Like Microsoft, Google engages in some “steady innovation” on Android, and it introduced some new options for the cell platform this week.
“A couple of weeks in the past at Google I/O, we introduced options that may make Android units extra useful, safe and expressive,” Google director Judy Chang writes within the announcement publish. “We’re introducing these all through this 12 months inside common updates, guaranteeing your units preserve enhancing in between our yearly OS releases.” (And between Google’s quarterly Pixel function drops, for you Pixel customers.)
Here’s what Google introduced for Android-based smartphones, tablets, and WearOS smartwatches. It’s unclear when or how a few of these new options will probably be delivered.
Studying observe. This new expertise for the Google Play Books & Audiobooks app “helps new readers enhance vocabulary and comprehension abilities utilizing their Android telephones and tablets with 1000’s of suitable kids’s ebooks out there – together with choices at no cost.” Appropriate kids’s ebooks are marked with a “Follow” badge.
New widgets. Google has launched three new widgets—Google TV, Finance, and Information—for Android-based telephones and tablets.
Spotify for WearOS. It’s unclear why Google added this to the checklist, however the Spotify app for WearOS is now out there so you possibly can hearken to and management music playback out of your wrist.
Extra public transportation help in Google Pockets. Commuters in Washington, D.C. and the San Francisco Bay Space can now import SmarTrip and Clipper playing cards into Google Pockets to faucet and experience through their smartwatch. (You may find out about different new Pockets options right here.)
Google Hold for WearOS. Google’s note-taking app is now out there on WearOS so you possibly can rapidly entry a to-do or notice out of your wrist.
New themed emoji mixes in Emoji Kitchen. Google’s Gboard has an Emoji Kitchen function that permits you to remix your favourite emoji into stickers which you could ship as messages. And now there are new aquatic-themed emoji combos you need to use.
Darkish net report. This new function for Google Accounts within the U.S. is obtainable on the Google One web site and app. It allows you to see whether or not your Gmail handle has been uncovered on the darkish net, after which get steering about what you are able to do if it has. “Google One members within the U.S. are in a position to scan for added private data, similar to their social safety quantity,” the agency notes. Entry to this function will develop to greater than 20 international locations within the coming months.
Yow will discover out extra about these and different recently-added Android options on the Android web site.