News widgets must be one of the most used widgets in any device. They are powerful tools that significantly enhance the user experience by simply keeping the user updated with the daily ongoings. News widgets also offer customization options, enabling users to choose their preferred news sources, topics, or even specific articles to be displayed. Leaks regarding new Android News widgets have been surfacing recently, but it wasn’t until today when screenshots of the same were leaked ahead of their official rollout.

There’s a small compact widget, and then there’s a large, more comprehensive widget

Google is bringing exciting new features to Android with the introduction of customizable widgets. Among these additions are two Google News widgets that aim to enhance the user experience and keep users informed on the latest news. While the wait for version 5.82 of the Google News app continues, all eager Android users can do is merely wait for the arrival of these widgets through an official update.

The first of the two widgets is a compact 2×2 Quick View widget. Although it provides very little information about a single story, it allows users to have a glimpse of breaking news without opening the app. This widget caters to those who prefer a concise overview and quick updates on their favorite topics. For users seeking a more comprehensive news experience, the 4×3 List View widget is the perfect choice. Displaying two headlines and small accompanying images for each story, this widget offers a snapshot of multiple news articles at once. Compared to the existing 4×2 widget, the List View provides users with a broader range of news content to explore and engage with.

To access these new widgets, Android users must update their Google News app to version 5.82. Currently, the latest available version is 5.81, so the anticipation for the release builds. Users can check the version of the app on their device by navigating to Settings > Apps > See all xxx apps, finding Google News, and viewing the installed version number. Unfortunately, some users may have to wait a little extra than usual, until the update becomes available.

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(Via)

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Earlier today (18th May 2021), Alphabet announced the launch of the Google News Showcase platform in India. The company had announced the news related platform ast year, with a 1 billion US Dollar to support publishers across the globe.

The search engine giant is partnering with 30 publishers in the region to launch News Showcase as the country struggles with the second wave the Coronavirus outbreak. At the moment, this service is available in various regions like Germany, Brazil, Canada, France and more. Now, the platform has launched in India and includes 30 national, regonal, and local news agencies as well. This includes The Hindu Group, ABP LIVE, India TV, NDTV, and other local publishers.

In a blogpost, the company stated that “Today’s announcement comes at a particularly challenging moment in India, with Indians seeking out authoritative news and information as the COVID-19 crisis deepens.” Currently, Indians have become increasingly reliant on social media platforms to stay informed and acquire crucial information related to supplies that are in dangerously low supply in the country.

The content provided by News Showcase in India will arrive in English and Hindi. Tjese will appear in panels in Google News and on Discover. Furthermore, the company announced that it would soon include additional local langauges later this year. For India alone, the brand has allocated 18 million uS Dollars in new funding. This will also include expenses for adertising and support for public health related campaigns as well.

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Google has announced that the company will be paying around $1 billion over three years to news publishers for content and to support the launch of a new product, which is dubbed as Google News Showcase.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, claimed that this investment of $1 billion in news publishers is the company’s biggest financial commitment to journalism so far. He added that with the new Google News Showcase, the company is aiming to create a “different kind of online news experience.”

For the new platform, Google has already signed licensing deals with more than 200 publications in select countries. However, the company is planning to add more publishers and will also expand geographically.

The participating publishers will be able to curate and decide how to present their content on the platform. The content is displayed as a “story panel” and publishers can use timelines, bullets, or related articles to tease the story and encourage viewers to click and visit their website to read more. As a part of the program, Google will pay some publishers to make the paywalled articles free to access to non-subscribers.

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In the future, Google will also allow publishers to include video and audio and not limit them to just text and images. Brad Bender, Google’s vice president of product management for news has said that the company plans to go beyond the three-year commitment and therefore invest more than the planned $1 billion.

Google News Showcase is currently available only in the Google News app on Android but the company adds that it will soon come to the iOS app. Later on, it will be expanded to the Google Discover app and Google Search. Currently, this new platform is available to users in Brazil and Germany.

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