Google I / O 2019 was a whirlwind of information about upcomingAndroid updates , demonstration of Modern features inGoogle Lens and Duplex , upgraded ability for the Google Assistant , and more . But apart from all the fancy raw thing that got name in thekeynote , several other small changes , and updates that number out of Google ’s one-year developer group discussion that did n’t get quite as much attending . So here ’s a flying roundup of some tidings and tidbits that could bear on you in the not - too - remote future .

Google Podcasts comes to iOS and desktop (kind of)

Last June , Google launch adedicated podcast app and servicefor Android and Google Assistant devices , and at Google I / atomic number 8 2019 , Google announced that its podcast app now available on iOS as well . On top of that , Google Podcasts is getting new support on desktop too , well sort of .

If you go topodcasts.google.comon desktop right now , the only matter you ’ll get is a connection to download the mobile app . But if you endeavor to look up a podcast in Google lookup , you should see a list of late episodes for that podcast , and if you press an sequence , it should take you to a Google Podcast page that show you your subscriptions and potential suggestions .

From there you may start listening to a new installment , or if you ’re sign into a Google invoice , pick up where you left off on a old podcast , as playback position should synchronise across all of your gadget . ( you’re able to also employ Google Podcasts on desktop even if you ’re not signed into a Google account , though obviously , you ’ll overlook out on thing like synced playback . )

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Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)

Nest accounts are going to get rolled into Google accounts

In early 2018,Google announced that it was going to sop up Nestand fold its family of smart home gadgets into the greater Google ecosystem , a move signalise thatsome bad changeswere on the way for the two fellowship that previously operated largely independently . Then , at Google I / O 2019 , when Google found the newNest Hub Maxand rebranded the oldGoogle Home Hubas theGoogle Nest Hub , it appeared that conversion was mostly complete .

However , what Google did n’t advert on stage is that as part of the merger , current Nest substance abuser will soon be asked ( or at least powerfully encouraged ) to exchange their Nest accounts into a Google account to make a more unified and flowing smart home platform .

Now there ’s no pauperism to panic right this secondment , as the whole summons has n’t started just yet . But you should hump that while honest-to-goodness Nest accounts will remain to work even after the migration , Nest user who do n’t move over to a Google score may not be able to take reward of novel services and feature launched in the future .

Screenshot: Sam Rutherford

Screenshot: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)

For many Nest gadget owners , this account changeover should only be a nonaged inconvenience , and for anyone who give attending to the Google and Nest amalgamation announcement back in 2018 , all of this plausibly does n’t fare as a big surprise . Also , since several Nest devices still do n’t have support for setup via the Google Home app , there ’s some decisive work Google needs to do to unify both weapons platform before multitude starting merging accounts . For more info , you may check out Google and Nest ’s plans for the migration and its effects on the Nest websitehere .

You’ll be able to pin specific channels to the Android TV home screen

While Android idiot box did n’t get mentioned during the main Google I / O keynote , that does n’t intend there ’s nothing new going on with Google ’s streaming video platform . That ’s because sometime subsequently this summertime , Google is giving Android TV users the ability to trap specific TV channels from over - the - top TV services like YouTube TV , Philo , and others directly on the Android TV house screen .

Currently , Android goggle box substitute space on its home screen for evoke or trend depicted object from standalone video apps like Netflix or Hulu , but with the raw update , you ’ll be capable to immobilize a television channel like the Discovery Channel or ESPN from one of your services direct to the Android TV home cover .

This is n’t a huge change , but for people like me who ca n’t get enough Property Brothers , it ’s prissy to be able-bodied to pin HGTV to the independent Android video covert so I can lay aside a little time wading through menus . However , at this prison term , it ’s not clear which streaming TV apps will support this functionality , but Google says it ’s hoping to tot up its transmission channel pinning lineament to as many partner as possible .

Photo: Sam Rutherford

With the launch of the Nest Home Hub Max and the rebranding of older smart home devices, we’re entering a new era for Google’s smart home efforts.Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)

Google Photos’ Colorize feature still on the way

Remember when Google announced a feature for Photos that would use AI and machine learning to bring colors to old black and white pic ? We ’ll forgive if you do n’t because that proclamation did n’t happen this class , but back at Google I / type O 2018 .

However , after getting called out byMashablefor not redeem on the characteristic after more than a yr , Google Photos ware lead David Lieb twitch out a answer . saying that feature is “ still in the body of work . ” He explain that the intellect it ’s taken so long for an prescribed liberation is that the squad “ just did n’t need to rush it . ”

Lieb then tweeted out an example of the Colorize lineament in activeness , point how Google Photos added raw life to a picture of Lieb ’s nan on her wedding party day . That say , Lieb pointed out the feature still has a way to go , as Google ’s Colorize feature incorrectly gave his grandfather ’s bloomers an overly pinkish chromaticity . disregarding , Lieb allege that Google is hoping to release a beta for the Colorize feature “ presently . ”

Photo: Sam Rutherford

Notice how the CW and Animal Planet have their own banners alongside traditional standalone streaming video apps.Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)

Wider support for Linux on Chromebooks

Even though it ’s almost two years old , thePixelbookremains one of the best Chromebooks on the market place thanks to its fantastic design , substantial performance , and the ability to run Linux in addition to normal ChromeOS and Android apps . This is a meaning advantage for developers or IT pros search to get a bit more mogul and flexibility out of their Chromebooks .

Unfortunately , Crostini — the feature that makes it easy to run Linux on Chromebooks — was only supported on a handful of Chrome OS machines like the Pixelbook . But at Google I / O 2019 , Google announced that all Chromebooks launched in 2019 would beLinux - ready out of the box .

https://gizmodo.com/how-to-get-more-out-of-your-chromebook-by-running-linux-1829058899

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

antecedently , while you could turn tail Linux on a Chromebook , you often needed to muck about around with security measures configurations to gain root access to the auto , but with Crostini , Chromebook owner will only necessitate to set up the Terminal app , which allows you to lead Linux inside of a practical machine .

For most users , it ’s not a Brobdingnagian upgrade , but for people who habituate Linux , Crostini offer a much more sleek way to examine or produce newfangled software with way less fuss .

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William Duplessie

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