Android Adds Text Message Editing, New Emoji Mashups and Better Wear OS Support
Android Adds Text Message Editing, New Emoji Mashups and Better Wear OS Support
Enhancements to Android: New Features and Improved Wear OS Support
Text Message Editing
Android now allows users to edit text messages after they've been sent, providing a 15-minute window to correct typos or add information directly in Google Messages.
Cross-Device Connectivity
New features enable seamless sharing of hotspots and switching between devices during Google Meet calls, enhancing user experience across Android devices.
Emoji Kitchen Updates
Android's Emoji Kitchen will introduce new sticker combinations, allowing users to merge emojis and create unique stickers directly from the keyboard.
Home Device Control from Phone
Android introduces a Google Home favorites widget for the home screen, enabling direct control of smart home devices like lights and thermostats.
Enhanced Wear OS Features
New updates to Wear OS include managing smart home devices from your watch and expanded payment options through Google Wallet, improving functionality and convenience for users.
What is the purpose of the Instant Hotspot feature, and how does it simplify connecting Android devices to the internet?
The purpose of the Instant Hotspot feature is to allow Android users to connect their devices to the internet more easily using their phone's hotspot. With Instant Hotspot, you can connect your Android tablet or Chromebook to your phone's hotspot with a single tap, without needing to enter a password on each device. This feature simplifies the process of connecting Android devices to the internet, making it faster and more convenient for users.
What are the seven new features announced by Google for the Android operating system?
Google has announced seven new features for the Android operating system aimed at enhancing users' everyday experiences. These features include:
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Editing text messages after they've been sent: In Google Messages, users can now edit messages even after they've been sent1. This feature is available for RCS messages and allows users to fix typos or add more information up to 15 minutes after the message has been sent.
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Easily sharing hotspots and switching between devices during video calls: The new Instant Hotspot feature allows users to connect their phone's hotspot with their Android tablet or Chromebook with a single tap, without having to enter a password. Additionally, users can switch between devices while on a Google Meet call.
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New sticker combinations in Emoji Kitchen: Emoji Kitchen, a tool that lets users combine any two emojis to create a new sticker, is getting more combinations, such as the disco ball and headphones.
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Controlling Google Home devices from the phone's home screen: Users can now add the Google Home favorites widget to their home screen to manage and control their most-used smart devices, like the Nest Thermostat, Philips LED smart bulbs, and the Wyze security camera system.
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Managing smart devices and enjoying more ways to pay from Wear OS watch: Android is bringing new features to Wear OS smartwatches, including the ability to manage favorite smart devices and more ways to pay from the wrist. Users can get a tile and complication on their Wear OS watch to quickly view and control any of their connected smart home devices. Moreover, users in the US and Germany can now use their Wear OS watch to pay with PayPal on Google Wallet.
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Digital car keys for more vehicles: Digital car keys are now available for select Mini models and will soon come to select Mercedes-Benz and Polestar vehicles. Users can use these digital car keys to unlock their car, start their car, or share their keys with family and friends, all from their phone.
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Effortlessly share hotspots and switch between devices for video calls: With instant hotspot, users will be able to connect their Android tablet or Chromebook to their phone's hotspot with one tap. If users need to change devices in the middle of a Google Meet call, they'll be able to tap the Cast icon to seamlessly switch between their connected devices.