Apps and Updates

1,635 'Apps and Updates' stories June 2013 - May 2016

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Google I/O numbers: 25M Chromecasts, 200m Google Photos users, 600 Android phones, 65B Play installs & more

Jordan Kahn May 18 2016 - 11:24 am PT

Google shared some updates on company stats today while kicking off its Google I/O developer conference including updates on Chromecast, active users, new Android phones, Google Play installs and more.

In addition to showing off its new chatbot-style Google Assistant, Amazon Echo-like Google Home device, new Allo and Duo messaging apps, and Daydream VR platform, the company also announced 25 million Chromecasts sold, 200 million Google Photos users, 600 new Android phones launched over the last year, and 65B Google Play installs.

Head below for the roundup of all the numbers Google announced during I/O today and check back for more as the event unfolds.

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Allo is Google’s new messaging app with Assistant built right in, expressive features, and more

Abner Li May 18 2016 - 10:38 am PT

Update: Allo’s Play Store listing offers the ability to preregister to get notified when the app is available for download.

Next up at I/O this year are two new communication apps that integration Google’s services and AI. The first is called Allo and has the Google Assistant built-in right into the app. In addition to integrating Google’s services, it also secure and private…

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New ESPN app will let subscribers stream live sporting events on Android TV, ‘new Nexus Players’

Abner Li May 17 2016 - 8:50 am PT

New televisions and boxes running Android TV have been released throughout the year and Android N will add new features like a picture-in-picture mode. Google I/O tomorrow might see more announcements including ‘new Nexus Players’, but until then ESPN is launching a new app that will allow subscribers to stream live sporting events.

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T-Mobile expands Binge On data-free video streaming to Google Play Music, NBC, Spotify, Tidal & more

Jordan Kahn May 17 2016 - 7:51 am PT

T-Mobile today announced new services being added to its Binge On program, which allows its wireless subscribers to stream video content from certain apps without dipping into their mobile data caps.

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Sign up now for the Pokemon Go Field Test on Android & iOS in the United States

Abner Li May 16 2016 - 2:19 pm PT

Niantic Labs and The Pokémon Company have been working on a Pokemon game that allows players to collect, train, and battle Pokémon characters in the real world. After being tested in New Zealand and Australia, a Field Test is now coming to the United States.

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Google launches Spaces tool for easy group sharing, available on Android, iOS, & web

Abner Li May 16 2016 - 8:22 am PT

Update: Spaces is now live on the Play Store, App Store, and on the web.

Google can’t seem to stop making social networks and messaging apps. In fairness, the just announced Spaces is referred to as a tool for small group sharing. While similar to the Communities feature that Google+ is now built around, the new app seems like a much more focused version of group messaging that better highlights content.

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Google wants to effectively kill Flash, Chrome will default to HTML5 by Q4 2016

Abner Li May 16 2016 - 1:52 am PT

Google wields a lot of influence on the web as the developer of the most popular desktop browser in the world. As detailed in a draft proposal (via Venture Beat), the company wants to effectively kill Flash by blocking the plugin and prioritizing HTML5 by the end of the year.

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This week’s top stories: Android VR, OnePlus 3, Galaxy Note 6, new apps, & much more

Jordan Kahn May 14 2016 - 9:18 am PT

In this week’s top stories: Google’s upcoming standalone Android VR headset, OnePlus 3 leaks, Galaxy Note 6 gets a release date, and we take a look at official accessories for the Galaxy S7 Edge, new apps, & much more. Head below for the usual roundup of links to all this week’s most shared stories and video.

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The latest version of Google’s Messenger app lets you view messages on your SIM card

Stephen Hall May 13 2016 - 12:26 pm PT

Depending on how long you’ve been using cell phones, you might remember the days when you could store SMS text messages on your SIM card. Typically these were just stored there temporarily so that — when switching between phones — you didn’t lose anything sentimental. Now, it appears (via Android Police) that the latest version of Google’s Messenger app lets you manage these SIM card messages…

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Google releases first-ever I/O 2016 app for attendees using iOS

Abner Li May 13 2016 - 10:26 am PT

Following the launch of Gboard yesterday, Google has released a version of the I/O 2016 conference app for iOS. With the dedicated app, attendees who use iPhone won’t have to rely on I/O’s mobile site.

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Evernote announces Google Drive integration, available in beta for Chrome and Android

Abner Li May 12 2016 - 9:41 am PT

Some people heavily rely on Evernote to take notes and keep track of tasks. With a new Google Drive integration, Evernote users will be able to add Docs, Slides, and Sheets into notes and quickly search for files stored in their Drive.

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Google is currently working on bringing ‘Gboard’ search features to Android

Abner Li May 12 2016 - 8:56 am PT

After announcing Gboard for iOS, the team behind it had a chat on the curation site Product Hunt to discuss the new keyboard. When asked about Android support, product manager Bri Connelly said Google is currently working on porting over the features.

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Google releases ‘Gboard’, its iPhone keyboard with built-in search, GIFs, & gesture typing

Zac Hall May 12 2016 - 6:42 am PT

Third-party keyboards have been possible (but flaky) on iPhones since iOS 8 in 2014, and today Google has joined the likes of Microsoft and others that are trying to offer a better software keyboard to iPhone owners. Meet Gboard, Google’s brand new iPhone keyboard that’s launching today and packed with features including search, GIF lookup, and gesture typing.

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YouTube launches new native messaging and sharing feature on Android and iOS

Abner Li May 11 2016 - 12:50 pm PT

Starting today, YouTube is rolling out (via Wired) a new native sharing and messaging feature in its Android and iOS apps. While the video network is already a popular destination, YouTube wants to keep people in the app by having conversations about popular videos start and remain there.

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Shared Albums in Google Photos gain commenting and smart suggestions

Abner Li May 11 2016 - 12:15 pm PT

Launched at the end of last year, Shared Albums in Google Photos will now let people comment on pictures. As part of the Android and iOS update, a new smart suggestions feature will also recommend the right photos to add to a Shared Album.

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Google Translate adds Tap to Translate chathead on Android, iOS gains offline mode

Abner Li May 11 2016 - 8:41 am PT

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Google Translate is getting a bevy of new features today that will make translating on mobile easier. Android gets a new feature that will get rid of the need to manually copy and paste into the Translate app, while iOS finally gets an offline mode. Additionally, the Word Lens instant visual translation feature now works on both Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

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Instagram rolling out redesigned app with all-new icon

Zac Hall May 11 2016 - 8:30 am PT

After years of resisting the trend, Instagram has finally replaced their classic app icon with a trendier, flatter version that preserves some original color from the realistic icon in the form of a background gradient. In addition to overhauling its app icon, the Facebook-owned photo sharing social network has also shipped a new black and white user interface.

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YouTube gives Creators access to more historical data, adds video progress bar in Home feed

Abner Li May 10 2016 - 10:29 am PT

Announced in October, the YouTube Reporting API lets Creators see detailed metrics about their videos. Today, the API has been updated with historical data going back 180 days. In other features, the Android app is testing a feature that allows users to quickly see their progress through a video.

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Google Calendar now sends web notifications to remind you of events

Abner Li May 10 2016 - 9:42 am PT

After adding a new Goals feature on Android and iOS, Google Calendar will now send users event notifications on the web. Google is likely moving away from using email notifications as Drive recently added a similar capability.

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Tech News will now highlight coverage of major stories by local publications

Abner Li May 9 2016 - 8:52 am PT

Following the introduction of AMP articles to Android, iOS, and the mobile web, Tech News will now highlight local coverage of national stories by using a new “Local Source” tag. The feature is live on all platforms, including the full web, starting today.

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This week’s top stories: YouTube’s Material reDesign, new Android phones, CyanogenMod + Honor 5X, more

Jordan Kahn May 7 2016 - 9:08 am PT

In this week’s top stories: The best Android phones you can buy (May 2016 edition), we go hands-on with CyanogenMod on the Honor 5X, the latest Android phone leaks, and we show you how to enable YouTube’s new Material reDesign on the web.

Head below for all of the handy links to this week’s most shared stories and videos.

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Google Opinion Rewards expands to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden

Stephen Hall May 6 2016 - 1:15 pm PT

If you’re fond of purchasing new apps, movies and music on your Android smartphone, you might be interested in a less-than-well-known app from Google called Opinion Rewards. You’re obviously not going to get rich quick, but it’s a great way to earn small amounts of Google Play Credit a quarter at a time by answering quick 2-5 question surveys. Today, Google has expanded the app to three new countries: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden…

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Netflix for Android adds ‘Cellular Data Usage’ to control video quality

Abner Li May 5 2016 - 8:42 am PT

After announcing the ability to pay for a subscription using Google Play billing, Netflix is now rolling out cellular data usage controls so users don’t go over their monthly carrier caps. The feature requires an updated app with a global rollout starting today.

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Google Slides receives big update w/ audience Q&A feature, new iOS presentation options, more

Abner Li May 4 2016 - 11:48 am PT

Google’s web-based alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint is getting a big update today that adds the ability for members of the audience to easily ask questions during a presentation. Additionally, Google Slides is adding more presentation options on iOS and a cool laser pointer tool.

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