Google announces 8 New Features Rolling Out to an Android Phone near you

Google has just announced the latest Android feature drop, which is bringing eight new features to Android phones. These features are not part of an OTA update but rather part of app updates that will be rolling out over the coming days and weeks.

First up is the ability to edit messages in Google Messages. Yes, that’s right. Google is going to let you edit messages after they are sent in Google Messages. The caveat here is that this will only work if both parties have Google’s RCS enabled in the app, and only for up to 15 minutes after the message is sent. It’s pretty easy to edit these messages; just tap and hold on to a sent RCS message to edit.

Google is also going to allow you to switch between devices for video calls. So if you’re on a Google Meet call and want to switch from your laptop to your phone, you can do that, without dropping out of the meeting. Just hit the Cast icon to move it over.

The Emoji Kitchen is also getting some nice additions this time around, with additional combinations. There are some new emojis like the disco ball and headphones available, too.

Instant Hotspot makes sharing internet a breeze

One of the bigger features that’s coming to Android is Instant Hotspot. This is going to make it a breeze to hotspot your phone to your laptop or tablet, doing it with a single tap. This is similar to what Apple already has available for its products. You will need to make sure that both devices are signed into the same Google account to make this happen.

Google Home is, at last, getting a home screen widget. A feature that we should have had many years ago, but it is finally here. The widget will show your “favorites” from Google Home on your home screen. So you are able to easily turn on or off lights, adjust the thermostat, check the doorbell and more.

On the subject of Google Home, Wear OS is getting a new tile – Google Home. And it’s also getting some complications too. Additionally, you can now pay with PayPal from your Wear OS Watch. This feature is going to be limited to the US and Germany.

There’s one more feature, but it won’t affect most of you. Google is expanding the Digital Car Key to more vehicles. It’s now available on select MINI models and will expand to Mercedes-Benz and Polestar vehicles in the very near future.

May 30, 2024