Google Gemini Now Works Across Multiple Apps

 

Google’s AI assistant Gemini is now able to carry out tasks across multiple apps in a single interaction, in an update announced today alongside the launch of Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 series. Those phones are also Samsung’s first to feature Gemini as the default on-device assistant, relegating Bixby to the app drawer. Those changes are part of a raft of other updates from Google including improvements to the AI-powered Circle to Search.

With the recent update, Gemini is able to carry out more complex multimodal tasks. You might ask it to find a dog-friendly Italian restaurant and send it to your friend, or pull up your NFL team’s upcoming games and add them to your calendar, all in a single prompt.

Gemini is the most widely available AI assistant supported in 45 languages, in more than 200 countries and territories, and we’re continuing to add more.
It’s available on hundreds of phone models from dozens of device makers, and has been tailored for the many form factors of Android from phones to foldables. On Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6, you can bring Gemini into a multi-window, split-screen experience for multitasking. And on the Motorola Razr+, you can bring up Gemini directly from the external display to quickly summarize your recent emails without ever having to open your phone. Beyond the latest flagship devices, Gemini is already supported on existing devices, which means your Android phone keeps getting better over time.

Source: Google Blog,Google Gemini App Download

Newton Email App Is Back

Newton is an email app for iOS, Android and desktop computers that has been around for a long time, gaining a large fan base over the years for its forward thinking features, going through many ups and downs as of recently, namely two shutdowns in two years. Media outlets have called it the better mail alternative to the Gmail app, and it has been downloaded on Google Play over a million times.

The new owners of Newton, Justin Mitchell and Maitrik Kataria have shared their plans for the future of the mail app, consisting of the following six steps:

1. A contingency plan to keep Newton going forever
2. Building a stable and steady independent business
3. Add “service” in the SaaS (software as a service) business
4. Add features that increase the lifetime value
5. Better security and privacy around your data
6. Rewards and discounts for loyal customers

You can download the Newton Android app, and Apple's App Store below at the source link.

Source: Google Play Store, Apple iOS App Store 

Byte, Is The New Vine

The Byte app is now available to everyone, both iOS and Android. Byte is a social network based on short video clips, with comment features similar to Instagram, and a "rebyte" feature similar to retweets on Twitter. 

Byte was founded by Dom Hofmann one of the original creators of Vine and is similar to Vine in many ways. (Vine was purchased by Twitter, and shut down 2016.) The Byte app includes a search/explore section that lets you explore content by category, such as animation, pets, fitness, music, comedy, travel, and experimental, as well as latest and most popular content. 

The camera section lets you string together multiple short clips at once, recorded from either the front or back camera, and/or include sections of previously-recorded video. An onion-skinning feature helps you visually align the start of a new clip with the last frame of the last clip.


Source: Google Play, Apple App Store

Dota Underlords Open Beta Now Available

Dota Underlords is now available on Android, iOS, and PC. The game is Valve’s take on the Dota Auto Chess mod for the popular Dota 2.

For fans of Dota and the Auto Chess mod, this will be a time killer and is available to download now on Apple iPhone's and Google Android device. This is still an early Beta with Valve confirming that it expects the title to stay in this Early Access phase for at least a few months where updates and features will be added over time.

STRATEGIZE TO WIN: Recruit heroes and upgrade them into more powerful versions of themselves.

MIX AND MATCH: Each hero you recruit can form unique alliances. Stacking your team with allied heroes will unlock powerful bonuses that can crush your rivals.

CROSSPLAY: Play on your platform of choice and battle players across the globe in a hassle free crossplay experience. Running late? Start a match on your PC and finish it on your mobile device (and vice versa). Your profile in Dota Underlords is shared across all devices, so no matter what you play on, you’re always making progress.

LIGHTNING FAST NETWORK: Valve’s network will get you into a game in no time flat.

RANKED MATCHMAKING: Everyone starts at the bottom, but by playing against other Underlords you’ll climb through the ranks and prove you’re worthy to rule White Spire.

TOURNAMENT READY: Create your own private lobbies and matches, then invite spectators to watch 8 Underlords duke it out.

OFFLINE PLAY: Offering a sophisticated AI with 4 levels of difficulty, offline play is a great place to hone your skills. Pause and resume games at your leisure.

SEASONAL ROTATION: Every season we’ll say goodbye to certain Heroes, Items, and Traits to make room for new additions that will shape the ever-evolving world of Underlords.

You can download Dota Underlords from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store at the links below. Currently the game is available as a free download, with a battle pass in the works that will add progression, cosmetics, custom boards and other new features to the Dota Underlords experience. You can find more information at the Underlords link below.


Souce: Dota Underlords, Google Play, Apple App Store

Google Voice Gets A Redesign, Rolling Out Now To iOS

Google announced that Google Voice would be rolled in to G Suite and showed off a redesigned app during Google I/O. The new Google Voice is now rolling out to iOS devices.

“Calls” is now the first tab in the bottom bar. Followed by a new “Contacts” section that provides dedicated access to your address book, “Messages” is now the third tab with, “Voicemail” still at the very right. There is a quick shortcut for adding new contacts at the top of the list, with the addition of edit existing contacts. 

The Contacts and Calendar based DND is limited to enterprise G Suite accounts. Regular and free Google accounts will continue to see Messages as the first tab followed by Calls and Voicemail. Keypad is the fourth tab, while the Calendar integration does not appear in Settings for non G Suite users.

Version 18.33 is rolling out now to iOS. Meanwhile, Android users can expect the Google Play Store update likely to hit soon.


Source: Apple App Store

Apple Pulls iOS 12 Beta 7 For Developers (Updated)

Apple made a new beta of iOS 12 available to its Developer community. iOS 12 Developer beta 7 was released today to registered developers. 

Apple didn't spill the beans on specific changes in this build other than bug fixes and improvements. iOS 12 Developer beta 7 includes a number of new features, such as improved notifications, memoji for the iPhone X, performance refinements, Screen Time for monitoring usage, and better security. 

Apple has however, pulled the Group FaceTime feature according to a report from The Verge. "Group FaceTime has been removed from the initial release of iOS 12," said Apple in a message to developers. Instead, Group FaceTime "will ship in a future software update later this fall." The final version of iOS 12 won't arrive until September or October. A new public beta is expected to arrive later this week.

Apple has taken notice, pulling the OTA update from its servers. Developers still have access to the IPSW file, which is available for download and manual installation via Apple's Developer website. 

We’ll stay tuned for a new build of the iOS 12 Developer beta 7 release to become available for over the air.


Update: Apple has also removed the update from the Apple Developer Center. 


Source: The Verge

Apple iOS 12 Public Beta 3 For iPhone And iPad, Now Available

Apple has released the third iOS 12 public beta for iPhone and iPad. The new version follows iOS 12 developer beta 4 which was also just released. The new version includes Activity app stickers in Messages, Memoji customization, and much more. In addition macOS Mojave public beta 3 and tvOS 12 public beta 3 is also available today.

The latest beta version includes cellular data for apps organized by usage, interface tweaks in Wallet, and Photos.

Apple’s public beta program allows users who are not registered developers to test pre release versions of iOS, tvOS, and macOS with new features for free. Enroll in the iOS 12,

macOS Mojave, tvOS 12 public beta by follow the source links below.

Source: Apple Beta Program

iOS 12 Developer Beta 3, Now Available

iOS Developer Beta 12 includes several significant changes for iPhone and iPad including performance improvements, especially on older devices 

ARKit 2.0 with shared experiences, refined search and sharing in Photos, more Siri access in third party apps and Siri Shortcuts based on Workflow, updates to Stocks, Voice Memos, Apple Books, and Apple News, management features including updates to Do Not Disturb, more manageable notifications, and Screen Time parental controls, Memoji in Messages, and FaceTime up to 32 users.

Other notable changes in iOS Developer Beta 3 includes:

• Clear All Notifications now has a springy animation
• Can now swipe to clear alerts in one swipe (like iOS 11)
• Apple Watch Face Gallery now only highlights new Siri watch face updates (previously showed watchOS 4 faces)
• Voice Memos for iPad redesigned
• FaceTime effect picker tweaked
• CarPlay appears to be fixed when using side and backup cameras
• Watch app now shows third party apps that work with Siri watch face
• 11 Activity app stickers that animate and do not require Special Challenge to unlock

To download Apple's iOS 12 public beta hit the source link here.

Apple Releases iOS 11.4, macOS 10.13.6, watchOS 4.3.1, And tvOS 11.4

Apple pushes updates to iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS. Bring with it AirPlay 2, stereo pairing for HomePod, Messages in iCloud, and more.

Below is a rundown of what's new in iOS 11.4. 

AirPlay 2
Originally announced at WWDC 2017 AirPlay 2 is Apple's latest update for streaming audio and video from an iOS device or Mac to compatible receivers. AirPlay 2 allows for play audio through multiple AirPlay 2 speakers at once.

Apple's HomePod speaker will gain support for AirPlay 2 and multi-room audio with iOS 11.4. Other speaker makers including Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, and Libratone will be offering AirPlay 2 compatible speakers and releasing software updates to bring the technology to compatible older products.

Messages in iCloud
Another feature originally announced back at WWDC 2017, Message in iCloud securely stores your  iMessages or standard SMS texts in iCloud, preserving and syncing your Messages history between your iOS and macOS devices.

In addition to keeping everything in sync Messages in iCloud has a couple of other benefits. First, you only have to delete a message thread once, no more deleting on every individual device you have. Also, when setting up a new device, all of your messages will be there for you whether or not you want to restore from a backup.

HomePod improvements
iOS 11.4 adds new HomePod specific improvements.

Also available with iOS 11.4 is the ability to link two HomePods as a stereo pair. This will allow an even larger soundscape for your audio as well as more immersive audio for pairing your HomePod with your Apple TV.

You can now create and interact with calendar events using Siri on your HomePod as well.

Other updates
Teachers can now assign reading activities to their students in iBooks using the Schoolwork app
Fixes for CarPlay audio distortion
Fixes for problems encountered when trying to access files in Google Drive, Docs, and Gmail in Safari.


Source: Apple

Google Introduces Google One, Google Drive Replacement

Google announces Google One, a new paid storage service that will replace paid Google Drive storage plan. With Google One, Google will introduce new features as well as new pricing options.

Google One plans will start at 100GB for $1.99, 200GB plan for $2.99. The current 1TB plan for $9.99 will be doubled to 2TB. Plans larger than 2TB won’t change.

Google says that Drive storage will switch to One storage automatically “over the coming months.” This is said to not affect G Suite customers. However new customers will be able to join Google One “later this year.”


Source: Google blog

Android Wear Is Now Wear OS

Google is now officially changing the name of its smartwatch platform from Android Wear to Wear OS. As of now, no other major changes are expected to arrive for the smartwatch platform other than the name change. 

Users should begin seeing Wear OS branding on their watches and in the app over the next few weeks. Google has provided a list of watches slated for Wear OS.

Casio PRO TREK Smart WSD-F20
Casio WSD-F10 Smart Outdoor Watch
Diesel Full Guard 
Emporio Armani Connected 
Fossil Q Control 
Fossil Q Explorist 
Fossil Q Founder 2.0 
Fossil Q Marshal 
Fossil Q Venture 
Fossil Q Wander 
Gc Connect
Guess Connect 
Huawei Watch 2 (both cellular & non-cellular versions)
Hugo BOSS BOSS Touch 
Kate Spade Scallop
LG Watch Sport 
LG Watch Style 
Louis Vuitton Tambour 
Michael Kors Access Bradshaw 
Michael Kors Access Dylan 
Michael Kors Access Grayson 
Michael Kors Sofie 
Misfit Vapor 
Mobvoi Ticwatch S & E 
Montblanc Summit 
Movado Connect 
Nixon Mission 
Polar M600 
Skagen Falster Smartwatch 
TAG Heuer Connected Modular 41 
TAG Heuer Tag Connected Modular 45 
Tommy Hilfiger 24/7 You 
ZTE Quartz 


Source: Wear OS by Google

Android Wear OS Could Have A New Name And Logo, Wear OS...

A Reddit user took to Reddit, finding a new name and logo for the Android Wear OS while setting up his new smartwatch. The owner of the timepiece did not specify which particular model he purchased. 

Instead of using the Android Wear name, the pairing notification referenced "Wear OS" and featured a new logo. Replacing the old image that used a square and two rectangles to portray a smartwatch on a two-toned blue background, the new logo features a blue and yellow rounded search bar combined with some of the Google Assistant dots. Together, it forms the letter "W" for Wear OS. 

While Google has not officially make the change, we could see an announcement made at Google I/O 2018.


Source: Reddit

Introducing The Google Assistant On iPad

Google announced today the availability of Google Assistant for iPads.

Apple says with iOS 11 iPad owners can multitask pretty well with an Assistant panel open alongside other apps. outside of that, Google Assistant the same Assistant you know and love capable of controlling your smart home, checking weather, calendar events, and everything else.

Need a few examples of things you can do with Google Assistant on your iPad?

Set the mood by having the Assistant “dim the lights”
Cast to your TV by asking the Assistant to “watch the latest news on the living room TV”
Stay in touch by asking the Assistant to “video call mom” or “text Lauren”
Keep up with your chores by asking the Assistant to “remind me to take out the recycling at 8 PM”


Source: Google

Apple Acquires Shazam For $400 Million

Apple has announced that it has acquired song recognition company Shazam. According to Recode the deal is valued at $400 million.

In a statement to The Verge, an Apple spokesperson said:

“We are thrilled that Shazam and its talented team will be joining Apple. Apple Music and Shazam are a natural fit, sharing a passion for music discovery and delivering great music experiences to our users. We have exciting plans in store, and we look forward to combining with Shazam upon approval of today’s agreement."

Shazam currently has apps for iOS, Android, and macOS with the Windows apps being pulled earlier this year. It is one of the most highly rated and popular apps in the world on every platform. Even before the acquisition Shazam has been part of Apple software powering the song recognition feature in Siri. 

With the acquisition, Apple could build deeper integration within Apple Music software. The deal should close in the coming weeks pending regulatory approval.

Say Hello To Google Allo

Google has started rolling out Google Allo, a new smart messaging app for Android and iOS that helps you say more and do more right in your chats. Google Allo can help you make plans, find information, and express yourself more easily in chat and the more you use it, the more it improves over time.

Respond quickly with Smart Reply

Google Allo makes it easier for you to respond quickly and keep the conversation going, even when you’re on the go. With Smart Reply, you can respond to messages with just a tap, so you can send a quick “yup” in response to a friend asking “Are you on your way?” Smart Reply will also suggest responses for photos. If your friend sends you a photo of their pet, you might see Smart Reply suggestions like “aww cute!” And whether you’re a “haha” or “😂” kind of person, Smart Reply will improve over time and adjust to your style.

Express yourself with photos, emojis and stickers
Chat is more than just text, so we’ve created a rich canvas for you to express yourself in Google Allo. You can make emojis and text larger or smaller in size by simply dragging the “send” button up or down. Make photos your own by scribbling on them before you send. And we’ve worked with independent artists and studios around the world to create more than 25 custom sticker packs, because sometimes a “sloth riding a pizza” says it all.

Meet your personal Google Assistant
In Google Allo you’ll also be introduced to a preview edition of the Google Assistant. With your Assistant in Allo, you can have a conversation with Google — ask it questions and let it help you get things done directly in your chats. You no longer need to leave a conversation with friends just to grab an address, share your favorite YouTube video, or pick a dinner spot. Just type @google to bring your Assistant into any group chat. And of course, you can also chat one-one-one with your Assistant in Allo.

Chat in Incognito mode
We take privacy and security seriously in Google Allo. All chats in Google Allo are encrypted using industry standard technologies like Transport Layer Security (TLS). But we went a step beyond this and we created a mode within Google Allo called Incognito (h/t Chrome). When you chat in Incognito mode, messages have end-to-end encryption and additional privacy features like discreet notifications and message expiration.

We can’t wait for you to say hello to Google Allo! Google is rolling out Google Allo for Android and iOS, the app is available for download by following the source links below.


Source: Google Allo site, Google Play Store, Apple App Store, APK link

Apple Unveils iPhone 7 & 7 Plus, Pre-Orders Start Sept. 9th

Apple just unveiled the new iPhone 7 & 7 Plus today. Below you'll find the rundown on specs, features, pricing and availability…

Specs/Features:

• Redesigned Home button with Taptic engine
• A10 Fusion four-core CPU
• Water and dust resistant enclosure
• 12 Megapixel cameras with new quad-led True Tone flash
• Dual-camera system for enhanced zoom on Plus models
• Optical image stabilization in all iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models
• Lightning Earpods + Lightning to 3.5mm adapter in box
• Color options: New glossy “Jet black”, second “black” finish with black logo, silver, gold, and rose gold
• Repositioned antennas

Apple has confirmed that iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will get new cameras, water-resistance improvements, stereo speakers, longer battery life and more.

The new iPhones feature a 12 megapixel camera, optical image stabilization now available in all models, a f/1/8 aperture, six-element lens, new high-speed sensor, and a redesigned quad-LED True Tone flash. The iPhone 7 Plus model offers high-res optical zoom at 2x using built-in dual-cameras. 

The iPhone 7 features a redesigned Home button that uses a “Taptic Engine” like Apple uses in the Apple Watch to provide tactile feedback for various functions. iPhone 7 and 7 Plus also include new stereo speakers, and both iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models will be water and dust resistant.

The new iPhones also receive a big performance bump courtesy of the new A10 Fusion four-core CPU. Apple said it’s 40% faster than the A9 in previous generation iPhones and includes a 6-core graphics chip that’s 50% faster than A9. Since the iPhone 7 will be Apple’s first iPhone without a headphone jack, all iPhone 7 models come with Lightning EarPods and a Lightning to 3.5mm headphone adapter.

Availability: 

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will be available to pre-order starting September 9th with retail availability beginning on September 16th.

Source: Apple

Google Launches Video Calling App Duo For Android And iOS

Google has released Duo the video chatting app for Android and iOS. Duo doesn't require a separate account users need only their phone number to get started. 

Google says it built the app to function well even across poor network connections. The app will change the resolution to match the connection speed in order to keep the call going, and can seamlessly switch from wifi to cellular. 

A feature called Knock Knock gives people a preview video of the person calling so they can see what's up before answering the video call. Duo is free to download from the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store.

Source: Google Duo, Google Play Store, Apple App Store

Apple Music For Android Exits Beta

Apple updated its Music app for Android devices. The 1.0 app adds a single feature in its full release and an graphic equalizer tool for adjusting sound levels. 

Apple says the app also received a variety of performance, playback, and stability improvements. Apple Music for Android allows people to create personalized stations, as well as listen to tracks on demand. 

Apple Music for Android includes Beats1 Radio, and supports local caching for offline playback. The app itself is free to download from the Google Play Store, however the service costs $10 per month for users.

Source: Google Play Store

Pokémon Go Available On Android And iOS, In Select Countries (APK Link Included)

Pokémon GO is now available on Android. The augmented reality game made in partnership with Ingress maker Niantic Labs allows users to collect train and battle Pokémon characters in the real world. The game is still rolling out on the Play Store and might initially only be available in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

Pokémon GO is free to play, However we are seeing reports the app installs but will not run on the Android N Developer Preview. Otherwise, it is available on devices running Android 4.3 and above (if you're not able to download Pokémon GO via the Google Play Store, follow the APK link below for download).


Source: Niantic Labs, Google Play Store, iTunes, direct APK link

Apple Reportedly In Talks To Buy Jay-Z Owned Tidal

According to a new report out of the Wall Street Journal. Apple is in talks to acquire Tidal the Jay-Z owned streaming service. While specific details are unclear at this point Apple acquiring Tidal would give it a leg up when it comes to negotiating for exclusive streaming rights.

Tidal is currently owned by Jay Z and a variety of other artists including Kanye West, Beyonce, Chris Martin, Jack White, and many more. 

Negotiations between Apple and Jay-Z are reportedly still early and may not result in a deal according to the reports.

Jay-Z initially purchased Tidal for $56 million just over a year ago from Swedish company Aspiro. The rapper gave artists and bands a small stake in the company. The service currently has around 4.2 million paying subscribers.

A Tidal spokesperson has gone on record to said the company has not held talks with Apple.