Newsletter 
Google’s Authenticator application may not receive the same amount of attention as their most popular products, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t widely used. Today, Google has started the update process for Google Authenticator which not only introduces a brand new UI design, changing a look which hadn’t been touched in years, but they’re also introducing some other new and useful features for those who have an Android Wear device. The update should be live for everyone, and you can grab the application from the Play Store to download and install it. As for what’s new in addition to the design overhaul, users should also expect some improvements and bug fixes which has become pretty standard of generally any update to an Android app.
The first and most obvious change will be the new look for the application UI. Everything is dipped from head to toe in Google’s Material Design, which is likely a sight for sore eyes to anyone who has been using this app prior to today. This should be version 4.44 of the app for those wondering. If this would be your first time interacting with Google Authenticator, the app’s purpose is to deliver the user 2-factor authentication codes for those who have 2-factor authentication set up for their Google accounts. If you’re one of those users, you might want to consider it as it provides a better layer of protection for your personal information that travels through email.
Alongside the new Material Design UI, Google Authenticator now also has support for Android Wear devices, and no matter which Android Wear smartwatch you own, the support applies. This means 2-factor codes can be delivered to your wrist as well, which might make it easier for you to log in to accounts on other devices without pulling your phone out of your pocket to look at the incoming SMS message which is the usual method of delivery for these codes. Lastly, Google has added a nice little tidbit for developers, as support for NFC security keys are now available to work with. That’s it for the changes, and admittedly there isn’t a whole lot of new functionality included, but what has been introduced should be plenty useful.
