Google launches new Gemini app on iPhone with Gemini Live
After being part of the Google (Search) application since February, Gemini is now its own standalone app on the iPhone.
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Author
Abner Li has worked at 9to5Google since 2015 and in late 2020 took on the role of editor-in-chief. He is keenly focused on tracking what happens at Google and is often the first to spot new features in Google’s ever-growing family of applications that are updated on a daily basis, including Search, Assistant, Maps, Workspace, Android, and Chrome/OS.
To him, what Google does greatly impacts the technology space and modern life. Inside the company, he is particularly interested in the key products mentioned above, as well as up-and-coming services like Google Podcasts and Google Lens. Each are massive platforms that can be unwieldy to grasp, with Abner keenly bent on understanding their philosophy and future direction. He is most excited about Google’s plans for augmented reality glasses.
Abner spearheads the APK Insight program at 9to5Google to chronicle all changes in the company’s Android apps, often finding new features before they are officially announced. This includes redesigns and revamps, launches, and new products.
Another big area of interest is Google’s burgeoning hardware division. He detailed all of the Pixel 3’s camera features before launch and got wind of Stadia’s hardware controller. Most recently, Abner scooped the 2nd-generation Nest Hub’s Soli-powered Sleep Sensing capability and how it would integrate with Google Fit.
Send tips/talk to abner@9to5mac.com or @technacity (open DMs).
Standalone ‘Google Gemini’ app spotted for iPhone with Gemini Live
Since launch, Gemini on iOS has been part of the Google (Search) app. That’s about to change with at least one iPhone user today spotting a standalone “Google Gemini” app on the App Store that also lets you access Gemini Live.
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Google Maps adding weather disruption reporting & more detailed driving map
In addition to Gemini for search, summaries, and Q&A, Google Maps for Android and iOS are getting updates to improve the entire driving experience “from start to finish.”
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YouTube rolling out new miniplayer, fine-tunable playback speed, sleep timer, and more
YouTube is making official a number of updates that it’s been testing in recent months, like the new miniplayer and several design updates.
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Google Home for iPhone adding Favorites homescreen widget
After coming to Android earlier this year, Google Home now offers widgets that let you quickly control smart devices from your homescreen on iPhone and iPad.
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YouTube and YouTube Music missing songs due to expired ‘SESAC’ license
Due to a licensing dispute with SESAC, a ton of songs have been removed from YouTube and YouTube Music in the US. YouTube remains in “active conversations with SESAC and are hoping to reach a new deal as soon as possible.”
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Pocket Casts adds clip sharing and support for transcripts
The next notable update (version 7.72) for Pocket Casts on Android and iOS adds support for transcripts and video/audio clip sharing.
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Google working on RCS encryption between Android and iPhone
With RCS rolling out on the iPhone yesterday, Google is looking ahead on new features including cross-platform end-to-end encryption (E2EE) between Android and iPhone.
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Google updates Search widget on iPhone with customizable shortcuts, like Gemini
The Search widget offered by the Google app on iPhone and iPad now offers customizable shortcuts, including to Gemini.
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Google Fi waiting on Apple to enable RCS for iPhone users
iOS 18 is rolling out today with RCS to improve the Android-iPhone messaging experience, but support is not yet enabled for all carriers, including Google Fi Wireless.
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iOS 18 rolling out RCS to the iPhone for better Android messaging
Apple today is rolling out iOS 18 with support for RCS in a huge boost to the iPhone-Android messaging experience.
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Google rolls out Tab Groups to Chrome for iPhone and iPad
Chrome Tab Groups can already be saved across signed-in desktops, but Google will soon sync them with your mobile devices. Meanwhile, Tabs Groups are now available on iOS.
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Google Photos starts rolling out Ask Photos — how to join waitlist
After being previewed at I/O 2024 in May, Google Photos is now rolling out “early access” to Ask Photos to select US users on Android and iOS.
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Google Maps rolling out simplified bottom bar redesign to iPhone
After coming to Android in late July, the Google Maps bottom bar redesign, which aims to make the app a bit cleaner, is now on the iPhone.
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Google Photos rolling out ‘Collections’ redesign to replace ‘Library’ tab
After rolling back the last Library redesign in 2022, Google Photos is trying again with a new tab called “Collections.” The goal is to make “finding content easier than ever.”
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Chrome using AI to let you naturally search browsing history, adds Google Lens
After adding Help me write, Tab Organizer, and a Gemini shortcut earlier this year, Google is rolling out the next set of AI-powered features to desktop Chrome, including a promising conversational search experience for browsing history and improved visual search. Broadly, Google wants to add AI features that make your “browsing experience even more helpful.”
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Google posts Android ad about RCS coming to iPhone [Video]
With the launch of iOS 18 this fall, the iPhone will support RCS for meaningfully improved messaging experience with Android users, and Google today released an ad to highlight that.
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Google Chrome is no longer ‘deprecating third-party cookies’
In a rather stark turnaround, Google is no longer ending support for third-party cookies in its Chrome browser.
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Google Maps adds speedometer and speed limits on iPhone, CarPlay
Back in 2019, Google Maps for Android gained a speedometer that simply “shows you how fast you’re driving on the road” and it’s now coming to the iPhone.
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RCS update standardizes message replies, editing, reactions, more for Android & iPhone
The GSMA Association (GSMA) is responsible for maintaining Rich Communication Services (RCS) and the latest update to the standard adds “Extended Messaging” that should improve Android and iPhone interoperability.
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YouTube will ask iOS users to ‘Allow’ tracking for more personalized ads
With iOS 14.5, Apple required app developers to tell users about and have them opt-in to broader tracking. In 2021, Google apps stopped certain tracking methods (IDFA) to comply and not have to show that prompt. YouTube will soon ask iOS users if they want to opt into “more personalized advertising” with an App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompt.
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Some Google Messages for Android users receiving distorted GIFs from iPhones
In recent weeks, GIFs sent by iPhone users to Android devices running Google Messages have turned into distorted still images with missing dots/pixels throughout.
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Chrome for iPhone now lets you customize the menu bar & carousel
Chrome for iPhone and iPad has introduced a big quality-of-life improvement with the ability to customize the menu bar.
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Google effectively brings Android’s Circle to Search to any iPhone with new Lens shortcut
Earlier this year, Google launched a Circle to Search feature for Android that takes a screenshot and lets you select what to look up. Thanks to Google Lens and iOS Shortcuts, the underlying Circle to Search capability can now be replicated on any iPhone.
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