Chrome for iPhone gets menu redesign, Enhanced Safe Browsing, and more
Version 103 of Chrome is rolling out this week, and Google is highlighting several new features on iPhone and iPad that span usability and security.
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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).
Google Password Manager starts offering on-device encryption on Android, iOS, and Chrome
The technology industry (Apple, Google, Microsoft) ultimately wants to get rid of passwords with passkeys. Until then, the Google Password Manager is starting to offer on-device encryption so that “only you can see your passwords.”
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Google uses Drake’s ‘Texts Go Green’ to pressure Apple to adopt RCS on the iPhone [Video]
In recent months, Google has been publicly pressuring Apple to adopt RCS on the iPhone, and its latest volley involves an “unofficial lyric explainer video” for “Texts Go Green” from Drake’s new album.
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Google Maps for Android and iOS now lets you see air quality (AQI)
Like on Nest Hubs and soon the Pixel’s At a Glance widget, Google Maps now surfaces air quality index (AQI) data on Android and iOS.
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WeatherKit, Apple’s Dark Sky replacement, will allow for Android and web apps
At WWDC 2022 today, Apple finally announced a Weather app for the iPad but, more importantly, a detailed WeatherKit to replace the Dark Sky API that was deprecated for Android in 2020. This new weather service will allow developers to create Android apps that use the same Dark Sky back end as before.
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Google Maps Street View gets historical browsing on Android & iOS, Studio tool, compact camera
To mark the 15th anniversary of Street View, Google Maps is rolling out a slew of features including the ability to view historical data on Android and iOS, as well as a new camera system.
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Pixel Watch will have USB-C charging cable and shares same manufacturer as Apple Watch
Ahead of availability this fall, Google is turning to Taiwan’s Compal Electronics to manufacture the Pixel Watch, while we also learned today that it will have a USB-C charger.
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Apple Music 3.10 beta for Android adds built-in Sleep Timer that surpasses iOS
After introducing better widgets, Apple Music for Android is getting an in-app Sleep Timer that offers extensive options.
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Beats for Android update adds widgets & basic ‘Locate My Beats’ lookup
Following Apple Music’s redesign of its widgets, Beats for Android is adding some to let you quickly manage headphones from the homescreen, while the companion app is also getting a “Locate My Beats” capability.
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Google Chat notifications from Gmail adding iOS Focus mode support, profile pics
As previewed last month, Google Chat on iOS will let you set which contacts can reach you in Focus mode. This applies to the dedicated Chat app and the integrated experience available in Gmail.
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Pebble founder details product choices that led to failure on 10th anniversary of Kickstarter launch
Today (April 11) is the 10th anniversary of Pebble’s Kickstarter debut. To mark the occasion, founder Eric Migicovsky published an explainer on what went wrong over the startup’s 5.5-year history.
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YouTube ends experiment for quickly enabling PiP on iOS, still works for existing users
YouTube started officially rolling out Picture-in-Picture to the iOS app last June and it’s been a very slow process. Premium subscribers were given a workaround, but YouTube’s PiP test for iPhone and iPad has now ended.
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Google Fi cuts prices on ‘Unlimited’ plans & adds more high-speed data, from $20 per line
Google Fi is officially updating all three of its plans with some much-needed changes that make the service more competitive, with the two Unlimited offerings seeing the biggest improvements.
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Google Lens ‘multisearch’ lets you ask questions about photos, now in beta on Android and iOS
One of the most interesting announcements at Google’s Search-focused keynote in September was a big upgrade to Lens that lets you take a photo and ask questions about it. “Multisearch” in Google Lens is now available to beta test on Android and iOS.
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Google Maps rolling out toll pricing, more detailed navigation, and new iOS integrations
Google Maps is rolling out a trio of big updates over the coming weeks that add toll estimates and improve the navigation experience with a new map, while the iOS app is getting a series of additional integrations.
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YouTube TV finally rolling out picture-in-picture (PiP) to the iPhone and iPad
As promised in February, YouTube TV is rolling out picture-in-picture (PiP) to its iPhone and iPad app. It comes as the main YouTube for iOS client is still only previewing an identical capability.
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Google looks to be building Bluetooth tracker detection directly into Android
While Apple in no way invented Bluetooth trackers, AirTags undoubtedly popularized the category this past year. There are ongoing concerns about these readily available devices being used to track people, and tag makers have taken steps to counter that. Google might soon add a Bluetooth tracker detection capability directly into Android.
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Google Chrome hits version 100 with new icon for desktop and mobile
Google released the initial beta of its browser in September 2008 and over 13.5 years later Chrome is getting updated to version 100 today.
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YouTube TV surround sound coming to Roku & Android/Google TV next, Apple TV still in progress
Google’s cord-cutting service currently only offers 5.1 audio on two device classes. YouTube TV today gave an update on bringing 5.1 surround sound to more users.
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Google Photos redesign makes Sharing tab useful, but oversimplifies the Library
Under the auspice of spring cleaning, Google Photos is redesigning its Library and Sharing tabs over the coming weeks. There’s a focus on easier sorting of albums and shared content, as well as the introduction of various shortcuts.
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‘There’s no place like Chrome’ ads target iPhone owners that already use the desktop browser
Google has a new series of ads that are aimed at getting iPhone users to switch to its browser by pointing out how they’re likely using desktop Chrome and could get those features on mobile.
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Google Translate gets new iOS widget as Drive adds XL iPad variants
Following Gmail at the start of this year, Google Drive is the latest iOS app to get new work-focused widgets, while there are also updates for Translate and Chat on iOS in the coming weeks.
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Messages will send videos as Google Photos links for the benefit of RCS-less iPhones, rolling out iMessage reactions
In recent weeks, Google has been testing and slowly rolling out a number of new features for Messages on Android. The company announced today that iMessage reactions, Google Photos integration, and several other capabilities will soon widely launch.
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Chrome for Mac gets highest Speedometer score to date, beating Safari [U: Now 20% faster]
Google is continuing its work to speed up Chrome with version 99 released last week. The company touts a handful of speed improvements, including with the Speedometer benchmark, on both Chrome for Mac and Android.
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