Android phones, Wear OS smartwatches are getting new features

Google has announced a bunch of new features for Android ecosystem of devices. As we approach the end of this year, Google has surprised users by releasing new features to Android smartphones, Wear OS-based smartwatches, and Google TV-based smart TVs. Let us check them out in detail.

First up, the Gboard app on Android smartphones and tablets is getting more Emoji Kitchen combinations, which means you can create more unique emojis by combining two standard emojis. The Google Messages app is also getting better at expressing your emotions and moods when you send voice messages. This feature is currently in beta, and it adds a background color and an emoji to match the tone of the voice message. Google Messages is also getting more visible emoji reactions to messages. When you react to a message, the other person in the chat thread can see bigger emoji animations. Google TV-based smart TVs are getting ten new free TV channels that stream over the internet. Users can now watch documentaries, movies, TV shows, and more from over 100 free TV channels from Google TV’s Live TV tab and navigating to Free TV Channels section.

Wear OS-based smartwatches, like the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 5, and Galaxy Watch 6, can now control smart home devices more easily. For example, they can change the color of a compatible smart light bulb using the Google Home app’s color picker. Users can also control other things, such as focus times, turning on/off devices, and docking compatible smart home devices like smart home mops and vacuum cleaners. Using the same app, you can set your home presence status as Away or Home through a simple switch. This is especially handy when your smart home presence sensor malfunctions.

Users will soon be able to start Assistant Routines through voice commands on their Wear OS smartwatches. Users can also set custom PIN to their FIDO2 security keys. So, when your physical digital security key is lost, no one else can access it as they would be required to enter the PIN. The new Assistant At A Glance shortcut shows users their important tasks and updates, such as event reminders, travel updates, and weather conditions, on their Wear OS smartwatch.

Google has added new accessibility features as well. TalkBack feature on Android smartphones and tablets can now use AI to detect what’s in an image (when description is missing) to notify users with that information. This is really useful to users who are blind or have vision impairments. Similar to Bixby Text Call’s ability on One UI 6.0, Google is adding the option to reply during phone calls by texting a response, and Google Assistant will transliterate that to the person on the other side of the call. More languages will be added for Live Captions on voice calls and on-device media playback.

Google has announced a bunch of new features for Android ecosystem of devices. As we approach the end of this year, Google has surprised users by releasing new features to Android smartphones, Wear OS-based smartwatches, and Google TV-based smart TVs. Let us check them out in detail.

First up, the Gboard app on Android smartphones and tablets is getting more Emoji Kitchen combinations, which means you can create more unique emojis by combining two standard emojis. The Google Messages app is also getting better at expressing your emotions and moods when you send voice messages. This feature is currently in beta, and it adds a background color and an emoji to match the tone of the voice message. Google Messages is also getting more visible emoji reactions to messages. When you react to a message, the other person in the chat thread can see bigger emoji animations. Google TV-based smart TVs are getting ten new free TV channels that stream over the internet. Users can now watch documentaries, movies, TV shows, and more from over 100 free TV channels from Google TV’s Live TV tab and navigating to Free TV Channels section.

Wear OS-based smartwatches, like the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 5, and Galaxy Watch 6, can now control smart home devices more easily. For example, they can change the color of a compatible smart light bulb using the Google Home app’s color picker. Users can also control other things, such as focus times, turning on/off devices, and docking compatible smart home devices like smart home mops and vacuum cleaners. Using the same app, you can set your home presence status as Away or Home through a simple switch. This is especially handy when your smart home presence sensor malfunctions.

Users will soon be able to start Assistant Routines through voice commands on their Wear OS smartwatches. Users can also set custom PIN to their FIDO2 security keys. So, when your physical digital security key is lost, no one else can access it as they would be required to enter the PIN. The new Assistant At A Glance shortcut shows users their important tasks and updates, such as event reminders, travel updates, and weather conditions, on their Wear OS smartwatch.

Google has added new accessibility features as well. TalkBack feature on Android smartphones and tablets can now use AI to detect what’s in an image (when description is missing) to notify users with that information. This is really useful to users who are blind or have vision impairments. Similar to Bixby Text Call’s ability on One UI 6.0, Google is adding the option to reply during phone calls by texting a response, and Google Assistant will transliterate that to the person on the other side of the call. More languages will be added for Live Captions on voice calls and on-device media playback.