Google just made over its Google Play Music streaming app, Venture Beat reports. “Probably the most fascinating aspect of the new version of the app is that, if you opt in, it will recommend music that’s appropriate given your location and what you’re currently doing,” it notes. “So if you’re sitting in your office, Google will suggest music that’s appropriate for that context.”

With Apple Pay, users can now make donations to non-profits, TechCrunch reports. “This includes both Apple Pay on the web, where it can be integrated into websites’ checkout flow, as well as within mobile applications,” it notes. “The changes are rolling out just ahead of the holidays, something participating non-profits hope will have a big impact on their ability to raise funds during this time of increased charitable giving.”

Across desktop and mobile, there are now 2 billion Chrome installs in active use, TechCrunch reports, citing comments in a Friday keynote by Chrome Engineering VP Darin Fisher. Sadly, Google didn’t announce any new user numbers for Chrome today,” it notes. “The latest stat for active Chrome users remains at 1 billion -- a number Google shared in April.”

With the latest version of PayPal’s iOS app, users can tell Siri to send or ask their friends and family for money -- through PayPal, of course. “This capability is possible because Apple has exposed the SiriKit tooling for developers building for iOS 10,” Venture Beat reports. “As a result, Siri can do things inside third-party applications, not just Apple’s own apps.”

Google is finally rolling out a new Gmail app for the iPhone and iPad. “It brings both design and functionality up to part with the Android app,” Engadget reports. “Indeed, the app is basically indistinguishable with its Android counterpart now.” Now, “There's no doubt that Gmail is much faster than it used to be.” Among other new features, “The super-handy ‘undo send’ feature is now available, saving your butt if you fire off an email to the entire company instead of just one person.”

Beginning early next year, Apple reportedly plans to let NBCUniversal handle ad sales for its News app. “Publishers who put content on the app can still sell their own ads and will keep 100 percent of the revenue from any ads they sell,” Recode writes. “The new deal means that NBCUniversal, instead of Apple, will sell any remaining ad inventory.”

Going up against Apple’s Siri and Ok Google, Samsung is developing an artificial intelligence digital assistant for its upcoming Galaxy S8 smartphone. Making the move possible, “The world’s top smartphone maker in October announced the acquisition of Viv Labs Inc, a firm run by a co-creator of Apple Inc’s Siri voice assistant program,” says Reuters. “Samsung plans to integrate the San Jose-based company's AI platform, called Viv, into the Galaxy smartphones and expand voice-assistant services to home appliances and wearable technology devices.”

During the third quarter, The New York Times Company saw digital advertising increase by 21% to $44 million. As such, “Digital now represents 36 percent of the Times’ overall ad revenue,” NiemanLab notes. Better yet, “The Times added 116,000 digital subscribers last quarter, bringing its industry-leading total to 1.3 million.” Unfortunately, the company said print ad revenue declined by 19%, last quarter, driving total ad revenue down by 8%.

Amazon this week is rolling out Rapids -- a new app and subscription service designed to get children hooked on reading. “Rapids presents stories in a variety of genres -- including adventure, fantasy, humor, mystery, science fiction and sports -- told in the style of chat sessions,” GeekWire reports. “The short stories and accompanying illustrations unfold as characters chat back and forth.”

Toyota just unveiled its Smart Key Box -- a Bluetooth-enabled device that lets users unlock and start their car engines using only their smartphone. As The Verge puts it: “Toyota is jumping into the increasingly crowded car-sharing market, and it’s doing it with a flair for innovation that helps explain why it’s the world’s biggest auto seller.” In practice, “A vehicle owner who wants to make some money on the side lending their car to other people can install the Smart Key Box on their dashboard, no modification needed.”