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More fun in the living room with Android TV and with Google Cast speakers
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Android TV
and
Google Cast for audio
devices were introduced to give you more freedom and control over your entertainment. Today we’re bringing even more TV and speaker makers onboard for both Android TV and Google Cast.
When it comes to home entertainment, the living room is more connected than ever. Approximately 88% of consumer electronic devices shipped in 2015 were Internet-enabled.* When devices in the home are connected, it’s important to have platforms that make it easy for you to stream your favorite digital music and movies.
Android TV
Android TV brings apps, games, movies, shows, music and more to the biggest screen in your home. From smart TVs to cable box operators, many devices support the Android TV experience. Now you’ve got even more options to find the device that’s right for you. If you’re looking for a new TV, you can select an Android TV from Sony, Sharp and Philips. Later this year, Android TV will be available from Arcelik, Vestel, RCA, Hisense, TCL and Bang & Olufsen. And, for our users in Indonesia, Linknet now has an Android TV offering.
Google Cast for speakers
Google Cast, the same technology built into Chromecast, is now embedded directly into speakers, sound bars, and A/V receivers so you can cast music from your favorite app on your phone or any music streaming website on Chrome. Throughout 2016, you’ll be able to enjoy Google Cast speakers from B&O Play, Harman Kardon, Onkyo, Philips, Pioneer, and Raumfeld.
Sony
and
LG
, who were among the first to include Google Cast in their speakers, are also refreshing their speaker lineups. Cast-enabled software and hardware from Frontier Silicon and StreamUnlimited will make it easier for more audio companies to join the Google Cast family.
Recently, we
announced
that multi-room synchronization is available on Chromecast Audio. Multi-room sync lets you group speakers connected to Chromecast Audio devices together so you can listen to the same song throughout the house. In 2016, multi-room sync functionality will come to Google Cast speakers, allowing you to mix and match Cast-enabled speakers from your favorite brands with speakers connected to Chromecast Audio.
Check back for more hardware and content news throughout the year.
Posted by Adrienne McCallister, Streaming Media Maven
*Strategy Analytics Connected CE Devices Market Forecast, July 2015
Silent Night with Night Light
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Any time is a good time to read, but at night is perhaps the best. What better way to drift off to sleep than with a great book? Our readers agree. Looking at reading time across the world, we see that activity peaks between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm local time. But we also know looking at a bright screen before bed can be hard on your eyes. Cue the announcement!
Today we’re introducing Night Light, a new feature that makes night time reading more enjoyable and easier on the eyes. When turned on, Night Light gradually filters blue light from your screen, replacing it with a warm, amber light as the sun sets. Night Light automatically adapts to the amount of natural sunlight outside based on the time of day, giving you just the right temperature and brightness. The color adjustment is more comfortable on your eyes and greatly improves low-light night reading.
Night Light is rolling out to Android and iOS readers now, and turning it on is easy. To activate Night Light on your phone or tablet, update your Google Play Books app to the latest version through
Google Play
or the
App Store
. Then open a book and turn on the Night Light mode option (you’ll see a pop up in the app). After that, Night Light will always adjust to the perfect setting. We hope Night Light will help you drift off into a peaceful slumber once you finish just one more chapter.
Posted by Greg Hartrell, Senior Product Manager, Google Play Books
Android Wear: Dress things up with new designer watch faces
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
What makes a watch worth wearing? It should be beautiful and useful. Save you time and express your style. Like mechanical watches,
Android Wear
watches come in countless sizes, styles, and brands. And the different ways to wear what you want keep growing—just last month, Swiss watchmaker
TAG Heuer
and fashion brand
Fossil
launched their first watches powered by Android Wear.
But a watch’s physical design isn’t the only way to express your style with Android Wear. You can also choose from thousands of inspiring, useful, and downloadable watch faces. Today, we’re sharing new watch faces from nine iconic fashion brands.
Ted Baker:
Reveal your sophisticated side with ten gorgeous designs.
Melissa Joy Manning:
Rock a different birthstone for every month of the year.
Vivienne Tam:
Watch Opera Girl twirl, take a selfie, and more.
Nicole Miller:
Stay on track and in style with Nicole Miller’s pop art.
Y-3:
Sport the styles of Yohji Yamamoto, inspired by the beauty of human movement.
Mango:
Add instant chic to any outfit with this ready-to-wear watch face.
Zoe Jordan:
Free your time of clutter with the clean lines of modern design.
Harajuku Kawaii!:
Express your playful side with this adorable and vibrant watch face.
ASICS:
Motivate yourself to stay active with the help of your fitness buddy.
Android phone owners can
download these watch faces
today. And iPhone owners can find these unique designs in their Android Wear mobile app in the coming days. ‘Tis the season for festivities and fun! Pick your fashion favorites to match your outfit, mood, or occasion.
Posted by Kaitlyn Hurst, Product Marketing Manager, Android Wear
Tap. Pay. Next.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Since
our launch
this Fall, we've seen millions of people set up Android Pay, and the vast majority of them are using tap and pay with their Android devices for the first time. There are now over 1 million locations across the United States that already accept tap and pay, with more being added every day. In short, the response from customers and merchants has been tremendous.
Now we’re ready for the next step: We're working to bring Android Pay's simplicity and security to purchases within apps, and to people in more countries around the world.
Android Pay in apps
Starting today, you’ll be able to use
Android Pay
to speed through mobile checkout within many of your favorite Android apps in the US.
No more pulling out your credit card while on-the-go. No more errors thanks to clumsy thumbs. Just tap the Android Pay button in the app, confirm your information, and you’re done! And just like your purchases in stores, Android Pay never shares your card details with merchants.
Meet our growing collection of apps
In the next few months, you’ll see more and more of your favorite apps adding Android Pay to help you speed through mobile checkout. For a limited time, you’ll also get special savings by using Android Pay in select apps—from $20 off on OpenTable* dining, $10 off your Lyft ride*, $10 off DoorDash* to 30% off Vinted*—there’s something for everyone. Visit
our collection
to view all the offers.
Developers: want to add Android Pay to your app? You can visit the
Android Pay API developer site
to learn how to accept Android Pay for the purchase of physical goods and services. We’ve worked with leading payment providers to make accepting Android Pay a breeze.
Android Pay in more countries
We're also taking the first step to bring the convenience of Android Pay to Android users across the globe. In the first half of 2016,
Android Pay will arrive in Australia
. We’re working closely with many of Australia’s major financial institutions—including ANZ, Westpac and many other banks—with the aim of bringing Android Pay to their MasterCard and Visa card holders. You will be able to use Android Pay wherever NFC payments are accepted in the country, including merchants such as 7-Eleven, McDonald's and Telstra.
And Australia is just the start. We’ll be adding more countries throughout 2016. This was a big year for Android Pay, and we're excited about what's to come.
Posted by Pali Bhat, Director of Product Management, Android Pay
* Subject to merchant terms and conditions.
Google Play Music: Now playing for your family
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
In a family of music lovers, there’s a soundtrack playing throughout our daily lives. My husband likes to listen to
The Smiths radio
while he works; I like
Entering Beast Mode stations
when I hit the gym; and we listen to
Michael Bublé
as a family while we cook dinner. What can I say, we’re a pretty fun bunch! But it means my family ends up paying for multiple subscription music accounts which can add up over time.
For families like mine, we’re happy to start offering the Google Play Music family plan today. With the family plan, you and up to five family members can subscribe to Google Play Music - together - for just $14.99 per month. You’ll unlock all of the same features you’d get from having individual subscriptions, including ad free, unlimited access to more than 35 million songs and the ability for each family member to stream simultaneously on any device, all for one low price. Now, you can keep your listening experiences separate from your partner and get music recommendations tailored to the music you like. So, my husband’s Depeche Mode singles will never show up in my account - only my true favorites will be front and center. And a family plan on Google play will also get your family access to YouTube Red in the US.
You and your family will be able to sign up for a
Google Play Music
family plan in the coming days on Android devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, France and Germany, with more countries coming soon. You and your family members can listen on Android, iOS and the web.
Posted by Eunice Kim, product manager for Google Play
Tap. Pay. Give.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Every gift is twice as nice. Support special education with every Android Pay purchase.
‘Tis the season to give back. Android Pay and Google.org are teaming up with DonorsChoose.org to support the 6.4 million children in the US education system with special needs. Over the last month, Google.org has been
shining a spotlight
on teachers who are using innovation in the classroom to improve learning and inclusion for kids with special needs. This is part of Google’s focus on improving the lives of people with disabilities through their
Global Impact Challenge: Disabilities
.
Now,
Android Pay
is extending that effort. Starting today through December 31st, we’ll donate $1—
up to $1 million
— to special needs education projects.
And as we kick off the season of giving, we’re doubling our donation for every Android Pay purchase made on Black Friday (November 27th). There’s never been a better time to give — twice.
Android Pay is accepted at over a million locations across the US - wherever you see these logos:
To find out more about how your taps can help make education more inclusive for every child, click
here
.
Teachers spend nearly $500 out of their own pocket each year to outfit their classrooms with enriching projects and programs. Since each student learns differently, let’s support special needs classrooms across the country to make education more inclusive
for every kid
.
Happy holiday tapping -- and giving!
Posted by Sherice Torres, Marketing Director, Android Pay
Void for residents of AL, HI, IL, MA, MS, SC, and where prohibited. Standard data rates, terms and conditions apply. May not be available from all service providers/devices. Between 11/24/15 & 12/31/15, Google Inc. will donate $1 to Donorschoose.org for every purchase made using Android Pay and $2 for every purchase made on 11/27/15, up to $1,000,000 in total. Charity information at www.donorschoose.org. App uses are not tax deductible.
Terms and conditions
here
.
Google Fit: Step up your fitness
Thursday, November 19, 2015
When it comes to fitness, every effort counts: each step, sit-up, snack, and good night’s sleep. That’s why
Google Fit
’s latest update recognizes all your healthy choices: from cardio to strength training, what you eat plus how you rest, and coaches you every step of the way.
Instant insights.
See real-time stats for your runs, walks and rides on your phone. Google Fit will record your speed, pace, route, elevation, and more so you can stay motivated and on track.
Strength training.
Want to add push-ups to your routine? If you have an
Android Wear
watch, you can start a daily challenge and your watch will automatically detect and count each sit-up, push-up, and squat. They'll be added to your daily activity, so you get credit for each one.
The whole picture.
Google Fit will now show you info from your favorite nutrition and sleep apps. Monitor your diet with
MyFitnessPal
,
Fatsecret
,
Lifesum
, or
LoseIt
. Or track your sleep with
Sleep as Android
,
Xiaomi Mi Band and Mi Band 1S
,
Sony Smartband 2
, or the
Basis Peak
. These new integrations (rolling out in the coming days) will provide even better insights into your health and fitness. And with Google Fit, you'll always have a personal coach cheering you on, right from your phone.
When you’re able to view your overall fitness, you may just start making better choices: taking the stairs instead of the elevator, choosing salads over eclairs. Looking to stay fit this holiday season? Check out the new
Google Fit
updates and start making every effort count.
Posted by Michael Gaiman, Software Engineer, Google Fit
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