On this Friday, December 1, 2023, Google has just announced the future arrival of many new features on Android, both on smartphones, on connected watches running Wear OS and even on devices running Google TV. We take stock together.
While Google is quietly continuing the deployment of Android 14 on various compatible smartphones, the Mountain View firm has just announced on its official blog the future arrival of many new features on its flagship operating system. These new features obviously concern smartphones, but also connected watches running Wear OS like the Pixel Watch, or even devices running Google TV. In total, the company presented no less than 11 features and updates. We take stock together.
Also read: Android 14 – new features, compatible smartphones, release date, everything you need to know about the update
Overview of new features coming to Android
Merge emojis
Soon, users of the Gboard keyboard on iOS and Android will be able to go further in personalizing their conversations. Indeed, we will soon be able merge emojis to create new stickers. Let’s take an example, take a classic Smiley emoji and merge it with the Camera emoji to include the smiley directly in the camera lens. And there you have it, you have a unique emoji.
Voice Moods, to express your mood in a voice message
Google Messages will soon welcome a new feature in beta. Called Voice Moods, it allows, as its name suggests, add a custom background to your voice messages. To put it simply, when you have recorded your voice, you can apply a visual theme based on emojis. “Whether you’re surprised, laughing, or feeling loved, you can better express how you feel in the moment,” explains Google.
React with full-screen emojis on Google Messages
We continue on Google Messages with a beta feature called Reaction Effects. As you know, we can react to messages with emojis like a thumbs up or a smiley face. But with this new feature, the emojis you use to react to a message will now appear in large screen.
Google TV is stocking up on free channels
Users of Google TV devices residing in the United States will soon be able to access the Live section at 10 additional free TV channels. As a reminder, Google TV allows the USA to access dozens of live channels free of charge, focused on sport, series, relaxation, documentaries and even video games.
More options for controlling connected objects on your smartwatch
Connected watches running Wear OS 3+ now have more options for controlling connected objects in your home. For example, you can control all of your connected lights from your smartwatch, to turn them on remotely or even change the color temperature for a more subdued atmosphere.
But that’s not all, since owners of smartwatches running Wear OS will also be able to change their Google Home status on their connected watch (i.e. Home or Away Absent). A welcome function for quickly configuring connected objects depending on whether you are at home or away.
Google Assistant helps you with your routines on Wear OS
Yet another new feature for users of connected watches running Wear OS. Very soon, we will be able to activate routines saved in Google Assistant on your smartwatch through simple voice commands. To summarize, if you have already configured a routine on the Google Assistant for going to work (including road traffic, weather and today’s agenda), you will be able to consult all of its information on your connected watch. Quite practical.
Personalized PINs are making their debut
Google then focuses on the famous security key authentication with personalized PIN, one of the latest advances in the field of digital security. From now on, it will be possible to configure a custom PIN on your FIDO2 security key to quickly connect to sites/services that require authentication (without a password).
More inclusiveness and accessibility
We finally conclude this overview with new features in favor of inclusiveness and accessibility. Thus, for visually impaired and blind users, the TalkBack tool offers and speaks aloud a detailed description of an image. This feature is based on artificial intelligence. Afterwards, Live Caption will take care of displaying live subtitles during phone calls or while playing media on your smartphone (on YouTube, in your messages, etc.).
As Google specifies, these new features will arrive in the applications concerned in the coming weeks, via updates.