#Assistant
You no longer need to say "Hey Google" with the upcoming "Quick phrases" feature
Folk at 9To5Google found out that there a in-development feature in Google Assistant, codename Guacamole as early back in April. The feature will let you use Assistant without needing to say the hotwords. Now they have found more information about how it works.
Previously it was named "Voice shortcuts", and now it has been renamed to "Quick phrases", denoscription remain unchanged: Skip saying “Hey Google” for help with specific tasks. Salsas is the special name that Google give for the specific tasks here.
There are several category for adding salsas. After adding it, there a last section which will be "Devices where Assistant can respond to your salsas." This section is not finish developed yet, but smart home speakers & display will be part of it. No confirmed information whether it will be released or not, so take this info as a grain of salt. (9To5Google)
You no longer need to say "Hey Google" with the upcoming "Quick phrases" feature
Folk at 9To5Google found out that there a in-development feature in Google Assistant, codename Guacamole as early back in April. The feature will let you use Assistant without needing to say the hotwords. Now they have found more information about how it works.
Previously it was named "Voice shortcuts", and now it has been renamed to "Quick phrases", denoscription remain unchanged: Skip saying “Hey Google” for help with specific tasks. Salsas is the special name that Google give for the specific tasks here.
There are several category for adding salsas. After adding it, there a last section which will be "Devices where Assistant can respond to your salsas." This section is not finish developed yet, but smart home speakers & display will be part of it. No confirmed information whether it will be released or not, so take this info as a grain of salt. (9To5Google)
#Messages
Google Messages RCS features seem to be randomly breaking for many users
One of the best features of using Google Messages is the Rich Communication Service (RCS), which enable modern text messaging features, like typing indicator, delivered/read status and many more.
Recently more and more users across support forum reported that RCS stop connecting randomly and can't reestablish the connection, stucking at "Connecting" or "Waiting to verify" status. Some even left out with the notice that "Chat features unavailable for this device". (Android Police)
Google Messages RCS features seem to be randomly breaking for many users
One of the best features of using Google Messages is the Rich Communication Service (RCS), which enable modern text messaging features, like typing indicator, delivered/read status and many more.
Recently more and more users across support forum reported that RCS stop connecting randomly and can't reestablish the connection, stucking at "Connecting" or "Waiting to verify" status. Some even left out with the notice that "Chat features unavailable for this device". (Android Police)
#Apps #Gmail #MY
Gmail Material You redesign rolling out
As you can see, search bar get pill shaped design like others app do, for example Contacts. Bottom toolbar having similar design to the leaked Play Store redesign. Compose button now get rounded rectangle shaped. And default red accent has been changed to follow your wallpaper accent colour too (if you are on Android 12).
Download:
Play Store | APKMirror
Notes:
• Thanks @xheshx for first sharing
• Server side rollout
Follow @PixelHubUpdates
Gmail Material You redesign rolling out
As you can see, search bar get pill shaped design like others app do, for example Contacts. Bottom toolbar having similar design to the leaked Play Store redesign. Compose button now get rounded rectangle shaped. And default red accent has been changed to follow your wallpaper accent colour too (if you are on Android 12).
Download:
Play Store | APKMirror
Notes:
• Thanks @xheshx for first sharing
• Server side rollout
Follow @PixelHubUpdates
Google Pixel Hub
#Apps #Gmail #MY Gmail Material You redesign rolling out As you can see, search bar get pill shaped design like others app do, for example Contacts. Bottom toolbar having similar design to the leaked Play Store redesign. Compose button now get rounded rectangle…
#Gmail #MY
Gmail is rolling out a Material You redesign for some users on Android 12
So someone reported to XDA that he got the Gmail redesign on his Pixel 5 running Android 12 Beta 4.1.
Seems like the bottom toolbar Rooms has been renamed to Spaces too, and getting a brand new icon. (XDA-Developers)
*Also new Gmail redesign not just rolling out for Android 12 only, other Android version will get it too, just you will see blue accent across it. Check previous post for more info.
Gmail is rolling out a Material You redesign for some users
Seems like the bottom toolbar Rooms has been renamed to Spaces too, and getting a brand new icon. (XDA-Developers)
*Also new Gmail redesign not just rolling out for Android 12 only, other Android version will get it too, just you will see blue accent across it. Check previous post for more info.
#YouTube
YouTube will show banner about experimental features for Premium members
Earlier YouTube announced YouTube Premium members get to test some experimental features, and they want more Premium users to know about it.
So YouTube starts to popup "Try new features" banner on the YouTube app homepage. You can try out one experimental features once at a time, anyway you can switch any time to the other one whenever you like. (Android Police)
YouTube will show banner about experimental features for Premium members
Earlier YouTube announced YouTube Premium members get to test some experimental features, and they want more Premium users to know about it.
So YouTube starts to popup "Try new features" banner on the YouTube app homepage. You can try out one experimental features once at a time, anyway you can switch any time to the other one whenever you like. (Android Police)
#News #Clock
Google Clock alarms not ringing and make users gone mad
A healthy life is important to us, and waking up early is one of the habits. Some people relies on phone alarm to wake up at a regular time, but this bug in Google Clock makes people complains.
Those users who are facing missing alarms issue reported in the Play Store reviews section, and there are multiple reports of it. Pixels phone are also facing the issue too. (Android Authority)
Google Clock alarms not ringing and make users gone mad
A healthy life is important to us, and waking up early is one of the habits. Some people relies on phone alarm to wake up at a regular time, but this bug in Google Clock makes people complains.
Those users who are facing missing alarms issue reported in the Play Store reviews section, and there are multiple reports of it. Pixels phone are also facing the issue too. (Android Authority)
#Workspace #Drive
Google Drive on desktop finally get offline mode
So Google Drive on mobile supported offline mode for quite a while, but on desktop this is not quite the case. Finally, Google is rolling out the ability to open files without the need of having internet connection.
You will need the Google Drive desktop app installed on your computer in order to have this functionality. You will see the toggle "Available offline" for any files you right-click on. Non-Google files (PDF, Office files, images...) will need to be open with apps that you have installed on your computer.
On Chrome OS, you can already do it by going to the Files app and select files you want to make available during offline. (Google Workspace Blog)
Google Drive on desktop finally get offline mode
So Google Drive on mobile supported offline mode for quite a while, but on desktop this is not quite the case. Finally, Google is rolling out the ability to open files without the need of having internet connection.
You will need the Google Drive desktop app installed on your computer in order to have this functionality. You will see the toggle "Available offline" for any files you right-click on. Non-Google files (PDF, Office files, images...) will need to be open with apps that you have installed on your computer.
On Chrome OS, you can already do it by going to the Files app and select files you want to make available during offline. (Google Workspace Blog)
#Pixel #Lens
Google Lens is on the way to Pixel Launcher search bar
Google Lens is almost everywhere if you use Google applications, from Google App (Assistant), Chrome, Gboard & many more. Now it coming next for Pixel Launcher.
Google has rolled out the Lens icon to the widget variant earlier but not for Pixel Launcher persistent one yet, and it currently rolling out via server side. (Android Police)
Google Lens is on the way to Pixel Launcher search bar
Google Lens is almost everywhere if you use Google applications, from Google App (Assistant), Chrome, Gboard & many more. Now it coming next for Pixel Launcher.
Google has rolled out the Lens icon to the widget variant earlier but not for Pixel Launcher persistent one yet, and it currently rolling out via server side. (Android Police)
#News #YTMusic
YouTube Music reaches 50 million premium subscribers
YouTube Music launched in 2018 and after more than 3 years, it have gain 50 million paid subnoscriptions members.
It not really that accurate though, as this statistics come from YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium & free trial users.
By the way, there an earlier report that out of 487 million premium service subscribers, YouTube Music have 8% of the share, approximate 39 million users. Still, one of the fastest growing music subnoscription service out there. (Android Police)
YouTube Music reaches 50 million premium subscribers
YouTube Music launched in 2018 and after more than 3 years, it have gain 50 million paid subnoscriptions members.
It not really that accurate though, as this statistics come from YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium & free trial users.
By the way, there an earlier report that out of 487 million premium service subscribers, YouTube Music have 8% of the share, approximate 39 million users. Still, one of the fastest growing music subnoscription service out there. (Android Police)
#Apps #Chrome
Chrome Tab Groups on Android could possibly follow suit desktop behaviour
Tab groups sure it a useful feature, but not in every situation, or maybe some people don't like it too. For now on Android, when you open a new link in a new tab, it will default to open tab in the same group. This could change in the future.
Currently in Chrome Beta 94, there is an experiment that the behaviour change to open link in a new tab (depend on sites) without grouping it. When holding down links, you will get a new option named "Open in new tab", which open the tab without grouping it too. (9To5Google)
Download:
Play Store | APKMirror
Notes:
• If you just installed it, follow these instructions to get the new behaviour:
Launch > Keep it open for at least 5 mins > Quit then relaunch
Chrome Tab Groups on Android could possibly follow suit desktop behaviour
Tab groups sure it a useful feature, but not in every situation, or maybe some people don't like it too. For now on Android, when you open a new link in a new tab, it will default to open tab in the same group. This could change in the future.
Currently in Chrome Beta 94, there is an experiment that the behaviour change to open link in a new tab (depend on sites) without grouping it. When holding down links, you will get a new option named "Open in new tab", which open the tab without grouping it too. (9To5Google)
Download:
Play Store | APKMirror
Notes:
• If you just installed it, follow these instructions to get the new behaviour:
Launch > Keep it open for at least 5 mins > Quit then relaunch
#News #Workspace
Google bought Playspace for improving their Workspace collaborations tool
Playspace is a collaboration tool which you can have meetings, whiteboards & screenshare in a single page. And this is what Google plan to do in the future, merging all these tools into one single place, making it way easier to collaborate with each others.
Playspace has a navigation list on the left that show "Today's Meetings", people (with status indicators) and "Rooms", something similar to how Google did with Gmail too. In Rooms, it have included built in tools like a whiteboard, notepad and ability to listen song.
It also have features like Slack integration, one-click join, recordings, live streaming, and create/join from Google Calendar events. Playspace is shutting down next week but will be part of Google Workspace from now. (9To5Google)
Google bought Playspace for improving their Workspace collaborations tool
Playspace is a collaboration tool which you can have meetings, whiteboards & screenshare in a single page. And this is what Google plan to do in the future, merging all these tools into one single place, making it way easier to collaborate with each others.
Playspace has a navigation list on the left that show "Today's Meetings", people (with status indicators) and "Rooms", something similar to how Google did with Gmail too. In Rooms, it have included built in tools like a whiteboard, notepad and ability to listen song.
It also have features like Slack integration, one-click join, recordings, live streaming, and create/join from Google Calendar events. Playspace is shutting down next week but will be part of Google Workspace from now. (9To5Google)
#Apps #Google
Google improved "Collections" tab in their app
In Google search, there a bookmarking feature which Google named it "Collections". Google is starting to roll out redesign of Collections page in the app, making it more useful.
First, you will see “Quick access” carousel which shows “Recently saved” places and shows/movies, also “Frequently visited” pages. There an "Edit" button which you can delete entries. “Shows & movies” show you media that you recently check out. You can check out more by pressing the button below. Following up is "Collections", but it almost being abandon, anyway you can still access it.
Next on the list is "Shopping" which show you product you have been tracking (price drops). There a "Quick researching" carousel which displays product categories. Last one would be "Recipes" section which show you cookbooks. (9To5Google)
Download:
Play Store | APKMirror
Notes:
• Server side rollout (older version may get it too)
Google improved "Collections" tab in their app
In Google search, there a bookmarking feature which Google named it "Collections". Google is starting to roll out redesign of Collections page in the app, making it more useful.
First, you will see “Quick access” carousel which shows “Recently saved” places and shows/movies, also “Frequently visited” pages. There an "Edit" button which you can delete entries. “Shows & movies” show you media that you recently check out. You can check out more by pressing the button below. Following up is "Collections", but it almost being abandon, anyway you can still access it.
Next on the list is "Shopping" which show you product you have been tracking (price drops). There a "Quick researching" carousel which displays product categories. Last one would be "Recipes" section which show you cookbooks. (9To5Google)
Download:
Play Store | APKMirror
Notes:
• Server side rollout (older version may get it too)
#Doodle
Doodle Champion Island Games come to an end as Paralympic closing
It cool to see that Google celebrates Olympics in such way, by creating mini-games and let everyone have fun too. Things always to come an end and since it the last day of Paralympics on 5 Sep, Champion Island Games is ending too.
Google quoted: "Thanks to all the players around the world that came together to compete in the Doodle Champion Island Games and made HISS-tory in the process!"
There might be more stuff coming in upcoming Olympics game events, as Google themselves tipped: "Who knows what adventure awaits Lucky next? Only time will tell..."
Doodle Champion Island Games come to an end as Paralympic closing
It cool to see that Google celebrates Olympics in such way, by creating mini-games and let everyone have fun too. Things always to come an end and since it the last day of Paralympics on 5 Sep, Champion Island Games is ending too.
Google quoted: "Thanks to all the players around the world that came together to compete in the Doodle Champion Island Games and made HISS-tory in the process!"
There might be more stuff coming in upcoming Olympics game events, as Google themselves tipped: "Who knows what adventure awaits Lucky next? Only time will tell..."