You can now use voice control for Sling TV on Google Nest devices
Sling TV allows you to watch your favorite shows live or stream them using your television, phone, or tablet. Until now, though, you couldn't use your voice to control the service. Now you can. Google has announced that you can use voice commands and watch Sling using your Google Nest devices.
Android bug allowed hackers to access phone cameras in the background
A new bug has been discovered in Android that allowed hackers to gain access to the phone's camera in the background — even when the phone's lock screen was locked. The bug has since been fixed, according to Google, and affected Google Pixel and Samsung phones, among others.
Project Understood improves Google’s voice recognition for those with Down syndrome
Google Assistant does a good job of understanding most queries, but not from everyone. Project Understood helps improve Google's accuracy in understanding individuals with Down Syndrome. Voice technology offers a chance for patients to live more independent lives, but they must be understood.
New update turns Google Earth into a free storytelling platform
Google is rolling out new storytelling tools to Google Earth. The new creation features let you build stories and presentations that center around various places. You can arrange a series of locations in order and attach elements such as notes, pictures, and annotations to them.
Google Pixel: The most common problems, and how to fix them
Although the original Google Pixel is three years old, it's still an excellent smartphone. Here's how to fix common Google Pixel problems or work around them.
Hide your data plan! Google’s Stadia sucks down over 10 gigabytes every hour
Google Stadia lets you play Destiny 2 on your smartphone, but that doesn't mean you'll be walking around town with Cayde-6 in your pocket (and not just because the character's dead). Stadia's high data usage of 10.2 gigabytes every hour is the enemy of data plans everywhere.
Google wants an iMessage Android alternative. RCS won’t help it do that
Google is having another go at building an iMessage alternative for Android with RCS. But its plans have way too many moving parts and already begun to show cracks. Instead, it likely has a better chance of succeeding by merging a simple instant messaging service inside its existing SMS app.
Google Search can now teach you how to pronounce tricky words
A new Google Search feature shows you how to pronounce difficult or unusual words. It’ll even offer feedback if you practice the pronunciation by speaking it into the microphone. It also offers the phonetic spelling of the word and an animation that shows you how to move your mouth when saying it.
Google is finally rolling out RCS support to Android Messages in the U.S.
Google is finally bringing support for better messaging to users in the U.S. The company announced that it's rolling out support for RCS to users of the Android Messages app. The new standard will allow for better read receipts, better group messaging, and better support for multimedia.
Could Google Stadia “go far beyond video games?” The dev behind Kine thinks so
The dev behind Stadia launch title Kine thinks the service aspires to pilot technology Google could use in more than games. That's assuming, however, that Stadia makes it past a rocky launch, which is held back by as slim launch library.
Google Stadia will be missing some of its biggest features at launch
Google Stadia's unique social features like State Share and Crowd Play could revolutionize how we play games with others, but neither feature is actually going to be included when it launches this month. These missing features only make its limited launch game library seem more barren.
That’s rich: Apple VP knocks classroom Chromebooks for being cheap
In an interview with CNET, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, dismissed Google's Chromebooks "cheap testing tools." He further added that Chrome OS computers can never inspire kids and believes an iPad or a MacBook will allow a child to be more creative and successful.
Google will offer checking accounts as latest tech company to enter finance
Google is the latest tech company to enter the financial world by offering checking accounts starting next year. Google’s financial project, dubbed as Cache, would have accounts run by Citigroup. The financial institutions would be the main focus on Cache, rather than Google creating a separate financial brand.
Google is bringing some Translate features into Google Maps
Google is bringing Google Maps and Google Translate a little closer together by adding part of Translate to Google Maps. You can tap on a button within Google Maps to have the name of your destination and the address read out in the local language. It will be available to users over the next month in over 50 languages.
Digital Trends Live: Disney+ debuts, Snap Spectacles 3, Google Stadia’s lineup
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Ryan Waniata discuss the biggest trending tech topics of the day, including Disney+’s shaky start, the Snap Spetacles 3 launch, Google’s “Project Nightingale,” Google Stadia’s lineup, a foldable bike, and more.
Google Stadia vs. Nintendo Switch: How do the gaming platforms compare?
Google Stadia releases on November 19, but is the game streaming service a worthwhile alternative to the Nintendo Switch, or should you stick with Nintendo's hybrid console? We compared the two to help you decide, breaking down things like performance, game library, unique features, and cost.
Pirates are using publishing platform Medium to distribute bootlegged movies
Scammers have been found to be abusing the publishing platform, Medium to distribute bootlegged copies of the latest movies such as Joker. The posts feature links to the video files and a range of search keywords. Most sources lead visitors to registration pages that demand credit card details.
Switching back to a dumbphone was the smartest thing I’ve ever done
Smartphones are designed to hold our attention, and we often end up spending hours on them each day. I set out to see if a smarter feature phone, like the Nokia 8110, can help us break those habits and restore balance in our digital lives. With support for WhatsApp and more, I really didn't miss my smartphone.
Frustrated by slow websites? Google Chrome may have a solution
It's no fun waiting for a slow website to load, so Google is planning a badge system that warns users when a page is likely to take a long time to appear. It's hoped the system will also nudge developers into optimizing their websites, making the web a less frustrating place for everyone that uses it.
Google is secretly gathering personal health data on millions of Americans
Google is reportedly working alongside one of the nation's largest health care systems to collect and analyze the personal health information of Americans across 21 states. The joint effort with the St. Louis-based company Ascension began last year, but increased dramatically over this summer and fall.
The Google Stadia launch lineup is looking a little barren
Google has revealed the games available for those who purchase Google Stadia access on November 19. Though some big games are included, it is much smaller than players were likely expecting. A handful of additional games will be made available by the end of the year, including Ghost Recon Breakpoint.
Android is a dead-end for new devices — and Google knows it
Google launched Android over a decade ago but has struggled to replicate the explosive success of the OS beyond phones. There was only one Android-powered device at Google's hardware event. Is Android a one-trick pony? As Google increasingly focuses more on the Assistant, where is Android really headed?
Phantom text messages were sent around the country last night
According to a slew of posts on Reddit and Twitter, a number of users received text messages that weren't actually sent. According to some reports, the messages are actually duplicates of messages sent on February 14, and the issue could be related to a cross-carrier messaging system update.
Why wait? You can download the Google Stadia Android app right now
Google has released the official Stadia Android app ahead of the streaming service's official launch later this month. The only mobile phones compatible at launch are the Pixel 3 and newer. Additional mobile devices will be compatible at a later date, and the free Base Edition arrives in 2020.
YouTube launches fresh new homepage on iOS and Android tablets and desktops
YouTube is making it easier to navigate your homepage on tablets and desktop devices with its new interface changes. The new homepage will combine larger thumbnails with longer titles, and will add channel icons into the mix. You'll also get some additional features, such as adding to Now Playing playlists.
Google Pixel 4’s astrophotography mode is now rolling out to older Pixels
Google Pixel 4's astrophotography mode is now making its way to a bunch of previous-generation Pixel phones. Google has begun rolling out the version 7.2 update for its default camera app, which enables the astrophotography mode for the Pixel 2, Pixel 3, and Pixel 3a, among other additions and changes.
The Google Pixel’s last update will be released in December
Google announced the end-of-software updates for the original Pixel and Pixel XL. According to the company, the phones will get one final update in December, which will largely focus on security patches. The phone already got more updates than were expected, having received Android 10.
Microsoft’s new Edge browser to launch January 15. Here’s what you need to know
Aftersix months of beta testing, Microsoft is finally getting ready to launch its new Chromium-based Edge browser. Announced November 4, during the first day of the Microsoft Ignite conference, the browser will be set to launch on January 15 on Windows 7, 8, and 10, and MacOS.
Pixel 4 face-retouching feature built with help of wedding photographers
The Google Pixel 4 face retouching feature was built with the help of wedding photographers so that the software will not cross certain lines. The feature is turned on by default when taking selfies with the smartphone, which should provide a confidence boost as people will look their best selves.
Digital Trends Live: Google buys Fitbit, Razr pics, Apple TV+, and more
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Drew Prindle discuss the top trending tech stories of the day, including Google buying Fitbit, leaked Razr smartphone pics, Apple TV+ has arrived, the U.S. Interior Department ground its fleet of drones, and more.
Why Google’s $2.1 billion Fitbit purchase won’t fix its WearOS woes
Google's Fitbit acquisition may end up being a step in the wrong direction. WearOS has struggled over the years in the smartwatch world, but not because it lacks a decent health platform or activity trackers. The real problem is vertical integration and in-house end-to-end development.
Google is buying Fitbit for $2.1 billion
In a move that makes its growing wearable ambitions crystal clear, Google is buying Fitbit for $2.1 billion. With the acquisition of the maker of activity trackers, Google is making a major push into the wearables space. Fitbit-designed hardware will run Wear OS in the near future.
Google celebrates Halloween with interactive Google Doodle
To kick off the Halloween festivities early this year, the Google Doodle for Thursday is an interactive trick-or-treating game. The doodle is a “choose your own” type of Halloween adventure, featuring animals associated with the holiday, such as tarantulas, bats, owls, and wolves.
Google teases Thunderbolt 3 support for Chromebooks in new code commit
Chromebooks could soon support a feature that has long been present on competing Windows 10 laptops and MacBooks. According to a very specific new commit from the Chromium Repositories, Google might be working to add support for Thunderbolt 3 to ChromeOS, and perhaps newer Chromebook devices.