The new Google TV interface will replace Android TV’s UI in the future

At the Made by Google 2020 event yesterday, Google unveiled the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, the new Nest Audio, and the new Google Chromecast. The new Chromecast comes with Google TV as one of its highlighting feature. Google TV is not just a simple rebrand to Android TV though, but its not exactly a new version of Android TV too, either. And now, Google has confirmed that the Google TV interface will replace Android TV’s UI in the future.

What is Android TV?

To understand what Google TV is, we do need to back up a little (but not too much since there is actually a Google TV that existed in 2010-2014 too). Android TV was introduced in 2014 as the successor to the Google TV platform from yesteryears, and it was Google’s way of taking back control of the TV platform. Android TV is a special version of Android that is specifically designed for TVs and large screen interfaces. Android TV is not open-sourced, but OEM partners that utilize Android TV on their TVs can “skin” the home screen app for their devices. This is where we see custom UX solutions like Xiaomi’s PatchWall and OnePlus’s OxygenPlay interfaces, focusing largely on content discovery and content aggregation across various different services. But OEMs can also choose to ship Android TV in its default interface, much like what Sony does for its TVs.

Android TV plus Google TV

The new Google Chromecast brings along the new Google TV. This new Google TV is not a rebranding of Android TV as an OS. Instead, it is a custom UX solution that focuses on content discovery and content aggregation that is built on top of Android TV — it is Google’s answer to PatchWall and OxygenPlay.

While PatchWall and OxygenPlay are exclusive to devices from their respective OEMs, Google TV is not meant to be exclusive to Google (excluding 2020). The company will be making Google TV available to other manufacturers that want it as an option on top of Android TV, like Sony, starting in 2021. Beyond the two year point, however, all new Android TV devices have to use the Google TV skin.

Google TV brings along a new Live tab for TV service-type integrations, deeper Assistant integration, and some other changes. Google will also be bringing some Google TV UI features directly to Android TV, so all Android TV devices will have those features.

In a nutshell, Android TV and Android TV + Google TV will co-exist as solutions available to TV companies for the next two years. Google has also promised to update “eligible” devices to the Google TV experience, but details on that have not been shared yet. It also remains to be seen how Google TV’s existence impacts OEM UX solutions, as shipping two content aggregator services on a single device will likely create unneeded duplication. Would you really need two services telling you to watch the same movie?

Google TV app for Android smartphones

In addition to these changes, Google is also rebranding the Google Play Movies & TV app into the Google TV app. The idea behind this rebranding is to bring these content aggregation features to devices beyond TVs, such as your smartphone. Google Play Movies & TV already did this content aggregation, so the name change brings it in line with the Google TV branding and purpose. The rebranding is rolling out as an update over the Google Play Movies & TV app to users in the USA.

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Source: Google, AndroidPolice

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Telegram adds search filters, anonymous admins, and channel comments

Telegram v7.1.1 is now rolling out on the Google Play Store, and it brings a couple of exciting new features to the popular messenger. As per the official announcement post, the latest update for Telegram includes Search Filters, a Remain Anonymous toggle for group admins, Channel Comments support, and some cool new animation effects. Here’s a quick rundown of everything new in the latest Telegram update:

Search Filters

If you’re a frequent Telegram user, you’d know that searching for media, links, files, etc. on the messenger could prove to be a bit of a challenge. To address this, Telegram v7.1.1 brings new Search Filters to the app. As you can see in the attached GIF, the new Search Filters will let you easily find shared media, links, files, chats, music, and more based on a couple of different criteria.

You can use this new feature to search for files by type, time period, or source. For instance, if you want to search for a particular file type, the updated Search feature has new tabs like Media, Links Files, etc. that you can easily access. If you want to search for items shared on a specific date, you can enter the date in the search bar and all the items shared on that date will pop up in the results. And finally, if you wish to look up files shared by a particular person, group, channel, or bot, you can search for it using the search bar.

Furthermore, these new Search Filters can be combined. This means that you’ll be able to look for something as specific as “messages with a link, sent in March 2016, containing the word “boat”.”

Anonymous Group Admins

The privacy-focused nature of Telegram has made it a valuable tool for protestors around the world. The messenger is often used as the primary means of communication for organizing protests for democracy and freedom, and Telegram is now adding another layer of protection for people who organize such protests.

With version 7.1.1, Telegram is adding a new Remain Anonymous setting to Admin rights for groups. Using this setting, group admins will be able to post messages to the group anonymously, as their messages in the chat will be signed with the group name.

Channel Comments

Telegram’s latest update also brings a new comment button for posts on channels with discussion groups. Tapping on the button will let you comment on any post in the channel, and all the comments on a post will show up within a thread of their own. The comments will also show up in the discussion group within channels.

In case you’re not a member of a channel’s discussion group, you will receive a notification every time someone replies to one of your comments via a new chat called Replies. If you’re interested in testing out this new feature, you can visit this channel.

New Telegram Animations

The update also includes a host of new animations for the Telegram app on Android. These include animations for expanding or hiding the keyboard, switching between day and night themes, and pop-ups for deleting messages, changing notifications, saving media, etc. You can check out these animations in the GIF attached below.

Along with the new features mentioned above, the update also brings the ability to let users take a closer look at anyone’s profile picture in a group chat by pressing and holding on the picture. In case you’re using multiple accounts on the platform, Telegram now also lets you preview the chat lists of your other accounts using the same gesture in the accounts switcher.

Furthermore, the update introduces a host of new animated emoji (see above). To share these animated emoji with friends, you can simply send a message with a single emoji. You can download the latest Telegram update from the Google Play Store link below. Alternatively, you can download the latest APK from APKMirror and sideload it on your device.

Telegram (Free, Google Play) →

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Telegram adds search filters, anonymous admins, and channel comments

Telegram v7.1.1 is now rolling out on the Google Play Store, and it brings a couple of exciting new features to the popular messenger. As per the official announcement post, the latest update for Telegram includes Search Filters, a Remain Anonymous toggle for group admins, Channel Comments support, and some cool new animation effects. Here’s a quick rundown of everything new in the latest Telegram update:

Search Filters

If you’re a frequent Telegram user, you’d know that searching for media, links, files, etc. on the messenger could prove to be a bit of a challenge. To address this, Telegram v7.1.1 brings new Search Filters to the app. As you can see in the attached GIF, the new Search Filters will let you easily find shared media, links, files, chats, music, and more based on a couple of different criteria.

You can use this new feature to search for files by type, time period, or source. For instance, if you want to search for a particular file type, the updated Search feature has new tabs like Media, Links Files, etc. that you can easily access. If you want to search for items shared on a specific date, you can enter the date in the search bar and all the items shared on that date will pop up in the results. And finally, if you wish to look up files shared by a particular person, group, channel, or bot, you can search for it using the search bar.

Furthermore, these new Search Filters can be combined. This means that you’ll be able to look for something as specific as “messages with a link, sent in March 2016, containing the word “boat”.”

Anonymous Group Admins

The privacy-focused nature of Telegram has made it a valuable tool for protestors around the world. The messenger is often used as the primary means of communication for organizing protests for democracy and freedom, and Telegram is now adding another layer of protection for people who organize such protests.

With version 7.1.1, Telegram is adding a new Remain Anonymous setting to Admin rights for groups. Using this setting, group admins will be able to post messages to the group anonymously, as their messages in the chat will be signed with the group name.

Channel Comments

Telegram’s latest update also brings a new comment button for posts on channels with discussion groups. Tapping on the button will let you comment on any post in the channel, and all the comments on a post will show up within a thread of their own. The comments will also show up in the discussion group within channels.

In case you’re not a member of a channel’s discussion group, you will receive a notification every time someone replies to one of your comments via a new chat called Replies. If you’re interested in testing out this new feature, you can visit this channel.

New Telegram Animations

The update also includes a host of new animations for the Telegram app on Android. These include animations for expanding or hiding the keyboard, switching between day and night themes, and pop-ups for deleting messages, changing notifications, saving media, etc. You can check out these animations in the GIF attached below.

Along with the new features mentioned above, the update also brings the ability to let users take a closer look at anyone’s profile picture in a group chat by pressing and holding on the picture. In case you’re using multiple accounts on the platform, Telegram now also lets you preview the chat lists of your other accounts using the same gesture in the accounts switcher.

Furthermore, the update introduces a host of new animated emoji (see above). To share these animated emoji with friends, you can simply send a message with a single emoji. You can download the latest Telegram update from the Google Play Store link below. Alternatively, you can download the latest APK from APKMirror and sideload it on your device.

Telegram (Free, Google Play) →

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Here are all the new Google Camera features on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G

After months of leaks and speculation, the new Google Pixel 5 and the new Google Pixel 4a 5G are here. Both of these represent the latest and greatest hardware that Google can present this year. While the hardware may not be the greatest, Google’s strength has always been in software, and more specifically, camera software. Both the new Pixels come with Google Camera alongside new features. Here are all the new Google Camera features on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G.

Google Pixel 5 Forums ||| Google Pixel 4a 5G Forums

Ultrawide Lens

While not a “Google Camera” feature per se, it is a new change to Google’s camera setup. Gone is the telephoto camera from the Google Pixel 4 series, and in its stead comes a new ultrawide lens. You still get zooming features like Super Res Zoom, but all of it is now handled through software.

While Google could have packed in three cameras, especially at a time when other flagships go as high as five rear cameras, this current situation is a liveable compromise.

Cinematic Pan in Google Camera

The Google Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 come with Cinematic Pan. This gives users shake-free panning on videos, making their videos appear more professional. Google says the ultra-smooth panning is inspired by the equipment that Hollywood directors use. In effect, the panning stabilizes the video and slows it down to give it a cinematic look. This feature is currently available for the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, and Google has not mentioned whether the feature will make its way to older devices. (Pssst, Google Camera mods).

Locked and Active Stabilization

Google’s support page for the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G also mentions two other stabilization modes: Locked, and Active, in addition to the Standard Stabilization and the new Cinematic Pan. Standard stabilization is for countering light hand vibrations, Active stabilization is for countering heavy movement, and Locked stabilization is for capturing faraway still shots.

Night Sight in Portrait Mode

Night Sight has been one of Google’s earliest and most impactful camera features, essentially using machine learning and other software wizardry to capture detailed shots even in low light. The feature received several extensions, such as astrophotography, letting users even capture stars using their phone camera. Similarly, Portrait Mode allowed Google to capture images with a bokeh effect without needing a dedicated depth camera in the earlier generations of Pixels. Night Sight in Portrait Mode is a natural culmination of these two features.

Essentially, with Night Sight in Portrait Mode, you get the ability to capture blurred backgrounds even in extremely low light. In both, default and Portrait mode, Night Sight turns on automatically when you take a photo in low-light conditions.

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This is all for the announced new features in the Google Camera on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5. There are a few more features in Google Photos too, for the new phones. We’ll keep you updated with other features that we spot. Stay tuned!

The post Here are all the new Google Camera features on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G appeared first on xda-developers.

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Here are all the new Google Camera features on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G

After months of leaks and speculation, the new Google Pixel 5 and the new Google Pixel 4a 5G are here. Both of these represent the latest and greatest hardware that Google can present this year. While the hardware may not be the greatest, Google’s strength has always been in software, and more specifically, camera software. Both the new Pixels come with Google Camera alongside new features. Here are all the new Google Camera features on the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G.

Google Pixel 5 Forums ||| Google Pixel 4a 5G Forums

Ultrawide Lens

While not a “Google Camera” feature per se, it is a new change to Google’s camera setup. Gone is the telephoto camera from the Google Pixel 4 series, and in its stead comes a new ultrawide lens. You still get zooming features like Super Res Zoom, but all of it is now handled through software.

While Google could have packed in three cameras, especially at a time when other flagships go as high as five rear cameras, this current situation is a liveable compromise.

Cinematic Pan in Google Camera

The Google Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 come with Cinematic Pan. This gives users shake-free panning on videos, making their videos appear more professional. Google says the ultra-smooth panning is inspired by the equipment that Hollywood directors use. In effect, the panning stabilizes the video and slows it down to give it a cinematic look. This feature is currently available for the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, and Google has not mentioned whether the feature will make its way to older devices. (Pssst, Google Camera mods).

Locked and Active Stabilization

Google’s support page for the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G also mentions two other stabilization modes: Locked, and Active, in addition to the Standard Stabilization and the new Cinematic Pan. Standard stabilization is for countering light hand vibrations, Active stabilization is for countering heavy movement, and Locked stabilization is for capturing faraway still shots.

Night Sight in Portrait Mode

Night Sight has been one of Google’s earliest and most impactful camera features, essentially using machine learning and other software wizardry to capture detailed shots even in low light. The feature received several extensions, such as astrophotography, letting users even capture stars using their phone camera. Similarly, Portrait Mode allowed Google to capture images with a bokeh effect without needing a dedicated depth camera in the earlier generations of Pixels. Night Sight in Portrait Mode is a natural culmination of these two features.

Essentially, with Night Sight in Portrait Mode, you get the ability to capture blurred backgrounds even in extremely low light. In both, default and Portrait mode, Night Sight turns on automatically when you take a photo in low-light conditions.

---

This is all for the announced new features in the Google Camera on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5. There are a few more features in Google Photos too, for the new phones. We’ll keep you updated with other features that we spot. Stay tuned!

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Google won’t bring the Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a 5G to India, but the Pixel 4a and Nest Audio launch this month

At the Made by Google event yesterday, Google finally lifted the covers off the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G. Along with the two new smartphones, the company unveiled the Nest Audio smart speaker and the Google Chromecast with Google TV streaming stick. Following the announcement, Google revealed that the new Chromecast dongle is already up for sale in the US, the Nest Audio speaker would be available starting October 5th, and the new Pixel devices will start shipping to buyers in select regions by October 15th. Sadly though, fans in India won’t get a chance to purchase the new Pixel hardware once again.

In a blog post regarding the matter, Google noted:

“The price of the Pixel 4a in India will be revealed closer to its launch in October 2020, when it will be available for purchase on Flipkart. Regarding the two new 5G Pixel phones that were announced globally today, these will not be available in India or Singapore, based on a variety of factors including local market trends and product features. We remain deeply committed to our current Pixel phones and look forward to bring future Pixel devices to these countries.”

But while the new Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G won’t be coming to the Indian market, the company plans to launch the regular Pixel 4a in the country on October 17th.

No, but the Pixel 4a will release in India on October 17th and will be available for purchase on Flipkart. To learn more about the Pixel 4a check out the official blog post here: https://t.co/EOgWtQ7NMg

— Made By Google (@madebygoogle) September 30, 2020

Along with the Pixel 4a, the company will launch the new Nest Audio smart speaker in the country. In a recent blog post on the Google for India blog, the company revealed that the smart speaker “will be available in India on Flipkart and at other retail outlets later this month.” A product page for the device is already live on Flipkart, which leads us to believe that the device may be launched alongside the Pixel 4a on October 17th. As for the Google Chromecast with Google TV, we currently have no information from the company regarding its availability in the region.

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Source: Google for India blog (1,2)

The post Google won’t bring the Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a 5G to India, but the Pixel 4a and Nest Audio launch this month appeared first on xda-developers.

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Google won’t bring the Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a 5G to India, but the Pixel 4a and Nest Audio launch this month

At the Made by Google event yesterday, Google finally lifted the covers off the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G. Along with the two new smartphones, the company unveiled the Nest Audio smart speaker and the Google Chromecast with Google TV streaming stick. Following the announcement, Google revealed that the new Chromecast dongle is already up for sale in the US, the Nest Audio speaker would be available starting October 5th, and the new Pixel devices will start shipping to buyers in select regions by October 15th. Sadly though, fans in India won’t get a chance to purchase the new Pixel hardware once again.

In a blog post regarding the matter, Google noted:

“The price of the Pixel 4a in India will be revealed closer to its launch in October 2020, when it will be available for purchase on Flipkart. Regarding the two new 5G Pixel phones that were announced globally today, these will not be available in India or Singapore, based on a variety of factors including local market trends and product features. We remain deeply committed to our current Pixel phones and look forward to bring future Pixel devices to these countries.”

But while the new Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G won’t be coming to the Indian market, the company plans to launch the regular Pixel 4a in the country on October 17th.

No, but the Pixel 4a will release in India on October 17th and will be available for purchase on Flipkart. To learn more about the Pixel 4a check out the official blog post here: https://t.co/EOgWtQ7NMg

— Made By Google (@madebygoogle) September 30, 2020

Along with the Pixel 4a, the company will launch the new Nest Audio smart speaker in the country. In a recent blog post on the Google for India blog, the company revealed that the smart speaker “will be available in India on Flipkart and at other retail outlets later this month.” A product page for the device is already live on Flipkart, which leads us to believe that the device may be launched alongside the Pixel 4a on October 17th. As for the Google Chromecast with Google TV, we currently have no information from the company regarding its availability in the region.

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Source: Google for India blog (1,2)

The post Google won’t bring the Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a 5G to India, but the Pixel 4a and Nest Audio launch this month appeared first on xda-developers.

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