Category: Google

Google continues to update and improve the Google Play Music app through updates but also some behind-the-scenes updates to the music app.  The latest little touch came last week in a more streamlined and uniform search windows in the app.  Searching within the app has always been there but it has functioned slightly different than the search function in other Google apps.  That, it seems, is no longer the case.  Now when you tap the search icon within the app you see your search history in a drop down list and you can of course search for new terms like artists, albums or genre.

The update came to Google Play Music as a behind-the-scenes update and does not require a new version of the app for your Android phone or tablet.  It will just appear for you when it is rolled out to your device.  At this point however everyone should be seeing it.

Google Play Music – Free (In-App Purchases) – Download Now

Last summer I wrote a review of Google Fit and concluded that while it was a good start for a health & fitness app, it had a lot of growing up to do in order to compete with other apps and solutions out there.  That growing up process has been happening and happening quickly.  Over the course of the last couple of months, Google has added a significant amount of features and functionality to the app along with integrating with other apps like MyFitnessPal.  The latest update makes tracking your exercise easier by allowing you to do it from your smartwatch and not having to touch your phone.

The updated version of Google Fit is build 1.56.14 for those keeping score at home and it is available now in the Google Play Store.  When you update to this version, if you have a connected smartwatch, the app on it will be updated as well to allow you to start tracking activities.  The app is free of course and if you already have the app installed, the update will come to you via an OTA update.

Google Fit – Free – Download Now

The Chrome OS teams has released a bug fix and security update to the platform that all devices should see in the coming days.  The new stable build is version 47.0.2526.110 (Platform version: 7520.67.0) and while no details were given on what specifically was addressed, we can safely assume that it is a build all users should upgrade too as soon as possible.  The update comes about a month after the last update to the platform on December 15, 2015 which is about the normal cadence for releases.

In the announcement, Google states that all devices will be seeing the update in the next few days.  That means if you have a Chromebook, Chromebit or Chromebase, you should see the update regardless of manufacture or model.

One of the interesting tidbits that came out of CES 2016 this week was an announcement yesterday from Lenovo and Google around Project Tango.  The companies announced that such a devices will be available sometime this summer, bringing what has been a somewhat quiet project for Google this past year to the market.

So what exactly is Project Tango?  By Google’s definition it is…

Project Tango technology gives a mobile device the ability to navigate the physical world similar to how we do as humans

Now that’s a bit broad but essentially what it does is bring a whole new level of awareness to your device through various sensors.  These sensors allow for the device to understand motion, depth perception and area learning so your device learns and becomes aware of its surrounding.  The most obvious example of this would be a game being played in the physical work of your house with things like walls being walls and sofas being barriers as you play.  But really, the potential of this technology is hard to grasp.

One of the best articles explaining Project Tango I have read is from Mike Elgan for a piece he wrote for Computer World.  I highly recommend reading it to get a grasp of what it is and how it could impact so many facets of life.

Because really, can we have enough gold phones?  Of course not!  If you have been waiting and hoping that the Japan-only gold Nexus 6P would be coming to America, your wait and hoping is over.  At CES 2016 during the Huawei event, they announced that the 6P would be available starting today from the Google Store and Best Buy in both a 32GB and 64GB variant.  Sorry, there is no 128GB version in gold.

As you probably know, Huawei build the Nexus 6P and based on their event today at CES, it has been a rousing success for them and for Google and many who have it have said it is the best Android phone they have ever used.

So how do you get your gold 6P?  There are two places and I’ve got links to both after the break.

[Update]  Thanks to reader Andrew Mikolajczyk who posted another code that is available.  See it after the break along with the rest of the codes.

Like any mobile provider, Project Fi has a list of Dialer Codes that force your Nexus device to interact with the service in a certain way.  This could be, for example, to force your phone to only use T-Mobile, or Sprint or even repair a bad activation.  Generally speaking these codes should only be used in specific circumstances with the guidance of the Project Fi support team.  However, if you want to try them out, you can do so and you will find all of them after the break.

A word of warning before you jump ahead.  While I am publishing these codes, Google can change them and I make no guarantee they will work for you.  Further, you use these codes at your own risk.  Dialer Codes will force a behavior and to “unforce” that behavior, you may (likely) have to reboot your device.  Note also that these codes are aimed for Nexus devices.  Given that Project Fi is not officially supported on any other devices other than Nexus devices (6, 5X and 6P), your mileage may vary on other devices you have connected to Fi.  It should work but again, no promises, guarantee or warranty implied.