Lucknow Press
Google recently introduced five new and exciting features for Android users that will change the way you use your smartphones, tablets, and Wear OS watches. Whether you are someone who relies on accessibility tools, loves discovering new music, or wants to be prepared for natural disasters, these updates have something for everyone. Let’s find out how these features can make your digital life easier and more fun…
1- For people who cannot see or have low vision, viewing digital content can be difficult. Google’s TalkBack is a tool that helps by reading what’s on the screen out loud. Now, with Google’s new AI Gemini, TalkBack can also describe images in a lot more detail. When you’re looking at your photos, shopping online, or looking at pictures on social media, TalkBack will tell you what’s in the picture, and it will do so in a very clear and precise way. For example, before it would just say “a person”, but now it will tell you what the person is wearing, what’s around, and what the person is doing. This will make digital content easier for everyone, and even for people with low vision to enjoy images to the fullest. This feature will be available on devices that support Gemini, making the technology more useful for everyone.
2- Have you ever heard a song while browsing social media or hanging out with friends, and wondered what song it is? Google’s new feature Circle to Search lets you find it out easily. You don’t need to use a separate app or music recognition tool, just long-press the home button or navigation bar on your Android phone. This will activate Circle to Search, and you can instantly find out what song is playing nearby. It will also tell you the name and artist of the song, and you can also watch a YouTube video of that song. This feature will save you time and you can easily discover new songs without worrying about stopping the work you were doing.
3- If you prefer listening to content instead of reading, Google has added a new feature to Chrome that will read web pages aloud for you. Whether you’re reading the latest news, looking up a recipe, or simply browsing a blog, you can now have the content read aloud to you. You can also change the voice, speed, and language to suit your preference. This feature is very useful if you multitask, like listening to a recipe while cooking, or if you find it easier to listen than to read.
4- Earthquakes are scary, but Google’s Earthquake Alert system warns you before they happen. The system uses data from millions of Android phones to detect earthquakes in real time, and it’s working across the US and six other locations. If you’re in an area where an earthquake might occur, your Android phone will send you an alert a few seconds before it happens. Those few seconds can be crucial, because you can get to a safe place and prepare. After the earthquake hits, the alert will tell you what to do next, so you can stay safe during and after the earthquake.
5- Google Maps can now be viewed offline on Wear OS watches, making it easier to explore new cities. Let’s say you’re on vacation and you want to get around without checking your phone. With this new feature, if you’ve already downloaded a map to your phone, you can view it directly on your smartwatch, even if your phone isn’t with you. This means you can navigate the streets, find tourist sites, or get back to your hotel without an internet connection or a phone. In addition, Google Maps on Wear OS also has two new shortcuts: one lets you search for places with your voice and the other lets you see your location with a single click.
