Apps & Services
Google announces new features for Android Auto and WearOS
Google has recently announced nine new features that will be available on its different Android devices, which include smartphones, smartwatches, and Android Auto. In a post, the company revealed that it will provide some updates for its ecosystem application to increase the productivity of users.
Android Auto gets AI-powered services
Last month, Google revealed that it had made some AI-powered features. The company announced that some new AI features will be available for Android Auto, initially exclusive to Galaxy S24 users, but is now planning to make the AI service available to all Android users.
The Big G announced that Android Auto can now automatically summarize long text messages or those from group chats to reduce distractions while the user is working. Along with this, the assistant will also provide some quick, relevant answers and suggest actions so you can single-click to reply to some messages.
WearOS-powered smartwatches will get two new utility features
Google always takes care of its products, and from time to time, it introduces some new features for them. However, new features are not only introduced with major software updates but also with application updates. Currently, the company has announced the addition of two new features to Google Maps and Google Wallet.
As we discussed earlier, Google will bring the utility option for Google Wallet, where users will get the space to store passes and tickets, gym memberships, loyalty cards, and much more from their smartwatches directly. Now the company has officially announced it. However, you fully control whether you want to show your wallet content on a smartwatch or not.
Along with this, Google Maps is also an important feature of public transit. With this option, users will get more information about the departure times of public transport to obtain guided navigation directions towards the destination. The user can also decide to configure some options and then follow the directions on the smartwatch.
Google is adding an extra layer of facility by offering a new feature, ‘text editing’, in its messaging app, Google Message.
Google is gearing up to send a text editing feature for Google Messages, which would permit you to edit any message even after sending it, but within the particular last few minutes. Initially, Google was spotted working on a message editing feature for Google Messages back in February, and finally, the feature has come into existence.
At the moment, Google is rolling out this feature only for beta users. This is being speculated by a post on X shared by a user, @Jhowkira2000 (via AssembleDebug on X), who stated that the messaging editing feature is already available for a short range of users.
But here’s the catch: you can only edit messages when you and your conversation partner have the feature. It is reported that the giant has set a 15-minute time limit, so if you want to edit a message after sending it, you have to edit it within 15 minutes; after that, you won’t be able to edit. Plus, anyone can see the original, unedited message in the message details. The conversation will display the edited message, giving it a cleaner view.
You can easily edit the message just by pressing long on the message you want to edit and then clicking on the pencil icon housed in the top toolbar. At the moment, the feature is in the beta stage, but it is expected that soon the brand will roll out the feature stably.
Your smart driving companion Android Auto getting a new beta update and it’s ready to download.
Google is active in upgrading the Android Auto facility since continuously it delivers new updates to offer new functionality and fix bugs as per the requirements, and now it is delivering an Android Auto Beta 12. Android Auto is a Google-designed application that helps drivers keep focused on the road by using Google Assistant to manage entertainment, calls, messages, locations, and more.
Android Auto 12 Beta update Available to Download
The new version is beta 12, and as per ritual, Google has not published an official changelog with the new features introduced. It’s quite inconvenient for users not to easily get detailed information about the new features and improvements that arrived with the update. But you can get the latest Android Auto 12 Beta update here.
Possibly even with this version, the developers have limited themselves to fixing a few bugs that were present in the previous version and were creating a kind of inconvenience to users in their seamless experience and making some minor general improvements.
A couple of days ago, Google delivered the Android Auto 11.9 stable update. Android Auto offers you dozens of facilities to make drivers’ driving experience more comfortable, as it lets you make calls using Google Assistant and answer incoming calls with just a tap, offers you updates on your route, ETA, and hazards in real-time, access your contacts folder and send and receive messages with the Google Assistant using SMS, Hangouts, and many more messaging apps, and so on.
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The Matter is an open standard platform for smart home technology that lets the device connect with any matter-certified ecosystem using a single protocol, which provides a smooth experience while using the smart home devices. Now the platform has started grabbing new updates with v1.3, and with the latest update, it has started to support more smart home devices.
Metter 1.3 brings support for ten more devices with new features
The Matter platform partner company has announced the release of the Matter 1.3 update, which will provide support for several smart kitchen appliances, electric vehicle chargers, sensors, and valves. You can check out all the smart devices listed below:
- Cooktops
- Dryers
- Electric vehicle chargers
- Extractor Hoods
- Freeze detectors
- Microwave Ovens
- Ovens
- Leak Detectors
- Rain Sensors
- Water Valves
Along with the expansion of the device support list, the latter update for software updates also brings some new features like energy tracking, which lets users track the energy usage of the device throughout the day. Secondly, it has introduced scenes, which help users do several actions in batch form. For instance, you can create a scene in which room lights turn on when you close the door.
Additionally, now the TVs that support Matter can display notifications about the progress of other home-based devices. With this functionality, Matter Cast becomes a great alternative for other systems like AirPlay and Google Cast.
Samsung should quickly bring Matter’s new version to SmartThings
Samsung has adapted the Matter functionality with its SmartThings platform, but the company hasn’t focused on bringing innovations for the devices and hasn’t brought the Matter 1.2 support, and it looks like the company may take some more time to bring the functionality for the smart things. So for the latest 1.3 updates, it looks like Samsung Galaxy device users have to wait for a couple of months.