Reader Mode displays pages in a simplified view for easy reading. The tool works best with articles and other similar content, providing a more digestible format.

Why Google feels the need to bury the feature is unclear. But locating the appropriate settings is straightforward once you know where to look. Here’s how to enable Google Chrome reader mode.

Enable Google Chrome’s hidden reader mode on desktop

If you prefer to read news and articles in a more simplified format, here’s how to enable Reader Mode in Chrome on desktop:

READ MORE: How to stop Chrome from saving history on Windows and Mac

Whenever Reader Mode is available, the icon will appear on the right of the address bar (shown above). All you need to do is click the button, and the page will transform for easy reading.

Enable Google Chrome’s hidden reader mode on mobile

READ MORE: How to view and edit saved passwords in Google Chrome

For those of us who prefer to digest content through our smartphones, here’s how to enable Reader Mode in the Chrome mobile app:

1. Launch Google Chrome and tap the More menu

2. Go to Settings > Accessibility

3. Tick Simplified view for web pages

Whenever you visit a compatible page, a prompt will appear asking if you want to switch to a simplified view (shown above). Tapping View when prompted activates the feature.

Why does Google hide its Reader Mode in Chrome?

Locating Reader Mode on most popular browsers doesn’t involve an epic quest into the settings. For some reason, however, Google has decided to hide the feature.

Why? Because sometimes epic settings quests are fun. But once you know where to find it, Chrome’s Reader Mode lets you see a more simplified version of a webpage.

And with easy prompts on both desktop and mobile versions of Chrome, Reader Mode is easy to use after its initial setup.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post How to turn on Google Chrome’s secret Reader Mode appeared first on KnowTechie.

YouTube is leading the race to snatch exclusive rights for the National Football League’s NFL Sunday Ticket package.

A recent report from The Wall Street Journal claims that the streaming giant is in “advanced talks” with the company for the rights. The two companies could reach an agreement any day now.

The exact terms of the deal are still unknown. For the past 25+ years, DirecTV has owned the exclusive rights for NFL Sunday Ticket.

In contrast, the satellite TV service reportedly pays around $1.5 billion annually for the rights.

Apple and Amazon were also recently linked in talks with the National Football League to stream the NFL Sunday Ticket.

However, Apple recently pulled out of the deal, claiming it doesn’t “see the logic” in Sunday Ticket’s $3.5 billion price tag.

We haven’t heard much from Amazon about a potential deal, but the recent WSJ report suggests that YouTube will end up striking a deal.

NFL Sunday Ticket is the NFL’s yearly subscription service to unlock many weekly games. It lets viewers watch all out-of-market Sunday football games throughout the NFL season.

The service has been in the hands of DirecTV since it launched in 1994. But it will move to a streaming service for the 2023 season.

This represents a major shift from sports leagues to focus more on streaming platforms as consumers continue to “cut the cord.”

Amazon has a deal with the NFL for Thursday Night Football. Additionally, Apple recently signed a deal to bring all Major League Soccer games to Apple TV.

We expect more sports leagues will strike similar deals in the near future, and YouTube TV could end up the home for more than just NFL Sunday Ticket soon.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• NFL Plus lets you stream live football games but there’s a catch
• YouTube TV rolls out picture-in-picture support for iPhones, finally
• YouTube TV’s new referral program could save you up to $200
• Your YouTube TV subscription just got cheaper – here’s why

The post YouTube is now the home of NFL Sunday Ticket appeared first on KnowTechie.

It’s safe to say that many of us spend a lot of time on our phones.

Whether it is texting friends and family or mindlessly scrolling through Facebook, our phones are rarely very far from us.

This begs the question, how much time are we spending looking at Reddit, Instagram, and other apps that call our phones home?

It’s fairly easy to do this on an iPhone, but what about Android?

How to check app usage time on Android

If you want to know how much time you spend on apps like Facebook, Spotify, and Twitter on your Android phone, the answer depends on which handset you own.

If you have one of Google’s Pixel range, you can use the Digital Wellbeing app to see all the stats you want about app usage, notifications, and other on-device stats.

If you own any other Android, you’ll have to use one of the third-party apps that fill the same need.

On a Google Pixel device, it’s super easy to check your app usage stats:

1. Scroll down to Digital Wellbeing and tap on it
2. Open up the Settings app
3. You’ll then see an overview of your app usage stats. Tapping on any of the names gives you a more in-depth view of your usage of that app, including when you used it most during the day.
4. The Dashboard option shows information about Unlocks, Notifications, and App Usage. You can also set timers to limit your use of a particular app during the day.
5. If you scroll down to the bottom of the Digital Wellbeing page, you can toggle a switch to show the app in your app drawer. That’ll stop you from having to scroll through the Settings app every time you want to look at your stats

How to check app usage on other Android devices

If you don’t own a Pixel, it’s time to head over to the Google Play Store, where you can find several app usage tracking apps.

Here are some of our favorites:

Quality Time

Quality Time is one of the most-downloaded time trackers (over a million installs and counting), probably because of how well everything is laid out inside the app.

You’ve got a daily timeline that shows which apps you used each hour, with total time, daily usage overviews, and individual app overviews over a longer period.

You can also set daily usage alerts, custom profiles that ban certain apps when applied, and the Take a Break mode, where your smartphone turns into a dumbphone with calls only while set.

App Usage

App Usage is also a great option, and the most like the Digital Wellbeing app for Pixel devices, with some useful additions.

It also has a chronological timeline of app usage, a “per-category” view in case you spend too much time on social media.

In addition, a handy battery history tracking screen that shows battery drain overlaid on your app usage stats.

There’s also a handy widget for your home screen, so all the stats about your app usage are just a tap away.

Things to keep in mind

Due to Android system limitations, any method you use will only be able to track usage when apps are in the foreground.

So, make sure you keep this in mind as you try to get a handle on your tech habits

That means the app has to be in use with the screen on. That makes tracking how much time you spend listening to Spotify in the background impossible.

What apps do you use to track your smartphone activity? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post How to check how much time you spend on Android apps appeared first on KnowTechie.

The Chromium team announced the change in a blog post last week. Passkeys will be offered on sites that support them. Chrome will save them in its own password manager or third-party options.

The best thing about passkeys is that even after a data breach, your passkey is safe. That’s because of two things.

First, passkeys don’t use passwords, so there’s no easy way for criminals to use the data. Secondly, passkeys use your mobile device as the unlock key.

That means you can use biometrics to get into your accounts. Even if a criminal gets your passkey, they’re not likely to have your smartphone or your face/finger/screen unlock code.

Passkey management in Google Chrome

Passkeys are the future of account security. They don’t rely on easily guessed passwords. They also don’t rely on insecure two-factor authentication methods like SMS.

They’re cross-platform and work on iOS, Windows, Mac, and Android. They’re also easy to use.

You’ll see a QR code on websites that offer a passkey login. You can point your mobile device’s camera at that code, and a prompt to authenticate with biometrics will pop up.

At no point do you have to type anything in, so keyloggers are useless for skimming your credentials. Two-factor codes can be intercepted, but you don’t need those either.

Biometric data stays on your device, so there’s nothing for an attacker to catch.

Google says that passkey support for Android apps is next, with an API in the works. When available, you’ll want to change your passwords for passkeys as they’re far more secure.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Here are the most used passwords in 2022
• Can’t remember Xfinity router password? Here’s what to do
• Netflix officially cracking down on password sharing in 2023
• Google is finally issuing refunds for Stadia hardware purchases

The post Google Chrome adds full support for passkeys appeared first on KnowTechie.

Earlier this week, the company revealed its new update in a blog post on its website. It has already started rolling out the feature.

Everyone on Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS will have the feature in the next few weeks.

If you spend a lot of time in Chrome, you might notice that it can get sluggish if you have many open tabs.

That’s because the browser uses quite a bit of memory, which can cause problems on PCs with lower specs.

Chrome’s new Memory Saver mode aims to address that issue.

By putting inactive tabs to sleep, Google says memory saver mode reduces Chrome’s memory usage by up to 40%. That should lead to faster browsing.

Energy Saver mode is designed specifically with laptops in mind.

The browser automatically limits background activity and visual effects when Chrome has less than 20% battery life. This will help save battery until you can charge again.

As someone who routinely has about 30 Chrome tabs open at once, I’m excited to see what Memory Saver mode is all about.

I have a high-spec PC with 32GB of RAM, and I still notice some sluggishness if I get too carried away with Chrome tabs.

If you don’t see these features on your own Chrome browser yet, don’t worry. Google’s still rolling them out, and we should all have them in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, check out our Chrome guide: How to update Google Chrome on any device

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Chrome adds better way to search bookmarks, tabs, and history
• Safari is now used by over a billion people
• Firefox now lets you edit, sign, and draw on PDF files
• Microsoft Edge is now the second most popular desktop browser

The post Chrome adds much-needed Memory and Energy Saving modes appeared first on KnowTechie.

Updating the Pixel Watch normally requires users to put the watch on its charger, connect it to WiFi, and wait for the battery life to increase to at least 50%.

Doing it this way means you’ll get the update when Google is ready. But you don’t have to wait for Google to decide when your watch needs to be updated.

Here’s how to force an update on your Pixel Watch or any other Android smartwatch running Wear OS 2 or Wear OS 3.

How to instantly update your Pixel Watch

Keep tapping for a few seconds. The watch screen will refresh, and you will see the update downloading. That will equip your Pixel Watch with the latest software update.

If you find you have any issues while updating, don’t panic. Holding the crown and the button next to it for 30-45 seconds will reboot the Pixel Watch. You can then try running the update again.

Again, this will work for any Android smartwatch running Wear OS 2 or Wear OS 3.

It’s interesting that Google has a hidden way to update Wear OS devices. Maybe Google should make this a less hidden feature and put an easily-found button on the update page.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post This hidden Pixel Watch trick instantly forces software updates appeared first on KnowTechie.

Google shared the details of its latest feature update in a blog post on its website earlier this week. The update makes navigating the web browser even easier.

The feature lets you search through tabs, bookmarks, and search history with an “@” in the Chrome address bar.

All you need to do is type “@” in the address bar. Then, you’ll see options to search through tabs, bookmarks, or history.

From there, you can easily navigate through the topic you choose. Just type in a few letters of the subject you’re looking for, and you’ll see it populate to the address bar.

Tab search isn’t exactly a brand-new feature for Google Chrome. The browser added tab search via the arrow drop-down button at the top right of the page in 2020.

But the new update adds the ability to search bookmarks and history. Plus, it brings the different search functions together in a more convenient location in the address bar.

If you’re like me and constantly have dozens of tabs open at a time, tab search can be a super useful feature.

And the ability to search through bookmarks and search history right in the address bar will be incredibly convenient.

Google is rolling out this new shortcut feature to Chrome users now. It’s already available on our end, so type a quick “@” in your address bar to see if the feature is available. If not, check out our guide on updating Chrome here.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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• Firefox now lets you edit, sign, and draw on PDF files

The post Chrome adds better way to search bookmarks, tabs, and history appeared first on KnowTechie.

Leaks for the chip powering the devices, rumored design changes, and a big display change are all floating around. Renders of what the devices could look like are also out, and they’re impressive.

Everything sounds like Google wants to keep its place as one of the top Android handsets.

Expect an Android experience that’s Google’s view of what a mobile operating system should be, without the manufacturer tweaks that other Android device makers clutter their devices with.

We’ll keep updating this post as more news comes in, but until then, here’s the current state of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Pixel 8 release date

Google traditionally releases its flagship line in October with a release event the week before retail availability. That was true for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro and pretty much every recent flagship.

That makes it an easy prediction that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will release in October 2023.

As to the names, currently, they are codenamed “Shiba” and “Husky” internally, with Shiba likely being the base model. That’s according to Winfuture.de, and these two devices are using a new SoC for power.

How much will the Google Pixel 8 cost?

A big data dump from YouTuber Science & Knowledge says the price of the Pixel 8 Pro will start at $800. That’s $100 cheaper than this year’s Pixel 7 Pro, so perhaps the leak was of a price after launch discounts.

We can’t see Google rolling back the price on its handsets unless it’s an attempt to increase sales volume.

Features of the Pixel 8

The Pixel 8 SoC is codenamed “Zuma” and has “the same modem as the Google Tensor G2.” That’s a Samsung 5G modem, but what’s changed is that now the SoC has 12 gigabytes of RAM.

Android 14 will be running on the new handsets, as Google uses the flagship Pixel release to coincide with the next major feature upgrade to Android.

Another leak says the under-screen fingerprint sensor will be upgraded to an ultrasonic one, improving scan times and accuracy.

A big leak from Science & Knowledge about the Pixel 8 Pro has even more rumored specifications.

Those include up to 1TB of storage and up to 16GB of RAM. The earlier leak of 12GB RAM could be the base Pixel 8 or internal testing platforms for the devices.

The designer also created two mock-ups of the Pixel 8 device, which is said to have a small touchscreen on the back of the device. One has an OLED screen above the camera bar, while the second has an OLED screen.

Those would be great for notifications or as a selfie mirror when using the Pixel’s main camera.

What we’d like to see from the Pixel 8

We like what we see, especially the useful rear OLED screen. We have a short list of improvements that Google can make this time.

The most important is fixing the temperature issues with the Tensor chip. This will be the third-generation chip, and the process should be mature.

There is no excuse for any flagship device to overheat to the point where it stops the software from working, something that constantly happened on the Pixel 6a we had for a short while.

We’d still love to see a OnePlus-style switch for muting notifications or switching focus modes. Battery life that lasts longer than a day would be great, as Pixels have often struggled with this.

We’ll keep updating this post as we get more leaks, tips, and rumors. If you have a tip, send it to our contact form or slide it into our social media DMs.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Google Pixel 8: Release, price, and features appeared first on KnowTechie.

That report comes from antivirus vendor Dr. Web, who creates security software for PC and Android devices. This group of malware-containing apps pretends to be helpful software like optimizers.

Dr. Web says that the apps have been downloaded over two million times, with one having over a million installs. If you installed one of these apps — delete it ASAP.

Delete these Android apps

The first app, TubeBox, promises the user rewards for watching advertising. Once you got to the minimum withdrawal amount, however, the app would find ways to deny the user.

The only person making money from this app is the criminals that created it. Delete it immediately if you were one of the million users who downloaded it.

Another app. Fast Cleaner & Cooling Master, looked like an Android optimizing app. What it really did was install a trojan that served ads or could set up a proxy server on your device. Again, delete this.

Adware is on the rise

Dr. Web also says that apps called ‘Bluetooth device auto connect’, ‘Bluetooth & Wi-Fi & USB driver’, and ‘Volume, Music Equalizer’ contain adware. These three have been downloaded over a million times in total.

Google has removed them from the Play Store. That doesn’t remove them from your device, so if you have them installed, delete them immediately.

The security company also says that multiple loan app scams are also circulating. These all claim to have “a direct relationship with Russian banks and commodity companies.”

These all seem to be in Russian and hook users by claiming profitable investments or free stocks. Instead, they phish the user’s data for use later in other scams.

How to stay safe on your Android devices

Google’s Play Store has automated filters that catch the majority of malware. Not everything gets caught though, and cybercriminals have created more elaborate ways to avoid detection.

Even when Google’s filters fail, you can protect yourself. If an app promises rewards or lottery wins, it’s probably a scam at best.

Messaging apps are a common target, as they routinely ask for SMS access so the criminals can siphon off two-factor authentication codes. Stick to well-known developers and messaging apps.

Don’t install apps from sources outside the Play Store. That few dollars you save from a cracked version could mean losing large sums of money if it has malware to get your banking details.

And read the reviews for any new app. Skip the five-star reviews and see if phrases like “doesn’t work” or similar wording turn up. If so, the app is probably a scam or full of malware.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Android users: remove these apps ASAP, they contain malware appeared first on KnowTechie.

Google launched the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones yesterday. One new feature will please the security conscious – free access to the Google One VPN.

A VPN or Virtual Private Network shields your internet activity from anyone by encrypting your data as it’s transferred. They are useful for any internet user, especially on always-connected devices like the Pixel 7.

Android phones have had VPN capability from the start, with Android 4.0 introducing the ability to run VPNs via an app. This is the first time we could find that an Android phone came with a VPN that didn’t require any setup.

It’s the same VPN that Google bundles with its 2TB or above Google One plans. This plan normally costs $9.99 a month, with access to the VPN likely a nominal part of that cost.

Google says that “some restrictions apply.” Not all data on your Pixel handset and Pixel Watch will be transmitted via the VPN. The VPN is unavailable in some countries, likely those that restrict or ban VPN usage.

It’s also worth noting that the Google One VPN won’t help you circumvent region locks. It’s there to keep your data private, not to make websites think you are physically in another country.

Still, it’s a nice perk for Pixel 7 owners. Google has always had Pixel-specific benefits since the first handset. One was unlimited, full-resolution photo storage.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Pixel 7 and 7 Pro owners get a free VPN from Google appeared first on KnowTechie.

To help EV owners find the right charger, Google Maps will now show the fastest charging stations in the nearby vicinity. 

Manufacturer support, a growing charging ecosystem, and healthy government subsidies have all contributed to the rise of the zero-emissions car. 

But there are still obstacles to overcome. Not all chargers are made equal. That’s where the Google Maps update comes in.

While the US had 48,000 charging stations by 2022’s halfway point, only 6,000 were fast DC charging stations, which can replenish a battery in as little as fifteen minutes. 

When you search for a charging station, Google Maps will show the power throughput of each charging station, allowing you to avoid sluggish Level 1 and Level 2 chargers, which typically deliver speeds under 43kW. 

Google Maps users can filter results to show only the fastest charging options — namely those with speeds above 50kW.

Another filter option allows you to select stations that are compatible with your particular electric vehicle. 

To be fair, this information was already available to people in the US. The catch was that you had to visit the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, which looks and feels like a website from the early 2000s. 

Google’s solution is cleaner, faster, and vastly more mobile-friendly. It’s also available worldwide. To start searching, update the Google Maps app on Android and iOS. 

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Google Maps now shows the fastest EV charging stations appeared first on KnowTechie.

Available to all Google One subscribers at the 2TB level or higher, it was previously only available on mobile. Now, desktop users can also use the VPN client on Windows and Mac computers.

If you’re a qualifying subscriber, head to one.google.com/benefits and click on the “VPN protection for multiple devices” card. That’ll show you a download link to get the program you need.

Mac users must also enable a system extension and approve several permissions.

Note that while Pixel 7 owners do get Google’s VPN for five years, they will need a qualifying Google One subscription to use the VPN on their desktops. The free VPN is limited to use on their Pixel handsets.

Google One VPN is fast

The impressive thing about the Google One VPN is the speed it allows. Most VPN connections limit their throughput, so you get slower speeds when using the VPN compared to your normal internet connection.

Google doesn’t appear to have done that. 9to5Google’s Max Weinbach shared screenshots of speed tests of Google One VPN and his normal connection. While his upload speed was reduced, download speeds were almost identical.

That’s great, showing that you don’t have to trade speed for privacy and security. The Google One VPN masks your traffic and IP address while reducing online tracking. It also makes unsecured Wi-Fi networks safer to use.

Google One’s desktop VPN is available in 22 countries, including the US, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, the UK, Spain, and Japan.

To get it, subscribers need to be on the $9.99/month tier, which also gives 2TB of Google Drive storage, 10% back in the Google Store, Google Workspace premium, and the ability to share with up to 5 other people.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Google One VPN is now available on Windows and Mac appeared first on KnowTechie.

With no sense of urgency, it’s all too easy to hit “snooze” on those all-important patches and upgrades.

Now, with the latest improvement to the Google Play Store, users have a new incentive to update their apps.

Whenever an Android app crashes, Google will prompt users to install the latest version to hopefully prevent future crashes.

As noted by Android Police, the November 2022 Play Store system update changelog says it will “help users resolve app crashes with new update prompts.”

A dive into the Play Store’s source code by esper.io’s Mishaal Rahman revealed the following text:

There’s no shortage of reasons why Android apps crash. These range from sloppy coding and network connectivity issues, to a lack of quality control. Some crashes are the product of unforeseen edge cases. 

With thousands (if not tens of thousands) of device types and billions of users, crashes are inevitable. 

Inevitable, but undesirable. Developers want to make software that works. This desire — and the Google Play Store’s rating system — motivates developers to fix their code. But patches only work if people install them. 

With this relatively minor tweak, the Google Play Store will hopefully help users to help themselves.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Google now warns users to update apps that crash appeared first on KnowTechie.

The coalition of attorneys general that won this settlement calls it the largest settlement from the U.S. regarding internet privacy (via The New York Times).

Their investigation was started in 2018 after an Associated Press report that showed Google was still tracking our location even if we explicitly turned it off on our devices.

Google has changed its policies on location data harvesting

In a recent blog post, Google said it settled based on “outdated product policies” that were changed years ago.

Those policies were confusing, with users needing to change multiple settings to turn off location data storage.

As part of the settlement, Google will improve user controls and “transparency over location data.” Those include putting additional disclosures onto the Activity controls and Data & Privacy pages.

Google is also creating a new information hub. Users won’t have to dig to find information in multiple parts of their accounts.

From Google:

The process for deleting the information is also getting a makeover. A new combined control for turning off Location History and Web & App Activity is coming.

And lastly, the onboarding experience when setting up a new Google account will discuss what these settings do.

That will be about “how it helps [their] Google experience,” so we expect this will gently push the user into agreeing.

Another coalition of four state attorneys general is also suing Google. This lawsuit is for the same misleading location tracking policies.

The State of Arizona also received an $85 million settlement from Google over the same location tracking issue.

We wouldn’t like to bet, but the smart money is on the state attorneys general winning their lawsuit or forcing Google to settle, which is almost the same.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Google hit with record $391 million settlement over shady tracking appeared first on KnowTechie.

Thanks to Jon Prosser over at FrontPageTech, who made a ton of renders based on actual images of the device that his source provided, we can see that Google is keeping things slim on its foldable.

Only two colors will be made, with Chalk (white) and Obsidian (black) versions hitting the market next year.

Pixel Fold is slim and seemingly crease-free

Google’s current Pixel design language is slim and refined. The Pixel Fold looks to continue that trend, looking more like one of the foldables from Chinese brands like Xiaomi than the chunkier Galaxy Fold devices.

The camera bar from the Pixel 7 is still there, except it’s been shortened to not go to the edge of the device.

The hinge assembly is slimmer than most of the competition, which might mean a visible crease when the Pixel Fold is unfolded flat.

We can also see that the Pixel Fold has a full-face external screen with a hole-punch selfie camera. The internal screen doesn’t appear to have a selfie camera, but it could be under-screen.

Prosser says that the Pixel Fold will be coming in May of 2023. The other big surprise is that the price will be the same as Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, starting at $1,799.

It looks like with the Pixel Fold, Google is ready to play with the big boys of the mobile market.

That will leave Apple as the only major mobile manufacturer without a foldable device. All current leaks point to a foldable iPad before an iPhone. Is that too late for the market? A billion iPhones disagree.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Google’s Pixel Fold has been leaked in new renders appeared first on KnowTechie.

The feature is currently live in the Canary developer builds of Google Chrome. Changing the new tab wallpaper then themes the address bar and interface, so you get a pleasing, coherent design for Chrome.

Of course, you can manually change these color settings from your Chrome Profile section, but the automatic changing is definitely a nice addition.

You can see the color changing in the below GIF, thanks to Redditor u/Leopeva64-2, who first noticed the feature in early code commits.

via u/Leopeva64-2

Now the feature is live in the development builds of Google Chrome, under the Chrome flag: “chrome://flags/#customize-chrome-color-extraction.”

Turn the flag on, open a new tab, and change the wallpaper. The rest of Chrome’s interface should retheme to match the colors.

It’s very similar to Android’s Material You feature, which was first introduced in Android 12. At the time, Google said that the auto theming feature would make its way to every other Google product.

The Material You design language was expanded in Android 13. Google has brought the auto theming to several of its own Android apps.

The inclusion in desktop Chrome is the first time it has appeared on a non-Google operating system.

Windows 10 and 11 also have a similar feature, which picks the accent color for the taskbar and Start Menu based on the desktop background.

Google hasn’t said if the feature will be coming to the public builds of Chrome any time soon. Features often come to Canary’s beta builds months ahead of a wider release so that Google can iron out any bugs.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The search giant has highlighted some features of Search that will help. On mobile, searching “World Cup” plus your favorite team will give you all the information any fan could want.

Hitting the bell icon on Android Search will give notifications about your team’s progress. That will include in-depth stats, win probabilities, and key events of every game.

You will also be able to pin the score to your Android home screen.

The desktop version of Search doesn’t have the notification toggle, but you can get the same deep statistical analysis.

All versions of Search will feature recap videos from FIFA+, the Football Association’s streaming service, and other official broadcasters like BBC, ZDF, and more.

Other Google services are joining the fun

Devices powered by Google TV will have all matches, from group stages to knockouts to the final. Those will feature on the For You tab, with a new row full of all the FIFA content.

Google Maps will have a “Showing the World Cup” label that businesses can add to their profile. Searching “where to watch the world cup near me” will give a list of these venues.

Another Google-owned service, the popular navigation app Waze, is also getting World Cup fever. You’ll be able to change the navigation voice to talk like a soccer commentator.

Imagine hearing phrases like “Hazard reported ahead. Getting through that defense could prove tricky” or other commentator snippets.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 kicks off on November 20, with the final scheduled for December 18. 32 teams play each other through group stages and knockout stages to be crowned the winner.

The U.S. plays Wales on Monday, November 21, for its first game in the group stages. ESPN says the U.S. team has a “50% chance of advancement” as their group is deceptively difficult.

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Google announced today that its game streaming service, Google Stadia, is closing on January 18, 2023.

The company also announced that every person who bought hardware or games on the service would get a full refund.

While it is sad to see the service go, providing refunds is great to see. How many other closed services have offered to fully reimburse you for things you might have bought years ago?

Stadia lasted three years as a standalone service. So when should you expect those refunds, and what do you need to do to get one? We did some digging, and here’s what we found out.

So, how do I get in touch with Google to get my Stadia refund?

Short answer: You don’t, refunds should be automated.

Google’s Stadia FAQ says that “all Stadia hardware purchases… …made through the Google Store” will be eligible for a refund. So will all software transactions that were done through the Stadia Store.

The FAQ also says you won’t have to do anything (in most cases) to get your refund.

The company is going through the Google Store and Stadia Store purchase histories and will automatically process refunds to your original purchase method.

Google intends to “have the majority of refunds processed… …by January 18, 2023.” They ask users not to bombard Support until then, and the support team cannot expedite your refund.

What isn’t mentioned is third-party storefronts like Amazon or Best Buy. We’ll have to wait and see if Google has some special arrangement for those users or if they’re out of pocket.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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In a blog post on its website earlier this week, Google shared a look at an upcoming Gmail feature ahead of the holiday season.

The update aims to help with the tedious task of keeping up with your package shipments through email.

If you enable the new shipment tracking feature, Gmail will show you glances at shipping information for any email regarding delivery.

You’ll get little snippets like “Label Created,” “Arriving Tomorrow,” or “Delivered Today.” Those short messages will show in the Gmail inbox under the subject line of emails with tracking information.

Plus, the feature will also populate individual emails. For example, emails with tracking numbers will show a summary of shipment information at the top when you open the message.

You can see when an order was shipped or delivered. The summary will also include a link that you can click to head to the actual tracking website.

The feature will require you to opt in. You’ll be able to opt-in directly from your inbox when the feature becomes available. And you can always opt out through your Gmail settings.

Package tracking right from your inbox sounds like a nice quality-of-life feature from Gmail. We’ve all likely experienced the struggle of searching through our inbox to find shipping information to track that package we ordered.

Adding these glances at package tracking inside the Gmail app might make that process less of a headache.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Now all you need to search through the internet is an image or the URL of an image you’ve found online. That expands the number of devices you can use Google Lens on dramatically.

The visual search assistant started as a Pixel phone perk before releasing as a standalone Android app. Then iOS users got access, followed by mobile Chrome and desktop browsers last year.

Now it’s prominently part of Google’s homepage, showing how dedicated the company is to using visual search in the future.

We’ve been playing around with the new feature, and it’s pretty handy. Here’s how to use it.

Here’s how to use Google Lens from Google’s homepage

Google Lens is a valuable tool that was previously limited to mobile devices for the longest time.

Earlier this year, Lens was added to Google Chrome’s right-click menu. That enabled an easy way to use the power of Lens to search images from any website you are browsing.

Google wants to add more functionality to what it calls multisearch. That’s ways to search that don’t require the exact keywords that normal text-based search runs on.

That way, your smartphone’s camera can be the search terms, and all you have to do is point.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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