Google I/O Archives

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

Google’s strategy to grow Gemini seems to be working

Google's Gemini app has over 450 million monthly active users as of Q2 2025, with daily requests increasing by more than 50% since the start of the year. The app surpassed 400 million users in May 2025. Gemini has become the default voice assistant on Android devices, replacing Google Assistant, which likely contributed to its growth.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

Google Play, Android ecosystem generated ₹4 lakh cr. in revenue for Indian app publishers in 2024: Google

On July 23, 2025, Google announced that its Play and Android ecosystem generated ₹4 lakh crore in revenue for app publishers and the economy in 2024, creating approximately 35 lakh jobs. India has the second largest number of active developers on Google Play, contributing over 10 lakh developer jobs. Surveys indicate that 72% of Indian users accessed the internet for the first time via an Android device, with 85% using Android phones as their primary gateway to digital public services. The open-source nature of Android has led to estimated savings of ₹25,200 crore in development and operational costs. At the Google I/O Connect India 2025 conference, Google introduced initiatives such as localizing data processing for Gemini 2.5 Flash, new AI tools in Firebase Studio, a training program with Unity, and partnerships with start-ups from the India AI Mission. Google is also working with BharatGen at IIT Bombay to develop Automatic Speech Recognition and Text-to-Speech models for Indic languages.

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

Google tests new looks for the search bar on the Chrome app for Android

Google is experimenting with designs for the beta version of its Chrome app on Android to optimize the placement of a shortcut for its newly introduced AI Mode, which aims to enhance user experience by streamlining the search process for complex queries. The company is redesigning the search bar within its applications to promote AI Mode, as the search bar is typically the first point of contact for users seeking answers.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Google Forces Gemini App Integration on Android, Sparking Widespread Privacy Fears

Google is rolling out an update to its Android operating system that allows its Gemini AI to access third-party applications by default, overriding users' previous privacy settings. This change, effective July 8, has led to confusion among users, as many received unclear email notifications regarding the update and how to disable the new feature. Google has stated that human reviewers may process app data, and conversations could be stored for up to 72 hours, even if users opt out of activity tracking. The update is part of Google's strategy to integrate Gemini more deeply into its ecosystem, replacing the Google Assistant with Gemini on mobile devices. The company plans to open its Gemini Nano model to third-party developers, further embedding AI into applications.

AppWizard

July 7, 2025

Spotify just dropped ‘Jam’, its most social in-car feature yet for Android Auto

Spotify has updated its Android Auto app with a new design and features, including the "Jam" feature that allows drivers to host shared playback sessions. Passengers can join by scanning a QR code and contribute to the music queue, while the host maintains control. The update also includes a "Downloaded" tab for easier access to offline music, a floating Search button for manual track selection, and a streamlined interface for safer navigation. This update is part of Google's plans to enhance media app capabilities within Android Auto, with similar updates expected for other apps. The update is currently being rolled out on the Google Play Store.

AppWizard

July 5, 2025

Android Auto gets redesigned Spotify app with ‘Jam’ support & more [Gallery]

Spotify has redesigned its Android Auto app with an update that includes new features such as the “Jam” functionality, which allows users to generate a QR code for others to join the music queue. The “Downloaded” section in the Library has been enhanced for easier access to offline music, and indicators for downloaded tracks have been added. A new floating Search shortcut directs users to a dedicated search page within the app, allowing for direct searches of albums or tracks. This update is part of Spotify version 9.0.58.596 for Android, available for download via the Play Store. Other media applications like Amazon Music and YouTube Music are expected to receive similar enhancements.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

One UI 8 will let any app show a Live Notification in Samsung’s Now Bar

Samsung is enhancing its One UI 8 experience by integrating the Live Notifications feature with Android 16's "Live Updates" API, allowing broader third-party app support for live notifications. This upgrade will enable real-time updates from various compatible applications, moving beyond the previous limitation of primarily supporting Samsung's own apps. The feature was initially introduced with One UI 7 and is set to expand significantly in One UI 8. The One UI 8 beta has shown a developer option for "Live notifications for all apps," which allows Live Updates to appear in the status bar and Now Bar. Currently, no public apps support Live Updates, and testing requires Google's sample app. It is expected that users will not need to toggle a developer option for the feature in the final release of One UI 8.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

Connected Displays: Android 16’s game-changing multitasking feature lands on select Pixels

Developers and select Pixel devices are currently experiencing the enhanced connected displays feature through the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release. This feature allows users to connect their smartphones to external monitors, transfer apps seamlessly, and enhances productivity. It supports desktop windowing, flexible window tiling, multiple desktop sessions, and a new taskbar for easier app switching. The Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 is available on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series. The Google Pixel 9 features a Tensor G4 chip, a 6.3-inch Actua Display, a dual-camera system with 50MP wide and 48MP ultrawide lenses, a 4,700 mAh battery, 12GB of RAM, and promises seven years of OS and security updates in an IP68 water-resistant design.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Google Translate might shake up its design to make room for big upgrades

Google Translate is set to undergo significant updates on Android devices, including a revised results page that prominently displays the initial word and its translation, along with a "More Translations" section. New features such as "Ask a question" and "Regional variants" will enhance user interaction. The app will also include a "list of possible translations" for better context and an "Insights" button to help users understand word nuances. These updates are part of Google's broader efforts to improve its applications, including a redesign for Google Photos and Gmail. Additionally, the integration of Gemini 2.5 into AI Mode aims to streamline user queries for more efficient language translation. The timeline for these updates is currently uncertain.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Google Play’s latest security change may break many Android apps for some power users

Google's Play Integrity API has been updated as of May 2025 to include stricter security measures that verify app integrity on Android devices. The updated API aims to prevent abuse and protect sensitive information but excludes most custom ROMs, making it challenging for users who root their devices. This change means that many applications, particularly in banking, gaming, and medical services, may become inaccessible to rooted users. The new integrity verdicts—“basic,” “device,” and “strong”—now incorporate hardware-backed security signals, with the “strong” verdict requiring recent security patches. Developers will automatically transition to these stronger verdicts, enhancing security without additional effort. As a result, power users may be locked out of essential applications, and workarounds to bypass these restrictions are becoming less effective.