Android customers and podcast lovers received great news earlier this week. They will have the ability to access Google's brand-new app.
Introducing Google Podcasts
Zack Reneau-Wedeen, Google Podcasts' Product Manager, posted on Google's official blog and introduced Google Podcasts to the world. He wrote that the technology company would release the new app to the Google Play. The app was designed to help Android customers enhance their podcast experience.
Reneau-Wedeen wrote that the app could integrate with users' Google Assistant across all their devices. When Android phone customers open the app, they would be able to see a row of new podcasts that they could swipe to the right to reveal new ones. In the middle section, they would find the "For You" section, which would allow them to download new episodes and resume their paused podcasts. Customers would also find the "Trending Podcasts" section, which highlights the programs that are trending with other users.
Upcoming Features
Google has already revealed that users could be receiving updates soon. They explained that they are working on a closed-captioned feature, which would help hard-of-hearing users or anyone inside noisy areas. The closed-captioned option could also allow users to preview the podcast. It will also be working with Google Translate to give listeners the ability to listen to podcasts in other languages.
Google is also working on diversifying its podcasts by creating a partnership with the podcast industry. The goal of this partnership is to eliminate obstacles that will give women and minorities a chance to create their podcasts. While it might not pay any of the creators for their work, Google would likely provide incentives to creators such as helping them pick out the right equipment or assist with promotion.
The Google Update
Android customers found that they would be unable to book Uber rides on their Google Maps app. Technology website Android Police first spotted the removed feature. While the technology company did not reveal the reason why the Uber feature was removed, several insiders believe that they removed the feature to satisfy rival Lyft. Recently, Google invested $1 billion into Lyft.
Google Doodle recently celebrated the tradition of garden gnomes with an interactive video game. They transported Google users to a fantasy world where they could launch a gnome across a vast yard. Once they were able to make it to 70 meters across the yard, they would have access to five different gnomes. The game's goal was to plant as many flowers across the field as possible.
Last month, several employees quit their jobs at Google. They resigned due to the technology company's controversial project with the Pentagon. Google agreed to help the Pentagon develop a piece of artificial intelligence that would strengthen the U.S. Armed Forces' drones. Thousands of Google employees signed an internal memo to CEO Sundar Pichai that recommended Google to abandon the project because it violated its "Don't be evil" policy.
Tech Times reached out to Google for a comment on this story.
