Google Keep is rolling out a new sorting feature for its Android app, allowing users to organize notes by custom order, date created, or date modified, enhancing note management. The update is in version 5.25.302.02.90 and is currently limited in availability.
Anthropic has launched an Android app for its Claude chatbot, expanding its availability beyond the iOS app introduced in May. The app is free and supports both Pro and Team plans, allowing seamless conversations across mobile and web platforms. While OpenAI's ChatGPT remains a dominant player, Anthropic claims that its Claude 3 version outperforms ChatGPT and Google's Gemini on key benchmarks, though such claims should be viewed with caution.
Adobe Express, known for its desktop application, has fully launched on Android, bringing Firefly generative AI to mobile users, offering AI photo and video editing features, including image generation and editing, as well as a suite of options for video editors. The app requires a subscription for full access, but some features are available for free.
Google has updated the Gemini Android app to no longer require users to manually send voice commands, making the process faster and more seamless. Previously, users had to press a button to submit their voice commands, which felt outdated and added unnecessary time to interactions. The update, which appears to be server-side, now allows voice commands to be sent automatically, improving the overall user experience.
Google Bard is reportedly undergoing a rebranding and will be renamed Gemini, with a dedicated Android app and a new paid subscription tier called Gemini Advanced. The rebranding is set for release on February 7, and Gemini will offer both free and premium AI bot services, powered by the Gemini Ultra model. The changelog also reveals plans for expanded multi-modal capabilities, advanced coding support, and language support for Japanese, Korean, and English worldwide, among other features.
Google is rebranding its Bard AI tool to Gemini, with plans to introduce a new UI, voice chat, and a paid plan called "Gemini Advanced." The rebranded tool will also have an Android app and integration with Google apps like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube. It is expected to be available in English in the US soon, followed by other languages globally, with Canada set to receive support on Feb. 7.
Google Bard is set to be rebranded as "Gemini" with a new Android app and an "Advanced" tier, powered by "Gemini Ultra." The rebranding aligns with the foundational model powering it and reflects Google's commitment to providing access to its best AI models. The "Gemini" app will integrate with Google apps like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube, and will be available for select devices in English in the US, with plans to expand to other countries and languages. Additionally, Gemini will expand to Canada on February 7, marking a significant development in Google's AI offerings.
Twitter is investigating reports of performance issues with its Android app on Google Pixel phones. Users have reported slow loading times, images not loading, and delays in posting new tweets. The company's mobile dev team member, Fred Lohner, has asked for examples of the app running slow to address the issue. While some users have experienced these problems, others have not encountered major issues. Twitter/X is hoping to make improvements to enhance the app's performance.
Google Calendar for Android is set to introduce a quick switcher feature that allows users to easily switch between creating a calendar event or a task in Google Tasks. The update adds a chip to the creation page, enabling users to switch between the two types with just one tap. This eliminates the need to back out and tap a dedicated "task" button. The new feature will also retain ongoing title and date information when switching between a calendar event and a task, addressing a frustrating issue with the existing method. The rollout date for this change is currently unknown.
YouTube is testing a new feature that updates view and like counts in nearly real-time as users watch a video. The change, which was quietly enabled over the past few months, updates the counts approximately once a minute. This feature was announced by Google in October but is now widely rolling out on YouTube's Android app.
A software developer has created an Android app called 'Bluetooth-LE-Spam' that can generate Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertisement packages to spam nearby Windows and Android devices, similar to the Flipper Zero Bluetooth spam attacks. The app can broadcast connection requests at frequent intervals, potentially disrupting devices and causing denial of service attacks. While the app is still in early development, it has been confirmed to work as advertised. Users can turn off notifications by adjusting settings on their Android or Windows devices. However, caution is advised when testing the app on personal devices due to potential security risks.
Mastodon, the decentralized Twitter alternative, has introduced lists in its latest Android app update. Users can now create custom lists to categorize their follows based on specific topics or interests, decluttering their home feed and engaging with certain topics on their own terms. The update also includes a redesigned home tab for easier navigation. It is unclear when lists will be available on iOS or web platforms, but Mastodon's teams are working on new features and improvements. Mastodon faces competition from other Twitter alternatives like Bluesky and Meta's Threads.
Gmail is introducing emoji reactions to its Android app, allowing users to respond to emails with emojis. The feature can be enabled on the app and will show a smiley icon before the three-dot menu. Users can react with any emoji of their choice, and a single email can have up to 50 reactions. Android and iOS users will see the reactions in the original email, while others will receive it as a reply. The web version of Gmail may also receive emoji reactions in the future. This feature, already present in other email apps, may encourage more people to react to emails with emojis, but its effectiveness as a communication tool remains to be seen.
The GPay Android app is undergoing a redesign that simplifies the interface to just two tabs in the bottom bar. The first tab, previously called Explore, now appears as a card in the Pay tab, displaying "Top deals for you" based on user activity. The second tab, called Businesses, remains unchanged. This update follows Google's removal of certain features from GPay, allowing for a more streamlined user experience. The redesign is rolling out with version 187.1.2 of the app.
OpenAI is set to launch an Android version of its popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT, following its release on iOS in May. The company has provided a preorder page on the Google Play Store, allowing users to register for installation once the app is ready. OpenAI emphasizes improved security measures and features like conversation history synchronization across devices. The Android app puts OpenAI in direct competition with Microsoft's Bing Chat, which also utilizes OpenAI's GPT-4 technology. Other competitors, such as Anthropic with its Claude 2 assistant, are also emerging.