#GPSU

Google Play Store v38.8 (2023-12-11)

• Available on Apkmirror

Changelog -
• [Phone] You will be able to watch app videos in full screen by default to improve the viewing experience.
• [Phone] In the “Ads” section of the search results, you can find that more advertisers have provided info about their apps.
• [Auto, PC, Phone, TV, Wear] New feature to help you uninstall apps on connected devices. (I shared about remote uninstallation almost 3 month ago)
• [Phone] You will now see a smaller version of an icon on some app listings on Apps & Games tabs to better identify apps to install.

Not all features will be available instantly even if you sideload the mentioned version.

@GappsLeaks

#PlayStore

Play Store prepares to show badge for apps associated with a government entities.

This has been announced by Google some weeks ago and the change will go live in 2024. You will see a badge on the app listing page of apps which are officially related to government entities with the following text -

• "Government app"
• "Play verified this app is affiliated with a government entity"

The flag for this is already available in Play Store version 38.7 and above which is -

OfficialInstitutions__enable_official_government_badge_in_decide_bar

but it doesn't seem to work yet, atleast for me.

@GappsLeaks

#PlayStore

Here is how remote app uninstallation will work in Google Play Store

The will be available under Manage apps & devices > Manage.

Read - https://thespandroid.blogspot.com/2023/12/Play-Store-Remote-Uninstall-Apps.html?m=1

@GappsLeaks

#GoogleChrome

Minimizing chrome custom tabs using Picture-in-Picture

This functionality in chrome has been hidden behind a flag and doesn't seem to enabled by default. You can enable it with chrome://flags/#cct-minimized flag. This is available in stable version of chrome as well (tested in 120)

Once enabled, whenever you click links in any app which open a custom tab, you will see a minimize (down arrow) button, tapping on it will minimize the tab into pip. You can switch around apps and go back to the tab again by tapping the expand button in pip.

@GappsLeaks

Looks better. Much more space. 😁 No bottom tabs.

This is not a feature. Just playing with flags

#GoogleMessages

Probably you will be able to use both SIMs for RCS chats in Google Messages

Some strings from the latest beta of Google Messages -

• RCS chats for %1$s and %2$s will be turned off
• RCS chats for all numbers will be turned off
• RCS chats for both numbers will be turned off
• RCS chats for this phone number will be turned off
• Your IT administrator turned off RCS chats for all SIMs.
• SIM %1$s RCS toggle

I don't have dual SIMs, so I can't test and not sure how it will actually work. You can follow this blog post and enable the @bugle.enable_multi_sim_rcs & @bugle.multi_sim_enable_e2ee flags to test it.

There is no guarantee that it will work because the flags aren't enabled by default. Even if you flip the flags, you may need to clear data of the Google Messages app to start the setup process again, and clearing will reset the flags. 🤷‍♂️

@GappsLeaks

#GoogleTasks

You can now reorder your tasks list in Google Tasks app

Available with version 2024.01.01.594820700.0-release (apkmirror).

May not be enabled by default, so rooted users can enable the ReorderableTaskListSelector__enabled flag.

@GappsLeaks

#GoogleMessages

Selfie Gifs in Google Messages will make your conversations more fun

Read - https://thespandroid.blogspot.com/2024/01/Selfie-Gifs-Google-Messages.html

Flag is shared in the post, unrooted users can enable it as well

@GappsLeaks

Google is sending some of its Google Assistant features to the graveyard. Here is the list -

Source - https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/13971691?visit_id=638405770967328805-3159498449&p=assistant_is_changing&rd=1

• Playing and controlling audiobooks on Google Play Books with your voice. You can still cast audiobooks from your mobile device.
• Setting or using media alarms, music alarms, or radio alarms on Google Assistant enabled devices. You can create a custom Routine that has similar behavior or use a standard alarm.
• Accessing or managing your cookbook, transfering recipes from device to device, playing an instructional recipe video, or showing step-by-step recipes. You can use Google Assistant to search for recipes across the web and YouTube.
• Managing a stopwatch on Smart Displays and Speakers. You can still set timers and alarms.
• Using your voice to call a device or broadcast a message to your Google Family Group. You can still broadcast to devices in your home.
• Using your voice to send an email, video or audio message. You can still make calls and send text messages.
• Rescheduling an event in Google Calendar with your voice. You can still schedule a new event.
• Using App Launcher in Google Assistant driving mode on Google Maps to read and send messages, make calls, and control media. You can still use voice control on Google Maps the same way.
• Asking to schedule or hear previously scheduled Family Bell announcements. You can create a custom Routine that has similar behavior.
• Asking to meditate with Calm. You can still ask for meditation options with media providers such as YouTube.
• Voice control for activities will no longer be available on Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 devices. You'll need to use the buttons on your device to start, stop, pause, and resume activities. You can still voice control activities on Pixel Watches.
• Viewing your sleep summaries will only be available on Google Smart Displays. You can still ask for sleep details by voice on third-party smart clocks.
• Calls made from speakers and Smart Displays will not show up with a caller ID unless you’re using Duo.
• Viewing the ambient “Commute to Work” time estimates on Smart Displays. You can still ask for commute times and get directions by voice.
• Checking personal travel itineraries by voice. You can still ask for flight status.
• Asking for information about your contacts. You can still make calls to your contacts.
• Asking to take certain actions by voice, such as send a payment, make a reservation, or post to social media. You can still ask Assistant to open your installed apps.

@GappsLeaks

The Samsung version of Google Messages no longer shows flags. #FuckGoogle

Version: messages.android_20240109_01_RCOO.phone_samsung_openbeta_dynamic

@GappsLeaks

Thicc Sliders

Google translate version 8.0

https://m3.material.io/components/sliders/overview

@GappsLeaks

#GoogleTV

Internal settings in Google TV app on Android

I don't know if anyone uses this app or is aware of the internal settings in it. You can access internal settings by launching the com.google.android.apps.play.movies.mobile.usecase.settings.InternalSettingsActivity through any activity launcher app. (Edit : You need root, as the activity is not exported, so you can't launch it without root)

You can enable a bunch of options like a light theme and pip mode.

If you have root you can add the UserConfigFeature__is_dogfood_user flag in the com.google.android.videos#com.google.android.videos package of Google TV using GMS flags app. You will see the "Internal Settings" option in the user switcher dialogue to access these settings.

@GappsLeaks