Google announces new features for Android: All you need to know

Both the sender and receiver need to have Chat features enabled and have an active internet connection. One can send messages via SMS/MMS, but those won’t be end-to-end encrypted. Google says the end-to-end encryption is available for one-on-one conversations. There is no word on when it will be available for group chats.

Android Earthquake Alerts System is rolling out globally

Google is now introducing the Android Earthquake Alerts System in more countries like Turkey, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The alert system was first launched in 2020 to help people in affected areas get alerts seconds before an earthquake hits. The Android Earthquake Alerts System was recently launched in New Zealand and Greece.

“We are prioritising launching Earthquake Alerts in countries with higher earthquake risks, and hope to launch in more and more countries over the coming year,” Google said.

You can now ‘Star’ conversations on Google Messages app

Google is finally adding the ability to “star” important conversations. Users can now bookmark specific messages and can quickly refer back to them later. All you need to do is tap and hold the message, then star it. If you want to revisit a message, like your friend’s address or the photo from your family reunion, you just need to tap on the starred category. Google says the starred messages feature will be rolling out to the Messages app “over the coming weeks.”

Gboard gets Emoji Kitchen recommendations

Gboard users will now see contextual suggestions in Emoji Kitchen once they type a message. In simpler terms, Google’s keyboard will suggest your custom emoji creations based on your message. However, the Contextual Emoji Kitchen suggestions are currently only available for Gboard beta users. Google has confirmed that the feature will be coming to all Gboard users this summer for messages written in English, Spanish and Portuguese on devices running Android 6.0 and above.

Open apps using voice

You can now ask Google to open or search your favourite apps using your voice. For example, you can say things like, “Hey Google, pay my Capital One bill” to jump right into the app and complete the task, or “Hey Google, check my miles on Strava” to quickly see your weekly progress right on the lock screen.

Android Auto new features

Android Auto users can now personalise their launcher screen directly from the phone and manually set dark mode. The search giant has also added new app experiences to help enhance your drive. EV charging, parking and navigation apps are now available to use in Android Auto. You can now quickly scroll to the top of a list. Additionally, the scroll bar is also getting an A to Z button.

In a blog post, the company asserted that it has improved the messaging experience for apps like Messages and WhatsApp to make it easier to send or read messages. “These Android Auto features are available on phones running Android 6.0 or above, and when connected to your compatible car,” Google said.