Google Adds Useful Features To Android

Google is making major changes to the way Android looks and behaves with the introduction of Android 12. But it’s also adding minute and helpful changes to current versions of Android. This is to ensure that users get a better experience, when using various features.

Google went about creating the worlds’ largest earthquake detection network last year. It accomplished this by harnessing the technology built into Android devices that feed sensor data back to the network. This way, people in earthquake prone areas have an effective early warning system in case they need to seek safety.

The feature is already available in New Zealand and Greece but now it is making its way to Turkey, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Google is prioritizing this earthquake alerts system for countries with higher earthquake risk. But it will be made available to others in the coming year.

Star Your Messages
Users will now be able to star messages within the Message app. If you’re anything like me, dealing with a constant barrage of messages from friends, family and co-workers can sometimes be overwhelming. And as such it’s difficult to keep track of messages that are important. just tap and hold a message to star it.

If you want to revisit said message, tap on the starred category. This is a simple and effective way of keeping tabs on your important communications. Expect to see this new future on Android phones in the coming weeks.

More Useful Emojis
Let’s face it. Emojis have cemented their presence in our daily lives. They help us convey emotion and context of a conversation without saying too much. In May Google introduced a new feature to Emoji Kitchen that allows users to access their most frequently used emojis. But now, the system can provide contextual suggestions once you’ve typed a message.

This feature is supposed to help you use the perfect emoji combination when you need it. Google says this is available in Gboard beta today but will roll out to Gboard users in the coming months for messages written in English, Spanish and Portuguese on devices running Android 6.0 and above.

Voice Assistant Is Smarter
Users can ask Google to open or seach many of their favorite apps with their voice. This includes asking the voice assistant to open an app to make payment or check fitness statistics. It can now understand the context in a command and act on it. If you’re unsure of the extent of its capabilities, just say “Hey google, shortcuts.” The assistant will provide you with a list of what it can do.

More Helpful To People With Motor Disabilities
Voice Access can be made to work only when you’re looking at the screen. It can also recognize password fields and allow you to input letters, numbers and symbols. It’s a more convenient way to fill in forms and access information.

Improvements to Android Auto
Users can personalize the launcher screen directly from their phone and manually select dark mode. It is also easier to browse content with new tabs in media apps, a “back to top” option and an A to Z button in the scroll bar.

EV charging, parking and navigation apps are now available to use in Android Auto. The messaging experience has also received improvement. Users can access their favorite messaging apps from the launcher screen. Here they can view and send messages from the launcher screen itself.

These Android Auto features are available to phones running Android 6.0 or higher and when connected to vehicles that support the system.