Google Search has been testing shuffling the order of search tabs, including the "News" tab, but has confirmed that it's just a test and the "News" tab won't be permanently removed. The company stated that the test only affected a small subset of users and that the News filter is available to users now with no plans to remove it. It's unclear if Google intends to continue shuffling the order of search tabs, but recent tests also include a new, more prominent look for the various search filters.
Popular web browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari come with built-in translation tools that allow users to read websites in different languages. These browsers automatically detect foreign languages and offer translation options through pop-up dialogs or buttons in the address bar. Users can customize translation settings, exempt specific sites from translation, and manage lists of languages that are always or never translated. While Firefox's translation feature is still in beta and not available on mobile, Safari offers a simple translation option with no additional settings.
YouTube will display a blank home feed for users who have turned off their watch history, disabling features that rely on watch history to provide video recommendations. The change aims to make it clearer which YouTube features require watch history and streamline the experience for users who prefer to search rather than browse recommendations. Users can still switch their watch history on at any time if desired.
Netflix is introducing new thumb buttons on its mobile app, allowing users to give a thumbs-up, double thumbs-up, or thumbs-down to a show or movie while watching it. This feature aims to provide users with an easier way to personalize their viewing preferences and improve the streaming service's algorithms. The thumb buttons will be available on iOS starting Monday and will be released on Android at a later date. Users can still rate videos from a show or movie's details screen even when not actively watching it on mobile. Netflix transitioned from a star rating system to a thumbs-up system in 2017 and added the double thumbs-up option in 2022.
iPhone users are increasingly favoring Apple Maps over Google Maps due to its design, usability, and continuous updates. The app, which initially faced criticism, has undergone significant improvements over the years, including the addition of features like public transit directions and integration with car dashboards. Users have praised Apple Maps for its faster and more creative public transit directions, better consideration of commuting disruptions, cleaner interface, and clearer display. Some users also appreciate Apple Maps for its data privacy features. With ongoing updates and new features, Apple aims to position its Maps app as more than just a navigational tool.
Netflix has updated its Profile Transfer feature, allowing users to switch to an existing account instead of creating a new one. The feature, launched in October 2022, enables members to transfer their profile preferences, including customized recommendations and viewing history, to another account. This update comes as part of Netflix's efforts to crack down on password-sharing, requiring users to pay an additional membership fee if they don't live in the same household as the account holder. Despite the backlash, Netflix saw a significant increase in daily sign-ups after announcing the new rules.
A recent poll conducted by Android Authority revealed that 54.9% of respondents would opt for other workarounds to avoid YouTube ads, while 35.3% would switch to other platforms. Only 3.4% said they would purchase YouTube Premium, and 6.3% were willing to sit through the ads. The results indicate that the majority of users prefer alternative platforms or ad-blocking methods rather than paying for the premium service.
