Android Unveils Five Fresh Functionalities Right Now
Google hasn't disclosed an exact launch date for Android 15 yet, but it's on the horizon. Around October, we might witness the update on compatible devices, bringing forth new features and modifications.
Meanwhile, Google has released a new post today shedding light on five new features intended for Android phones, tablets, and smartwatches.
TalkBack now powered by Gemini
TalkBack is a screen reader tool designed for visually impaired users, offering audio feedback for on-screen elements such as icons and text. When activated, TalkBack describes the selected on-screen content, assisting when the screen is difficult to view.
Now, Google claims its AI model, Gemini, will govern these audio descriptions for images. According to Google, Gemini can recognize various types of images on your phone display, such as photos in your library or products online, and it will describe these images in detail for you.
Chrome will read aloud for you
Even without TalkBack enabled, Android can now read content aloud: Chrome is joining the party. This feature has been in development for at least two months, but Google is officially releasing it today. Apart from text reading, the talk-to-text (TTS) option features playback controls, including speed, voice, and language. Simply request Chrome to read an article, and adjust the controls as per your preference.
Find music using Circle
Two weeks ago, I wrote about Android's Circle to Search feature receiving the ability to search for music. Although this feature was available for Samsung Galaxy S24 devices, it was yet to make its way to other phones.
With Google's recent announcement, it appears Circle to Search for music is coming to more devices. When it's available on your device, you can activate it by long-pressing the navigation bar, then clicking the music icon to initiate the search. It works for music you hum or sing, as well as music playing from your phone or another source.
Expansion of Android Earthquake Alerts System
Google is extending Android's Earthquake Alerts System to encompass all U.S. states as well as six territories. This feature relies on crowd-sourced earthquake detection data: The accelerometer in your smartphone can recognize earthquake vibrations, which it communicates to Google's system. When a sufficient number of smartphones in a certain area detect these vibrations, it suggests a potential earthquake. Regardless of your location in the U.S., you'll receive an alert if one is issued for your current location.
Google employs two types of alerts following detection of a 4.5 magnitude earthquake or stronger: The Awareness Alert is for lighter shaking, appearing as a standard notification. If extreme shaking occurs, Android will display a full-screen alert, instructing you on how to find shelter and protect yourself.
Source: Google## New Google Maps features for smartwatches
Last but not least, Google is introducing several new features for Maps on Wear OS. You'll now be able to access offline maps on your watch. To do so, first, download the map on your connected phone. You can then locate your offline maps by scrolling through Google Maps on your watch. Additionally, you can utilize voice search, and there's a new shortcut to quickly access Google Maps from the watch face.
The new features for Android devices, revealed by Google, include the integration of TalkBack with Gemini, which can now provide detailed audio descriptions for images on your phone. Furthermore, Chrome is now capable of reading content aloud, adding another tech innovation to Android phones.
