Episode 431 – Off to Vancouver

By | March 6, 2019

Another week

Show Notes

  • Android News
    • Google delays RCS API support from Android Q
    • Shaping the future of mobile with Android
    • There might be 100 milliion phones launched with Google Assistant buttons this year
    • Android One gets a new logo.
    • The latest Android devices now let you log into apps without a password
    • Android Slices begin appearing on Pixel devices
    • Google is working on securely storing Digital Driver’s Licenses in Android
  • App News
    • Google shuts down Google Fit on the web, and will focus on Wear OS and Android.
    • Google Pay tests Gmail integration to import loyalty cards, tickets, etc.
    • Titanium Backup suspended from Google Play…reason currently unknown.
    • Access the Assistant in Messages
    • Google Home to add support for changing colors in the app, as well as Smart Clock support
    • Duo support is now available on the web at duo.google.com
    • Some Google apps with over 10 million installs consume massive data in the background and kill battery.
    • Facebook now lets you block background location tracking on Android
    • Google Clock Musical Alarms now support Youtube Music and Pandora
    • Google Chrome adds bfcache(back/forward cache) to increase speed.
    • Nova Launcher 6.0 adds a ton of customization options.
    • Google Sheets hits 500 million installs.
  • In Other News
    • Google Fi to offer 5G via Sprint with compatible handsets. No handsets available yet.
    • Verizon wants to lock new phones to fight phone sale fraud. Needs ok from FCC. Predict FCC gives it.
    • PocketCasts comes to Amazon Echo.
    • Google Assistant adds support for smart heaters, air fresheners, and fireplaces.
    • Roku now works with Amazon Echo