The latest release of the Android operating system is set to introduce nearly a dozen new features for Android users across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, Wear OS smartwatches, and Google TV devices.
Google is also celebrating a significant milestone, with over 1 billion monthly active users adopting the RCS (Rich Communication Services) technology, which serves as a replacement for SMS and has recently gained Apple’s support amid regulatory pressure. This figure has risen from 800 million monthly active users in May 2023.
The new version of Android comes with several messaging enhancements, including a beta feature called “Voice Moods” that incorporates colorful backgrounds and emoji themes into voice messages, allowing recipients to better understand the sender’s emotions, such as surprise, laughter, or feeling loved.
Another beta feature, “Reaction Effects,” will create full-screen animated emojis in response to individual messages, akin to Apple’s iMessage message effects.
Google’s Emoji Kitchen, which allows users to mix emojis into new combinations, will now include new sticker combinations that can be shared through the Gboard keyboard app.
For Wear OS smartwatch users, the update introduces the ability to control smart home devices and light groups from the watch’s screen, including smart appliances like robot vacuums and mops. Users can also adjust light groups for different themes, such as focus time, reading, or dinner, and set their Google Home status to “Home” or “Away” from the watch, enabling control over lights, cameras, and door locks when leaving and returning.
While not immediately available, a future smart home feature will enable Wear OS users to initiate Assistant Routines through voice commands on their watch, streamlining tasks like navigating to work, checking the weather, and reviewing the day’s agenda.
Additional updates include accessibility and security improvements, with an AI-powered TalkBack feature that describes images without text descriptions for blind and low-vision users, Live Captions support for more languages during phone calls, and the ability to reply with text during calls.
On the security front, users can set a custom PIN for FIDO2 security keys to enable passwordless logins for websites or apps.
Android-powered Google TV will also see an expansion with over 10 new free channels added to its lineup, bringing the total to over 100 free channels offering movies, game shows, sports, and more.
Google notes that the availability of these features may vary based on the specific platform and device requirements. For example, Wear OS updates are intended for Wear OS 3+, Live Captions support is available for Android 10+, and the Talkback feature is for Android 11+.
