designed for its Pixel smartphones, and as we explained in our review earlier this week, the performance feels indistinguishable from the best Snapdragon flagships. However, it also puts up an impressive comparison with Apple’s chips in the iPhone 13 Pro Max, with a Pixel 6 speed test being a very close call.
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