Official Android Blog

Google Play Books Invites You to “Discover” a World of Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 17:02:00 +0000

With more than 5 million books to read on the go, what will you discover next? Google Play Books is introducing Discover, a new way to find books by browsing the latest reviews, news, lists, videos and more.

Available in 75 countries on both iOS and Android and the web, Google Play Books is the world’s largest ebookstore and offers readers like you smart technology that caters to your lifestyle — where you can start reading a book on your tablet at night and pick up where you left off the next day from your smartphone, as well as easily browse, skim, highlight and make notes.

Discover launches today in the U.S. in the Google Play Books Android app, and is coming soon to iOS. The feature is designed to enhance your reading experience even further by helping you discover new books and find what’s right for you with:

The best stories from around the web — Is a book being made into a movie? Which novels does NPR recommend this fall? Discover identifies news, reviews, lists, and videos about books from trusted sources around the web, and brings them to readers in an easy to browse way.
A smart experience with personalized stories for you — Google’s algorithms will surface just the right stories based on the books you read on Play Books. When you’re reading an article or watching a video, Discover automatically pulls out the books that are mentioned, so you can start reading a free sample or buy the book in just a few taps.

Weekly Highlights delivers a roundup of the best stories each week — Short on time? Weekly Highlights is a digest delivered each week, showcasing a roundup of the most important news, reviews and videos of the week, so you are always up to date with the stories that everyone is talking about.
Google Play Editorial showcases today’s biggest authors and books — With the launch of Discover we are introducing Google Play Editorial, where readers can find original articles, including author interviews, essays by favorite writers and book selections from some of the literary world’s leading voices.

Whether you’re looking for a mystery, something funny, or the latest George R.R. Martin novel, come explore Google Play Books and discover new stories.

Posted by Eric Stromberg, Product Manager, Google Play

Books Recently read Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

Tap. Pay. Yes! Android Pay Welcomes Chase and More

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Added 13 September: We’re pleased to update that Natwest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Ulster Bank are all launching on Android Pay in the UK today, with TSB coming soon!

Android Pay helps millions of people pay for things simply and securely with their Android smartphones. We’ve expanded to the UK, Singapore and Australia and added hundreds of new banks, enabling people to tap to pay at millions of stores – and in hundreds of apps, including recent order-ahead newcomers: Domino’s in Australia, hungryhouse in the UK and Grubhub and Seamless in the US.

Today, we're excited to share some updates:

More banks in the US and UK

It’s with great delight that we welcome Chase, one of the largest banks in the US, to the Android Pay family. Starting today, Android Chase customers can add their eligible Chase Visa cards like Freedom, Slate, Sapphire, United Mileage Explorer and Hyatt Credit Card to Android Pay. Customers will be able to enjoy the same benefits and protections they’re used to getting with their Chase card – while making contactless purchases in stores and apps. You can learn more about how to get started with Chase and Android Pay here, and see a full list of all the banks supported in the US.

And across the pond in the UK, Santander and TSB customers and more will soon be able to add their cards to Android Pay. This rollout will start over the coming weeks – you can follow @Android on Twitter to find out exactly when.

More value from your favorite merchants
We’ve also been working closely with our merchant partners to streamline the checkout experience and increase the value people get from Android Pay.

At Walgreens, we recently integrated their Balance Rewards loyalty program with Android Pay at more than 8,100 locations nationwide. Now, with just two taps at checkout, Walgreens customers paying with Android Pay can enjoy savings, earn and redeem loyalty points, and pay for their purchases. And there’s no need to even open the app – it’s smart enough to know when to pull up a customer’s Balance Rewards card and when to pay. We’re also thrilled to partner with Dunkin’ Donuts and Chili’s, who will both be integrating their loyalty programs with Android Pay in the coming months.

With Uber, we’re excited to be the first mobile wallet to deeply integrate with their new Payment Rewards program, which allows users to unlock timely discounts. Starting today through October 15th, all Android Pay users in the US can enjoy 50% off 10 Uber rides.* No codes, no hassle – just use Android Pay on Uber to get your discounted rides.

More checkouts made simple
We’re moving beyond mobile apps and bringing the simplicity and security of Android Pay onto the mobile web. Users will soon be able to speed through mobile checkout on Chrome using Android Pay on sites like Groupon.com, 1-800-Flowers.com and many more to come. Just like in stores and in apps, Android Pay does not share actual account numbers with merchants, so users can shop online with confidence, knowing that Android Pay keeps their card number secure.

Groupon.com mobile checkout experience on Chrome coming soon

We’re looking forward to bringing Android Pay to more countries, more banks, and more of your favorite stores, sites, and apps. Stay tuned for more updates soon.

Posted by Pali Bhat, Global Head, Payments Products

_{*Merchant terms apply}

“One Dance” by Drake is Google Play Music’s 2016 Song of the Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 16:01:00 +0000

Whether you were enjoying a Classic Rock Summer with a campfire cookout or having the Best Summer Ever while chilling by the pool, Google Play Music helped you find a selection of summer hits to match your mood and activities, both day and night.

As we close out this year’s season of sun and fun, Google Play Music is releasing our official 2016 Songs of the Summer list, featuring the most streamed songs on our music service.

Drake took “controlla” and rose to the top of the Google Play Music charts with just “One Dance.”

Using data compiled from Memorial Day Weekend through August 28, the Canadian hip hop artist’s song with WizKid and Kyla is the most popular Song of the Summer on both Google Play Music’s U.S. and global lists. The Chainsmokers didn’t let anyone down as their song made the #2 slot and Twenty One Pilots is not “stressed out” as fans came along for the “Ride” to help two of their songs make the top 10.

The full list of Google Play’s most streamed songs of summer 2016 is below and if you still “need a one dance” before the summer ends, check out the 2016 Summer Dance Party playlist on Google Play featuring these top tracks.

Google Play Global Top 10 Streamed Songs of Summer 2016

From Tokyo to Toronto, Google Play Music listeners in over 60 countries wanted “One Dance” with Drake.

1. Drake - One Dance (feat. WizKid & Kyla)

2. The Chainsmokers - Don't Let Me Down (feat. Daya)
3. Calvin Harris - This Is What You Came For (feat. Rihanna)
4. Fifth Harmony - Work from Home (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)
5. Twenty One Pilots - Ride
6. Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out
7. G-Eazy - Me, Myself & I
8. Zara Larsson - Never Forget You
9. P!nk - Just Like Fire (From the Original Motion Picture "Alice Through The Looking Glass")
10. Desiigner - Panda

Google Play U.S. Top 10 Streamed Songs of Summer 2016:

Google Play Music listeners in the U.S. wanted to “Work” and have “One Dance” with Drake.

1. Drake - One Dance (feat. WizKid & Kyla)
2. The Chainsmokers - Don't Let Me Down (feat. Daya)
3. Twenty One Pilots - Ride
4. Fifth Harmony - Work from Home (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)
5. Calvin Harris - This Is What You Came For (feat. Rihanna)
6. Zara Larsson - Never Forget You
7. G-Eazy - Me, Myself & I
8. Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (Seeb Remix)
9. Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out
10. Rihanna - Work (feat. Drake)

Posted by Elias Roman, Lead Product Manager, Google Play Music
Recently listened to Pop Before It Breaks

Android 7.0 Nougat: a more powerful OS, made for you

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 17:22:00 +0000

Today, we’ll begin rolling out Android 7.0 Nougat to Nexus devices. And with more ways to make Android your own, it’s by far our sweetest release yet.

We took a different approach to building and launching Nougat this year. For starters, we invited developers to take a sneak peek at Android N back in March, so they could bring their apps to the new platform earlier. And of course we asked you to help us come up with names for this year’s release, resulting in lots of great ideas, and a delicious unveiling back in June.

Android Nougat reflects input from thousands of fans and developers all over the world. There are over 250 major features in Android Nougat, but we wanted to highlight a few of the features you’ve been most excited about.

More personal
Providing more ways to customize your phone to fit your personality is kind of a big deal, and Android has been leading the way since day one (Homescreen widgets, anyone?). With Android Nougat, you’ll have even more ways to make your phone your own, including:

Expanded emoji: There are now over 1,500 different emoji built into Android, including 72 new ones, so go ahead: express yourself.

Quick Settings controls: Quick Settings gives you easy access to things like bluetooth, WiFi and the all-important flashlight. With Android Nougat, you can actually control what tiles go where, and move ‘em around to fit your needs.
Multi-locale support: Apps can tailor their content based on your locale settings. So if you speak multiple languages, for instance, then search engines can show results in each of those languages.

Expanded emoji and Quick Settings controls

More productive
Whether you’re responding to work emails or making plans with friends, Android Nougat helps you multitask with ease with new features like Multi-window, Direct reply, and Quick switch.

Multi-window: Run two apps side-by-side. The windows are resizable, too, by simply dragging the divider.
Direct Reply: Reply directly to notifications without having to open any app.
Quick Switch: Switch between your two most recently used apps by simply double tapping the Overview button.

Split-screen

More battery smarts
Starting with the release of Android Marshmallow last year, we have been making the battery smarter. That’s why we made the Doze feature even dozier with Android Nougat. Your device can now drop into lower power usage when it’s getting jostled around in your pocket or bag while on the move.*

More immersive
Android Nougat is designed with immersive experiences in mind—including support for VulkanTM (an advanced 3D rendering API) and Daydream (Google’s platform for mobile virtual reality).

VulkanTM: Games will now leap to life thanks to high-speed, next-generation graphics — all powered by your device’s multi-core processor.
Daydream: Android Nougat is ready to transport you to virtual worlds with Daydream-ready phones, headsets and controllers — all coming later this year.

More secure
As always, Android is built with powerful layers of security and encryption to keep your private data private. For new devices coming this fall, we’ve also added new features like Seamless updates, File-based encryption and and Direct Boot.

Seamless updates: New Android devices with Nougat can install software updates in the background which means you won't have to wait while your device installs the update and optimizes all your apps for the new version. And for current Nexus users, software updates now install much faster, so you won't have to wait for minutes while your device reboots.
File-based encryption: Android Nougat can better isolate and protect files for individual users on your device.
Direct Boot: Direct Boot helps your device startup faster, and apps run securely even before you unlock your device when your device reboots.

And for those of you who also want to use your Android device at work, there are also new security features for using Android in enterprise, which you can learn more about on the Android for Work website.

Coming soon, to a device near you
Today, and over the next several weeks, the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One) will get an over the air software update** to Android 7.0 Nougat. Any devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program will also receive this final version.

And there are many tasty devices coming from our partners running Android Nougat, including the upcoming LG V20 which will be the first new smartphone that ships with Android Nougat, right out of the box. You can learn even more about Android Nougat at www.android.com/nougat.

Posted by Sameer Samat, VP of Product Management, Android & Google Play

_{*Hey, just a reminder that actual battery performance varies and will depend on a number factors including signal strength, network configuration, battery age, operating temperature, features selected, device settings, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns.

**The Nexus and Pixel C update to Android 7.0 Nougat occurs in stages and some carriers will receive the update later than others. This update will be pushed simultaneously to devices in the Android Beta Program.}

Google Play Family Library: Share what you love with the ones you love

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:30:00 +0000

(Cross-posted on the Google Blog)

Friday night is movie night at our home, and my wife and I look forward to our weekly ritual of putting the kids to bed, getting some takeout, and catching up on our movie wishlist. Whether it’s making the BLUE STEEL face from Zoolander, swapping tips on playing Monument Valley, or reading Dragons Love Tacos to the kids at bedtime, these shared moments bring us closer together.

For families like mine, who bond over shared entertainment, we’re introducing Family Library, a way for up to six family members to share purchases on Google Play. When you buy an eligible app, game, movie, TV show, or book in the Play Store, you can now share it with your family—across devices—with no additional sign-up fee.

Share across your family’s devices
Today’s families have a lot of devices, and it should be easy to share content no matter where we are or what we’re doing. Everyone in my family loves the Star Wars movies and we all want to be able to watch them, on our phones, tablets, laptops, or TV. All purchases added to Family Library are available across Android devices, and movies, TV shows, and books can be enjoyed on iOS devices and the web.

Easily manage sharing and family purchases
As with most family matters, flexibility and choice is important. With Family Library, you can choose which items you want to share and which to keep to yourself—for example, I’ll probably keep my collection of comic books in my personal library. Flexibility is also built into your purchasing options. When you sign up, you’ll select a credit card to share as your family payment method, but your family members will always have the option of buying stuff with their personal credit cards or gift cards. And for your younger family members, you’ll have the option to approve each of their purchases.

Share a Music subscription with your family
Finally, if your family loves music, you can also subscribe to the Google Play Music family plan. On this plan, up to six family members can stream millions of songs on demand for $14.99 a month. We launched the family plan late last year, and today we’re expanding it to Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and New Zealand. And you can now sign up on the web, in addition to your Android device.

Starting today, Family Library will be rolling out over the next few days and will be available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. To get started, sign up in Google Play, invite your family members, and start sharing what you love!

Posted by Raj Iyengar, Product Manager, Google Play

Google Play Books introduces Bubble Zoom

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 17:30:00 +0000

Whether it’s reading up on the origins of Justice League or enjoying a reboot like Invincible Iron Man, we all love our heroes and villains and there’s nothing more thrilling than flipping through your favorite comic when the battle is on — THWACK!

Last year, Google Play made it easier to find and read your favorite comics on your phone or tablet, including a new vertical scrolling experience. We wanted to use our superpowers, like machine learning, to improve the digital comics experience even further. Machine learning is the technology that makes the digital things in your life more useful, like finding the right image in Google Photos by searching for “hugs” to “dogs.” So what happens when we bring our machine learning capabilities to the world of comics?

At San Diego Comic-Con 2016, we just announced Bubble Zoom: a new way to read digital comics on phones and tablets. Using the same technology to recognize objects in photos, we trained our system to identify speech bubbles in comics. Bubble zoom expands the speech bubbles of a comic one-tap-at-a-time, making them super easy to read on your mobile device. It’s much easier to read digital comics one-handed as Bubble Zoom automatically identifies and expands each speech bubble for readability. No more compromising the full-page experience or getting lost while panning around.

“Justice League (2011) Origin - Vol 1.” and “Invincible Iron Man Vol 1.” read using Bubble Zoom

Bubble Zoom will be available on the latest version of Google Play Books app for Android as a technical preview with all Marvel and DC collected volumes supported. We’re also celebrating this preview with a 50% off sale on select DC Comics and Marvel comics in the Google Play Store — just use the code SDCC2016 by July 24th, 2016.

Rolling out today, you can upgrade Play Books and provide feedback on supported comic volumes in the app as this exclusive experience is only the first step. As we continue to teach our machines to read more comic book styles, our goal is to eventually bring Bubble Zoom to all the comics and manga ever made.

So stay on the lookout for Bubble Zoom and by Odin’s beard…go read some comics!

Posted by Greg Hartrell, Head of Product, Google Play Books

Stay connected abroad with high speed data from Project Fi

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000

When you’re traveling abroad, your phone is an essential tool – for finding a great restaurant, posting pics of your trip online, or translating a sign. But the data we have access to when traveling abroad often isn’t fast or affordable enough to let us do the tasks that matter most. Which could be why only 20% of Americans opt to use their cellular data when traveling internationally,¹ instead choosing to jump between Wi-Fi hotspots or scramble for a local SIM card.

Starting today, all Project Fi subscribers have access to high speed data in 135+ destinations. With the addition of Three to the Project Fi network, we’re now able to deliver speeds 10-20X faster than before. And, just as before, there are no extra fees for using data internationally – you pay the same $10/GB that you do at home.

We’re also now offering more coverage internationally, with service in more than a dozen additional countries totaling 135+ destinations worldwide. Fi customers now have access to high speed data in over 97% of the places Americans travel internationally.²

Leaving home shouldn’t mean leaving connectivity behind. With the addition of faster speeds and more countries for the same fair price, we’re one step closer to making your phone as easy to use abroad as it is at home.

P.S. To help make your first trip abroad with Project Fi a little easier we’ll be offering $150 off the Nexus 6P for the next week when you buy and activate with Project Fi. The promotion will go live on our website at 10:00 am PT today.

Posted by Tyler Kugler, Product Manager, Project Fi

_{1) Google Consumer Survey, U.S., 6/29/16, n=403} _{2) U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, United States Resident Travel Abroad Report, 2012}

Introducing Nearby: A new way to discover the things around you

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 16:03:00 +0000

The Play Store offers over one million apps - many of which are created to be used in specific locations or situations. The right app at the right moment lets you get more done. For example, at a store, you may want a barcode scanner to check prices and reviews for an item. Or when you're at a museum, an audio tour would enhance the experience as you make your way around the exhibits.

But, getting the right apps at the right time can be tough if you don’t already know about them. So, we're introducing a new Android feature called Nearby, which notifies you of of things that can be helpful near you.

For example:

Print photos directly from your phone at CVS Pharmacy.
Explore historical landmarks at the University of Notre Dame.
Download the audio tour when you're at The Broad in LA.
Skip the customs line at select airports with Mobile Passport.
Download the United Airlines app for free in-flight entertainment while you wait at the gate, before you board your flight.

Select Google devices, including Google Cast and Android Wear watches, will also let you set them up simply by tapping a notification when you're near them.

Earlier this year, we started experimenting with surfacing websites relevant to a place in Chrome through the Physical Web project. In addition to displaying relevant apps, Nearby will surface these websites directly from Android. To deploy your own beacons that work with Nearby, check out our developer blog post.

To use Nearby, just turn on Bluetooth and Location, and we'll show you a notification if a nearby app or website is available. Once you’ve opted-in, tapping on a notification takes you straight into the intended experience. If you're not interested, just swipe it away to give us a clear signal.

Nearby has started rolling out to users as part of the upcoming Google Play Services release and will work on Android 4.4 (KitKat) and above.

Posted by Akshay Kannan, Product Manager, Nearby

More speed and coverage with U.S. Cellular — now part of Project Fi

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Mobile connectivity is central to everything we do. The speed and consistency of our network determines whether we can share a photo with a loved one or get that split-second answer when we need it most. With Project Fi, you can get the highest quality connection at all times - whether on Wi-Fi or one of our partner cellular networks. Today, we’re excited to introduce U.S. Cellular as our newest partner network.

U.S. Cellular, one of the top mobile networks in the U.S., offers service in 23 states with 4G LTE coverage for more than 99% of their subscribers, both urban and rural. With the addition of a third network, Project Fi now gives you more coverage and speed, helping you stay connected wherever you are.

How does this work?
In most areas, multiple cellular networks are available — in fact, the majority of Project Fi usage occurs in areas where more than one of our partners offers LTE coverage. But factors like obstructions from nearby buildings can meaningfully impact the speed and coverage available from each LTE connection. By analyzing speeds from each network, Project Fi is able to predict the fastest network at your location — down to the city block — and automatically connect you. We’re constantly adapting to consider how factors like new cell towers and newly-available radio frequencies are impacting real-world speeds.

Part of Project Fi’s promise is to ensure you have connection when you need it, even in areas with poor speeds or limited coverage. Your Fi device recognizes when your connection is weak and adjusts in real time. By accessing multiple cellular networks, Fi users have a connection nearly 99% of the time, and spend about 95% of cellular time on LTE — which will improve even further with the addition of U.S. Cellular.

U.S. Cellular coverage will be automatically rolling out to all users over the coming weeks. We’re excited to add our third partner and hope you’ll join us, too.

Posted by Evan Jacobs, Product Manager, Project Fi

The soundtrack of your next trip is on TripAdvisor with Google Play Music

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

It’s almost summer. Want to get away? Whether you’re in search of gold at the Olympics in Rio or enjoying the good life in the South of France, we want you to have everything you need, including music for the right moment. That’s why Google Play Music teamed up with TripAdvisor to offer Android users a new music experience on the TripAdvisor Android app with locally-themed music stations based on the destination of your choice.

Starting today, with the TripAdvisor Android app you can access a wide array of well-known and hidden-gem soundtracks for popular cities to listen to whether you’re in travel planning mode or on a road trip exploring the globe. This new app feature is in more than 60 countries around the world where Google Play Music is available.

Wherever you go, or whenever you start planning your next vacation, TripAdvisor and Google Play Music have your ultimate holiday soundtrack sorted. Travelers can listen to Cafe Italiano while sipping an espresso in Rome, rave to the Underground Club Sounds of Berlin and dance to Sao Paulo Funk.

Not a Google Play Music subscriber? No problem. If you don’t have it already, download the TripAdvisor Android app today and get a 2-month trial of Google Play Music. So go plan your next vacation…now with music that’s just right for you.

Posted by Brandon Bilinski, Product Manager, Google Play Music

New additions to the Android TV and Google Cast family

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 May 2016 18:11:00 +0000

More Android TV devices and features on the way with Android N release
Android TV delivers thousands of your favorite movies, shows, games and apps to your living room. We’ve extended Android TV to millions of users globally with support from hardware partners and TV service providers. Today, we’re excited to welcome even more TVs and set-top boxes to the lineup.

Sony and Sharp are adding to their Android TV product lines with Sony’s 2016 BRAVIA and Sharp’s Net Player. New devices are also on the way with RCA’s first Android TV, and Xiaomi’s sleek 4K set-top box. And in Europe, Android TV will be available from Beko, Grundig and Vestel starting in June.

Hardware is only half of the picture. In addition to the hundreds of apps currently available, many new apps are coming to Android TV such as CNN, Comedy Central, MTV, Freeform, Nickelodeon, Spotify, STARZ, WATCH ABC, WATCH Disney Channel, WATCH Disney Junior, ESPN and many more. Plus, new features available in Android N will make it easier to watch your favorite programs. Here’s a look at what’s coming:

Picture-in-Picture: lets users play video while browsing other content.
Recording APIs: brings recording functionality to live TV.
High Dynamic Range: supports the next frontier in 4K UHD video.

Google Cast scales to more TVs and displays

Google Cast, which is built into all Android TV devices, is also expanding. In March, we introduced the first displays with Google Cast from Vizio. Those are now joined by a lineup of TVs from Magnavox, Philips, Polaroid, Toshiba, Westinghouse and more. All Google Cast devices–TVs, displays, speakers, Chromecast, and Chromecast Audio–will be supported by the Google Cast app. You can use the app to discover 1000+ Cast-enabled apps, set up almost any Cast device, and receive the latest content recommendations.

Posted by Sascha Prueter, Program Manager, Android TV

Android Pay now in the UK, new countries on the way

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 May 2016 09:00:00 +0000

Starting today, Android Pay is now available in the UK, one of the most advanced contactless nations in the world. Android Pay helps people pay for things simply and securely with their Android smartphones. This builds on the launch of Android Pay in the US last year, with new countries coming soon.

So, where does Android Pay work in the UK?
You will be able to use Android Pay everywhere contactless payments are accepted including your favourite high street stores like Boots, Starbucks and Waitrose and pay for the Tube, bus and train with Transport for London. Just tap with your phone as you would with your card. It’s that simple. And businesses across the country with contactless terminals won’t need to do anything else to be able to accept Android Pay in store.

Android Pay will also speed up checkout in your favourite apps including JD Sports, Deliveroo, YPlan, and many more.

Also, we will be launching Android Pay Day, bringing special offers each month to brighten the last week before pay day. Starbucks UK and Deliveroo will be among the first to reward Android Pay users in the UK. Stay tuned for more offers which will roll out in the months to come.

To start using Android Pay you’ll need to download the Android Pay app on Google Play and have an eligible MasterCard or Visa credit or debit card from one of our supported banks, such as Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA and Nationwide Building Society, with new banks being added all the time.

Security is at the centre of Android Pay. With industry standard tokenisation, Android Pay doesn’t send merchants your real card number when you purchase. Android Pay also makes it convenient to keep track of payments and to lock your device if it becomes lost or stolen.

What’s next?

Android Pay will soon be available in Singapore and Australia. And we will continue to add more countries, features, banks and stores in the coming months—making it even easier to pay with your Android phone around the globe.

Get started with Android Pay in the UK today: download the app on Google Play, add your card and start shopping. It’s as easy as Tap. Pay. Done.

Posted by Pali Bhat, Senior Director, Product Management

Get your limited-edition Jeff Koons Live Case today

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 May 2016 17:20:00 +0000

Today, the latest artist collaboration for Google Editions launches a limited-edition Live Case created by world-renowned artist, Jeff Koons, exclusively for Nexus.

Start your Koons collection
From balloon animals to classic figures, Koons’ art often challenges the perception of scale, weight and even the laws of physics. The Jeff Koons Live Case features three sculptures inspired by his “Gazing Ball” series. Each Jeff Koons Live Case is individually numbered and available for a limited time for Nexus 5X and 6P in the U.S.

Three designs: “Bust,” “Mailbox,” and “Diana”

His first piece of live-action video artwork
For the case’s live wallpaper, Koons created his first ever live-action video artwork – the “Gazing Ball Ballet.” Double-tap the screen and watch the dancers come to life, recreating twenty-eight moments from the classic “Swan Lake.” Each day, your wallpaper is updated with a new vignette.

Jeff teaches you how to create his famous balloon animals

Original art, delivered to your phone
Live Case owners will receive exclusive Koons-created artwork sent directly to their phone through the Live Case Editions app. The collection will include digital art and glimpses into what inspires him, including his favorite art shows or discoveries.

Customize the shortcut button on the back of the case to discover museums around you, open the digital art collection, or open one of your favorite apps.

The Gazing Ball Tour

To celebrate the collaboration, Koons also created his first social media art piece. In the “Gazing Ball Tour,” Koons invited people he admired to photograph their own poses with his Gazing Ball. See creations by searching for #KoonsXGoogle.

Exclusively on the Google Store
Get yours at the Google Store today in the U.S. through the end of June while supplies last.

Posted by Kari Clark, Senior Manager, Live Cases

Introducing MODE: Snap-and-swap watch bands designed for Android Wear

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 17:03:00 +0000

With Android Wear, you can wear what you want with watches from 12 different brands and thousands of interchangeable watch faces. And while you can change your watch face with just a tap, it has not been as quick and easy to change your watch band. Starting today, updating your style is as easy as “snap-and-swap,” with new MODE watch bands in partnership with b&nd by Hadley Roma.

Change your look with one click
MODE snap-and-swap watch bands feature a simple slide button so you can attach and detach your band in one click.

MODE bands are versatile—they come in four widths, fit most Android Wear watches, and work on mechanical watches too. This first collection comes in a rainbow of colors, and is available in leather and silicone, so you can easily go from the office to the gym to a night out.

Join the bandwagon

This is just the beginning. We want Android Wear to give you as much choice as possible, so we’ll be sharing the MODE mechanism design and source with other brands to use to create their own snap-and-swap watch bands. To help brands get started, we’ve created a vendor playbook with instructions, requirements and brand guidelines. To find out more, email us at wearMODE@google.com.

MODE bands are now available online at the Google Store (US), Amazon, and Best Buy. We’re excited to see all the ways you wear what you want.

Learn more about MODE at g.co/WearMODE.

Posted by Gina Reimann & Jen Lu, Design Lead & Product Manager, Google Accessories

Welcome to Google Play Music, the podcast episode

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 17:02:00 +0000

Hello, and welcome to the latest episode of Google Play Music. Today we’re going to talk about something near and dear to my heart: podcasts.

People love podcasts. In fact, these days, there are so many podcasts to choose from, it can be hard to pick which one to listen to at any given time. That’s where Google Play Music comes in. Google Play Music already gives you the right kind of music for the right moment—whether you want to have fun at work, prepare for a dance party, or just need to focus—and now, that includes podcasts.

Starting today on the web and rolling out on Android in the U.S. and Canada, we’ll connect you with podcasts based on what you’re doing, how you’re feeling and what you’re interested in. Similar to our contextual playlists for music, we want to make it easy to find the right podcast—whether you’re a podcast aficionado or listening for the first time.

Try “Learning Something New” to talk about at a dinner party and listen to our favorite episodes from Stuff You Should Know or How To Do Everything. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon by “Getting Lost in a Story” with episodes from Radiolab or Reply All, or relax after a long day by “Laughing Out Loud” to Marc Maron’s WTF or Chris Hardwick’s The Nerdist. If you find something you love, subscribe to download the last several episodes automatically on your device or choose to be notified every time a new episode comes out.And to all you creators who want to make your podcast available in Google Play Music, check out the podcast portal for more details.

Thanks to our invaluable partners without whom the world would be a boring place. And to all you podcast lovers, keep listening!

This week’s episode is brought to you by Google Play. With Google Play, you can get millions of apps, games, songs, movies & TV shows, books and news sources—all your favorites, all in one place.

Hosted by Ilia Malkovitch, Product Manager, Google Play Music

Introducing custom Live Cases to bring your Nexus phone to life

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 16:30:00 +0000

These days there are few things more personal to you than your phone – with all your photos, messages and handpicked apps at your fingertips, it’s almost like a reflection of yourself. Starting today, we're giving you a new way to make your phone even more you. My Live Case lets people create their own snap case for Nexus 5X, 6, and 6P phones, by customizing it with a favorite photo or map.

Our design studio on the Google Store allows you to personalize your phone case with either your favorite photo or a special place on Google Maps. Then, with dozens of filters, you can make your design fit your style – be it vibrant and bright or polished and chic. Along with your signature case, you get a live wallpaper to bring your design to life on your home screen.

Photos Live Case, designed with your favorite photo
Showcase a shot of your family, dog, or any other fave photo. Just upload a pic to the site, choose a style, and you’re done. Snap on your case to see your home screen turn into a slideshow of poses that you handpicked from Google Photos. To add more shots to your wallpaper, simply tap the shortcut button on the back of your case to launch your camera.

Places Live Case, styled with your happy place
Fashion your phone with a stylized map of your favorite location from around the world – whether it’s your dream vacation destination or hometown. Your live wallpaper will show a map of your whereabouts as you go about your day. With a tap of the shortcut button, the app will show you what’s nearby on Google Maps.

Check out some cool cases that The Dogist, Dan Rubin, Marques Brownlee and others have made for Nexus phones.

Now, go forth and customize! Visit the Google Store to make your own.

Posted by Kari Clark, Senior Manager, Live Cases

A new look for the Google Play family of apps

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Whether you like watching Despicable Me on Google Play Movies & TV, streaming “Sorry” on Play Music, battling your friend in Clash Royale on Play Games or reading John Grisham’s latest on Play Books, Google Play is your home for the best apps, games and digital entertainment. Since launching Google Play four years ago, we've always had dedicated apps in addition to the Google Play store. Today, all our icons are getting an update to provide a consistent look across the entire family of Play apps.

You’ll start to see the new Google Play icons across devices and online in the coming weeks. We hope you’ll continue enjoying the Play family of products—now with a new look.

Posted by Jonathan Chung, Visual Design Lead, Google Play

Tap. Pay. UK.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Android users in the UK are already enjoying many great features of Android from Google Photos to Google Play, and in the next few months Android smartphones will become even more useful with the launch of Android Pay. We’re bringing together payment networks, banks and retailers to help you pay simply and securely.

Android Pay will support MasterCard and Visa credit and debit cards from many of the UK’s major financial institutions — including Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA and Nationwide Building Society — with new banks being added all the time.

You will be able to use Android Pay everywhere contactless payments are accepted, including your favorite places at which to shop and eat every day, such as Boots, Costa Coffee, Waitrose, and more. You can also tap and pay as you go across London on the Tube, buses and trains, using Android Pay with Transport for London (TfL).

Android Pay will help you speed through checkout within your favorite apps including JD Sports, Deliveroo, YPlan, and more. Say goodbye to entering your payment or address details every time you want to shop.

Making it easier for developers to include Android Pay in apps

We've teamed up with many leading payment platforms, processors, and technology providers in the UK and US to make it even easier to accept Android Pay in stores and apps. Visit the Android Pay API developer site to learn more.

More places to tap and pay in the US
Android Pay has been growing steadily in the US with 1.5 million new registrations happening each month. You can now tap and pay in millions of physical locations, including Best Buy, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, and Rubio’s in addition to using Android Pay in more apps like Eat24, Eventbrite, and Ticketmaster. And, we’ve teamed up with Plenti to make it easier for you to earn loyalty points and redeem rewards through your Android phone at their participating retailers.

Stay tuned for more exciting details in the upcoming months!

Posted by Pali Bhat, Senior Director, Product Management

From “Hi” to Fi to “Goodbye” to invites: 7 things we’ve learned about Project Fi

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Roughly 10 months ago we introduced Project Fi - a program to explore new ideas in wireless connectivity. Similar to our Nexus hardware program, Project Fi works in partnership with leading carriers and hardware makers to push the boundaries of what's possible. By designing across hardware, software, and connectivity, we’re able to explore new ways for people to connect and communicate.

With Project Fi, we deliver fast wireless service with the flexibility to use it where you want (even internationally) and a monthly bill that’s simple and easy to understand. Over the past 10 months, we’ve learned a lot about how people use Project Fi and wanted to share a few of these insights with you!

1) Project Fi customers love to travel

With Project Fi, being away from home doesn’t mean that you have to be away from your cellular data. Since launch, more than 15% of our customers have used Project Fi abroad. From Mexico to Montenegro, customers have visited 110 of our 120+ supported countries all while paying the same rate for data that they would in the U.S.

2) There’s lots of high quality public Wi-Fi

We believe that using Wi-Fi should be seamless which is why we created Wi-Fi Assistant - a tool that automatically connects to high-quality hotspots and helps secure your connection. Over 50% of Project Fi customers are connecting to public hotspots using Wi-Fi Assistant on a weekly basis.

3) People like data on their data

When it comes to data, people like to be in the know - especially when they get a refund for what they don’t use. So, we built tools into our app to help customers understand and track their usage throughout the month. Roughly 90% of people who visit the Project Fi app are coming to check out how much data they’ve used. How much data are they using? An average of 1.6 GB data per month.

4) Connectivity isn’t just for phones

We launched data-only SIMs in December to help Project Fi subscribers connect to data from devices other than their phones with no additional fees or restrictions. Since then, we’ve seen SIMs used everywhere from tablets to cars. While we’re just starting to experiment here, one thing is already clear: people want access to data on more devices.

5) Project Fi customers like getting support from a real person

We never want something to go wrong, but when it does, it should be easy to get in touch to fix the problem quickly. While Project Fi has 24/7 customer support through phone, chat, and email, we’ve found that phone calls are still the most popular way that customers like to get in touch with us. When Project Fi customers call in, they are speaking to a real live person in 20 seconds or less 95% of the time.

6) Project Fi customers are creative

Three creations from our Fi customers

To spread some holiday cheer last December, we sent out building blocks to Project Fi customers to help them organize their phones and cables. As you can see from the photos above, customers built creations ranging from the useful to the extravagant.

7) We all want to skip the line

We launched Project Fi as an invitation-only Early Access program to make sure we could deliver the best quality of service to our first customers. Today, we’re excited to be exiting our invitation-only mode and opening up Project Fi so that people across the U.S. can now sign up for service without having to wait in-line for an invite.

We’d like to say ‘thank you’ to all our Project Fi customers for providing insights and feedback over the past 10 months. While Project Fi is still in its early stages, we’re excited to welcome our next wave of customers and look forward to growing and improving together.

P.S. To help make saying “Hi” to Project Fi a little easier, we’ll be offering the Nexus 5X starting at $199 for the next month when you buy and activate through Project Fi.

Posted by Simon Arscott, Product Manager, Project Fi

Amazing BRITs performances you can hear only on Google Play Music

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:00:00 +0000

The BRITs is undoubtedly the biggest event on the UK music calendar. Some of the greatest British acts have launched their global careers on its stages, and each year features unforgettable performances from both homegrown acts and international talent. From Adele to Justin Bieber to Coldplay and more, this year’s show did not disappoint.

As the official audio and download parter of the 2016 BRIT Awards, the Google Play Music team is thrilled to be part of this landmark event. Thanks to the support of artists, managers, labels, publishers and societies, we made participating performances available as downloads and streams available only on Google Play Music, with proceeds going to charity. Download or stream the performances for free until Wed, March 2 (we’re picking up the cost), after which all the content will be available on Play Music for purchase until March 24.

Every penny raised from both the downloads and streams on Google Play Music will go to Nordoff Robbins which provides music therapy services to adults and children, and The BRIT Trust which supports performing arts in the UK. Last year, the amount we raised went above all previous BRIT Award charitable records, and with your help we hope to do so again.

Streams and downloads of tracks by participating artists include: Adele, Justin Bieber, The David Bowie Band featuring Lorde (a tribute to David Bowie), Coldplay, The Weeknd, Little Mix, James Bay and Jess Glynne.* We hope you enjoy all of these performances and help us make a difference in the lives of many by supporting two great causes.

Posted by Azi Eftekhari, Head of EMEA Music Partner Management, Google Play Music

*Please note that performance availability varies by country.

Embrace your inner gaming hero with Gamer ID

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:00:00 +0000

If you're like me or many other gamers out there, you love the feeling of escape that comes with playing games. Immersed in a gaming world without any distractions, I can simply focus on one thing: winning. In this alternate world, I’m not Ben, product manager at Google. I’m Caldorf, destroyer of enemy bases; slayer of zombies.

Over the next few weeks we’re rolling out Gamer IDs to Google Play Games. Gamer IDs give you the ability to create a gaming persona, so you too can embrace your inner gaming hero. You can customize a unique Gamer ID and select a Gamer Picture to create a whole new gaming identity.

For new users signing into your first Google Play Games integrated game, and for existing users signing into a new Play Games integrated game, you will create your Gamer ID and select one of 40+ avatars for your Gamer Picture. You can choose to make your game activity public or private, and decide if other gamers will be able to associate your Gamer ID with your email address or name. Gamer IDs are unique, and to claim yours right now you can go to the Google Play Games app.

In addition, we’re making it easier and faster to start playing games. With auto sign-in, you’ll be prompted to sign-in once per account, rather than once per game, and you’ll automatically be signed in to most future games.

With your new gaming identity, you can battle monsters as the valiant gamer you truly are, and be duly recognized for your accomplishments across Play Games experiences such as leaderboards. And who knows, someday your Gamer ID could be as recognizable as Mystik, Mew2King, or PewDiePie.

To learn more about setting up your gamer ID please review the Play Games sign-in help center article here.

Posted by Benjamin Frenkel, Product Manager, Google Play Games

Safety First: Four easy Android security tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 16:59:00 +0000

With the amount that we do online, from working to learning, shopping to connecting, online security is a critical piece of our everyday life. That’s why we build multiple lines of defense in Android to make the internet safer for over a billions users. Even with these layers of protection, it still doesn’t hurt to take a couple of extra precautions to be super safe. In the spirit of Safer Internet Day, we want to share a few safety tips you can follow:

1. Use Google Play to find safe apps
We do a lot behind the scenes to review apps before they can be published on Google Play, so even before you install an app, Google uses a variety of methods to check that developers are complying with our policies. If an app violates those policies, it is blocked from Play and sometimes the developer is too. Apps that are considered to be potentially harmful are blocked and flagged for a manual review by members of the Android Security Team. To learn more about this review process and how Android continues to keep your device safe even after you download an app, read our recently published whitepaper.

The app review process before it can be added to Google Play

2. Set a screen lock and activate Android Device Manager
Anybody can lose their phone, so it’s important to set a screen lock so a stranger can’t access what’s on your device. And should you ever lose your device, you can remotely locate, lock, or even wipe it with Android Device Manager. This feature comes preinstalled on all Android devices with the Play store, so you just need to activate it.

3. Check that your device is encrypted
Encryption is important because it protects your data by storing it in an unreadable form, so if your device is lost or stolen your information remains protected. To ensure that your device is encrypted enter Settings, tap Security, and tap Encrypt phone (or Encrypt tablet) under Encryption. Newer Nexus devices, like the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, are encrypted by default.

4. Manage app permissions
Each Android app is housed in a virtual sandbox. That means, unless you’ve given it additional permissions, the only data an app can use is the data that’s in it. For example, apps that you install aren’t able to access information like photos or your location unless you give them permission. On devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, you can control a given app’s permissions by entering Settings, tapping Apps and selecting an app from the list of installed apps surfaced. On the App info screen, you’ll see a Permissions category that lists all the permissions that app has access to. When you click on this you’ll be able to toggle on and off individual permissions.

To learn more about how Android keeps you safe, check out the Android Security website. Happy Safer Internet Day!

Posted by Eric Davis, Senior Program Manager, Android Security

Android Wear: Designed for your wrist

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:00:00 +0000

You're walking to meet a friend with coffee in hand. Or maybe it's really cold outside, so you're rocking a pair of mittens. Or maybe you're in the middle of making dinner. There are plenty of times when you’ve got your hands full but still need to stay on top of reminders, messages, and calls. That's why Android Wear includes things like voice actions and gestures. And today we’re expanding these hands-free options in a number of ways:

Navigate your watch with new gestures. Scrolling up and down your card stream is as simple as flicking your wrist. Starting today you can also expand a card, bring up your apps, or return home to your watch face with a push, lift or shake. You'll be able to stay connected to what’s important, while keeping your phone (or other hand) in your pocket.
Send more messages with just your voice. With Android Wear, you’ve always been able to get answers to spoken questions. Now you can also use your voice to send messages from apps like Google Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, and WhatsApp. Running late for lunch? Just say “OK Google, Send a WhatsApp message to Nathan: I’ll be right there.”
Make calls and listen to messages with speaker support. Screening calls from your wrist is a nice convenience that comes with Android Wear. Thanks to speaker support, you can now make and take calls over Bluetooth. And you can listen to audio/video messages with apps like Glide. All you need is a watch with a speaker, which today includes the Huawei Watch and the ASUS ZenWatch 2 (49mm).

These improvements are rolling out to all Android Wear watches over the next few weeks, including new watches like the Casio Smart Outdoor Watch and Huawei Watch for Ladies. In the meantime, you can follow @AndroidWear for timely updates and tips.

Posted by Krystal Higgins, User Experience Designer, Android Wear

More fun in the living room with Android TV and with Google Cast speakers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 16:00:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 21:54:00 +0000

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