Google Archives - Vigsita Interactives- Web and Mobile app development company PuneVigsita Interactives- Web and Mobile app development company Pune

Best Android Apps and Games 2019

The importance of mobile apps in our daily life is undeniable. We are so encompassed that now and then we use one or the other app. Among the tons of Android apps available on the Play Store, the following are the exceptional apps Google Play has listed under various categories:

Best Apps of 2019

User’s Choice App of 2019: Spotify

Spotify is a digital music streaming service that gives you access to the content of various artists from all over the world such as millions of songs, podcasts, and videos. Spotify is a premium android app but you can have access to its basic functions which includes playing music which is totally free. It can be played across a range of devices such as computers, phones, tablets, speakers, TVs, and cars. You cannot download music from Spotify in the traditional sense besides you can save it to listen offline.

Best Everyday Essentials of 2019: Boosted: Productivity and Time Tracker

With an easy to use interface Boosted a productivity and time tracker app helps you improve personal and work productivity. This android app comes with multiple features such as time tracking and organizing the activities. You can also view history of your activities in a chronological timeline. Furthermore, you can also back-up and restore your data to Google Drive.

Best Personal Growth App of 2019: Meesho

Meesho is a social commerce platform which enables small businesses and individuals to start their online stores through social channels namely WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram etc. It is used by women entrepreneurs, housewives, college students, as well as shop and boutique owners, and anyone looking for a part-time job or home-based jobs.

Best Hidden Gems of 2019: Appy Weather

Appy Weather is an impressive weather app, in particular, the personal touch the developers have provided. You can avail the information in brief or detail as the app provides information in both ways. The app recognizes your current location to avoid manually switching locations as you travel. There’s a feature named Toast Notification which alerts you when it is expected to rain or snow.

Best Apps for Fun of 2019: Ablo

Ablo is a social media chat app that lets you connect with the world and relate with new people across all parts of the world at any time and in any language. With Ablo’s built-in translator there is no language barrier. You just need to type in your language and send. The receiver on the other end will receive a translated message. Overall, the app is engaging, addictive and a great pastime.

Best Games of 2019

User’s Choice Game 2019: Call of Duty Mobile

The game is a rival to the most popular mobile game PUBG Mobile. Both games are published by the same Tencent Games. It is the part of popular Call of Duty franchise from the world of PC and Console gaming which is free to play on mobile. This android game comes with five online multiplayer modes such as Free-For-All, Frontline, Team Deathmatch, Hardpoint, and Domination along with newly introduced Zombie Survival mode.

Best Competitive Game of 2019: Brawl Stars

Brawl Stars is a fast-paced multiplayer battle game developed by the makers of Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and Boom Beach. It comes in multiple game modes such as Gem Grab, Showdown, Heist, Bounty, Brawl Bawl including limited-time special events. But you cannot select a particular game mode to play as they are randomly selected.

Best Indie Game of 2019: #Drive

DRIVE is an endless driving videogame inspired by road and action movies from the 70s and 80s. As simple as possible, allowing the player to pick a car, pick the place and just hit the road. Just be aware not to hit anything else. No matter where we drive, no matter what we drive or how fast we drive. We simply chose to drive.

Best Casual Game of 2019: 1945

1945 is a long-run shooting game which is a remake of classic arcade experience which includes 16 types of famous WWII combat planes. The game controls are easy to learn and use which gives you the old feeling of playing an arcade game. It comes with great visuals, additional modes, and exciting campaigns.

Best Innovative Game of 2019: Alt-Frequencies

The makers of “A Normal Lost Phone” and “Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story” has launched a new audio mystery game Alt-Frequencies. The players sail through the radio frequencies trying to uncover government conspiracy acting as a media manipulator. It’s an interesting android game put together with a clean look and convincing set of radio stations.

Angular vs Flutter: Which is better?

To start with we should consider and think why we are comparing Angular and Flutter! When there are other technologies that we could compare. The answer is both the frameworks are developed by Google.

Angular is a hybrid framework which is good to build a web application as well as a mobile application but it gets complex when it comes to creating specific framework application for mobile.

If Angular is used to make a mobile application for android, then to build the same application for iOS, it should be rebuild from start.

To overcome this problem Google came with another framework called “Flutter” which is a single code-based language. Flutter is a framework and SDK that allows you to build native mobile apps for iOS and Android with one language.

Angular uses the typescript language and HTML structure to control and to build new web application whereas Flutter simply uses DART programming language which is similar to Java in syntax along with HTML5 CSS3 and JavaScript, these are the modern frontend UI specific development method of web pages.

Compare to Angular, Flutter is faster in performance however when it comes to usability Angular is more stable as Flutter has been in the development stage, that also means that there will still be some bugs, missing features that need to be added in the framework.

If we look into Architecture and Functionality point of view

Components of Angular

Angular creates Applications using components like:

Data binding,
Type Components,
Service Components,
Provider Components,
Filter Components,
Dependency Injection

Which works as Building blocks of User Interface.

Components of Flutter

There are four components that create the “SDK” platform and make Flutter Architecture vastly usable:

Flutter Engine
Dart Platform
Foundation Library
OS Design Specific Widgets

Though angular is a renowned open-source Framework and highly used as of now. But in the coming year, as Flutter gets it upgrading we may see this framework for developing cross-platform apps.

Chromebook App Hub: Start learning with Google’s new educator tool

In March 2019, Google announced to develop a Chromebook App Hub to help teachers and administrators to use educational tools and apps in the classroom. On Wednesday ahead of ISTE 2019, Google officially launched the App Hub. In addition to App Hub, upgraded version of Gradebook, Early Access Program, and Quizzes in Google Forms, Classroom, and Course Kit are among the new features added to Chromebook.

Teachers often search on the internet for new tricks and techniques to teach or to create lesson plans. Teachers also have to make sure that those teachings techniques meet the required policies. The Chromebook App Hub is the ideal place for educators to get a solution for these problems, to get new ideas and resources and also to learn the implementation strategies.

Epic! and Adobe Spark:

Google has teamed up with Epic! to create a community in the App Hub to showcase the best tools and apps for the classroom. Epic! is one of the vast children’s digital library which offers unlimited access to thousands of high-quality kid’s books, videos, quizzes and more. Adobe Spark will help Google in creating visual storytelling for the students of all levels. Educators can take help of Epic! and Adobe Spark to decide which tools fit into their classrooms and curriculum.

Khan Academy:

It is a free library which covers various topics such as math, grammar, science, history, standardized test and more. According to the marketing leader for Khan Academy, Eirene Chen, “The App Hub is a great resource for teachers, making it fast and easy to find apps and classroom activities that work well on Chromebooks”. EdTechTeam is helping Google in gathering the ideas of using apps in the classrooms.

Student Data Privacy Consortium:

For security and transparency to developer’s data and accessibility policies, Google has partnered with Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) which will assist developers in considering the student privacy implications of their products. Dr. Larry L. Fruth II, CEO of A4L/SDPC says, “The SDPC is proud to work with [the Chromebook App Hub] to provide transparency and openness around the critical aspects of schools, states, and vendors securing learner information”. In order to create healthy digital citizenship habits Google is working with the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) and ConnectSafely.

Other Updates:

For teachers, Google has launched a beta program that allows them to create a rubric to attach it to an assignment and let students understand the grading system for their work. In addition to this, an updated version of Gradebook will also be launched which will let teachers view student’s progress. Along with it, the Early Access Program will help teachers to sync grades from the Classroom to the School Information System.

Technology giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple are targeting schools and classrooms by investing in this sector to expand their business. Earlier this month in WWDC 2019 Apple featured its ClassKit and its free app for schools and teachers. Microsoft also has various tools for students and educators such as Learning Suite, Flashcards, Microsoft Mathematics, Project Tuva, and more. Despite such competition, the U.S. K-12 market is dominated by the Google Chromebook, the reason being its price and various tools for IT departments.

Educators can now find the apps and ideas on the Chromebook App Hub. Google has provided an Interest form for educators and developers where educators can submit their ideas by filling up the form and developers can join the Chromebook App Hub. Google said it will keep updating the App Hub so that teachers and students can find new ways of teaching and learning respectively.

Google Stadia: Founder’s Edition and more coming this November

A few months ago Google revealed its ambitious cloud-based game streaming service named Stadia at a conference in San Francisco along with its own gaming studio – Stadia Games and Entertainment. But last week ahead of E3 it gave some of the most important information everyone was waiting for such as pricing, pre-order availability, and games which will be available at the initial launch.

Google will launch Stadia with two subscription models called Stadia Pro, Stadia Base, and Founder’s Edition as an initial launch.

Stadia Pro:

It will cost $9.99 per month which gives players access to the highest quality 4K, 60fps streaming with HDR and 5.1 surround sound with the requirement of 35Mbps of bandwidth and access to Stadia’s free catalog.

Stadia Base:

Stadia Base, a free model will be launched next year which is limited to 1080p 60fps with stereo sound. You can also use the existing controllers such as Xbox One or PlayStation DualShock 4 to play the titles.

Stadia Founders Edition:

Initially, the company is offering “Stadia Founders Edition” bundle that packages Stadia copy of Destiny 2, the limited edition night blue controller which alone costs $69, a Chromecast ultra which will allow players to play on their televisions and three months of the pro service for $130.

Games:

According to Google, the company is geared up with 31 games which come from 21 developers and publishers. Following are the games:

Bandai Namco – Dragon Ball Xenoverse – 2

Bethesda – Doom Eternal, Doom (2016), Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Rage 2, The Elder Scrolls Online

Bungie – Destiny -2

Capcom – TBA

Coatsink – Get Packed

Codemasters – Grid

Deep Silver – Metro Exodus

Drool – Thumper

Electronic Arts – TBA

Giants Software – Farming Simulator 19

Larian Studios – Baldur’s Gate III

nWay Games – Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid

Rockstar Games – TBA

Sega – Football Manager

SNK – Samurai Shodown

Square Enix – Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy XV

2K Games – NBA 2K, Borderlands – 3

Tequila Works – Gylt

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – Mortal Kombat 11

THQ – Darksiders Genesis

Ubisoft – Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Just Dance, Trials Rising, Tom Clancy’s The Division – 2, The Crew – 2, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint

Playing stadia on mobile devices will be restricted to Pixel 3 and Pixel 3A at launch but you can play in the Chrome browser on your Mac. It will be expanded to other phones over time and probably to other hardware. It is still unclear what Google is going to do with multiplayer titles.

At launch, Stadia will be available in the following countries: USA, UK, Canada, Belgium, Finland, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.

Google Maps new feature help you discover popular dishes in a restaurant

Google Maps help you discover popular dishes

Trying out a new restaurant is a bit confusing as you don’t know what they serve the best. To make things easy, Google has rolled out an update to Google Maps on Android which will highlight the restaurant’s most popular dishes.

This feature uses a machine learning algorithm to display dish suggestions. The dish suggestions are based on the reviews and photos shared by the diners. The dishes which are more talked about and reviewed by the diners are displayed as the most popular dishes of the restaurant. In order to do so, it matches the dish with the photos uploaded by the customers. It will help businesses with good reviews to grow more, but the restaurants with few or no reviews will get no benefit from this feature.

Once you tap on to the Restaurants icon in the Explore tab, Google will give you suggestions of the restaurants nearby you. You can select the restaurants from the suggestions and the dish suggestions will appear in the Overview tab. Tap on a dish you like and you can also see the reviews given by the other diners. Along with the Overview tab, a Menu tab and a Photo tab has been provided. Menu tab displays the dishes with popularity in addition to other dishes served by the restaurant. Photos tab lets you see the photos of various dishes uploaded by the customers.

Recent additions to Google Maps:

Last year, Google rolled out a “For You tab” in Google Maps for more personalised suggestions such as to recommend places which user would like to visit, dine, shop, and more. In addition to this, Google Assistant was also brought to Google Maps this year in January. This helped drivers to get around, find local business listings, and send messages both from Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

Things Google Maps can do for you:

Transportation direction
Creating a map
Measuring the distance and ETA
Mixing maps information
Finding your location
Setting routes
Getting traffic information
Verbal instructions
Location sharing
Location editing

From being just a navigational app to becoming a more robust app for businesses, Google Maps has evolved a lot with such minor but useful additions. People around the world who want to help others in using Google Maps have contributed in making this feature possible by clicking the photos of the dishes from the restaurants they have visited and shared them on google maps.

Google has rolled out this feature on google maps for Android devices worldwide and for iOS users, it will be made available in coming months.

Kotlin: The future of Android App development

Every now and then we can see major or minor technological updates. Tech giants hold developer conferences (Google I/O or Microsoft Build) to share the updates and announce upcoming products. In this process, Google has introduced a new programming language for Android app development named as Kotlin. JetBrains is behind the development of Kotlin and is currently working to bring Kotlin to iOS and embedded systems as well making it a one-stop language for all application areas.

Kotlin is a statically typed programming language based on Java Virtual Machine which is compatible with Android and is concise, expressive, and designed to be type- and null-safe. Kotlin works smoothly with the Java language, therefore, making it easy for the developers to use Java language and incrementally adding Kotlin code. Above all, it makes development faster, easier and more fun.

Advantages of Kotlin:

Concise:

In many cases, Kotlin is way more concise than Java such as solving the problems with fewer lines of code. This improves readability and code maintainability which helps developers to write, read and change the code more effectively. Type inference, smart casts, data classes, and properties help Kotlin to achieve conciseness.

Safer Code:

Kotlin code prevents common programming mistakes by design which results in lesser system failures and application crashes. Whereas, these common errors occur while using Java. With Kotlin, developers can think about potential problems with their code in a detailed manner, in other words, it will help them to write stronger codes.

Better support for functional programming:

Functional programming was introduced in Java 8, but Kotlin has better support for it. It is a development model that allows developers to solve tasks more easily and consistently. Performance can be improved with the help of lining which is not possible in Java.

Lesser error and bugs:

Whenever possible Kotlin compiler aims to fail fast which greatly facilitates searching for bugs and can prevent them in the first place. Therefore, it performs many checks, avoiding runtime errors and reducing the cost and effort of fixing errors.

Code base shrink:

Technical debt is a deadweight carried by the developers because of the shortcuts made in programming, often to reach a deadline. It slows down future development resulting in reduced productivity. With Kotlin, code base shrinks while increasing the quality at the same time and if implemented correctly it can also reduce lines of code by 20-30%.

Faster development tasks:

With the number of handy features, Kotlin facilitates everyday development tasks something that Java does not offer. Default parameter values, object declarations, extension functions are some of the features which speed up Android app development time while keeping the code base more maintainable.

In addition to Java, Kotlin is the most strongly supported Java Virtual Machine language in the Android ecosystem. Kotlin is interoperable with Java as both generate the same bytecode, therefore, you can start using Kotlin in your existing project with all your old Java code.

Once you understand the syntax, Kotlin is way more readable and short as compared to Java. In conclusion, Kotlin makes a developer’s life easier than any other language.

All you need to know about Google I/O 2019

Search giant Google hosted its annual developer conference I/O 2019 at Shoreline Amphitheatre, California. This annual event was for three days starting from 7^th May up to 9^th May. On the day one of Google I/O 2019, the company announced consumer-focused keynote followed by developer-focused keynote. Google began its I/O 2019 developer conference just a day after Microsoft started its Build 2019 developer conference. In three days of the developer conference, Google made many revelations from Artificial Intelligence to the latest Android Q and Augmented Reality.

Artificial Intelligence (AI):

Project Euphonia:

Google is launching a new initiative in order to make speech technology more accessible for those who are vocally impaired and the company named it as “Project Euphonia”. It includes a wide range of research and collaboration with non-profits and volunteers. Speech software’s such as Google Assistant is built to respond to the normal voices of humans and not to those with vocal impairments. The focus of Euphonia will be to collect more and more voice data from people with impaired speech. Hence, collecting data will improve its algorithms and eventually integrate the updates into Google Assistant.

Live Caption and Live Transcribe:

Now there will be a live caption for the media on your phone including saved podcasts and videos you have recorded. Android will be able to add subtitles to the media playing on your phone. With a feature called “Live Relay”, Google is adding Live Caption to phone calls by adding a Live Transcription to the current conversation for the people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Live Relay is still in the research phase and there is no time confirmation from Google as to when it will be released to the public

Project diva:

Project Diva stands for DIVersely Assisted which will help people to give commands to Google Assistant without using their voice. A person with a vocal disability and limited mobility can use an external switch device to command Google Assistant. Various trigger commands were examined including pressing a button with their chin, foot or even a bite. After months of efforts, the team came up with a solution which was a box that you plug in an assistive button into using a 3.5 mm jack. The signal received from the button was then converted to a command sent to the Google Assistant.

Google lens:

Now Google Lens will soon be able to show the top meals in a restaurant by simply pointing the camera at a menu as well as it will highlight other information such as online ratings and reviews. You can also translate a text, split a bill, or calculate a tip through Google Lens by pointing your camera at printed content after a meal.

Google Duplex for web:

The Duplex was launched for phones as an AI-powered customer service tool which helped small businesses to take more phone calls, answer common questions and schedule reservations. Now at I/O 2019, Google has introduced Duplex for the web which will be able to do more things such as renting a car, filling up your information and make purchases in a few taps. Duplex on the web will be made available for Android phones later this year.

Google “next-gen” Assistant:

Google has shrunk its voice recognition models from hundreds of gigabytes to half a gigabytes, making them small enough to fit on a phone. To eliminate the latency involved in the back-and-forth pings to the cloud Google stored it locally making conversations with Assistant almost instantaneous. It can also work even in airplane mode. Google tested the speed by firing off voice requests rapid fire, with a very little delay between commands and resulting actions. According to Google, the next-gen Assistant will hit new Pixel phones later this year.

Features of Android Q:

Gestural Navigation:

This mode hides the navigation bar area and allows other apps and games to use the full screen. Rather than visible buttons, you can now swipe through the edges to go Back, Home and Recent windows.

Focus Mode:

With Focus mode, you can select and disable particular apps that you want to avoid for a certain time period and enable them by turning off the Focus mode.

Privacy:

This feature gives you control over the apps asking for the location. Now you will have a choice to allow the apps to access your location while using the app, all the time or never.

Encryption:

Android Q supports TLS 1.3, the latest version Transport Layer Security, which succeeds the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol. TLS 1.3 helps securely send information over the internet which brings major improvements in security, privacy and performance. Latest version of TL 1.3 is used for all TLS connections made through Android’s TLS stack conscrypt regardless of target API level.

Dark Theme, Project Mainline, Smart Reply are some of the other features which Google has introduced in Android Q Beta 3.

Devices from Google:

Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL:

Google newly introduced Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are budget-friendly phones of the flagship Pixel 3 family. Although they still feature the Google’s signature Pixel camera they are a bit step down regarding specifications by using plastic rather than glass for the rear along with basic Snapdragon 670 processor and maximum storage limit up to 64 GB omitting wireless charging and certified water resistance. The good thing is that with Pixel 3A Google has brought back the headphone jack.

Nest Hub Max:

Google announced a new product Nest Hub Max which is a combination of Nest camera, Google Home Hub, and the Google Home Max and also offers a security camera, smart display, and loudspeakers all in a single gadget. The camera can perform facial recognition to bring up personalized results in family members. The Nest Hub Max is set to arrive later this summer.

Augmented Reality in Search:

Google Maps AR mode rolls out to Pixel phones:

Google released its augmented reality directions but only for Pixel phones. The feature offers real-time navigation through phones camera, just hold it up and you can see arrows and directions overlaid on your surroundings. This feature is available for the Pixel 3a as well as older Pixel phones. Previously Google had said that it would roll out AR walking directions as the feature gets ready but still, we are not seeing a full roll out.

Privacy and security:

Incognito mode in Google Maps:

Just like the incognito mode in browser Google has introduced new incognito mode in Google Maps which prevents your destination searches or routes from being saved in the history of your Google accounts. You just need to tap the profile icon, then choose “turn on incognito mode”, and the app will stop tracking you.

Google rolls out “Tiles” on Wear OS watches

Google’s annual developer conference I/O 2019 is a couple of days away and the company has already started disclosing few details. Google has shared details about a new feature that will roll out “over next month” on Wear OS which Google calls as “Tiles”. Last year Google introduced a widget like function that previewed Google Fit on Wear OS similar to that of Tiles.

In the recent version of Wear OS, Google Fit was the only available Tile which opened with a single swipe. But with this new feature, you can swipe further to bring up more Tiles. This is really a smart update brought to Wear OS by Google which features four quadrants and six Tiles. Swiping up brings up your notifications, swiping down brings up settings, swiping right brings up the Google Assistant, and swiping left shows Tiles.

The Tiles are informative and each Tile comes with a piece of different information which helps the users to quickly access the information gathered on the watch. Each Tile has a pretty straightforward design with all the information on a full screen with actionable buttons to enter into apps whenever required. These Tiles can be customized by both Wear OS mobile app and directly on the watch. To customize it on the watch, just touch and hold a given Tile and then drag it to the left or right according to your preference.

The six newly introduced Tiles for the Wear OS include Goal, Next Event, Forecast, Heart rate, Headlines, and Timer. Goal assists to check progress towards your fitness or start working out to reach the goal. Next event helps you follow the upcoming calendar appointments by telling where you should be next. The forecast gives you an overview of how today’s hourly weather is going to be. Heart rate displays the beats per minute data of your heart. Headlines keep you updated giving the latest breaking news around the globe on the Tile.

As the usage of smart devices is increasing, people are more and more comfortable in using their smart devices for more than just calling and messaging. Although Google is planning to add more Tiles to this list but has not mentioned any specific date for the Tiles to roll out for watches. It just said that they will roll out over the next month with unstated features which may vary according to phone OS, watch or country.

Google Assistant brings “Tell me a Story” feature to Android and iPhones

Google assistant’s “Tell Me a Story” is a story telling feature of Google Home smart speaker which Google has brought to Android and iPhones through Google Assistant on the occasion of National Tell a Story day on April 27. This feature was first introduced in 2018 but it’s made available only now on Google Home devices. Google is taking a serious approach towards Assistant as last month, Google added free YouTube music to Google home devices.

In the month of October last year, Google teamed up with Disney and Penguin Random House to develop a feature called “Read Along”. This feature automatically plays sound effects to the stories you read from select Disney Little Golden Books like Coco, The Three Little Pigs, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Toy Story-3. You just need to say “Hey Google, let’s read along with Disney” and the speakers will play the sound effects to key points in the story.

There is also an inspiring book “Ara the Star Engineer” for young girls to explore the wonders of STEM illuminating the motives like courage, creativity, coding, and collaboration. Over 20 stories including the classic bedtime stories such as Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood and other family favourite stories such as Goldilocks, The Tired Alien, The Chef Who Loved Potatoes, The Cats Elopement, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Blaze and The Monster Machines are available on Google Assistant.

Few of the family favourite books are available for download:

Charlotte’s Web
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
The Collected Stories of Winnie-the-Pooh
Penny and Her Marble

There are options to pause, resume or skip the audiobooks through the voice assistant. Just say “Hey Google, read my book” and you can resume from where you left. To skip to the next chapter just say “Hey Google, skip to the next chapter” and Google will read you the next chapter.

Although the selection of supported books remains limited for now. If you have a good collection of Google play books then you can simply ask Google to read the book with a specific title “Hey Google, read Sleeping Beauty”.

However, Google is not the only one offering audiobooks and narrated stories to kids. Amazon’s Alexa assistant can play audiobooks as well as books without professional narration when connected to Kindle or audible accounts. Amazon has announced last year to make more than 1,000 kid friendly titles available through its free time unlimited program where parents need to pay around $2.99 per month.

Audiobooks are available on the Google assistant in English in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, and Japan.

Google Fit: Now available on iOS with Apple watch support

Google Fit is a health and activity tracking application which was first launched for Android and Wear OS back in 2014. The previous Wear OS app was more focused on Google’s watches. Now, more than four years and one design update later Google has made it available for iOS.

People using Google Fit on Android devices will find the iOS version of this app similar to that of the Android version. Before iOS version of Google Fit was launched there was no other way to get your fit data on iPhone than a special section of the wear OS app on the same.

Google Fit for iOS has a new feature called Journal which allows users to track their daily activities and shows the weekly progress. As Google Fit connects to Apple health it can collect and compare the data synced from other health apps such as Sleep Cycle, Nike Run Club or Headspace app. Google Fit can also be connected with the other third-party apps that are connected to the iPhone.

This iOS app syncs with both the Apple watch and Wear OS watch, so even if you wear any of the two devices, Google Fit will keep track of your workout sessions. It gathers the data of step count, calories, and miles walked and displays it graphically in a detailed way on daily basis.

The design of google fitness app is based on the amount of weekly physical activity for better health results recommended by the American Heart Association and the World Health Organization. The system is based on two key metrics – Move minutes and Heart Point. Both these metrics are represented as rings around the profile image of the user in the Home tab.

Move minutes:

These are earned by doing more activities throughout the day, for example, taking stairs instead of the lift or taking a walk to the nearby stores instead of vehicles.

Heart Point:

Pumping your heart harder by doing intense activities such as running and cycling will give you more health benefits as well as more heart points.

These small and healthier physical activities make you change your daily routine which helps in reducing the heart diseases, improves sleep and increases mental well-being. Google may have taken a while to launch Google Fit on iOS but it is still good for the users who use multiple devices.

Let us know your thoughts and how you find it as compared to other fitness / health apps.

Enjoy YouTube music on your Google Home Devices for free

Google has launched YouTube music a free but ad-supported music streaming service for Google home smart speakers and other Google assistant powered speakers. Google has launched this service ahead of Amazon. As Billboard reported, Amazon is planning to launch ad-supported free music streaming service on Echo devices.

Steps to enable Youtube music on your Google Home devices:

Users can follow these simple steps to enable this ad-based YouTube music on their smart speakers:

Go to Google Home App
Tap on Account Settings
Select Music
Make YouTube music as your default music provider

You could ask to play a song for party, workout music or music according to your mood and YouTube music will play the perfect station. All you have to do is to say – “Hey Google” and ask for the music

Though it’s a free service but it has few restrictions:

Users cannot request a particular song, album, artist, or playlist for on-demand streaming. YouTube music will stream only those songs that are closely related to the album, song or playlist requested.
Users cannot repeat the song or skip to the next song more than 6 times per hour.

However, users can change radio stations and can like or dislike the song through voice command by saying “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”. For on-demand streaming, users have to upgrade to YouTube music premium plan.

The $9.99 per month on-demand premium plan offers unlimited skips, song replay, and offline listening. There will be no ads to bother while enjoying your favorite music. YouTube music premium allows users to play music in the background while using other apps or download songs to listen offline.

Initially, YouTube free music service will be available in few countries including U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, and Austria. It will be rolled out to other countries very soon.

Google Stadia: Cloud based game streaming platform

Google revealed its cloud-based game streaming platform named Stadia at a conference in San Francisco. It, also, revealed its own game studio-Stadia Games and Entertainment. Stadia games and entertainment will develop games exclusively for Stadia. Stadia is the first gaming platform which Google has developed with game streamers in mind. Streamers can stream right to YouTube with the dedicated button on Google’s own Stadia controller.

Stadia, is a cloud based gaming platform that will bring gamers, developers, streamers and YouTubers together. Stadia will challenge the big names in gaming market with a vision to provide high quality games which have been played on video game consoles and PCs.

Developers can make multiplayer games that can work across multiple devices such as laptops, PCs, TVs, tablets and smartphones. In order to speed up the development of games Google will work with both big and small developers.

According to Google, Stadia runs on Linux operating system. Therefore games compatible with Linux will be easier to port to Stadia. Stadia will support 4k streaming at 60 frames per second. Google has its vast data centres which will support the cloud that can handle the processing of games at 4k resolution.

Having the advantage of cloud it is easier for gamers to access Stadia without the need of any physical disc or downloads. Cloud gaming has a lot of appeal as there is no need to download gigabytes of data, which helps in reducing all sorts of loading and downtime that comes into play while playing a traditional video game.

For Stadia, Google has its own game controller which comes with a dedicated button for Google assistant powered voice features and capture video of your game play. The controller connects directly to Google’s data centre, therefore, you won’t need to re-sync it to the laptop or to other devices.

Google wants to change the traditional video gaming market with Stadia by providing users with lag free gaming experience. Since, taking the contribution from all kind of developers, not only will it amlify creatvity but also, it means for users there will be tons of game options. All in all, Stadia could be a game changer for Google.