Google Just Announced Eight New Features for Android
New features are the best part of any software update, but unexpected new features are even better. Google just announced today the release of a new feature that includes eight new features that you can try on your Android device. Surprisingly, these features don’t have much to do with artificial intelligence, which is Google’s current focus. Considering that the AI Reviews project is going pretty poorly , it’s nice to see some traditionally useful features coming to Android.
You can now edit sent messages.
Google is finally providing the ability to edit your RCS messages after they’ve been sent. You have 15 minutes after sending the message to make any changes. To find this option, long-press on a message. Google hasn’t said whether there’s a limit to the number of times you can change a message before the 15-minute timer expires, but the change puts the company in line with other messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp .
New combinations of “Kitchen” emoticons
Emoji Kitchen is a feature that lets you combine compatible emojis to create something completely new. (For example, the winking emoji and the ghost emoji become the winking ghost.) Google is currently releasing new combinations for this feature, but they haven’t yet listed all the possible combinations. In the press release, they highlight just one combination – headphones and a disco ball – as a way to “get ready for festival season.” However, there appears to be more to discover.
Switch between devices during a Google Meet call
In the future, you’ll be able to switch between connected devices during a Google Meet call. To do this, click the Cast button and switch from, say, your web browser to your Android phone or tablet. This is a great feature for those of us who need to step away from our desks during a meeting but want to stay on top of the conversation. This is also great for the opposite: if someone calls you on the phone while you’re on the road, but you’re still chatting when you get home, you can switch to your computer and end the call from your desktop.
Join your hotspot without a password
Google is launching an “instant hotspot” that will let you connect your Android tablet or Chromebook to your phone’s hotspot without having to enter a password every time. It’s a small but welcome change that should make connecting to your hotspot more like connecting to a known Wi-Fi network. (Even if you still have to choose to connect to an access point every time.)
Google Home Favorites Widget
The Google Home Favorites widget is now available on the home screen for those who signed up for the public preview. With it, you can control your smart devices from your phone’s home screen without having to open the Google Home app first. I find this especially useful for quick actions like turning smart lights on and off or checking statistics on devices like smart thermostats.
Google Home Favorites on Wear OS
Additionally, Google is creating a Google Home Favorites tile and complication (essentially a feature on the watch face) for your Wear OS smartwatch. So, the same as above, but on your watch if you prefer to set up your smart home devices from your wrist.
PayPal is now in Google Wallet on Wear OS
In a Google Wallet update, PayPal is now available to pay for anything using your Wear OS smartwatch, at least if you’re in the US or Germany.
Digital car keys
Google is seizing the moment to bring digital car keys to Android, starting with “select MINI models” and later expanding to select Mercedes-Benz and Polestar models. If you have a car that supports this feature, you can lock, unlock, or start your car using your phone, and share your digital car keys with trusted contacts. Digital car keys, like iOS keys, are a slow-moving technology for a variety of reasons, including cybersecurity and lack of standardization. The more companies like Google implement this technology, the more likely it is that car manufacturers will want to add this feature to their cars.
If you’re looking for a new Android phone to try out these new features ( and the rest of Android ), check out some of these recommendations from our sister site PCMag :