Android, Google Maps getting more accurate device orientation
Besides using Live View and your camera for VPS, Google has a new device orientation solution for Android map developers with the Fused Orientation Provider (FOP) API in Play services.
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Google Play details ‘external offers’ program for Android apps in Europe
As part of complying with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Google Play is getting an opt-in “external offers” program for Android apps and games across phones, tablets, Wear OS, ChromeOS, and Android TV.
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There’s no Apple TV app for Android phones, but you can add it to your homescreen
There’s frustratingly still no Apple TV app for Android phones and tablets. Your next best alternative is installing the Apple TV Progressive Web App (PWA) so that the streaming service appears on your homescreen.
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Android media switcher rolling out Spotify Connect support
As announced at CES 2023, Google is rolling out support for Spotify Connect in the Android media switcher to improve the cross-devices experience.
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Androidify strikes back: Google now lets you create a custom Android ‘Bot’
Last year, Google introduced an updated 3D robot mascot for Android and you can now “Create your own Android Bot” with a new tool that harkens back to the old days of Androidify.
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Android photo picker with Google Photos support rolling out via February System Update
Google is officially rolling out support for Google Photos and other cloud backup apps in the Android photo picker.
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Gemini app brings Google AI to Android and iPhone, rolling out now
Announced as Assistant with Bard alongside the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro last October, Google today is rolling out Gemini to provide an optimized mobile experience that integrates with Android, while it’s now part of the Google app on iOS.
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Google Play Protect testing enhanced financial fraud protection
Last year, Google announced that Play Protect would prompt you to scan unknown Android apps before sideloading. Google is now piloting enhanced financial fraud protection for Play Protect.
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Google Play Store not showing Android system app updates [U]
In what could be a bug or behavior change, the Google Play Store is not showing available updates for system-level apps.
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Launching Circle to Search with gesture nav is just frustrating
Circle to Search is great – and very much a continuation of Now on Tap that Google should have prominently maintained as a core Android experience instead of relegating to Assistant for a few years – but how you launch it with gesture navigation is dri...