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Google Expands Song Search Feature with New Quick Settings Tile on Android

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Google is enhancing its popular Song Search feature by introducing a new Quick Settings (QS) Tile on Android devices. This update, available in the latest beta version (15.39) of the Google app, allows users to identify songs quickly and effortlessly with just a tap. The QS Tile, represented by a simple music note icon, opens a fullscreen globe effect before displaying song results via a Google Search page.   A New Way to Access Song Search The addition of the QS Tile is a significant improvement, making it easier for users to access Google's Song Search feature. Previously, users could identify songs through various methods, including a widget shortcut, Google Assistant, or by tapping the voice mic icon in the Google Search bar². The new QS Tile simplifies this process, providing a more direct and convenient way to use the feature. How to Add the QS Tile To add the Song Search QS Tile, users need to open the Quick Settings menu, tap the pencil icon to edit,...

YouTube and SESAC Reach Agreement to Restore Removed Songs

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In a significant development for music lovers, YouTube and YouTube Music are set to restore a vast array of songs that were recently removed due to a licensing dispute with SESAC. This resolution comes after a brief but impactful period where users were unable to access numerous tracks from popular artists.   The Dispute The conflict began when YouTube's licensing agreement with SESAC, a performance rights organization representing over 1.5 million songs, expired. SESAC's repertoire includes works from renowned artists such as Adele, R.E.M., Jack Harlow, Bob Dylan, and Neil Diamond. Without a renewed agreement, YouTube had no choice but to pull the affected content, leading to widespread frustration among users who encountered error messages and missing tracks on both YouTube and YouTube Music. The Resolution On September 30, 2024, YouTube announced that it had successfully negotiated a new deal with SESAC. A YouTube spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the outc...

Gmail Rolls Out Gemini-Powered Contextual Smart Replies

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In a significant upgrade to its email service, Google has announced the rollout of Gemini-powered Contextual Smart Replies for Gmail. This new feature, unveiled at the I/O 2024 conference, promises to enhance user experience by providing more detailed and context-specific responses. Unlike the original Smart Replies introduced in 2017, this advanced version leverages the power of Gemini to analyze the content of emails and offer tailored replies.  A Step Forward in Email Technology The introduction of Gemini-powered Contextual Smart Replies marks a substantial leap forward in email technology. The original Smart Replies were designed to offer quick, one-click responses based on the content of a single email. However, the new Gemini-powered version goes a step further by considering the entire email conversation. This allows for more nuanced and relevant responses, making email communication smoother and more efficient.   How It Works The new feature presents sugges...

Indian Government Issues High-Risk Alert for Google Chrome Users: Update Now to Avoid Cyber Threats

The Indian government has recently issued a high-risk advisory for Google Chrome users, highlighting critical vulnerabilities that could potentially compromise millions of systems. This alert, disseminated by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, emphasizes the urgent need for users to update their browsers to safeguard their personal data and ensure online security.   Details of the Advisory CERT-In has pinpointed several vulnerabilities in Google Chrome versions earlier than 128.0.6613.113/.114 across Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. These security flaws could enable remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or trigger a denial of service on the affected systems. Essentially, this means that visiting a malicious website could lead to unauthorised access or disruption of the user's system, posing significant risks such as data theft or other malicious activities.  Implications for Users As the mo...