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Stitcher redesign brings cleaner look and new features to the podcast app
You'll have more control over playback speed and episode downloads.
Google is making it easier to create apps using Chromebooks
ChromeOS.dev has resources for web, Android and Linux development.
Google reveals its timeline for killing off Chrome apps
Chrome apps have been on death row since Google announced in 2016 it would wind down support. Almost four years later, the company has finalized its timeline for phasing them out across Windows, Mac Linux and Chrome OS.
Apple Music comes to browsers today with a beta web player
Apple Music is making its debut in browsers today as Apple continues to untangle its media services from the confines of iTunes. If you're a subscriber, you can check out the public beta of the web player by signing in with your Apple ID.
Google Assistant may soon have a web app for lists and notes
Google Assistant might soon have its own list- and note-taking functions instead of leaning on third-party apps. The 9to5Google team has sifted through the Google search app's code to discover an unannounced "Lists and Notes" web app for Assistant that lets you jot down important information to sync across devices. It's extremely basic (you can't do much more than add titles), but there's a degree of polish that suggests it's not just an experiment.
Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a 'Black Mirror' dating app
So, it's Valentine's Day, and what better time to check on the potential end date of your romantic relationship? It's easy to do over at coach.dating, a fun little web app based on the dating AI, Coach, that manages dating relationships in the Black Mirror episode, "Hang the DJ."
Google shuts down Chrome ‘apps’ section on Mac and Windows
Way back in August 2016, Google announced that it would be shuttering the apps section in the Chrome Web Store. As the company had stated in a blog post, this was one step in a process to shut down standalone Chrome Apps that nobody really downloaded from their browser anymore. Today Google followed through: Chrome browser users can no longer access or install apps from the Chrome Web Store.
Firefox can add web apps to your Android home screen
Firefox is making it easier for Android users to navigate the mobile web with Web App Manifest support, which will ship with Firefox 58 for Android. The feature supports Progressive Web Apps (PWA), the app-like interfaces displayed within mobile web browsers, and will allow users to add them to their home screens so they can be accessed by a single touch (rather than via web search or URL input).
Google adds security features to help block unverified apps
After dealing with security concerns like the Google Docs phishing debacle, Google has been adding quite a few new security features for its services and apps, including better protection for Gmail accounts and whitelist procedures for G Suite users. Now, the company is adding a new warning screen for any apps from developers that haven't gone through Google's app verification system, yet.
Simple Habit guided meditation app is now on Android and the web
If you're desperately in need to de-stress this morning (I can't imagine why) and you're an Android user, there's a new app out there worth checking out. Simple Habit started out as an iOS meditation and mindfulness app with a Netflix-style model -- after signing up for a weekly or monthly subscription, you get access to a huge library of guided meditation exercises. Now, that app is available on Android as well as the web.
'Watch Dogs 2' web app tries to reveal secrets in your selfies
Ubisoft is no stranger to producing poignant on the surface, but ultimately vapid marketing for its hacker-centric Watch Dogs series. And the latest example of that is a selfie analyzer for the upcoming sequel. The pitch is that your self-portraiture reveals a lot of hidden info about you, and uploading a picture to the web app will reveal it. Stuff like your age, what your picture says about you to employers, financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, political organizations and police databases -- info based on details in your photos. That's in theory, of course. In practice the results don't pan out so well.
Evernote's cleaner, faster web interface starts rolling out
Evernote's been beta testing a redesigned web interface since last October. But, after nearly a year of experimenting with the fresh look, the company is finally ready to make it available to all its users starting this week. The main purpose of the new web client is to be "distraction-free," according to Evernote, thanks to a cleaner, faster and, overall, more beautiful UI. Evernote says the idea isn't to mimic the desktop apps it already offers, but instead provide easier-to-navigate options and a simple canvas to take notes on -- all while continuing to be a powerful productivity tool for people. "Rather than be derivative of another client, we felt it should exemplify the speed and lightness of the modern web," Evernote said in a blog post. What do you think, though? Do you like or hate it?
Fan-made 'GTA V' interactive map app puts Rockstar's to shame
Grand Theft Auto V really seems like the gift that keeps on giving. The latest present? An unofficial map app (Android, iOS and web) that's been updated with collectibles locations from the current-gen releases like Peyote plants that let you play as sharks, eagles and more -- yes, flying around as a bird of prey is bizarre as it sounds. The differences between this and the official app are pretty major, too. As VG24/7 reports, you can add personal notes to the map, track your collectibles progress and even switch between atlas and satellite views of the terrain. Future plans include making streets searchable by name. Interested? Hit the source links below to grab it for your device of choice.
Now you can try Watson's freaky-deaky recipes for yourself
If you think that a supercomputer can do a better job of inventing new meals than, say, Gordon Ramsey, then today's your lucky day. IBM is opening up its Chef Watson web app to the world, enabling open-minded foodies to make outlandish food combinations for dinner parties with people you're not fussed about pleasing. It's been almost a year since IBM teamed up with Bon Appetit magazine to begin working on the app, and has spent the last eleven months testing it out with a wide variety of willing cooks. In addition to being able to brag about being smart enough to make an Old Fashioned with Chicken Broth, the system is also helping people overcome their dietary problems.
Samsung's Milk media apps migrate to smart TVs and the web
Samsung spent a good chunk of 2014 launching and nurturing its (very oddly named) Milk music and video streaming services. At the time, we asked the obvious question: Do we really need more of these things? Like, honestly? The Korean tech titan never fully proved its case, but that hasn't stopped it from pushing Milk further and further out there. Now Samsung's bringing those services where they've never gone before -- specifically, televisions and the web.
Mobile Chrome apps get improved notifications and sign-ins
Google's Chrome Apps for Mobile project has been handy for developers who want to repackage their websites as native apps for your phone, but the resulting projects have been limited in what they can do -- it's pretty obvious that they're recycled. As of now, though, they'll behave much more like apps built from the ground up for your Android and iOS devices. A new version of the project lets you provide your identity to these apps by signing in, and they can send you rich notifications with content previews, much like what you're used to on Android. There's also much better support for messaging and other services that need to talk to servers. Developers will have to build these features into their software before you'll notice the difference, but don't be surprised if the lines between native and web apps suddenly get very blurry.
Chrome tool lets you see what web apps are really doing
Ever get the nagging feeling that a Chrome web app or add-on isn't entirely above board? You now have an easy way to prove it. Google has posted a new version of a Chrome developer tool that lets you see just what your apps and extensions are up to. While it's meant for programmers, it should be helpful if you're simply concerned about privacy or security; if a weather app is inexplicably changing pages or sifting through your history, that may be your cue to uninstall it. The tool isn't all that vital now that Google is starting to cut off extensions that don't come from the Chrome Web Store, but one additional safety net won't hurt.
Songza taps Weather Channel data to suggest mood-enhancing music
Songza is the psychiatrist of music apps, trying to figure out how you're doing and come up with just the right music fix. It's now teamed up with the Weather Channel, using its data to figure out if a sunset or rainstorm might be in your area. The concierge feature will then ask how you feel about that and come up with a playlist to either pep you up or keep you in a good mood. You can grab the app for Android, iOS or the web, either free with ads or via the Club Songza subscription -- depending on how you feel about paying 99 cents a week.
Chrome apps may soon run without any trace of the web browser
Chrome web apps may behave like native software at times, but they still require some form of the Chrome browser to run -- even if it's just a basic process. They may not need that component for much longer, though. The Next Web has discovered a batch of experimental code for an "App Shell" that would include only those Chrome elements that are absolutely necessary. In theory, you'd get lightweight, browser-independent web apps that still have the advantages of native code. The company isn't saying whether or not its new technology will reach the public. Given Google's efforts to package web apps for mobile without requiring Chrome, however, it wouldn't be surprising if App Shell gets a formal release.
Google finally opens Chromecast SDK, invites developers to get hackin'
The Chromecast is already a pretty easy sell: It's $35 and brings most of the biggest names in streaming media to your TV with minimal hassle. So, now that Google has opened the SDK to developers, it's pretty much a no-brainer. While there are no specific apps to announce at the moment, it's safe to assume the Play store will be flooded with updates soon enough. The SDK will allow coders to add a cast button to their app or site, be it on Android, iOS or in Chrome. The obvious use is for video apps, but there are plenty of other potential options here as well. If a developer decides to create a "custom receiver application" (rather than use the pre-built one provided by Google), they can put any standard web technologies on the big screen. So expect at least a few games and productivity apps to make the jump to Chromecast as well. Imagine firing up a presentation from Google Drive, displaying it on your 4K TV and controlling it with your phone. Or maybe Sony will build a version of Jeopardy where the board and clues are shown on the TV and your handset acts as the buzzer. Obviously, we're just speculating right now, but if we see those ideas come to fruition, we'll be expecting a nice royalty check. If you're more technically inclined, check out the video overview of the Chromecast SDK after the break.
