The BRITs is undoubtedly the biggest event on the UK music calendar. Some of the greatest British acts have launched their global careers on its stages, and each year features unforgettable performances from both homegrown acts and international talent. From Adele to Justin Bieber to Coldplay and more, this year’s show did not disappoint.

As the official audio and download parter of the 2016 BRIT Awards, the Google Play Music team is thrilled to be part of this landmark event. Thanks to the support of artists, managers, labels, publishers and societies, we made participating performances available as downloads and streams available only on Google Play Music, with proceeds going to charity. Download or stream the performances for free until Wed, March 2 (we’re picking up the cost), after which all the content will be available on Play Music for purchase until March 24.

Every penny raised from both the downloads and streams on Google Play Music will go to Nordoff Robbins which provides music therapy services to adults and children, and The BRIT Trust which supports performing arts in the UK. Last year, the amount we raised went above all previous BRIT Award charitable records, and with your help we hope to do so again.

Streams and downloads of tracks by participating artists include: Adele, Justin Bieber, The David Bowie Band featuring Lorde (a tribute to David Bowie), Coldplay, The Weeknd, Little Mix, James Bay and Jess Glynne.* We hope you enjoy all of these performances and help us make a difference in the lives of many by supporting two great causes.

Posted by Azi Eftekhari, Head of EMEA Music Partner Management, Google Play Music

*Please note that performance availability varies by country.

If you're like me or many other gamers out there, you love the feeling of escape that comes with playing games. Immersed in a gaming world without any distractions, I can simply focus on one thing: winning. In this alternate world, I’m not Ben, product manager at Google. I’m Caldorf, destroyer of enemy bases; slayer of zombies.

Over the next few weeks we’re rolling out Gamer IDs to Google Play Games. Gamer IDs give you the ability to create a gaming persona, so you too can embrace your inner gaming hero. You can customize a unique Gamer ID and select a Gamer Picture to create a whole new gaming identity.

For new users signing into your first Google Play Games integrated game, and for existing users signing into a new Play Games integrated game, you will create your Gamer ID and select one of 40+ avatars for your Gamer Picture. You can choose to make your game activity public or private, and decide if other gamers will be able to associate your Gamer ID with your email address or name. Gamer IDs are unique, and to claim yours right now you can go to the Google Play Games app.

In addition, we’re making it easier and faster to start playing games. With auto sign-in, you’ll be prompted to sign-in once per account, rather than once per game, and you’ll automatically be signed in to most future games.

With your new gaming identity, you can battle monsters as the valiant gamer you truly are, and be duly recognized for your accomplishments across Play Games experiences such as leaderboards. And who knows, someday your Gamer ID could be as recognizable as Mystik, Mew2King, or PewDiePie.

To learn more about setting up your gamer ID please review the Play Games sign-in help center article here.

Posted by Benjamin Frenkel, Product Manager, Google Play Games

With the amount that we do online, from working to learning, shopping to connecting, online security is a critical piece of our everyday life. That’s why we build multiple lines of defense in Android to make the internet safer for over a billions users. Even with these layers of protection, it still doesn’t hurt to take a couple of extra precautions to be super safe. In the spirit of Safer Internet Day, we want to share a few safety tips you can follow:

1. Use Google Play to find safe apps
We do a lot behind the scenes to review apps before they can be published on Google Play, so even before you install an app, Google uses a variety of methods to check that developers are complying with our policies. If an app violates those policies, it is blocked from Play and sometimes the developer is too. Apps that are considered to be potentially harmful are blocked and flagged for a manual review by members of the Android Security Team. To learn more about this review process and how Android continues to keep your device safe even after you download an app, read our recently published whitepaper.

 

The app review process before it can be added to Google Play

2. Set a screen lock and activate Android Device Manager
Anybody can lose their phone, so it’s important to set a screen lock so a stranger can’t access what’s on your device. And should you ever lose your device, you can remotely locate, lock, or even wipe it with Android Device Manager. This feature comes preinstalled on all Android devices with the Play store, so you just need to activate it.

3. Check that your device is encrypted
Encryption is important because it protects your data by storing it in an unreadable form, so if your device is lost or stolen your information remains protected. To ensure that your device is encrypted enter Settings, tap Security, and tap Encrypt phone (or Encrypt tablet) under Encryption. Newer Nexus devices, like the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, are encrypted by default.

4. Manage app permissions
Each Android app is housed in a virtual sandbox. That means, unless you’ve given it additional permissions, the only data an app can use is the data that’s in it. For example, apps that you install aren’t able to access information like photos or your location unless you give them permission. On devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, you can control a given app’s permissions by entering Settings, tapping Apps and selecting an app from the list of installed apps surfaced. On the App info screen, you’ll see a Permissions category that lists all the permissions that app has access to. When you click on this you’ll be able to toggle on and off individual permissions.

To learn more about how Android keeps you safe, check out the Android Security website. Happy Safer Internet Day!

Posted by Eric Davis, Senior Program Manager, Android Security

You're walking to meet a friend with coffee in hand. Or maybe it's really cold outside, so you're rocking a pair of mittens. Or maybe you're in the middle of making dinner. There are plenty of times when you’ve got your hands full but still need to stay on top of reminders, messages, and calls. That's why Android Wear includes things like voice actions and gestures. And today we’re expanding these hands-free options in a number of ways:

• Navigate your watch with new gestures. Scrolling up and down your card stream is as simple as flicking your wrist. Starting today you can also expand a card, bring up your apps, or return home to your watch face with a push, lift or shake. You'll be able to stay connected to what’s important, while keeping your phone (or other hand) in your pocket. 
• Send more messages with just your voice. With Android Wear, you’ve always been able to get answers to spoken questions. Now you can also use your voice to send messages from apps like Google Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, and WhatsApp. Running late for lunch? Just say “OK Google, Send a WhatsApp message to Nathan: I’ll be right there.” 
• Make calls and listen to messages with speaker support. Screening calls from your wrist is a nice convenience that comes with Android Wear. Thanks to speaker support, you can now make and take calls over Bluetooth. And you can listen to audio/video messages with apps like Glide. All you need is a watch with a speaker, which today includes the Huawei Watch and the ASUS ZenWatch 2 (49mm).

These improvements are rolling out to all Android Wear watches over the next few weeks, including new watches like the Casio Smart Outdoor Watch and Huawei Watch for Ladies. In the meantime, you can follow @AndroidWear for timely updates and tips.

Posted by Krystal Higgins, User Experience Designer, Android Wear

Android TV and Google Cast for audio devices were introduced to give you more freedom and control over your entertainment. Today we’re bringing even more TV and speaker makers onboard for both Android TV and Google Cast. 

When it comes to home entertainment, the living room is more connected than ever. Approximately 88% of consumer electronic devices shipped in 2015 were Internet-enabled.* When devices in the home are connected, it’s important to have platforms that make it easy for you to stream your favorite digital music and movies.

Android TV
Android TV brings apps, games, movies, shows, music and more to the biggest screen in your home. From smart TVs to cable box operators, many devices support the Android TV experience. Now you’ve got even more options to find the device that’s right for you. If you’re looking for a new TV, you can select an Android TV from Sony, Sharp and Philips. Later this year, Android TV will be available from Arcelik, Vestel, RCA, Hisense, TCL and Bang & Olufsen. And, for our users in Indonesia, Linknet now has an Android TV offering.

Google Cast for speakers
Google Cast, the same technology built into Chromecast, is now embedded directly into speakers, sound bars, and A/V receivers so you can cast music from your favorite app on your phone or any music streaming website on Chrome. Throughout 2016, you’ll be able to enjoy Google Cast speakers from B&O Play, Harman Kardon, Onkyo, Philips, Pioneer, and Raumfeld. Sony and LG, who were among the first to include Google Cast in their speakers, are also refreshing their speaker lineups. Cast-enabled software and hardware from Frontier Silicon and StreamUnlimited will make it easier for more audio companies to join the Google Cast family.

Recently, we announced that multi-room synchronization is available on Chromecast Audio. Multi-room sync lets you group speakers connected to Chromecast Audio devices together so you can listen to the same song throughout the house. In 2016, multi-room sync functionality will come to Google Cast speakers, allowing you to mix and match Cast-enabled speakers from your favorite brands with speakers connected to Chromecast Audio.

Check back for more hardware and content news throughout the year.

Posted by Adrienne McCallister, Streaming Media Maven

*Strategy Analytics Connected CE Devices Market Forecast, July 2015

Any time is a good time to read, but at night is perhaps the best. What better way to drift off to sleep than with a great book? Our readers agree. Looking at reading time across the world, we see that activity peaks between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm local time. But we also know looking at a bright screen before bed can be hard on your eyes. Cue the announcement!

Today we’re introducing Night Light, a new feature that makes night time reading more enjoyable and easier on the eyes. When turned on, Night Light gradually filters blue light from your screen, replacing it with a warm, amber light as the sun sets. Night Light automatically adapts to the amount of natural sunlight outside based on the time of day, giving you just the right temperature and brightness. The color adjustment is more comfortable on your eyes and greatly improves low-light night reading.

Night Light is rolling out to Android and iOS readers now, and turning it on is easy. To activate Night Light on your phone or tablet, update your Google Play Books app to the latest version through Google Play or the App Store. Then open a book and turn on the Night Light mode option (you’ll see a pop up in the app). After that, Night Light will always adjust to the perfect setting. We hope Night Light will help you drift off into a peaceful slumber once you finish just one more chapter.

Posted by Greg Hartrell, Senior Product Manager, Google Play Books

What makes a watch worth wearing? It should be beautiful and useful. Save you time and express your style. Like mechanical watches, Android Wear watches come in countless sizes, styles, and brands. And the different ways to wear what you want keep growing—just last month, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer and fashion brand Fossil launched their first watches powered by Android Wear.

But a watch’s physical design isn’t the only way to express your style with Android Wear. You can also choose from thousands of inspiring, useful, and downloadable watch faces. Today, we’re sharing new watch faces from nine iconic fashion brands.

• Ted Baker: Reveal your sophisticated side with ten gorgeous designs. 
• Melissa Joy Manning: Rock a different birthstone for every month of the year. 
• Vivienne Tam: Watch Opera Girl twirl, take a selfie, and more.
• Nicole Miller: Stay on track and in style with Nicole Miller’s pop art.
• Y-3: Sport the styles of Yohji Yamamoto, inspired by the beauty of human movement. 
• Mango: Add instant chic to any outfit with this ready-to-wear watch face.
• Zoe Jordan: Free your time of clutter with the clean lines of modern design.
• Harajuku Kawaii!: Express your playful side with this adorable and vibrant watch face. 
• ASICS: Motivate yourself to stay active with the help of your fitness buddy.

Android phone owners can download these watch faces today. And iPhone owners can find these unique designs in their Android Wear mobile app in the coming days. ‘Tis the season for festivities and fun! Pick your fashion favorites to match your outfit, mood, or occasion. 

Posted by Kaitlyn Hurst, Product Marketing Manager, Android Wear