Followed by the first and second developer previews of Android 16, the first beta update among the four beta updates that have been planned is now available. The Android 16 beta 1 update brings a wide variety of features for both users and developers, which includes the support for app adaptivity, Live Updates, APV codec, and many more. Interested candidates can receive the OTA update for this Android 16 beta 1 update by enrolling for the Android Beta program on an eligible device.

Read more about the Android 16 beta 1 update below.

Android 16 – First Beta Update Announced

As mentioned, the Android 16 beta 1 update is the first of the four beta updates that will be rolled out before the official version release, and the most notable feature of this beta 1 update is the app adaptivity support. As of now, there are apps which prevent users from resizing or changing the orientation, and when this comes to a larger screen device such as a tablet, Chromebook, or a book-like foldable, it becomes not so well-appealing. Android 16 will now be able to surpass these restrictions set by app developers, enabling users to resize or change the orientation of the apps as per their needs.

The iOS Live Activities-like feature, Live Updates, is also an important feature that has now been introduced on Android 16 with the beta 1 update, which will display important notifications of ongoing activities prominently on the lock screen. Certain brands like Samsung and OnePlus have already brought similar features with their respective custom skins, however, it is limited due to the lack of support for a few third-party app compatibility.

Android 16 has also now received the support for the Samsung-developed Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, offering high quality video recording and post production. Some of the key features of the codec include perceptually lossless video quality, low complexity and high throughput intra-frame-only coding, high bit-rate range up to a few Gbps for 2K, 4K, and 8K resolution content, frame tiling for immersive content and parallel encoding & decoding, various chroma sampling formats and bit depths, multiple decoding and re-encoding without visual quality degradation, multi-view and auxiliary videos, and HDR10/HDR10+ and user-defined metadata.

Moreover, predictive back animations (now default for apps with back-to-home, cross-task, & cross-activity animations), predictive back support for three button navigation, and more Gemini features (on the way) are also revealed to be some of the user-focused features of Android 16 beta 1 version.

Speaking about the developer features or changes, generic ranging APIs, camera night mode scene detection, vertical text, supplemental descriptions, internal ART changes, fixed rate work scheduling optimization, and ordered broadcast priority scope are some of the new features or areas of improvements.

About the official version release, we are already aware that this time Google plans to release the major SDK update in Q2 2025, and later a minor SDK update will also be released in Q4 2025. Three more beta updates are also currently on the way, and it has been suggested that the platform stability will be achieved in the month of March 2025.

Stay tuned.

The post Android 16 Beta 1 Update Officially Announced: Brings Support for App Adaptivity, Live Updates, APV Codec, and More appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Google had launched the Chat feature with Text and WhatsApp long ago, allowing business owners to add these options to their business profiles. Previously, this feature wasn’t available for business owners in the US market. However, it now appears to be rolling out in the US as well.

Additionally, this feature is also available for users in India. I personally checked the business profile of one of our companies and found an option to add either WhatsApp or SMS for potential customers to initiate a chat.

To access this feature, log into your business profile and click on Edit. Under the Contact section, you will see the Chat option. A dropdown menu will appear with two options: Text or WhatsApp. You will need to enter the phone number you wish to use for communication.

Although business owners in the US can now see this option, earlier documentation from Google(via) still does not mention its availability in the US market.

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Yesterday we shared that Google is rolling out a new update to Circle to Search for Android users when you circle something on your screen a bewitching piece of art, a trending image, or a unique object, you’ll get richer AI-powered insights. Other than this new feature the company has released interesting Gemini updates for Pixel 9 series and Gemini Advanced subscribers as well.

These features will roll out over the next few weeks, starting today

Pixel 9 series: AI assistant gets versatile

Gemini Live can now talk you through the images, files, and videos you see on Pixel and serves as your personal AI assistant.

• Images: Add an image to your conversation and Gemini Live can provide detailed information and suggestions, or help solve problems in real-time.
• Files: Share documents with Gemini Live, then have a discussion about them.
• Videos: Have a conversation about a YouTube video, including insights, explanations, and reasoning.

This update will be available on Pixel 9 series devices and come to Pixel 6 and later phones soon. It is also revealed that in the coming months, the Gemini app on Pixel will be among the first to get Project Astra capabilities like screen sharing and live video streaming.

Also with extensions, Gemini can help complete tasks across apps like YouTube, Google Maps, mail, and Spotify. And now users can ask Gemini to use multiple extensions in a single prompt.

Gemini Deep Research on Pixel

This new feature available for Gemini Advanced subscribers transforms your Pixel into a powerful research assistant. It helps you browse through hundreds of websites to generate a report with key findings, organized with links to original sources so you can learn even more.

Gemini Deep Research will start becoming available to Gemini Advanced subscribers on Pixel phones in the next few days. Pixel 9 Pro owners can enjoy Deep Research with the 12-month subscription to Gemini Advanced included with their purchase.

The post Google releases new Gemini updates for Pixel 9 series and Gemini Advanced subscribers appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Android users are getting a new update to Circle to Search, Google’s innovative screen search feature. The latest updates make finding and interacting with information faster and smarter.

Now, when you circle something on your screen—a bewitching piece of art, a trending image, or a unique object—you’ll get richer AI-powered insights. The new AI Overviews provide quick snapshots with web links for more in-depth search.

The update also introduces smarter interaction. Circle to Search can now instantly identify numbers, email addresses, and URLs, letting users take quick action with just a tap.

Since its launch last year, the feature has streamlined how Android users gather information without jumping between apps.

The post Google upgrades Circle to Search with AI and quick action boost appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

The generative artificial intelligence chat bot developed by Elon Musk founded xAI – Grok was introduced in 2023 on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter), and later a standalone app version of Grok also came out which is currently available in several countries (for iOS). Very recently, a web version of the AI chat bot was also released, that can be accessed without an X account and with features like temporary data mode and personalized settings.

Now, it has been reported that Google Search is indexing Grok conversations made by X users, and it is available and accessible to other users on the web. Read more about it below.

Is Google Search Indexing Grok Conversations?

While brands have been assuring safety and privacy across their AI services and taking necessary steps to prevent any misuse of the features, it has come to notice that Google Search has been indexing Grok conversations that have been made by X users (received via @gaganghotra_). xAI’s Grok chat bot which is a direct competitor for OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini was recently introduced as a web version too, and one of its new key features is the ‘Temporary Mode’ that enables users to have conversations with the history not being saved anywhere or used to train language models.

As per what has been shared, a large amount of chat made by Japanese X users with Grok have been indexed on Google Search, and it is not sure whether users are aware about this or not. Just to add, Japan is said to be ranked second as per region-wise number of X users, and do note that Grok’s chat data is being exposed to the public through one of its competitors. Moreover, this news comes following the introduction of the Grok web version.

The matter is a very serious AI privacy issue, and for people who might be talking to Grok as a friend would possibly be at great risk as what they are communicating is accessible to others as well, and can be misused. xAI will have to look into this matter, giving it the utmost importance, and users of AI chat bots are best advised to not be very open and share their personal details as these may always likely pose a privacy threat like this.

The post Grok Conversations Reportedly Indexed by Google Search Posing Serious AI Privacy Threats appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

The California-based tech maker, Google, is in the ever-lasting journey of improving user experience and one of the main thing that happened very recently was the addition of AI features across all Workspace plans. The move now enables every Workspace customer to access Gemini AI features without the need to purchase any particular plan for it.

Taking the brand’s initiatives forward, a ‘You visit often’ label has started to be displayed on Google Search over websites that are being frequently visited by users. Read more about it below.

Google Search Now Displaying a ‘You visit often’ Label?

This feature has been previously reported about and is something that the brand was testing quite a few months back, and it seems that it has finally started to be displayed across Google Search. There isn’t much to say about the feature, it simply displays the label ‘You visit often’ over the websites that are being frequently visited by users.

However, unlike what was said before, instead of the pill-shaped appearance and the label inside of it, the brand has decided to just display the label as a typed message in Blue color.

In related news, apart from just integrating AI features to all Workspace plans, the brand also raised the cost of plans by USD 2 all over the world. Speaking more, the AI features and capabilities that are going to be rolled out to the Business and Enterprise customers include AI assistance in its services (Gmail, Sheets, Meet, Chat, & more), Chat with Gemini Advanced, and NotebookLM Plus. Do check out more about it here.

The post Google Search Now Displays ‘You visit often’ Label for Frequently Visited Websites appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Google’s Gemini, the brand’s largest and most capable AI model, has been receiving a lot of upgrades and feature additions in attempts to make it even better and more user-friendly and followed by the introduction of Gemini 2.0 Flash, we had also saw the brand unveiling Chess Champ on Gemini Advanced as well as making Spotify extension available for the Gemini app on Android devices.

A new design change has been brought to the Gemini app, revamping its whole user interface with a much more appealing look. Read more about it below.

Gemini App New Design Now Available to Users

This new updated design language might have reached many users on their smartphone devices already and when compared to the previous one, there are quite a few changes in it. Notably, from the small centrally-aligned pill-shaped module which consisted of the ‘keyboard’, ‘mic’, and ‘camera’ icons for different functions, along with the circular ‘Gemini AI Assistant’ button, the new design brings a rectangular-shaped unit (with rounded corners) on to the platform with an attachment icon that can help in uploading images directly via the Gallery app or by capturing it and uploading through the Camera app. ‘Ask Gemini’ has also been brought inside the rectangular unit, where users can type in what they want to ask. Towards the right, the ‘mic’ and ‘Gemini AI Assistant’ icons have also been added. Furthermore, a greeting ‘Hello, (user’s name)’ has also been added to the app interface.

As mentioned, many users have reportedly already found the new design change on the Gemini app, while a few are still yet to receive it. Most probably, it will be rolled out to more and will reach everyone soon. Stay tuned.

The post Gemini App User Interface Receives a New and Revamped Design Change: Already Made Available to Users appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

The California-based tech maker, Google, had officially unveiled its latest Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds last year back in the month of August 2024 and now, a user of the device has shared his disappointing experience with it via the Reddit platform. From the comments received, it seems that this is a common problem that needs to be addressed.

Read more about the news below.

Pixel Buds Pro 2 Connectivity Issues Troubling Users?

As per what has been shared, this user of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is also an owner of the brand’s own Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone as well, and while connecting the earbuds to his smartphone by taking out one of the earbuds from the case, the user reports that even if it plays the chime sound to suggest that the earbuds has been connected, 3 seconds later a disconnection chime follows it. He further adds that not only does the earbuds not reconnect properly again, it will indefinitely go through the same issue over and over again until it has been put back inside the case and then taken out.

Moreover, the same Pixel Buds Pro 2 user notes that even if the device’s Settings page or Pixel Buds app shows the connected status, the Bluetooth icon indicator does not show up on the status bar. On top of it, as expected, the audio plays through the phone’s speaker rather than the earbuds after showing the connected status on Bluetooth Settings or Pixel Buds app.

In attempts to rectify the issue, this user has also tried unpairing and then again pairing back, factory reset, and more, but it still remains as it is. The user ends his post by saying that his previous Pixel Buds Pro did not have such an issue and he is likely considering downgrading from the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to its predecessor, likely if no fix works.

Speaking more, this post of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 issue invited quite a few comments too, and almost all the solutions seem to be tried out by the user and failed. Among the comments, another Reddit user has revealed his experience saying that the issue can be overcome by tapping on ‘Connect’ on the device info overview page, even though it auto-connects, to bring the earbuds active.

Based on all these, it is obvious that the issue is not with the connected smartphone or the app, but with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds itself. Also, to connect manually on a flagship device by taking both time and effort is also not at all welcome after paying a higher price when compared to a normal earbuds. Google must be looking at the matter on a serious note and provide users with an update that can help in fixing the problem at the earliest.

The post Google’s Latest Pixel Buds Pro 2 Facing Connectivity Issues, Shares User on the Reddit Platform appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Google is the first company to release the January 2025 Security patch updates for its Pixel series smartphones. This update is currently rolling out to pixel smartphones running Android 15. If you haven’t updated your Pixel smartphone to Android 15 yet, now is the time.

Along with the January 2025 security patch, the update also includes several bug fixes. Issues that have been resolved include audio delay while using certain apps, camera stability when switching to a connected camera, flashing lines on the screen, and Pixel launcher-themed icon color display problems.

List of Smartphones:

• Pixel 6:                 AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 6 Pro:          AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 6a:               AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 7:                  AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 7 Pro:           AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 7a:                AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel Tablet:          AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel Fold:             AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 8:                  AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 8 Pro:           AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 8a:                AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 9:                  AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 9 Pro:           AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 9 Pro XL:     AP4A.250105.002
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold:  AP4A.250105.002

• Pixel 7:                  AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel 7 Pro:           AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel 7a:                AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel Fold:             AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel 8:                  AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel 8 Pro:           AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel 8a:                AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel 9:                  AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel 9 Pro:           AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel 9 Pro XL:     AP4A.250105.002.B1
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold:  AP4A.250105.002.B1

• Pixel 6:                  AP4A.250105.002.A1
• Pixel 6 Pro:           AP4A.250105.002.A1
• Pixel 6a:                AP4A.250105.002.A1

Changelog

• Fix for audio delay and stability issue when using certain apps*[1]

• Fix for issue with camera stability when switching to a connected camera under certain conditions*[2]

• Fix for issue with flashing lines on screen in certain conditions*[2]

• Fix for issue with Pixel launcher themed icon color display in certain conditions*[1]

Here is how you can check for an update:

1. Open your device’s Settings app.
2. Tap System  Software update. You’ll find your update status.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

The post Google Pixel Phones Get January 2025 Security Update with Bug Fixes appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

You might probably be aware that Microsoft Edge is used as a default browser on Windows 11 which turns Bing as the default search engine for the users. Many of us still prefer to go to Google to find answers or use it as a search engine which is why many Windows PC users still search for Google in the address bar powered by Bing while there were also ways to change the default search engine from Bing to Google.com.

But as per a recent report by Windows Latest, Microsoft seems to have found a way to reduce the number of users choosing this alternative.

If a user opens Bing.com and searches for Google or Google.com, a giant animated picture of people celebrating along with a message appears on the screen displaying the Bing search bar. The design looks a lot like Google’s UI when you search for Google on Bing, like a clean layout, a search bar in the middle, and simple illustrations which may lead a user to believe that they are using Google, well Bing trying to copy Google’s UI is quite sneaky.

Previously when users searched for Google on Bing, a small Bing search bar was displayed and then a regular link for Google but this new move by Microsoft will now confuse many users and also grab a lot of attention as if people want to just use a search engine they may click on Bing search bar rather than scrolling down to Google link.

As soon as this news of Microsoft Bing imitating Google made rounds over the internet, Google Chrome head, Parisa Tabriz reacted to this move by the company on the X platform.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Microsoft spoofing the Google homepage is another tactic in its long history of tricks to confuse users & limit choice.

New year; new low @Microsoft https://t.co/LKSNNKB7Hy

— Parisa Tabriz (@laparisa) January 6, 2025

She commented that Microsoft spoofing the Google homepage is another tactic in its long history of tricks to confuse users and limit choice. She also termed this move as a New Year, New low.

The post Microsoft Bing Spotted Spoofing Google UI When Users Search For Google appeared first on The Tech Outlook.