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AppWizard

November 24, 2025

NotebookLM is so great, Google is adding even more ways to access it

Google is enhancing its Gemini platform by integrating it with applications like Google Photos and Messages, and is considering adding NotebookLM as a Connected App. Currently, Gemini connects with YouTube Music and various Google Workspace applications. The anticipated NotebookLM feature may allow users to import notebooks into the Gemini chatbot, enabling interaction with notebook content without returning to the NotebookLM interface. Google is also exploring linking notebooks as attachments in the text input box of the chatbot. These enhancements aim to improve accessibility and productivity across devices.

AppWizard

September 29, 2025

What Google Material 3 Expressive redesigns are rolling out [Updated]

In May, Google introduced its new design language, Material 3 Expressive, which is being implemented across various applications following the launch of the Pixel 10 and Android 16 QPR1. Rolling out: - Gmail II: New layout with messages in containers and subtle borders. - Google Chrome: Segmented Material 3 progress indicator, circular containers for actions in the overflow menu, new tab button and switcher in Tab Grid, and thematically colored Tab Group cards. - Google Wallet: App logo change, thicker cards for passes, containers on various pages, enhanced NFC tap-to-pay animation, and new overlay for Pixel users activated by double-tap of the power button. Recent launches: - Google Drive II: Edge-to-edge aesthetic with no main list view container. - Quick Share: Fullscreen experience embracing Material 3 Expressive. - Google Maps: Listings use M3 Expressive containers and actions carousel at the bottom. Fully launched (in alphabetical order): - Digital Wellbeing: Main page refreshed with M3 Expressive elements and thicker donut graphs. - Files by Google: Animated Material 3 carousel on the homepage, pill-shaped toolbar for Quick Share and document scanning, revamped navigation rail, and dedicated toolbar for image editing. - Gmail: Structured layout for email list and messages, swipe gestures trigger pill-shaped animation, redesigned search app bar. - Google Calendar: Time slots in rounded containers, solid background layer for visibility, and FAB menu for creating various items. - Google Meet: Large cards for calls on the homepage, oversized buttons for voice and video calls, and user information in a pill shape. - Google Messages: Organized conversation list and message threads in containers, redesigned 'plus' menu with pill-shaped buttons. These updates aim to provide a more cohesive and visually appealing experience across Google's applications.

AppWizard

September 9, 2025

Google Home’s latest update makes your smart home more controllable than ever before

The Google Home web app has introduced a new "Devices" tab for users in the Public Preview program, allowing management of smart devices such as lights, locks, and thermostats from a web browser. Media devices like speakers and displays are not included in this initial rollout. The new interface organizes devices by room, enabling users to toggle devices on and off, adjust brightness for lights, and control temperatures for Nest Thermostats. Further enhancements and additional device types are expected in the future.

AppWizard

August 19, 2025

Google Tasks gets one M3 Expressive tweak, now in web app launcher

Google Tasks has been updated on Android to align with the design of other Google applications, introducing a more organized interface known as the M3 Expressive tweak. The details page for tasks has been restructured to group key elements such as title, details, date/time, and subtasks together. The status bar has been redesigned, featuring a "Mark completed" button in a pill shape for better visibility. While the homepage remains unchanged, users are requesting a redesign of the Google Tasks homescreen widget. Additionally, a new shortcut has been introduced for the web app launcher, linking directly to tasks.google.com.

AppWizard

August 4, 2025

Google Home app fixes edge-to-edge Routines bug on Android

Users of the Google Home app on Android 16 experienced a bug in the Routines creator and editor, which was resolved with the release of Google Home version 3.37. The update restored accessibility to buttons at the top and bottom of the Routines interface, allowing users to navigate to the Automations tab and access options for Household or Personal routines. The close ‘x’ and “Save” buttons are now available, improving user experience. The three-dot overflow menu, which includes actions like the Script editor and Help, has also returned. Previously, page titles were obscured by the front-facing camera, and users faced challenges with actions like “Remove action.” The issue originated from Android 16's restrictions on apps targeting the latest version. The resolution was implemented via a server-side rollout with no visible changes in the initial release of Google Home 3.37.

AppWizard

August 3, 2025

I still love VLC, but this lightweight video player changed the game for me

VLC Player has been a popular video application since the early days of Windows XP and is available on both desktop and mobile platforms. Next Player is a simpler alternative that offers a visually appealing design and user-friendly interface, making it easy to access content quickly. It features customizable home screen options and readily accessible controls, including a lock icon to prevent accidental taps. Next Player provides a smoother navigation experience compared to VLC, which can feel sluggish and has hidden controls. However, VLC remains superior for tasks like browsing NAS video files, streaming media, and creating playlists, which Next Player does not support.

Winsage

July 12, 2025

Windows 11 Build 27898 introduces taskbar icon scaling and system recovery improvements

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27898 to the Canary Channel, introducing several new features aimed at enhancing usability and recovery. Key features include: - Taskbar Icon Scaling: The taskbar will automatically reduce icon sizes when it reaches capacity, with three customizable options for users regarding icon size. - Quick Machine Recovery: This feature allows automatic recovery from boot issues using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), connecting to the internet for targeted fixes from Windows Update. - Accessibility Enhancements: Users can add custom words to the voice access dictionary, and a new Screen Curtain feature for the Narrator screen reader enhances privacy by blacking out the display. - Energy Saver Feature: An adaptive energy saver mode is being rolled out for battery-powered devices, managing energy saver settings based on power state and system load. - Sharing Features: The Windows share window now shows visual previews of shared content and allows users to select compression settings for images. - Performance Improvements: Enhancements have been made to file extraction for large archives, and the Snipping Tool now has a shortcut for launching the text extractor. - Default Browser Management: Users can set their default browser to handle PDFs and pin it to the Start menu and taskbar. The build also addresses various issues within File Explorer and Settings, although some known problems remain, such as display distortion in Remote Desktop on Arm64 PCs.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

Android 16 will make it easier to find your recent apps with a new taskbar overflow feature

Google is set to roll out a significant update with Android 16, introducing a taskbar overflow button to enhance user experience on tablets. This feature will streamline app switching by providing a horizontally scrolling carousel of recent apps, making it easier for users to navigate through multiple applications. The taskbar overflow button is designed to address clutter in the taskbar, which has been refined since its introduction in 2021. Preliminary images suggest a gray, circular button will be positioned after the divider between pinned and recently used apps. The feature is expected to debut later this year in either the Android 16 QPR1 or QPR2 release.

AppWizard

May 25, 2025

Google App launches ‘Activity’ tab for Android users: What’s inside

Google has introduced an “Activity” tab in its Android app, replacing the previous “Saved” tab, as announced on May 25, 2025. The new tab is organized into three sections: History, which displays the four most recent searches and accessed websites; Saved items, which presents saved content in a carousel view; and Collections, which offers groupings of saved items. Users can still access the old layout through the “Saves & Collections” option in the account menu. Additionally, adjustments have been made to the Home tab’s space carousel. The “Activity” tab integrates with Web & App Activity for managing user interactions across Google services.

AppWizard

February 5, 2025

Goodbye, good morning memes: Google Photos now lets you hide clutter from your grid view

Google Photos has introduced a feature to filter out unwanted content from third-party applications, aimed at decluttering the photo gallery. The new setting, “Show content from other apps,” allows users to manage the visibility of third-party content. Users can toggle “Hide clutter from other apps” to automatically filter out media types like GIFs and screenshots. Additionally, the “Customize by app” option enables users to specify preferences for each app, allowing them to hide or selectively display content. This update is part of version 7.14.0.720276279 of the Google Photos app.