After a bit of a stint in a public preview, the convenient Home Panel for controlling your smart home devices is now making its way to a broader range of Google TV devices, including the popular Chromecast with Google TV and other devices/televisions running the platform. This feature, which mirrors … [Read more...] about More Google TV devices are getting the new Home Panel
New & Upcoming Features
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Gmail for Android gets a big UI improvement on tablets and foldables
Google continues to refine the user experience on larger-screened Android devices, and the latest app to get a significant usability boost is Gmail. Following in the footsteps of Google Keep's update last year, Gmail for Android tablets and foldables is now rolling out an adjustable, dual-pane … [Read more...] about Gmail for Android gets a big UI improvement on tablets and foldables
Google adds a handy quick edit feature to Google Photos for sharing
Google Photos is introducing a subtle but noticeable change to its sharing workflow. A new "Quick Edit" screen is starting to appear for some users after they hit the share button, offering a final opportunity to tweak images before sending them off. I'm in the middle of testing the Pixel 9a, and … [Read more...] about Google adds a handy quick edit feature to Google Photos for sharing
Pixel Watch is getting far better media controls
Earlier this year, Google teased an upgrade to the media controls for the Pixel Watch. The promise was richer, more context-aware controls, specifically catering to podcast playback within YouTube Music, including actions like fast forward/rewind, playback speed adjustment, and queue management. … [Read more...] about Pixel Watch is getting far better media controls
April Workspace Drop ads a bunch of AI-focused tools to the mix
Google continues its push to integrate helpful AI features across its productivity suite with the latest round of updates for Google Workspace this April. These aren't just flashy additions; the focus is on practical tools built to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and provide genuine … [Read more...] about April Workspace Drop ads a bunch of AI-focused tools to the mix
Video uploads to Gemini are getting so close now
Google's Gemini continues to evolve, constantly becoming better at truly helpful tasks like summarizing content, answering complex questions, and even performing web research. However, a notable missing feature has been the inability to directly analyze uploaded video content. We've known Google has … [Read more...] about Video uploads to Gemini are getting so close now
Google is Testing a Major UI Overhaul for Quick Share
Quick Share has rapidly become a go-to tool for Android and ChromeOS users, bridging the gap for easy, nearby file transfers in a way that feels seamless and simple. While the current interface gets the job done effectively, it appears Google is preparing to give this essential feature a significant … [Read more...] about Google is Testing a Major UI Overhaul for Quick Share
Chrome for Android’s bottom-mounted address bar is finally rolling out
After an extensive testing period that commenced last October, Google Chrome is finally initiating the stable channel release of the bottom address bar option for Android users. Reports indicate that some users are receiving prompts informing them about the ability to reposition the address bar to … [Read more...] about Chrome for Android’s bottom-mounted address bar is finally rolling out
You can now create videos in Gemini chats with Google’s Veo 2
Google has announced a significant upgrade to its AI video generation capabilities, integrating the powerful Veo 2 model into both Gemini Advanced and Whisk. This update allows users to transform text prompts and static images into high-resolution, eight-second videos, opening up all sorts of new, … [Read more...] about You can now create videos in Gemini chats with Google’s Veo 2
Android is getting a major security addition via ‘Auto Restart’
Google is enhancing Android security with a simple, practical new feature delivered via a Google Play Services update. Soon, your Android phone or tablet will automatically restart itself if it remains locked and unused for three consecutive days. This proactive measure should help shore up data … [Read more...] about Android is getting a major security addition via ‘Auto Restart’
One of my biggest gripes with Google Messages is now fixed
If you're a regular user of Google Messages, there's a part of the UI that's been wildly frustrating to use for a very long time: the restrictive 4-line limit in the text box that scrolls the rest of your message out of view. This made drafting longer messages, or even just sharing URLs (which can … [Read more...] about One of my biggest gripes with Google Messages is now fixed
Google Messages will more clearly indicate RCS chats in the future
Google Messages continues its quest to make the RCS experience smoother and more intuitive for users. While RCS (Rich Communication Services) offers a significant upgrade over standard SMS/MMS – bringing features like typing indicators, read receipts, high-resolution media sharing, and end-to-end … [Read more...] about Google Messages will more clearly indicate RCS chats in the future
