YouTube Music bug shows black screen on iPhone
Some YouTube Music for iOS users today are facing a bug where the app opens to a black screen on certain Google Accounts with no ability to play songs.
Expand Expanding Close
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 Chrome removes side panel button in favor of pinning
Google is going ahead with a redesign that changes how you access the Bookmarks, Reading List, and History columns that appear to the right of your browser. The side panel button is now gone from desktop Chrome.
Expand Expanding Close
Google says Apple is bringing RCS to the iPhone in ‘fall of 2024’
The Android website has added a new landing page for Google Messages that talks about the first-party messaging experience, while also noting that RCS on the iPhone is coming in fall 2024.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple might use Google Gemini to power some AI features on the iPhone
Besides using Gemini to power features in its apps and services, Google offers its LLM to third-party developers. Apple is reportedly in talks with Google to license Gemini for the iPhone.
Expand Expanding Close
Google, Apple, and Firefox release new Speedometer 3.0 browser benchmark
Speedometer has long been Google’s preferred benchmark, previously noting how it’s the “most reflective of the real world” when comparing JavaScript performance. Speedometer 3.0 is now available.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Calendar for iPhone adds lockscreen widgets
Google has updated its Calendar app on the iPhone and iPad with a trio of convenient lockscreen widgets.
Expand Expanding Close
‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ on YouTube will now be delayed
Last Week Tonight aired its Season 11 premiere last night, but the latest video from John Oliver is not yet available on YouTube.
Expand Expanding Close
Gemini app brings Google AI to Android and iPhone, rolling out now
Announced as Assistant with Bard alongside the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro last October, Google today is rolling out Gemini to provide an optimized mobile experience that integrates with Android, while it’s now part of the Google app on iOS.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Maps redesigning directions search, drops fullscreen UIs, more
The Google Maps UI has largely been unchanged for the past several years, but that’s now changing with pretty significant redesigns across key surfaces, including when searching for directions.
Expand Expanding Close
YouTube planning Apple Vision Pro app, points users to Safari until then
No* Google apps are available on the Apple Vision Pro at launch, but YouTube revealed today that a “Vision Pro app is on [its] roadmap.”
Expand Expanding Close
Chrome boss says Apple’s new iPhone browser engine approach stifles ‘real choice’
In response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple announced last week that it would allow “alternative” browser engines on the iPhone in Europe. Google’s head of Chrome today shared their thoughts on the upcoming iPhone browser engine change.
Expand Expanding Close
Chrome 121 adding gen AI-powered Tab Organizer and theme maker
Google is rolling out Chrome 121 today with “experimental” generative AI features like “Tab Organizer” and a theme maker.
Expand Expanding Close
What will Google’s Apple Vision Pro support look like?
Last week, Apple named some of the third-party apps that will be available for its spatial computing platform. No Google productivity or entertainment services were explicitly mentioned for Vision Pro. For the latter, we got “Disney+, Max, and other services,” while Microsoft 365 and Slack were the big work names.
Expand Expanding Close
Beeper acknowledges ‘unsustainable’ iMessage for Android fight, latest fix is its last & responds to Apple claims
Beeper brought back phone number registration for its iMessage on Android solution that involves having a jailbroken iPhone or access to a Mac. This workaround might be the last for Beeper Mini and Cloud, with the situation ultimately described as “unsustainable.”
Expand Expanding Close
Beeper’s next iMessage for Android fix requires access to a Mac
As of Sunday, 60% of Beeper users weren’t able to send or receive iMessage, and the company’s upcoming Android solution is to “have access to a Mac computer, or have a friend on Beeper with a Mac.”
Expand Expanding Close
iMessage for Android via Beeper Mini and Cloud are down again
On Monday, Beeper Mini started working again but without phone number support. That workaround appears to be dead two days later, which is just in line with what Apple said to expect over the weekend.
Expand Expanding Close
Google will store Location History, Maps Timeline on your device for privacy
Google is making a big change to how it stores Location History data on Android and iOS. Instead of that data being stored in the cloud, Google will be locally saving Location History to your device with end-to-end encrypted cloud backups for “Your Timeline” in Maps also offered.
Expand Expanding Close
Apple confirms that it shut down Beeper Mini’s iMessage for Android, and will continue to do so
On Friday afternoon, Beeper Mini on Android stopped working and Apple confirmed today that it “took steps to protect our users by blocking techniques that exploit fake credentials in order to gain access to iMessage.”
Expand Expanding Close
Google Drive for iPhone adds built-in document scanner
Google Drive is bringing the document scanner that was just redesigned on Android to the iPhone and iPad for the first time.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Maps rolls out new colors on Android, iOS, and web
Google has announced a slew of new features for Maps in recent weeks, including Immersive View for routes, more detailed navigation, and transit filters. Google Maps is now rolling out a new color palette.
Expand Expanding Close
Google will work with Apple on implementing RCS on iPhone
Following the news that Apple is adding RCS support to the iPhone, Google is out with a statement this afternoon.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Chrome Material You redesign widely rolling out
Back in September, Google announced a Material You redesign of desktop Chrome that’s now more widely rolling out.
Expand Expanding Close
Humane fully details $699 ‘Ai Pin’ and what it can do [Gallery]
After years of teasing, Humane today fully unveiled its Ai Pin, a wearable camera with laser projector, for $699 and a $24 per month subscription to access cellular connectivity and other services.
Expand Expanding Close
Google wants Europe to classify iMessage as a gatekeeper that has to be interoperable
The European Commission is currently investigating whether iMessage should fall under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and therefore be subject to interoperability rules. Google and local carriers have sent a letter to regulators in Europe arguing that iMessage should be considered a “core” service.
Expand Expanding Close