Tag

Apps And Software

All articles tagged with #apps and software

apps-and-software8 days ago•54 min saved

Google rolls out gradient-powered icons for Gmail, Drive, Calendar and more

Google is gradually rolling out a gradient redesign for Workspace icons, updating apps like Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar and Tasks with colorful gradients. The new icons are visible on Google's homepage launcher, but in-app icons haven’t all updated yet. The refresh moves away from the old four-color scheme to softer gradients (Calendar and Meet show distinct blue/yellow shifts; Keep and Tasks also look different). A broader rollout is expected around Google I/O 2026.

via Android Central|

#apps-and-software #calendar #gmail

apps-and-software13 days ago•55 min saved

Cross-Platform Privacy Finally Arrives as iOS 26.5 Brings RCS Encryption to iPhone–Android Chats

Apple and Google are enabling end‑to‑end encrypted RCS cross‑platform messaging in the iOS 26.5 beta, embedding encryption into the GSMA’s RCS Universal Profile so iPhone and Android users can chat privately automatically when both parties are on a supported device and carrier; major carriers in the US and Canada are onboard, but it’s a beta rollout and may take time to reach all users.

via Android Central|

#apple #apps-and-software #encryption

apps-and-software18 days ago•53 min saved

Google's Remy Could Turn Gemini Into a Proactive AI Helper

Google reportedly is testing Remy, a Gemini-powered AI assistant designed to act as a proactive digital operator inside the Gemini app, capable of managing work, school and personal tasks, learning user habits, and planning actions beyond simple questions. The move signals a shift toward agentic AI—integrating planning and task execution across Google services like Workspace, Android and Search—though no launch date is set and privacy concerns persist.

via Android Central|

#agentic-ai #ai-assistant #apps-and-software

apps-and-software22 days ago•53 min saved

Google explains AICore’s temporary storage spike during AI updates

Google says AICore may temporarily consume a large amount of storage while background AI model updates run, keeping both the old and new models for up to three days as a rollback fail-safe, and freeing the extra space automatically once the update is stable (some users may see 10–11 GB temporarily).

via Android Central|

#aicore #apps-and-software #gemini-nano

apps-and-software25 days ago•53 min saved

Gemini Updates: Chat-Generated Files Now Downloadable as PDFs, Word, Excel

Google's Gemini can now create and directly download common file formats—PDFs, Word, Excel, as well as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides—straight from chat, removing the need to copy-paste content. Supported formats include Docs, Sheets, Slides, .pdf, .docx, .xlsx, .csv, LaTeX, TXT, RTF, and Markdown; PowerPoint export is not directly available yet. The feature is rolling out to all users starting today.

via Android Central|

#ai #apps-and-software #docs-sheets-slides

apps-and-software28 days ago•53 min saved

Google Workspace icons get a gradient refresh across Gmail, Drive, and more

Google is reportedly redesigning Workspace app icons—including Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and more—with a gradient style and color-shift away from the four-brand palette, giving a fresher look that hints at deeper AI integration; rollout hasn’t begun yet.

via Android Central|

#apps-and-software #gmail #google

apps-and-software1 month ago•56 min saved

Five essential Android Auto tweaks for a safer drive

Android Auto can be improved with five quick tweaks: stop music from auto-playing when connected; minimize notification distractions by turning off the message chime or removing apps from the Android Auto drawer; prevent Android Auto from starting automatically (no direct setting—use the workaround to disable Start Android Auto while the phone is locked); create shortcuts in Customize Launcher for frequent actions; and enable Taskbar widgets to control playback from the taskbar, so you can stay focused on the road.

via Android Central|

#android-auto #apps-and-software #car-infotainment

apps-and-software1 month ago•59 min saved

Gmail Gets a Fresh Start: Change Your Username Without Losing Your Data

Google is rolling out a feature that lets you change your Gmail username (the part before @gmail.com) without resetting your account data. Your old address remains available as an alias, and all data stays intact, with the option to switch back. Availability is currently limited to the US and India, and you can change your username only once per year (up to four usernames total per account, since you can change it three times after the original). Chromebook users may need to remove and re-add their Google account, and you may need to sign back into some apps after the change.

via Android Central|

#account-management #apps-and-software #email

apps-and-software1 month ago•58 min saved

Google Photos adds video playback speed controls on Android

Google Photos on Android now lets you speed up or slow down videos (0.5x to 2x) inside the app; the feature is rolling out gradually and isn’t yet available on iOS, addressing a long-standing gap in the gallery app.

via Android Central|

#android #app-updates #apps-and-software

apps-and-software1 month ago•56 min saved

Floating Cursor Makes Giant Android Screens One-Hand Friendly

Android Central reviews Quick Cursor, an app that overlays a floating cursor and a tracker on your display to turn large smartphones into one-hand-friendly devices. You activate it by swiping from the screen’s bottom half; the tracker acts as a mini touchpad for tapping and swiping UI elements in the top half. Setup requires granting accessibility access. The app is freemium—the base features are free, with paid options for advanced gestures and customization. It's presented as a convenient alternative to shrinking your grip on bigger phones.

via Android Central|

#accessibility #android #apps-and-software

apps-and-software1 month ago•53 min saved

Gemini 3.1 Flash Live speeds up real-time AI voice assistance

Google's Gemini 3.1 Flash Live speeds up real-time AI help by delivering low-latency, voice-first responses with a larger context window, multilingual support, and improved acoustic nuance; it enhances Gemini Live/Search Live with real-time features like camera and screen-sharing and is accessible via the Gemini API and AI Studio for developers and enterprises.

via Android Central|

#apps-and-software #flash-live #gemini-31

apps-and-software2 months ago•54 min saved

Pixel's Now Playing graduates to a dedicated app with offline song ID

Google has turned Now Playing into a standalone Pixel app on the Play Store, moving it out of Settings to enable faster updates and greater visibility. The app still identifies songs entirely on-device using a fingerprint database (no audio is sent to the cloud), and Google is testing a refreshed UI with clearer album art and easier navigation between the song history and recognition features.

via Android Central|

#apps-and-software #music-identification #now-playing

apps-and-software3 months ago•51 min saved

Pixel Launcher gets two subtle polish-ups in Android 17 Beta 1

Android 17 Beta 1 brings two small Pixel Launcher UI tweaks: a slimmer, customizable home screen search bar with swap-able shortcuts (e.g., Gemini Live, Translate, Song Search, Weather, Dictionary) and the ability to remove the At a Glance widget from the Pixel home screen. It also includes minor tweaks like a refreshed brightness icon in Quick Settings and clearer access to the volume panel.

via Android Central|

#android-17 #android-17-beta-1 #apps-and-software

apps-and-software3 months ago•50 min saved

Google expands AirDrop-style sharing to more Android devices via Quick Share

Google confirms Quick Share, its AirDrop-style cross‑platform sharing, will expand beyond Pixel devices to a wider range of Android phones (including Samsung and Nothing). Pixel 9/9 Pro will gain support as part of a platform‑level upgrade, not a workaround, enabling easier sharing with iPhones and Macs. A broader, multi‑OEM rollout with security audits is planned in the coming months, with key tech events likely to showcase the expansion.

via androidcentral.com|

#airdrop #android #appleiphone

apps-and-software4 months ago•69 min saved

Spotify's latest price hike nudges subscribers toward rivals

Spotify has raised US prices for its Premium plans (Individual $12.99/mo, Student $6.99, Duo $18.99, Family $21.99), with changes applying immediately to new subscribers and at the next billing cycle for existing ones. The move follows the rollout of Lossless streaming and positions Spotify as more expensive than Apple Music, Tidal, and YouTube Music, prompting readers to consider switching to alternatives that offer higher-quality audio or different value propositions.

via Android Central|

#apps-and-software #lossless-audio #music-streaming