Tag: App Update

A minor update to Google Play Music has been released in the Play Store, bringing a long requested feature to the app.  With the new 8.7.6773 version of the app now allows you to disable album art on your lock screen.

Users have long requested this feature more for privacy concerns than anything.  If you are listening to music and a NSFW album art is displayed on your phone, it could be embarrassing for you or be something that is inappropriate for minors.  Now you have a bit more control over it.

The connectivity speed testing app, Speedtest by Ookla, has a new update rolling out that brings a completely revamped user experience.  The new update is version 4.0 for those keeping score at home and if you have the app installed, you can expect to see the update hit your phone over the course of the next few days.

Feature wise, there is nothing new in Speedtest.  It is all down to the new UI.  Gone is the speedometer style dial that you had when you tested your WiFi or 4G connectivity speed.  Instead, you now have a modern dial that has a Material Design feel to it.

For those who have the Chrome for Android beta app on their phones, a new update is rolling your way.  The third Chrome 65 based build has been released, bringing the version up to 65.0.3325.85.  It is the third consecutive week that the beta version of the browser has been updated for Android.

Unlike other beta programs in the Play Store, there is no sign up to get the Chrome beta for Android.  You can download it here and install it on your compatible devices.  Like all beta software however, its not recommended to run it as your daily browser or deploy it into production as there are likely still bugs to be found and there could be performance issues.

The first fruits of the merged Nest and Google Hardware teams is starting to show.  A new update to the Nest app brings Google Assistant to the Nest Cam IQ Indoor Camera.  The app update is rolling out now in the Play Store and once it is updated, it will enable Assistant so you can use voice commands to view and control the camera.

This is the first Nest device that has Assistant integrated into it but it likely is the tip of the iceberg.  When the merger between the two teams was announced, one of the specific things mentioned was bringing Google AI and Machine Learning to Nest devices.

Yesterday, Google announced that Google Pay was being officially launched with new branding and app updates.  The update to the old Android Pay app is now rolling out and it brings not only a name change, but a substantial user experience update.  The first public version of Google Pay for Android is 1.53 and it will replace your Android Pay app on your phone when you get the OTA update.

When you first open the app, you will immediately see the improvements in the app.  It has a light theme to it and has a two-tab bottom navigation.  The Home screen has a carousel of all of your cards and payment options at the top.  Simply slide to the card you want to use while you are paying at a terminal to use that card.  If you want to make it your default card, just long press it.

The beta version of the Google app for Android has a new update rolling out that brings a handy screenshot editing feature – but it only works within the Google app itself.  The new feature has arrived in version 7.21 for those keeping score at home and, given it is in beta, it will likely hit the stable channel for everyone over the course of the next couple of weeks.

The new screenshot editor allows you to take a screenshot of something in your Google app feed, search results, or pages viewed within Chrome custom tabs in the app.  Once you snap the screenshot, by pressing the Power+Volume Down button on virtually all Android phones, you will get a lower notification for you to edit or share the screenshot.