Google Event Confirmed for September 29th With Android Marshmallow Launch Likely

While speculation has been rampant the last few weeks, it is now confirmed that Google is hosting an event in San Francisco on September 29th.  The event has all the makings of a huge showing from the company with a wide range of products expected to be announced and of course the launch of Android Marshmallow.

Invites to the events tagline  “Join us for some tasty treats and much s’more.”  is a great play on the whole Marshmallow theme and pretty much guarantees that the next version of Android will be officially launched at the event.  With the huge number of app updates from the Google stables happening these past few days, that’s hardly a surprise as all of them are prepping for Android Marshmallow.

Google Fit Website Gets A Material Makeover

Google has quietly rolled out a major update to the Google Fit website, the site that accompanies the health and fitness app for Android phones and tablets.  Since the launch of Google Fit a couple of years ago, the site has been a somewhat bland white and grey look with whatever highlight color you selected for your information.  The information was there but frankly the site wasn’t very organized.  That has all changed.  The Google Fit site now has a beautiful Material design look with far more information at your fingertips.  In fact, it makes the Google Fit app (which I’m a big fan of and use daily) look a bit antiquated.

Android Pay Now Available For Download in The Play Store

If you have been waiting for the least week or so since its launch for your Google Wallet app to update to Android Pay, you can now take matters into your own hands.  Google has released the Android Pay app into the Google Play Store for you to download to your NFC compatible devices.  The app is free and if you haven’t had a chance to check it out, you can read my first look at the app from last week when I got it on my Nexus 6.  Essentially this is the replacement for the old Google Wallet app (there is a new one for sending and receiving funds) rebranded with some security improvements and other performance updates.  There are a long list of retailers that are already accepting Android Pay because they were accepting Google Wallet prior to the launch.  Additional retailers and financial institutions are there now too and many more are in the roadmap to be added in the coming weeks.

Android Pay for Android – Free – Download Now

Google Play Music Update Brings Much Improved Chromecast Support

Google has released an update to Google Play Music for Android that should be a welcome sight… erm, I mean sound, to users.  The update, version 6.0.1995S for those keeping score at home, has completely overhauled support for Chromecast with all of the new updates and features of this release focusing on your ability to stream music through your Chromecast.  The update is rolling out now to the Google Play Store so if you haven’t received it yet, you should over the course of the next 2-3 days.  For those who haven’t tried Google Play Music, it is a free app (ad supported) that allows you to stream music and store your own music in the service.  For $9.99 per month you can get ad-free listening and the ability to download content to listen offline.

Google Play Music – Free (in-app purchases) – Download Now

Google Device Assist Updated With Rich Media Content

Google has released an update to the Google Device Assist app for Nexus, Google Play edition and Android One devices running Android Lollipop.  The new 1.2 version for those keeping score at home, brings several new tips as well as rich media content for more engaging tips for users.  If you are not familiar with the Google Device Assist app, it is designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced users of Google devices that gives you tips and tricks as well as a great resource of information on how to get the most out of your device.  There are also a issue detector built into the app that can proactively inform you of issues so they can be addressed.  You can also get live tech support (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, UK and USA) through the app to help you troubleshoot issues or get help with something.

Google Device Assist (Google Nexus, Play Edition and Android One Devices required) – Free – Download Now

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