APK Insight

At the start of 2022, Google announced that Wear OS would be able to unlock your Android phone. It seems Watch Unlock is very nearly ready to launch, as our APK Insight team managed to fully enable the feature for an early hands-on.

Ahead of the (delayed) launch of Google’s Find My Device network, the company is preparing location-based settings for helping find your (and others’) lost phones and other gadgets.

Google Messages on the Pixel Tablet is unacceptable for relying on QR code sign-in and a web app, but the company might be working on a Google Account-based pairing alternative.  

Version 1.4 of the Pixel Watch app is rolling out this evening with minor visual changes to the companion client and the ability to link your Google Account.

Back in March, we enabled a big revamp of the voice recorder UI in Google Messages, and it has now undergone another redesign.

The Google Contacts app is preparing a new redesign to its single-contact widget, bringing a more subtle look and feel.

It’s been just over a year since Google released the Pixel Buds Pro, and in that time, hopefully, you’ve remembered to clean them on multiple occasions. If not, Google will soon remind you to clean your Pixel Buds so on a regular basis.

Google is preparing a new way to quickly interact with Assistant on your smartwatch, using a new Wear OS Tile with customizable shortcuts, and we have your first look.

Recent updates to Gboard have focused on tablet and foldables optimizations, while everyone benefited from the toolbar redesign. Gboard 13.3 reveals work on new features like a stylus handwriting mode, compact voice typing UI, and generative AI stickers. This version is still in beta and none of the functionality we spotted is yet live.

The latest version of the Google Home app includes evidence of a new Nest Wifi router in development.

Earlier this month, we reported how the At a Glance widget is getting a big Material You redesign. Google is still actively working on this new At a Glance, including the ability to customize the widget.

One of the most straightforward features of generative AI tools is the ability to take long pieces of text and summarize them into a few short bullet points. Soon, you’ll be able to use Google Assistant to summarize almost any webpage.

Google is readying a big Material You redesign of the Assistant At a Glance widget for Android devices.

One of the unique aspects of Instagram’s new Threads app is its upcoming ability to participate in the “fediverse,” and now the app is preparing a helpful explainer of how the fediverse and apps like Mastodon work.

Google is working to bring better support to Android Auto for electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with the infotainment experience.

Ahead of the app’s launch later this week, Meta has launched a landing page for its Twitter competitor, “Threads,” counting down to the service’s launch.

Since launch, one big complaint of the Pixel Watch is how it does not sync Bedtime Modes, and Google is now working to add that along with Do Not Disturb.

Rumors currently point to Google releasing its second Pixel-branded Wear OS smartwatch this fall, bringing significant internal upgrades. Now, a Google app update reveals an “Eos” code name for Pixel Watch 2 and suggests the design may not change much from last year’s model.

Google Meet is working on a new “On-the-Go” mode that’s designed to make it safer and easier to stay in a video call while walking.

We’re still waiting for Gboard to roll out its toolbar redesign, but until then, Google is working on a new “Resize” UI.

Rather than needing to buy a (sometimes pricey) dedicated gadget, you should soon be able to use your Pixel (and select other Android devices) as a dashcam for your car following an upcoming Personal Safety update.