Google Contacts is not an app that you would associate with frequent changes or updates. But that hasn’t been the case over the past few weeks. We learned last month that an upcoming redesign for the app would make some sweeping changes, likeremoving the hamburger menu, while another update sought tounclutter individual contact pages. It now looks like some other changes are on the horizon, with a new leak giving us a glimpse of what’s to come....

Last year, Googlealready killed YouTube Vancedfor the first time. The company sent the makers of the modded, ad-free YouTube app a cease and desist letter, forcing them to shut down the project. However, eager copycats were quickly found, with new versions of Vanced making the rounds online. Since cease and desist letters are ultimately just a game of cat and mouse, Google appears to be looking into a way to stop one kind of Vanced alternatives once and for all....

TheGoogle Pixel Watchis one of the bestAndroid-based smartwatchesyou can get today, although it’s not without a few compromises. While the watch ticks the right boxes in terms of design, aspects like the exorbitant price tag and the subpar battery life left much to be desired. It now seems like there’s another negative aspect attached to the smartwatch — its lack of repairability. There are multiple Redditthreads(1) (2) discussing how Google won’t replace a cracked screen, in addition to complaints on theGoogle support page....

Google Pixel 6a lands in July with Tensor in tow and a $449 price tag Aftermonths of leaks and rumors, Google took the stage today to debut the Pixel 6a as part ofGoogle I/O 2022. As expected, it’s an even more affordable version of the Pixel 6 series, powered by the same exact Tensor chipset as last year’s flagship, and priced at just $449. Google Tensor 128 UFS 3.1...

Google Pixel’s Game Dashboard is coming to Play Services — and maybe other phones, too Android 12 debuted a newGame Dashboardfeature that offered a snazzy FPS counter overlay, game optimization settings, a do-not-disturb toggle, and even the ability to stream live via YouTube. Unfortunately, it was a Pixel-exclusive feature, but thatmightchange soon. Esper.io’s Mishaal Rahman has been following a trail of clues that indicate Google is making the Game Dashboard feature part of Google Play Services....

After numerous delays,Matterlaunched in November 2022. Since then, the list of Matter-compatible accessories has only grown by leaps and bounds. But there have been issues.Belkin gave up on the smart home standarda year after it announced an updated version of all its popular smart home accessories.Philips has also delayed bringing the standard to the Hue bridgewithout providing any reasoning. On the other hand, Google has gone all in on the protocol and addedMatter compatibility to several of its smart speakers and displays in December 2022....

AI tools are seemingly finding their way into every corner of our lives, partly due to companies that continue to integrate them into their products and services.Google is one of these businesses, and AI is popping up in most of the search giant’s products and services, from Maps to Docs. Now, it seems like the company is trying to make use of generative AI in the Play Store, too. As uncovered byTheSpAndroid, Google appears to be developing an AI feature that would answer frequently asked questions about apps in the Play Store....

Quick Links 1Ads, Even When I’m Paying One of the main reasons I signed up for X Premium was to escape ads. I mean, isn’t that the whole point of paying for a service—to get a cleaner, more enjoyable experience? Well, color me disappointed when I realized that ads were still popping up in my timeline. Apparently, the premium plan I was on (at $8/mo) didn’t get rid of all the ads....

Warning: Spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5, “Regent.” Summary As Rhaenyra Targaryen continues plotting her next moves against the Greens inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, her comments about a potential matchup reveal a harsh truth about Syrax. Not only is Syrax one of Team Black’s most significant assets, but she’s also Rhaenyra’s dragon, making her extra meaningful to the cause. Though dragons have been a significant aspect since the beginning of theGame of Thronesprequel series, action involving dragons has dramatically increased sinceHouse of the Dragonseason 1’s shocking ending....

How to Buy a PlayStation 5 Direct From Sony Despite launching in November 2020, Sony still cannot deliver enough PlayStation 5 consoles to gamers. This issue resulted in a lot of disappointment among PlayStation fans, and scalpers taking advantage of those who can’t wait to get their hands on one. Luckily, good things come to those who wait. If you’re one of the many people who still can’t find a PlayStation 5 from an official retailer, you finally have the chance to get one direct from Sony....

How to Create a Whiteboard Animation in PowerPoint Microsoft PowerPoint is a powerful tool that allows you to create all kinds of presentations. You probably already know how to use it to create static slides. However, you may not be aware that you can also use it to create whiteboard animations. Even if you do, you probably may not know how to create whiteboard animations in PowerPoint yourself. Whiteboard animations appear like the content or characters are handwritten or hand-drawn on a whiteboard in real-time....

How to Fix the “File Explorer Doesn’t Highlight Selected Files and Folders” Issue File Explorer is a trusty tool to view, organize, and manage all files stored on the hard disk in a Windows computer. Microsoft recently introduced the tabs feature for File Explorer, a much-needed addition for most of us. But some users share their plight of File Explorer not highlighting the selected files and folders. After selecting the files, the file count in the status bar increases, but the files are not highlighted as they should be....

Google Chrome is one of the most widely used web browsers—but that doesn’t mean it is immune to problems. The “Free up space to continue” error message is one of the most common Chrome issues and is frustrating, especially if you’re in the middle of a workday or an important personal task. Fortunately, most times, you can resolve this issue by deleting a few files; yes, it really is that easy....