Android Police - Features about Google

Google makes solid hardware, so why aren't more people buying its products?

Jon Gilbert — Wed, 17 May 2023 10:02:18 GMT

In recent years, Google has refocused on improving its range and hardware quality. From the stellar Pixel 7 Pro to the incredible Google Pixel Fold and Pixel tablet, Google has proven it knows how to make good hardware.

Google Nearby Share Beta for Windows really gives AirDrop a run for its money — and here's how it works

Chandraveer Mathur — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 12:17:17 GMT

Since the advent of Nearby Share in 2020, Android users have been enjoying the convenience of wireless file transfers between their phones and tablets. However, moving files from an Android device to a Windows computer has always been a little more clunky, making us envious of Apple’s AirDrop. Times are changing and Google finally has a workable Nearby Share implementation for Windows, currently in beta. We took the utility for a spin to get a look at everything it has to offer.

How to keep your phone safe from the scary Exynos modem vulnerability

Rajesh Pandey — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:57:50 GMT

Every once in a while, a major security vulnerability is discovered in devices you use in your daily life that could put your privacy at risk. Recently, Google's Project Zero team revealed multiple remote code execution vulnerabilities in Exynos modems that could allow hackers to compromise some of the best Android phones like the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 without any user interaction. Worse, they only needed to know the victim's phone number to achieve this. So, how can you keep yourself safe if you own an Android phone, watch, or even a car that uses an affected Exynos modem?

How to watch today’s Google Search AI event

James Peckham — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 10:23:43 GMT

Google’s next big reveal won’t be saved for Google I/O. The company is hosting a short-notice event in Paris to reveal some new changes to its services later today, and it's expected we may hear more details about the company's newly announced Bard AI tech. We know there will be changes to Google Search, Google Maps, and “beyond”, so it's likely to be related to the company's newly revealed chatbot.

How Google Maps leverages government knowledge to improve cycling features

Manuel Vonau — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 15:27:55 GMT

Google Maps is an invaluable tool for navigating and finding places in the world around you. But the mapping service doesn’t excel in all areas, and bike navigation is one of them. With more and more cities around the world finally taking cycling infrastructure more seriously, Google seems to have realized it’s time to properly help cyclists find the best routes to their destinations. In Berlin, Germany, the company has even teamed up with the local government to do just that.

Here's your up-close and personal look at Google's Android experience at CES

Taylor Kerns — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 19:55:20 GMT

Your favorite tech companies are kicking off 2023 with CES in Las Vegas. The entire show is a spectacle, with participating companies showing off the latest tech of all kinds — from everyday products like phones and tablets to slightly stranger fare like a connected urinalysis device and battery-powered TVs.

Here's what Google killed in 2022

Manuel Vonau — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 16:19:55 GMT

Google is infamous for killing beloved projects. It has Google Reader to thank for this reputation, which was many people’s preferred RSS feed reader all these years ago until the company killed it out of nowhere. Google went on with discontinuing other beloved projects, like its innovative Gmail client Inbox or its social network Google Plus, which garnered a small but loyal following over the years. In 2022, the company kept at it, killing a bunch of famous and a few not so well-known services, just like last year.

Google Pixel 6: How to use the Action Pan and Long Exposure features

Taylor Kerns — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 11:30:15 GMT

The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were the first Pixels to receive a major camera upgrade. While Apple and Samsung have closed Google's once monolithic lead, the Pixel 6 series is still the most fun and reliable point-and-shoot camera available. Combining Google's software magic with an updated sensor has worked wonders and has enabled Google to come up with new software tricks like Action Pan and Long Exposure. Each of these mimics a tricky camera technique far too complicated for most casual photographers, especially on a phone. But this is a Pixel, and what was once a tricky maneuver is now possible with a button tap.

Used phones are finally worth serious consideration

Manuel Vonau — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 10:50:12 GMT

If you are somebody who cares about using the latest software releases as soon as possible, your options were historically rather limited in the Android universe. You could either buy the newest flagship from Samsung, LG, Motorola, HTC, or the usual suspects and hope that they wouldn’t abandon their flagships within the next few months, or you basically had to go with Google’s Nexus and later Pixel phones.

Google's Little Signals experiment finally has me excited about Digital Wellbeing

Taylor Kerns — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:42:40 GMT

I've never been acutely aware of so-called notification fatigue in my own life; my devices' beeps and buzzes are just a part of everyday background noise. Even so, the Gmail icon on my iPad Air shows a five-figure unread message count (we get a lot of emails here at AP), and despite my Nest Hub reminding me for the past several days that my dad's birthday is coming up, I still haven't made any plans with him (don't worry, I will). No joke, as I was writing this, the Echo Show 15 behind me chimed to remind me to review a recent Amazon purchase (I probably won't). I may not feel like my notifications are out of hand, but they're clearly no longer compelling me to actually do anything much of the time.

The 'best' Pixel experience now only comes in one size

Taylor Kerns — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:50:18 GMT

We're all abuzz over the announcement of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Thanks to a prolific leak cycle, we more or less knew everything about them already, but with official confirmation of both specs and price, we can start to get officially excited — and officially annoyed. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro represent the biggest gap in functionality between Google device sizes since Pixels have been around, and I'm really not here for it.

Google Pixel 6 Pro hands-on: Shaking up the formula with big, beefy changes

Ryne Hager — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 17:01:45 GMT

Today is Pixel day, but I can’t tell you too much about the experience of actually using the Pixel 6 Pro just yet. (Sorry, embargo.) You know the specs, you know the features, and you know what it looks like in the abstract, but those are all promotional renders meant to paint the phone in the best possible light. What does it actually look like, in real life? How do the shapes meld and blend in reality? Our early first-look gives you a quick overview of Google’s changing design language and the physicality of the Pixel 6 Pro. And the elephant in the room is the elephant strapped to the back of the phone.

The Google app's dark theme is officially rolling out in stable this week, but only on Android 10

Caleb Potts — Thu, 21 May 2020 09:55:59 GMT

Last year, both Google and Apple added dark theming options into their mobile operating systems, with many system apps supporting the feature. Some apps took longer than others, though, like Google's own search app. We reported that its dark theme was available through the Play Store Beta program earlier this year, and now the feature is rolling out to all users on Android 10.

Google working on palm rejection for always-on displays to save your retinas at night

Jules Wang — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:30:58 GMT

Count yourself lucky if you have a phone that can keep its display on to show you the time or a late notification without the need to blast all of the screen with light. Well, except for when you pull your phone out of your pocket — the panel goes on blast and your eyes are the worse for it. Plenty of people do and one such person has gone out of their way to request always-on display palm rejection from Google — and they're going to get it.

Is This A Nexus LG HTC Samsung Apple Patent Key Lime Pie 5.0 10 7 4G LTE Google Lawsuit Galaxy? Click To Find Out

Eric Ravenscraft — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:00:00 GMT

The rumor mill churns and, having churned, moves on. The big story today is that according to sources familiar with the matter, reports have leaked that lead us to believe that an employee who asked to not be named has told Digitimes that sources say the next Nexus may have already been patented by Apple as the subject of the latest lawsuit to come out of Cupertino.