Google

Google-owned Snapseed brings back Grunge filter, adds a couple improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 29, 2015

Following a major 2.0 refresh in April of this year, Google on Friday issued a minor update to Snapseed, its mobile photo editing app popular amongst iPhone photographers.

Available free of charge in the App Store, Snapseed 2.0.2 features half a dozen improvements, among them the popular Grunge filter which has made an unexpected comeback following its mysterious removal.

“After releasing Snapseed 2, we’ve heard a lot of excited voices, but also listened to your constructive feedback,” Sven Tiffe, Snapseed's technical program manager wrote in a blog post. “You told us and we heard you, Grunge is back!”

Google’s ‘Cardboard’ virtual reality app now available on iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

In addition to Google Photos, Google announced at I/O today that it would be bringing another Android app over to iOS: Google Cardboard. The Mountain View tech giant says the software will "bring virtual reality to your iPhone."

For those unfamiliar with Cardboard, it debuted at last year's I/O conference with the promise of bringing affordable virtual reality to the masses. All it requires is a cardboard viewer that you can either make yourself or buy for $20.

The fine print of Google Photos and why you shouldn’t ditch iCloud Photo Library just yet

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 28, 2015

I jumped with joy after reading Cody's coverage of Google Photos. I mean, who wouldn't want a sleek photo service across iOS, Android and the web that came with truly unlimited storage, right?

Here's an iCloud Photo Library user who's been paying Apple happily 99 cents month-to-month for the privilege of using a meager twenty gigabytes of iCloud storage.

But I have a confession to make: I need way more storage for all my photos and am reluctant to fork out five bucks a month in exchange for just 200 gigs of iCloud storage.

Having said that, before you ditch Apple's iCloud Photo Library solution for Google Photos, here are a few facts Google didn't emphasize enough that you should consider.

Google opens Inbox app to everyone: updated with Undo Send, Trip Bundles, new gesture options and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 28, 2015

Inbox, a gesture driven email application from the Gmail team built on Google-acquired Sparrow technology, got refreshed with new features this morning starting with Undo Send. Now, Undo Send has been available for quite some time through Gmail's web interface.

Now for the first time on your iPhone, Undo Send lets you take back an email right after sending in case you spotted a mistake, or have second thoughts. Also important, Inbox is now open to everyone so all Gmail fans can get in on the action right away.

You’ll soon be able to open iOS app content straight from Google Search

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 27, 2015

Google will soon start indexing iOS apps, allowing you to open content in your favorite apps straight from Google Search, the company announced Wednesday.

Google has been indexing content from Android apps for a while and now it's about to help Apple fans discover relevant content from iPhone and iPad applications, right inside search.

“Starting today, we’re bringing App Indexing to iOS apps as well,” the company announced. “This means users on both Android and iOS will be able to open mobile app content straight from Google Search.”

YouTube’s iOS player does not allow fullscreen on iPads anymore

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Google seems to have quietly upgraded its embeddable media player for tablets. On iOS, however, it's killed an essential feature: fullscreen mode on iPads, as first noted by German blog Apfelpage.de. The change does not affect Google's native YouTube app for iOS, which still lets you play clips embedded in webpages in fullscreen on your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

Google’s Android M to adopt Touch ID-style biometrics

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 22, 2015

To this date, only a few Android devices come outfitted with their own fingerprint scanner for authenticating purchases and password-protected apps, such as Huawei devices and Samsung's Galaxy S5 and S6.

Unfortunately, Google's mobile operating system lacks system-wide support for fingerprint scanning, thereby hampering broader adoption of this useful feature, which Apple users have been enjoying for nearly two years now.

That's about to change in Android M, the next major version of Android, which should adopt Touch ID-style biometrics, according to BuzzFeed News.

How to get your Google contacts on iPhone

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated July 31, 2025

Find out how to add your Google account to your iPhone or iPad and sync your Google contacts with the iOS Phone and Contacts apps.

In time for Memorial Day, Google Maps adds new traffic alerts and alternate routes

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 21, 2015

Memorial Day is one of the busiest driving days in the U.S. so little wonder that Google is now boosting traffic alerts on Google Maps to warn drivers of congestion on the route ahead, helping them avoid traffic jam.

“Now when you input your destination, you’ll get an explanation of upcoming traffic conditions that helps you identify the quickest route,” according to the Internet giant.

Google and Twitter team up to provide Tweets in mobile search results

Cody Lee ∙ May 19, 2015

Google and Twitter announced on Tuesday that they are partnering up to bring Tweets to Google Search on mobile devices. The move means that now, anytime you perform a search using the Google app (iOS or Android) or mobile browser, you'll see real-time content from Twitter in your results.

The search results are triggered by “Twitter” keyword searches, and include both hashtags and accounts. So you can either search for feedback on the new #TaylorSwift album or #MadMenFinale, or you can track down NASA's Twitter account, and view their recent Tweets without leaving Google.

Cool Google project automatically creates amazing time-lapse videos from public photos

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 18, 2015

Google researchers teamed up with scientists from the University of Washington on a unique project which taps into a rich poll of public photos on Yahoo's Flickr, as well as on its own Picasa and Google+ services and other places, to automate the creation of amazing time-lapse videos of popular tourists landmarks, Engadget reported Monday.

Leveraging sophisticated algorithms, the project clusters a whopping 86 million photos and stitches them together into landmarks and popular viewpoints.

YouTube testing iOS app redesign with small subset of users

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Google has been testing a revamped version of its YouTube application for the iPhone and iPad with a small subset of users, Abdiel Ortiz and Sebastien Debaenst noted on Twitter. This isn't necessarily new as some folks have been talking about YouTube's iOS overhaul for over a month now.

What is new, however, is a detailed hands-on video put together by Tech Invasion which gives us a first look at the new software centered on Material Design, Google's design language guiding software development across mobile, desktop and the web.