Android 15 has landed, and with it, a useful new feature that transforms your Pixel Tablet (or Pixel phone) into a hands-on smart home control dashboard while it's charging. This new screensaver isn't just a static display, either – you can actually control your devices right from the … [Read more...] about Turn your Pixel Tablet into a smart home hub with this new screensaver
Android
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Pixel Drop October 2024: big updates for all of Google’s devices
Coinciding with the update to Android 15, Google released another round of updates for their Pixel ecosystem, and this one is packed. The previously-named Pixel Feature Drops have gone through a bit of a re-brand and are now simply known as Pixel Drops. Though the name may have changed, the regular … [Read more...] about Pixel Drop October 2024: big updates for all of Google’s devices
Google Home’s new Favorites widgets gives you quick access to your smart home
Google has officially released the Google Home Favorites widget for all Android users with devices running Android 12 or higher! Previously available only to those in the Public Preview program, this widget provides convenient and quick access to frequently used smart home devices and automations … [Read more...] about Google Home’s new Favorites widgets gives you quick access to your smart home
Android 15 rolls out to Pixel devices large and small
Well folks, it's finally here! Android 15 is officially making its way to Pixel devices, and as always, there are quite a few new things under the hood to talk about. Google's packed Android 15 with quite a few new features focused on security, productivity, and overall user experience. It's … [Read more...] about Android 15 rolls out to Pixel devices large and small
Epic’s lawsuit victory forces open the Google Play Store: What it means for you
In a landmark ruling, Judge James Donato has declared Google's tight grip on the Play Store an illegal monopoly, forcing them to usher in an era of unprecedented openness and competition. This verdict, as reported by The Verge, is the culmination of the Epic v. Google lawsuit, and could redefine how … [Read more...] about Epic’s lawsuit victory forces open the Google Play Store: What it means for you
Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S10+ and S10 Ultra are bigger, bolder, and built for AI
A few weeks ago at an event in NYC (just a couple of days after Google's Fall Chromebook Showcase, actually), Samsung also held a small event to show off a handful of new devices. And while the shiny new Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus has been grabbing most of our attention, I'm also intrigued by … [Read more...] about Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab S10+ and S10 Ultra are bigger, bolder, and built for AI
Chrome for Android may get extension support, but it’s likely not what you think
For years, users of Chrome for Android have wanted one of the things the desktop version offers that the mobile app never has: extensions. While the mobile browser is fast, easy to use, and packed with features, the lack of extension support has always been something we all wished was not a thing. … [Read more...] about Chrome for Android may get extension support, but it’s likely not what you think
This Pixel notification history trick is new to me and one I’ll use often
While I feel quite well versed in getting around a Chromebook, I have to admit that I'm regularly surprised by things I can do easily and efficiently on Android that I had no knowledge of prior. One of these things is Android's notification history, a lifesaver if you've ever accidentally swiped … [Read more...] about This Pixel notification history trick is new to me and one I’ll use often
Google Calendar gets a dedicated Birthdays event option on Android
Google Calendar has always been handy for keeping track of birthdays, pulling those dates straight from your Google Contacts. But until now, you couldn't manually create birthday events directly in Calendar. So, while you might have most birthdays in your calendar by default, I'm sure there are a … [Read more...] about Google Calendar gets a dedicated Birthdays event option on Android
RCS is now rolling out to iMessage on iPhones with iOS 18
We've finally made it past the finish line, folks. The day is here, and at long last, the iPhone-to-Android messaging experience is about to get a whole lot better thanks to Apples (likely-reluctant) inclusion of RCS in iMessage. In case you weren't already familiar, RCS (the successor to SMS … [Read more...] about RCS is now rolling out to iMessage on iPhones with iOS 18
Android tablets are finally getting my most-wanted windowing feature
Google is about to give Android tablets a serious productivity upgrade with a new feature that could change how we use these devices. Google's testing a new feature that lets you resize and arrange app windows just like on a desktop computer. This means no more full-screen or split-screen apps … [Read more...] about Android tablets are finally getting my most-wanted windowing feature
Gemini Live is now free for all Android users and I hope Chromebooks are next
Google just made a major move in the AI voice assistant race, rolling out Gemini Live for free to all Android users. If you've been eyeing the impressive capabilities of this conversational AI but weren't ready to commit to the $20 monthly Gemini Advanced subscription, now's your chance to give it a … [Read more...] about Gemini Live is now free for all Android users and I hope Chromebooks are next
