Google Is Adding New Widgets And Photo Memories to Android

Google is adding a few nifty features with the aim at consolidating the Android experience. One of said updates is Family Bell. Its purpose is to keep you and your family on schedule, regardless of where you are. It works across Android phones, home speakers and smart displays. A reminder in the form of bells and notifications will alert everyone of important events.

Bells can be set for any number of activities, which include watering the garden, movie night or attending a gathering. Family members will also be able to set bells on their own devices to keep track of individual goals. Google says that Family bell is easy to edit, manage and customize from any device.

Besides this, Google is also introducing new widgets that offer helpful information. The Google Play Books widget makes it more convenient to access your full library of books and keep track audiobook progress. YouTube Music widget gives you access to playback controls and recently played tracks on your home screen.

Next week, the Search giant will introduce the Google Photos People & Pets widget. Its purpose is to put pictures of your loved ones on your home screen. All you have to do is select a few faces and appropriately sized frame, then widget will fill it with an image.

That isn’t all because this week Google is introducing Memories in Google Photos. It lets you look back on precious moments captured on camera. These memories appear in your phot grid based on a curated photo and video selection that encapsulates important occasions like birthdays, graduations and other parties.

If you don’t like a particular selection, that can be changed. The controls allow users to remove or change memories that are placed in the photo grid. Though it has taken longer than expected, it’s nice to see that Google has caught on to this Apple-like feature.

An update to Android Auto will now allow the service to launch automatically when you’ve connected a compatible Android phone to your infotainment system. Smart Reply, a feature that’s coming soon, will allow you to respond to text messages with the help of Google Assistant while driving.

In addition to this, you’ll soon be able to use voice commands to search for music in our favorite media apps. Once it’s available, tap the search icon and say the name of your favorite artist or song, to begin.

Lastly, you can now use your Android phone to lock, unlock and start cars that are compatible with the platform. Digital car keys are also available in certain countries for the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S21 for compatible BMW cars.

This past year, we have witnessed Google’s commitment to improving the overall user experience. The introduction of helpful features, new overall look with Android 12 and now widgets, have elevated the overall appeal of Android.