Latest news with #9To5Google
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Business Standard
Google Phone app gets Material 3 Expressive redesign, new call gestures
Google is rolling out a Material 3 Expressive redesign to its Phone app, introducing new call gestures and UI updates, with similar design changes coming to Gmail, Photos, and Messages New Delhi Google has reportedly begun rolling out a new Material 3 Expressive design update for its Phone app on Android. According to a report by 9To5Google, the latest beta of the 'Phone by Google' app introduces a sweeping visual overhaul alongside new gesture-based call answering options, including 'Horizontal swipe' and 'Single tap.' Google introduced Material 3 Expressive last month at its inaugural 'Android Show: I/O Edition,' describing it as the next major visual leap for Android 16. Building on the foundations of Material You, the new design language focuses on dynamic colour theming, playful animations, responsive UI elements, and modernised typography to offer a more personalised, expressive user experience. Phone by Google app: What is new With the new update, the Recents tab now displays call logs in rounded rectangular cards, a container style that's now applied throughout the app — including the Favourites section and dialer screen. The number pad itself remains unchanged, but the background sheet now features rounded corners for visual consistency. Filters like All, Missed, Contacts, Non-Spam, and Spam have also received design updates. The main Settings menu has been refreshed with the new Material 3 Expressive styling, and now includes a new 'Incoming call gesture' option, letting users choose between 'Horizontal swipe' or 'Single tap' to answer calls. The incoming call screen features a scalloped Material 3 shape that rotates until an action is taken. During an active call, the circular control buttons have been replaced by pill-shaped buttons that morph into rounded rectangles when selected. These include redesigned spacing and a more prominent, wider End Call button. Material 3 Expressive in other Google apps Google Photos: The app now features cleaner layouts with a floating toolbar in albums containing Share, Add photos, and Edit options — previously placed below the album cover. There's also a new 'Show QR Code' button when sharing an album, allowing users to generate scannable QR codes for collaborative sharing. Gmail: Some users are seeing early signs of Material 3 Expressive in Gmail, with visual changes including: Message lists now displayed on rounded-corner cards. Separately layered search bar, menu, and account switcher for improved depth. A bolder, more prominent 'Compose' floating button. Refined swipe animations for archiving emails. Google Messages: Material 3 Expressive is also reshaping Google Messages. Changes include: Conversation threads displayed in rounded cards. The Plus menu now uses pill-shaped containers for Gallery, GIFs, and Stickers. A unified toolbar in the emoji keyboard now lets users easily switch between Emoji, GIFs, Stickers, and Photomoji.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
17 hours ago
- Business Standard
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 may debut with slimmer and lighter design: Report
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 7 at its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, which may take place on July 9. Ahead of the launch, alleged official renders have surfaced online revealing the foldable in Blue Shadow and Jet Black colour options. According to a report by Android Headlines, two more colour variants may also be on the way. Galaxy Z Fold 7: What to expect Going by the renders, it is expected that the next book-style foldable from Samsung would boast a slimmer design than its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Reports suggest the Fold 7 could measure between 3.9mm and 4.5mm when unfolded. According to Android Headlines, a redesigned hinge is a key factor contributing to the device's reduced thickness and lighter build. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is expected to weigh 215 grams, about 24 grams lighter than the Fold 6. The lighter form factor aligns with Samsung's broader effort to make foldables more portable and user-friendly. Bigger cover display, larger main screen Samsung has consistently widened the outer display with each Fold iteration, and this year is expected to be no different. The cover display on the Fold 7 may measure 6.5-inch, up from 6.3-inch on the Fold 6, and could feature a more traditional aspect ratio. This also suggests that the internal screen might expand to 8.2-inch, offering a more immersive experience. The Fold 7 is expected to be Samsung's slimmest and lightest book-style foldable to date. As per 9To5Google, it could measure 9mm folded and 4.54mm unfolded. The phone is also likely to feature deeper Galaxy AI integration, including system-wide enhancements and voice-enabled features. Samsung teasers have further fueled speculation about a possible Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra, a new high-end variant in the Fold series that could introduce performance upgrades and premium materials. Galaxy Z Flip 7 may debut alongside Samsung is also expected to launch the Galaxy Z Flip 7 at the same event. Reports suggest the clamshell-style foldable could be powered by Samsung's Exynos 2500 chipset, marking a departure from Qualcomm's Snapdragon SoCs in foldables. According to TomsGuide, the Flip 7 may bring a larger 4-inch cover display, software-based camera improvements, and fresh case designs. AI enhancements driven by Gemini AI are expected to feature prominently. Android Central reports that the Flip 7 may benefit from improved power efficiency and a less visible crease due to new blue phosphorescent OLED material. Samsung is also said to be working on a more affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE model, which may feature scaled-down specifications.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
Now, you can schedule actions on Gemini app for Android: How it works
Scheduled actions feature in Gemini app for Android is currently rolling out to Gemini AI Pro, AI Ultra, and select Workspace users. It's not yet available on iOS or web, and to free-tier users New Delhi Google is now reportedly widely rolling out 'Scheduled Actions' in the Gemini app for Android. According to a 9To5Google report, this feature is being rolled out for Gemini AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, as well as select Workspace users. It's not yet available on iOS or the web version, and it is unclear whether free-tier users will get access in the future. According to a Google blog, with scheduled actions, users can ask Gemini to perform one-time or recurring tasks – like getting a daily summary of emails, receiving blog post ideas every Monday, or even getting weather-based outfit suggestions each morning. Scheduled Actions: How to manage To see and manage your Scheduled Actions: Open the Gemini app. Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner. Go to 'Scheduled actions', found between 'Apps' and 'Gem manager' in the menu. Here, you can: View all your scheduled tasks / Pause or delete them using the overflow menu. According to Google, Gemini now allows users to schedule up to 10 active tasks simultaneously. These tasks can be managed—viewed, paused, or removed—through a new 'Scheduled actions' section found under Settings in the Gemini app, available on both mobile and desktop platforms. For location-based tasks, the assistant will reference the original creation location to ensure consistent execution. Notifications for scheduled actions are sent as push alerts on mobile devices, allowing users to stay updated without needing to open the app.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
YouTube crackdown on Ad Blockers: Sluggish videos? This might be the reason
Google-owned YouTube is reportedly upping its game against consumers using ad-blockers. According to a report by 9To5Google, YouTube has begun slowing down videos for ad blocker users. Additionally, the report claims that the video streaming giant is also preparing for longer ad formats. YouTube has been conducting a crackdown on ad blockers for a long time now. Earlier this year, users running ad blockers on YouTube began experiencing sluggish video loading, unresponsive pages, and other performance issues. At that time, YouTube pointed to a bug in a widely used ad blocker as the cause, as reported by 9To5Google. Now, a similar problem appears to be resurfacing. YouTube users who use ad blockers have recently encountered buffering issues, a bit more than usual. Business Standard was able to verify this independently as well. As per the 9To5Google report, a pop-up has also been spotted, which links to a YouTube support page where the platform warns against the use of ad blockers. The message reportedly read: 'Check whether your browser extensions that block ads are affecting video playback. As another option, try opening YouTube in an incognito window with all extensions disabled and check if the issue continues.' This combination is now being interpreted as YouTube now taking stricter action against ad blockers by intentionally slowing down videos. YouTube gearing up for longer ad format According to SearchEngineLand, YouTube is currently beta testing an expansion of 30-second unskippable ads to standard ad campaigns, which could make the longer format more widely accessible to advertisers. Previously, regular campaigns were capped at 15-second unskippable spots. One advertiser who encountered the test expressed concern, suggesting that 30 seconds might be overly disruptive for viewers, as reported by SearchEngineLand. YouTube is also experimenting with running 15-second unskippable ads in combination with short bumper ads. While 30-second unskippable ads have been available on YouTube's TV interface since 2023, this new move could lead to them appearing more frequently across the platform, SearchEngineLand reported.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked likely on July 9: What to expect from foldables
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, where the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7, and Galaxy Watch 8 series are expected to debut, will likely happen in the second week of July. According to a report by 9To5Google, the event is expected to be held on July 9 at 10 am ET (07:30 pm IST). As per the report, the South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer is also expected to preview its Android XR-based Project Moohan headset at the event. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: What to expect Samsung is set to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 7 soon, promising its thinnest, lightest, and most durable foldable yet. As per a report by 9To5Google, the Z Fold 7 might measure 9mm when folded and 4.54mm when unfolded—significantly slimmer than its predecessor. The Z Fold 7 is also expected to feature deeper Galaxy AI integration, voice-enabled controls, and system-wide enhancements. Samsung's teasers have sparked speculation of an 'Ultra' variant—a first for the Fold series—hinting at a more premium model with advanced capabilities. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: What to expect Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Z Flip 7 with its in-house Exynos 2500 chip—marking the first time a foldable in the Galaxy Z series may move away from Qualcomm's Snapdragon. According to 9To5Google, this shift would align with Samsung's dual-chip strategy seen in its S-series flagships. Deeper Gemini integration is expected to be applicable with Flip 7, too. As per TomsGuide, the Flip 7 will likely feature software-based camera improvements, a larger 4-inch cover display, and new case designs. The camera hardware may remain unchanged, but upgrades via the ProVisual Engine are expected to enhance image quality. Android Central adds that Samsung could make the folding crease less visible and improve display efficiency by using blue phosphorescent material in the OLED panel. The company may also introduce a more affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, offering a budget-friendly option with slightly toned-down specs. While not a major redesign, the Z Flip 7 is shaping up to be a refined update with better performance, usability, and possibly broader accessibility. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: What to expect Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Watch 8 series will debut with Gemini AI integration and new Samsung Health features, including a vascular load metric and a personal AI health coach. These updates aim to provide real-time insights and personalised guidance to users looking to manage their wellness more proactively. As reported by Android Central, the line-up will include six models, with the Watch 8 Classic expected to sport a squircle design and rotating bezel. The series may continue with the Exynos W1000 chip, 2GB of RAM, and AMOLED displays with up to 2,000 nits brightness. Running on One UI 8 Watch, the new wearables are likely to offer features like adaptive charging, watch face shuffle, and gesture-powered access to the Now Bar. Health tracking will remain a core focus, with support for the antioxidant index and other advanced metrics via Samsung's upgraded BioActive Sensor. Blood glucose monitoring, while in development, may not yet be ready for this generation. What is Project Moohan? Samsung unveiled its Project Moohan headset at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, confirming that the device will feature multimodal AI for natural voice and visual interactions. While full details remain under wraps, The Elec reports it will run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 chip and include 1.3-inch 4K OLEDoS displays by Sony with a sharp 3,800ppi pixel density. It is also expected to support pass-through viewing, akin to Apple's Vision Pro. Running on Android XR, the headset will allow access to mobile apps via the Play Store and feature Google-optimised experiences like YouTube, Google Maps, and 3D Google Photos. A key highlight is its deep Gemini AI integration, enabling real-time assistance, contextual controls, and AI-powered workflows—all designed to position Project Moohan as a versatile, next-gen XR device.
