Kyle Bradshaw joined 9to5Google in 2018 with a special interest in Google’s Fuchsia OS, rooted in his experience of being the first to offer a visual preview of the revolutionary design of the in-development operating system. Since then, his attentions have broadened to include the secrets hidden within other areas of Google’s public codebases.
By reading the public Fuchsia OS code, Kyle was able to prove the existence of the Nest Mini and the Nest Hub Max months ahead of their respective announcements. With evidence from Chromium, he reported on Google’s since-cancelled efforts to create an offshoot of Android designed for “touchless” feature phones.
In 2018, Kyle reported on three distinct Made by Google Chromebooks in development, the Pixel Slate, the Pixelbook Go — a full year before its release — and “Meowth,” the original version of the Pixel Slate that was cancelled due to Intel’s delays that year. For Chrome OS itself, Kyle was the first to demonstrate the upcoming light theme redesign in action.
Looking at the early evidence of the Pixel 5’s specs, Kyle accurately predicted in February 2020 that the Pixel 5 might not be a traditional “flagship” phone. In 2021, he reported that Google’s next headset would be the “Pixel Buds A”.
Kyle contributes to the APK Insight column at 9to5Google, discovering the hidden changes in Android apps from Google and other companies. These efforts have revealed hotly anticipated features, details about upcoming devices, and unexpected connections between companies.
He can be reached for tips or just friendly chat by Twitter or email. If you’re looking for his other works or just want to play a game together on Stadia, head over to Kyle’s personal portfolio.
Project IDX, Google’s all-in-one web-based, AI-enhanced app development suite, is delivering on some of its early promises. Among other improvements, developers can now access a full iOS simulator and Android emulator directly from the browser, enabling iOS development without a Mac.
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Meta is beginning the process of disconnecting the ability to have “cross-app chats” with your Instagram contacts via Facebook Messenger and vice-versa.
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Google has taken the wraps off of “Project IDX,” which will provide everything you need for development – including Android and iOS emulators – enhance it with AI, and deliver it to your web browser.
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Reddit has begun having discussions with app developers on a change that would likely spell the end of free third-party Reddit apps, shifting toward a paid subscription model.
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Google has begun the process of bringing Chrome’s full Blink browser engine to iOS against current App Store rules, and now we have our first look at the test browser in action.
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A new experimental effort in Chrome aims to run the proper Blink engine on iOS instead of Apple’s required WebKit engine.
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The Gamevice Flex rises above its own gimmicky design to become the must-have controller for mobile and cloud gamers alike.
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After nearly three years of operation, Google is shutting down its game streaming service Stadia, effective January 2023.
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We’ve been given an exclusive first look at the Gamevice Flex, an upcoming gaming controller for iOS and Android that aims to fit nearly every phone while keeping your protective case on.
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Google’s latest earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro, are well positioned to be a strong competitor to Apple’s AirPods Pro, especially for Android owners. But which set will take the crown as the better noise canceling earbuds? Let’s break it down.
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In the latest pre-release version of the mobile app, Twitter is preparing a way to get notifications about new tweets that match a particular search term.
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We spent some time with the latest controller from Gamevice, which turns an iPad into a supremely comfortable portable gaming machine.
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Google is preparing to launch a brand new way to move from Apple’s iPhones to an Android device. Here’s your first look at Google’s “Switch to Android” app running on an iPhone.
Update: Google’s Switch to Android app now supports all Android 12 devices, not just Pixels.
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Four months after being “retired,” Spotify is letting customers test out a completely overhauled automotive interface called Car Mode.
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Google’s upcoming “Switch to Android” app for iOS may be able to import data from your iCloud directly into Google Photos.
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It’s not just you: Verizon’s Visible MVNO is currently experiencing an outage that is preventing customers from sending text messages.
Update: Visible’s SMS service has been restored.
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The latest update to Google Messages prepares for a new way to handle the annoying iMessage reaction messages often seen in mixed group chats.
Update: This feature has already begun rolling out for some, allowing us to see it in action.
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Earlier this year, Stadia debuted a new method of playing cloud games on Android by passing your touchscreen presses through to the game. Now this “direct touch” control scheme is coming to Stadia’s iOS app.
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WhatsApp made an appearance during Samsung’s Unpacked event, revealing that it would soon be possible to transfer messages between iOS and Android devices, starting with Samsung Galaxy phones.
Update: The ability to transfer messages has begun to roll out with the latest beta updates to WhatsApp.
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Google is developing a new iOS app called “Switch to Android,” which should be able to copy the most important data from your iPhone and bring over your apps.
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Google’s Data Transfer Tool, the standard tool for copying files from one Android to another or from iOS to Android, is preparing to offer a way to copy your WhatsApp chats from your iPhone.
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Earlier this month, our colleagues at 9to5Mac reported that Apple Music would be gaining “HiFi” streaming options, possibly with iOS 14.6. Today, we find that the Apple Music app for Android is also working toward lossless audio streaming.
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Back in June, our colleagues at 9to5Mac discovered in the iOS 13.5 beta that Apple was planning to bundle their services into a single subscription. With the latest update to the Apple Music app for Android, we can now confirm that a unified “Apple One” subscription should be coming soon.
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As we face this time of crisis together, one of the most important things we can do — aside from washing your hands and maintaining social distance — is combat misinformation with the truth. To that end, the World Health Organization is launching an official Android, iOS and Web app for news, tips, alerts, and more to keep you informed during the COVID-19 pandemic.