Google’s rolling out its first update of 2024 for Pixel phones and it brings new health features and AI tools. Perhaps the most interesting new doodad is an actual working thermometer, which is only available for the recently-released Pixel 8 Pro. We knew this feature would come at some point, as the phone includes a temperature sensor and, well, a thermometer’s the most likely use case.
All you have to do is scan your forehead to see if your headache is just from staring at a screen too long if you have an actual fever. You can beam these results to your Fitbit profile and integrate them with other health metrics.
The company’s also giving that Tensor G3 chip a workout with the addition of a new AI-powered circle to search tool. It works exactly as advertised. You draw a circle over something on your phone’s screen, and the AI will search for the image, text or whatever else you highlighted. This will likely come in very handy in future episodes of spy and detective shows.
That’s just the first AI-adjacent feature included with the new update. There’s something called Photomoji that works exactly as you assume. It turns your favorite photos into emojis or reactions. Magic Compose is like the Magic Editor tool, but for text. Google says the tool “crafts stylized, suggested responses with the context of your messages.”
Finally, there’s the recently-teased Quick Share icon that shows you a list of devices nearby you can share content with. Google’s actually working to also get this feature included with Windows PCs.
To accompany this new update, Google’s releasing a mint green colorway for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. They look really cute and I sort of want to eat them. The new feature drop starts rolling out today.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-latest-pixel-phone-update-adds-new-ai-tools-and-a-working-thermometer-140006522.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Get ready to watch more ads as T-Mobile switches over to Netflix’s Ad-supported Plan and adds Hulu (With Ads) to its suite of complementary perks.
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Do you wish your iPhone had physical buttons? Now it can with the Clicks keyboard. The new accessory, which fits around the smartphone, arrives soon.
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Hyundai is on a design roll these days. Everything that's coming out of the brand's South Korean design studios looks fresh and interesting, and that's very much the case with the new Santa Fe. Dropping next year, the 2024 Santa Fe looks nothing like the current car. In fact it looks more like a Land Rover, but still has a look all its own.
It has a selection of great tech, too, like dual wireless chargers, dual 12.3-inch displays and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. Plus, with three rows of seating, the Santa Fe hauls more folks and more cargo than ever before. Two engines will be on offer: a 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder making 277 horsepower and a 1.6-liter hybrid, with 232 ponies.
But what's it like to drive? And is that third row actually usable? We headed to South Korea to find out. Watch the video below for the full story.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-2024-hyundai-santa-fe-adds-edge-to-a-comfortable-family-cruiser-230146510.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
It's always good to see companies delivering updates and new features to devices long after they've launched. And Roland's TR-8S and TR-6S were already pretty capable to begin with. But with the latest firmware updates they're picking up two huge new additions, including one that that I'm personally quite excited about.
TR-8S 3.0 and TR-6S 2.0 add an ACB model of the CR-78 CompuRhythm and a chromatic TR-808 mode for building basslines. The ability to play an 808 kick chromatically greatly expands the flexibility of the two drum machines. While you could tune drum hits and samples on the to create some melodic elements it wasn't exactly an easy or pleasant experience. This opens up the 8S and 6S well beyond strictly percussion, but does so in a way that seems natural. The 808 emulation was already part of their feature sets. And, especially in the world of hip hop, it's a staple for creating basslines, not just drum grooves.
The CR-78 emulation is another huge addition. It was the world's first programable drum machine and my personal favorite of Roland’s classic rhythm boxes. In fact, I called out the lack of a CR-78 model in my review of the TR-6S as its one glaring omission. (I'd like to believe I had something to do with the decision, but I know better.) All of the sounds from the hardware are represented, as are most of the original preset rhythms, plus a few new ones. But what's particular exciting is the ability to use the more modern programming features and sound design tools available on the TR-6S and TR-8S to tweak the CR-78 for more modern productions.
In addition to the two new sound engines, the TR-Editor app on Mac and PC is getting an update with some usability tweaks and new compact UI for easier use on small displays. All these updates are available now for free directly from Roland.com.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roland-adds-cr-78-percussion-and-808-bass-to-the-tr-8s-and-tr-6s-drum-machines-195628859.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Threads is about to get vastly more useful as Meta has started rolling out the option to see a chronological feed of posts from the people you follow. Many observers said this was a key feature Threads needed to truly compete with Twitter, long a vital source of real-time information. But as Twitter (sorry, X) owner Elon Musk continues to reduce his app to rubble, Threads is looking like a more viable destination for up-to-the-minute news and updates. You'll need to update to the latest version of Threads to see the chronological feed, but since this is a gradual rollout, it might not appear for you immediately.
Mark Zuckerberg announced the rollout of the chronological feed on his Instagram broadcast channel (Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, said a while back that such an option was on the way). The Meta CEO added that Threads has gained another vitally important feature in the form of translations. Zuckerberg said there was more to come, hopefully including the ability to post to Threads from the web, direct messages, improved accessibility, better search and a TweetDeck-like way to keep tabs on Threads posts.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/threads-adds-a-chronological-feed-as-twitter-burns-to-the-ground-152817251.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
When Elon Musk first announced Twitter would start charging for verification, he said the company’s legacy “lords & peasants” system was “bullshit.” Now, just days after winding down the old system, Twitter has begun handing out blue ticks to celebrity users and accounts with more than one million followers. Among the users who received the verification but say they did not pay for the service include author Neil Gaiman, actor Ron Perlman, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Twitter comic dril.
now that i have the baneful blue mark, I undertand the pain ive wrought. i was wrong to torment dog coin guys. im jealous of their million's
— slave to Woke (@dril) April 22, 2023
“For the curious, I’m not subscribed to Twitter Blue,” author Neil Gaiman tweeted on Sunday afternoon. “I haven’t given anyone my phone number. What a sad, muddled place this has become.” Other celebrities expressed similar sentiments. “Ah they got me. Im fucked,” dril wrote, before later losing his check mark – seemingly because Paul Dochney, the writer who runs the account, changed dril’s display name to “slave to Woke.”
It’s unclear just how many users Twitter has re-verified in this way. On Friday, Musk claimed he was “personally” paying the Twitter Blue subscription of a few celebrities, including LeBron James and Stephen King. Additionally, accounts that once belonged to Chadwick Boseman, Kobe Bryant and Anthony Bourdain, celebrities who died long before Musk’s takeover of Twitter, were also reverified over the weekend. The same message appears if you click on any of the blue checks associated with those accounts. “This account is verified because they are subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their phone number.”
So, how do all the Musk fanboys and MAGA folks on this site feel about the fact that your conquering hero said he’d bring ‘equality’ and ‘people power’ to this site and then charged you all for Twitter Blue while giving it to people like me for free?
Do you feel… owned?
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) April 23, 2023
It’s unclear if someone paid to verify those accounts or if Twitter granted them blue checks free of charge. Twitter does not operate a public relations department Engadget could reach for comment. Understandably, many of those who got their check mark for free are upset that Twitter is suggesting they paid for Twitter Blue. “Its ok he fired the people in charging telling him its illegal,” dril joked, pointing to a screenshot showing the Wikipedia page detailing the Lanham Act, a federal law that lays out, among other things, what constitutes false endorsement in the US.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitter-adds-blue-checks-to-accounts-of-dead-celebrities-223749275.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
On Safer Internet Day (and with Valentine's Day fast approaching), Tinder is starting to roll out some new safety features and updates to some others. Users will now be able to take advantage of an incognito mode, which Tinder says is a "step up" from hiding your profile completely. Only folks that you Like will see you in their recommendations. That should give you more granular control over your visibility.
In addition, you can block profiles that pop up in your suggestions. So, that could mitigate some awkwardness if you spot an ex or someone else from your life, such as (shudder) a family member. This follows a feature that allows users to block others based on their phone number.
There's another new safety feature called long press reporting. If you receive an offensive message or unwanted picture, you can tap and hold to swiftly report it. Tinder says that it hopes this will encourage more people to report bad behavior so it can take action against users who are breaking the rules.
Meanwhile, Tinder has made some changes to features called "Are You Sure" (which asks folks to reconsider before sending a message with potentially harmful language) and "Does This Bother You," which encourages users to report inappropriate conversations. Tinder says the features will detect more language that it deems harmful or inappropriate, including hate speech as well as sexual harassment and exploitation. The company says that, since it added "Does This Bother You," it has received 46 percent more reports of messages containing harmful language.
Along with these updates, Tinder is rolling out a series of Healthy Dating Guides in collaboration with No More, a campaign to end domestic violence and sexual assault. The guides are designed to help users spot red flags and protect themselves at every stage of the relationship. Starting on February 8th, Tinder will also start running a campaign called Green Flags, which is about highlighting safety features and the steps people can take to safely date online.
Motorola is churning out another budget Android phone today with the Moto G Play (2023). The $ 170 handset runs an eight-core MediaTek Helio G37 chipset, the same entry-level processor from the latest Moto G Power. Unfortunately, although the new Moto G Play offers decent-enough specs on a budget, it also underscores Motorola’s habit of churning out endless rehashes of cheap phones.
The Android 12 handset has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (expandable to up to 512GB with a microSD card). Its IPS TFT LCD 6.5-inch display has a mere 720p resolution but a fast 90Hz refresh rate, something you won’t always see in this price range.
The phone has three cameras on its back, a first for the Moto G Play series. A 16MP main lens gets help from 2MP macro and depth sensors to produce extreme closeups and portraits with blurred backgrounds. In addition, the rear camera and 5MP front sensor can each record full HD footage at 30 fps.
Motorola says the phone’s 5,000mAh battery lasts up to three days and supports 10W rapid charging via USB-C. It has IP52 water protection, so it should withstand light splashes and spills. Continuing a familiar cost-cutting measure, the Moto G Play lacks NFC and 5G.
The phone’s unlocked version launches on January 12 at Best Buy, Amazon and Motorola. UScellular and Canadian carriers will have it on the same day, with various US regional carriers following later.
Google has posted the details on its latest Feature Drop which brings a host of new features including Reading Mode, more Emoji Kitchen options, additional styles for Google Photos, the ability to share your Digital Car Key, and a YouTube Search Widget. We’ve got the details for you after the break. Google TV Google has […]
Come comment on this article: December’s Feature Drop adds a bunch of new features to Android phones
The Apple Watch Series 8 was announced during Apple’s Far Out event. Here’s what’s new!
Wearables | Digital Trends
Google Fi is getting a boost this month in the form of 5G coverage in more countries plus additional new features for Pixel and selected Samsung smartphones, and finally, the debut of hotspot tethering to iPhones. We’ve got the details for you after the break. The number of countries covered by Google Fi’s 5G coverage […]
Come comment on this article: Google Fi adds 5G coverage for more countries plus hotspot tethering for iPhones
Google’s latest Pixel Feature Drop brings a number of additional features, updates, and even a new app to its line-up of Pixel handsets. Already rolling out to eligible Pixel phones, the Feature Drop brings new alerts to At A Glance, the Vaccine Card shortcut, new Pride Month wallpapers, as well as the new Pocket Operator […]
Come comment on this article: June’s 2022 Pixel Feature Drop adds Real Tone Filters, a Vaccine Card shortcut, the Pocket Operator app, and more
Having already added Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G to its lineup, Cricket Wireless has also announced that Motorola’s Moto G Stylus (2022) and Moto G Power (2022) are part of its inventory both in-store and online from today. Priced at just $ 140 and $ 190 respectively, the two phones sport big displays, big batteries, and in the […]
Come comment on this article: Cricket Wireless adds a pair of affordable Moto G handsets to its lineup
ESPN+ has plenty of excellent features; however, it’s only now that one of its most requested has been added.
Mobile | Digital Trends
Social audio app Clubhouse is adding a text chat function to its voice rooms, it announced Thursday. Similar to what you see in Discord or a Zoom call, users who don’t want to speak can write out their opinions in the room’s chat channel. While it may seem counterintuitive for an audio-only app to also feature text, it’s a change that some users have been gunning for. Especially in extra-large rooms or rooms dominated by a few celebrity speakers, an in-chat function may be the only way some people can join the discourse.
But a chat function can also be a moderation nightmare, as anyone who has spent a few minutes on Twitch can attest to. Clubhouse has laid out a few ways for creators to keep their rooms from flying off the handle. Creators can appoint mods to delete messages and kick out disruptive users from the room. You can also report messages that violate Clubhouse’s user guidelines to the platform. For those who would rather keep their rooms audio-only, the in-chat room function is optional. Creators can opt-out of in-room chat when they create their room. And if you choose to record your room’s audio, the written chat log will also be saved.
As social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Reddit add Clubhouse-like features, Clubhouse is starting to resemble the rest of social media. Once only available as a mobile app, Clubhouse last month rolled out a way for people to listen to conversations on their desktops. Users can also send direct messages to each other with Backchannel. As live voice chat rooms become less of a novelty, Clubhouse will likely have to get creative in order to keep up with competitors.
In an upgrade to its critically well-received Garmin D2 Air, the new D2 Air X10 lets pilots control Siri or the Google Assistant from their wrists.
Wearables | Digital Trends
Tidal is adding a free, ad-supported tier as it seeks to expand its user base. The option, which is only available in the US for now, includes access to Tidal's entire library of 80 million songs as well as playlists. The service noted on Twitter that it's introducing the free tier to "remain competitive" with its rivals, eight months after Square bought a majority stake in the company. Tidal says the plan is rolling out on Android and "will be available on all devices in the coming days."
There are some trade-offs beyond occasional ads, of course. The audio quality tops out at 160 kbps, there's no offline listening option and it doesn't appear that you'll have unlimited skips. The later feature is mentioned explicitly as part of the revamped $ 10/month Tidal HiFi plan.
Tidal says users on that plan can now listen to music in HiFi quality — up to 1,411 kbps. There are no ads and you'll gain access to more than 350,000 videos. Users can listen to music in HiFi quality on connected devices through Tidal Connect, and they'll be able to track and share what they're listening to via a new activity feed.
In addition, there's a $ 20/month HiFi Plus plan. It includes everything from the HiFi tier, as well as master-quality audio at up to 9,216 kbps. The plan also offers immersive, spatial audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio, and early access to upcoming features. Both HiFi plans are available in all countries in which Tidal operates.
What's more, the HiFi Plus tier has a couple of new features centered around artists. One of those is direct-to-artist payments, which Tidal is rolling out today. Every month, 10 percent of a HiFi Plus user's subscription fees (i.e. $ 2) will go to the artist they listen to the most. That's on top of regular streaming royalties. It's another way for users to support their favorite artists.
Fan-Centered Royalties will not be aggregated.
Instead, royalties will go to the artists that TIDAL users actually stream, so fans can directly support the artists they love. (What a concept, right?)
This will start in January 2022 at our HiFi Plus tier. pic.twitter.com/Q8z4fleYOc
— TIDAL (@TIDAL) November 17, 2021
Starting in January, Tidal will roll out a revamped artist payment system called fan-centered royalties. Every time a HiFi Plus user listens to one of their songs, they'll receive a "significantly higher" per-stream payment than other music streaming services' payouts. Apple Music pays a penny per stream, while artists have long been asking Spotify for a similar rate.
Tidal says "royalties attributed to HiFi Plus subscribers will not be aggregated." Payments will be tied to each individual user's listening activity, but only on that tier. HiFi Plus users will be able to see how those payments are divvied up through their activity feed.
In addition to revamping the payment model, Tidal is aiming to ensure "quick and seamless" payouts to artists around the world. It's working with Square, Cash App and PayPal to facilitate those.
These are bold, but perhaps necessary moves by Tidal as it aims to become more competitive with larger music streaming services. Tidal was one of the first major proponents of lossless audio, but as rivals started offering that option at no extra cost, it more or less had to bring that option to the $ 10/month plan.
Apple Music added lossless and Dolby Atmos spatial audio features in June. Amazon Music Unlimited dropped the premium fee for HD and Ultra HD streaming in May. It too offers spatial audio as part of the regular plan.
Meanwhile, many of Tidal's rivals have long offered ad-supported free streaming options, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer and YouTube Music. At the opposite end of the scale, Spotify announced plans in February to roll out a CD-quality audio plan, also called HiFi, in select markets at some point this year. It has yet to do so.
It’s good news for new and existing Cricket Wireless customers today with the carrier announcing that it’s removing the Speed Cap on a number of its plans and adding 5G access to every plan. Cricket also announced that it’s gained 2 million customers over the past couple of years which brings the total to 12.4 […]
Come comment on this article: Cricket Wireless removes speed caps and adds 5G access to all plans
Google rolls out a slew of privacy-focused tools for Android and iOS in honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Android | Digital Trends
It's not only iOS and macOS that Apple has updated today. The company has rolled out a firmware update for HomePod as well. The discontinued speaker now supports Apple Music lossless playback, as well as Dolby Atmos spatial audio. Apple Music lossless will also be available on HomePod mini after you update it via the HomePod section of the Home app.
It's a much-needed update, since Apple Music lossless hit iOS, iPadOS, macOS and Apple TV 4K devices in June. Apple only started publicly testing lossless and Dolby Atmos support on HomePod in August. In any case, it's good to see that Apple eventually brought a pair of notable audio features to products it designed primarily to, you know, play audio.
If you recently picked up a pair of Bose’s QuietComfort or Sport Earbuds, you’ve probably noticed you can’t adjust the volume by tapping on your new headphones. That was one of our major gripes with the former when we got a chance to review them. Tha…
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After years of offering TV service along with its high-speed internet package, Google Fiber announced in February that it will only offer new customers options to sign up for streaming services. At the time, it supported YouTube TV and fuboTV, and no…
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Some of Earth’s mightiest heroes have joined the Fortnite fray. As expected, the juggernaut battle royale is introducing a new season based on the Marvel universe. If you buy the game’s new Battle Pass, you’ll be able to unlock iconic character skins…
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Google is continuing to beef up the Stadia store. It announced a couple more titles that’ll be available for purchase soon: hit indie platformer Celeste and puzzle-solving stealth game El Hijo – A Wild West Tale.One of Engadget’s favorite games of 20…
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Verizon (Engadget's parent company) has launched a new deal to try to entice people to its Fios service. Building on the Disney+ promotion the telecom announced last year, new customers can get up to 12 months of Hulu free when they subscribe to Veri…
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New features have dropped for Super Smash Bros Melee via Project Slippi, a mod that brings the 2001 Gamecube game online. Now, the game has rollback netcode, integrated matchmaking, auto-updates and replays, Slippi creator Jas “Fizzi” Laferriere twee…
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OnePlus just recently updated their Game Space app to enhance the gaming experience on phones going all the way back to the OnePlus 6. It’s getting a little better with yet another update, too. OnePlus Game Space The Game Space app, currently available on the Play Store, will get two new features with its newest […]
Come comment on this article: OnePlus Game Space adds even more features with Game Statistics and Instant Gaming
Twitch has created a new home for gaming-related news. Dubbed Twitch Gaming, the company says the channel will feature game reveals, developer interviews and Twitch drops, with the platform's streamers presenting the content. One of the first things…
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Plex is continuing its march towards becoming your one-stop-shop for all media, whether that’s your own content, streaming music, or video catalogs from partners. Today’s expansion brings Crackle movies and TV shows right into the Plex ecosystem, dramatically expanding how much free stuff you can watch right from within Plex. More free Plex movies Crackle […]
Come comment on this article: Plex adds tons of free movies and TV shows from Crackle, no subscription required
Just as the Project xCloud beta is preparing to reach even more areas, it’s adding a few new games from EA. The list of available titles ready for streaming from Microsoft’s cloud is already longer than you might think, and during the April 2020 Insi…
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Smartphone automation has always been a thing in the enthusiast world of Android, going as far back as Tasker in the early Android days. While it’s still probably the de facto automation app, this kind of thing hasn’t really blown up with your average consumer. That’s starting to change, however, with Apple launching Siri Shortcuts […]
Come comment on this article: Google Rules adds Tasker-like automations to Pixel phones, starting to roll out now
The rumors of Instagram spicing up Boomerang turned out to be true. It just introduced a host of creative tools, including an (arguably overdue) trimming feature. Much like the trim tool in your phone's video editor, you can decide just where the a…
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Google has been on a hot streak of expanding Google Pay to more banks around the world, with a huge addition of 68 happening just a couple months ago. They expanded on that again last month with a handful more, and now there’s yet another 18 banks ready to be used with Google’s digital payment […]
Come comment on this article: Google Pay adds support for 18 more international banks, totaling almost 100 additions this quarter
Signal, the encrypted, highly secure messaging platform of choice for the privacy-minded, is joining the rest of the messaging world with brand new stickers. And don’t worry, these stickers are just as secured as the rest of Signal’s messaging. These stickers are highly requested features, since people don’t want to give up their fun just […]
Come comment on this article: Secure messaging app Signal gets a fun update and adds (encrypted) stickers
I haven’t played CoD since Modern Warfare 2 around a decade ago, but dang it, the mobile game that launched a few weeks ago has got me hooked, bigtime. Call of Duty Mobile is a game that harks back to the best of the CoD franchise, with something for everyone from hard-charging assaulters, campers snipers, […]
Come comment on this article: Call of Duty Mobile update adds Zombie mode, controller support, and new maps
It’s always struck me as a little odd that Google hadn’t included Chromecast support in its Files-by-Google app, but now it seems that after a short incubation in the beta channel, the feature is rolling out to stable users via an update in the Play Store. This means that you’ll be able to cast your […]
Come comment on this article: Latest update adds casting support to the Files by Google app
Oxygen OS Open Beta 4 has been released for the OnePlus 7 Pro and will hit the OnePlus 7 next week. There have been many system-level issues with both phones that are being addressed, such as screen flashing, mobile data disruptions after an upgrade and more. New features are also being added, such as raise […]
Come comment on this article: Oxygen OS Open Beta 4 for the OnePlus 7/Pro fixes critical bugs and adds features
TiVo has launched a new device that could make binge-viewing sessions across multiple subscriptions a lot more manageable. It's called the Edge, a DVR-slash-live TV-slash-streaming player for cord cutters that hasn't been a secret for a while now –…
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Amazon is taking Microsoft’s naming approach to hardware devices, as they’ve just introduced the somewhat more privacy focused Echo Show 5. The naming comes from the device’s 5.5-inch screen, which is quite a bit smaller than the 10.1-inch display on the larger Echo Show. This nestles the Echo Show 5 right in between the Echo […]
Come comment on this article: Amazon adds on to the smart home with the confusingly named Echo Show 5
Just a few weeks after Google released the initial beta for Android Q, the company is offering its first update. Android Q beta 2 arrives today, along with an updated SDK for developers. The preview of the upcoming operating system shows off Google's…
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Google has a habit of introducing goodies on April Fools that last long after the gags are over, and that isn't changing for 2019. The company has added a Snake game to Google Maps that lets you play the classic title themed around major cities. You'…
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