Launched again in 2022, the idea was fairly easy: let customers watch a YouTube video inside the Messages app. It was much like how shared YouTube hyperlinks work in WhatsApp, the place the app exhibits the thumbnail and performs the video in a popup participant. This removes the friction of getting to open the YouTube app each time your pal sends you a clip.
In a latest APK teardown of the newest beta, it was discovered that each one the code to make that characteristic work had been faraway from Google Messages. I attempted it myself with a public launch model of the app, and although I can nonetheless see thumbnails, tapping the hyperlink opens the YouTube app.
Sure, my pal took this chance to rickroll me. | Picture credit score — PhoneArena
I don’t know why Google would take away a top quality of life characteristic like this one. Maybe YouTube is about to endure some modifications that may make picture-in-picture inconceivable. Or, perhaps this may someway grow to be one other YouTube Premium characteristic. Whatever the cause, Google’s graveyard is rising daily.
Google Glass was one other undertaking deserted by Google years in the past that I nonetheless haven’t gotten over. However now that the tech large goes all in on AI with its flagship mannequin Gemini, I’m hoping that the teased AI-powered AR good glasses grow to be a actuality.
As somebody who retains his fingers crossed for the XR (Prolonged Actuality) trade’s success, I’m longing for a religious successor to Google Glass.
