Google News

On the web, only a few Google apps and services offer a night mode. Google Drive is now the latest to introduce a dark theme.  Once available, you’ll be prompted by “New! Dark mode” to “Continue to enjoy Drive in the dark.” Afterwards, tap the gear icon in the top-right corner > Settings > General > Appearance. It does not automatically follow your device theme. It joins other preferences for Start page (Home or My Drive) and Density (Comfortable, Cozy,… Source link

As previewed in early February, the Google Phone dialer app has removed the Nearby places search feature on Android. Phone by Google no longer lets you look for businesses using the search field at the top of the app. In fact, the hint has been updated from “Search contacts & places” to just “Search contacts.”  Additionally, “Nearby places” no longer appears in settings. The feature would use your location to take into account what was in close proximity…. Source link

Finding your way around your Google Drive files could be about to get a lot easier: there’s evidence that you’ll soon be able to categorize your files into different groups, like banking and work, to keep them better organized. This is according to hidden code spotted in the Google Drive app by TheSpAndroid (via Android Police). Apps often lay the coding groundwork for future features, before those features go live and are announced to users. As per the app, the categories you’ll be able to… Source link

Google has finally revealed a date for its biggest conference of the year, Google I/O 2024. The tech giant revealed the news this week, sharing that Google I/O will kick off on May 14, 2024.  I’m expecting quite a bit from Google during this year’s I/O presentation. This is usually when Google touts its newest achievements, and the past couple of years have focused heavily on showing off the company’s various AI developments, as well as touting the much acclaimed Pixel 8 Pro. This year,… Source link

What you need to know Microsoft finds itself at the heart of more controversy with Windows users reporting ads popping up inside Google Chrome for Bing and Copilot AI.  Some were concerned it was actually malware, but Microsoft has since confirmed it is deliberate and intended behavior.  This isn’t the first time Microsoft has hit the headlines for interfering with Google Chrome, with a recent issue concerning Edge hijacking Chrome data.  Please, just stop it, Microsoft.   Oh, Microsoft,… Source link

New categorization options are rolling out now … Source link

You can choose from two different filters: subtle and smoothing. While Google says the subtle filter applies “very light” complexion smoothing, under-eye lightening, and eye whitening, the smoothing filter makes all three effects slightly more noticeable. Judging by the GIF provided by Google, it doesn’t look like either option dramatically changes your appearance like some of the filters you’ll find on Snapchat. Instead, it seems to apply much lighter effects that make it look like… Source link

Microsoft is reportedly using pop-up ads within Google Chrome to prompt users to switch their default search engine to Bing. Increasing numbers of Windows users have observed advertisements for Bing AI and Microsoft’s Bing search engine while browsing in Chrome. If users choose to accept these prompts, Microsoft automatically sets Bing as the new default search engine for Chrome instead of Google. Malware concerns. Users expressed concerns that the pop-up ads resembled malware, but… Source link

Enlarge / Google’s safe browsing warning is not subtle. Google Google Chrome’s “Safe Browsing” feature—the thing that pops up a giant red screen when you try to visit a malicious website—is getting real-time updates for all users. Google announced the change on the Google Security Blog. Real-time protection naturally means sending URL data to some far-off server, but Google says it will use “privacy-preserving… Source link

Photo: Salt River Project Arizona’s largest battery storage system is now online and, along with solar and wind, will help power a new Google data center – here’s why that matters. Arizona’s largest battery + Google Arizona utility company Salt River Project and renewables developer NextEra Energy Resources developed Sonoran Solar Energy Center, a 260-megawatt (MW) solar farm able to charge a 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery energy storage system…. Source link