With the discharge of Android 14 creeping closer, Google simply introduced a makeover for the Android model, which was final up to date in 2019. The emblem has been modernized, and the Android mascot, referred to as Bugdroid, has a recent 3D look. The corporate additionally unveiled a handful of latest options for Google apps and Android gadgets, together with a Google Assistant-powered widget and the choice to retailer digital variations of library and gymnasium playing cards in your Google Pockets.
The brand new look is designed to “mirror Android’s core ethos of being open, iterative, and inclusive.” To any extent further, it’s Android with a capital “A,” and the Android emblem has grown curvier, bringing it nearer to the type of the Google emblem. The tiny inexperienced robotic that has lengthy served as Android’s mascot has been rendered in 3D and has a brand new visible identification, with recent colours (together with a natty rainbow end), equipment (like a scarf and hat), and a few playful animations.
Scorching on the heels of the Android rebrand comes Google’s quarterly Android function drop. First up is the Assistant At a Glance widget on your house display, a revamp of the prevailing At a Look widget. It employs machine studying algorithms to supply snippets of related info, similar to native climate, journey updates on your flights, and helpful occasion reminders.
A brand new function referred to as Image Q&A on Google’s Lookout app makes use of synthetic intelligence to generate detailed descriptions of photographs, so as a substitute of counting on rudimentary alt tags, people who find themselves blind or have low imaginative and prescient can get correct descriptions of a picture and even ask follow-up inquiries to study extra about it. Google has additionally added one other 11 languages to the Lookout app, together with Chinese language, Korean, and Japanese.
Google Pockets is getting the much-needed potential to import and digitize passes with barcodes or QR codes. Meaning you’ll be able to add a photograph of your gymnasium move or library card and retailer a safe, digital model of it in Google Pockets, which is able to come in useful if you neglect your precise pockets once more.
Android Auto is getting assist for Webex and Zoom audio convention calls. Sure, meaning you’ll be able to be a part of conferences on both platform and browse your schedules in your automobile show. You’ll be able to mute your mic and finish the decision via Android Auto. Helpful for if you’re working late however really want to affix a name. Implementing it into your automobile’s system hopefully means you will not use your cellphone whereas driving.
The ultimate new function is tied to Google Assistant—you’ll be able to add sleep-tracking knowledge from Fitbit or Google Match right into a Google Assistant Routine. Say, “Hey Google, good morning” after you set it as much as get a recap of your sleep stats alongside your morning information, together with if you fell asleep and what number of hours of shuteye you managed to get.
These options are rolling out beginning immediately and don’t require an over-the-air system replace. As a substitute, hold a watch out for app updates within the Google Play Retailer.
