Google is releasing a grab bag of updates to its cellular apps and providers, together with an At a Look Google Assistant widget, enhancements to its Lookout visible accessibility app, and Zoom calls in Android Auto. This comes with a facet of branding updates designed to remind us that Android is enjoyable but additionally a severe Google product. All of it arrives as we anticipate Android 14’s imminent release, which is a barely much less thrilling milestone if you notice that most new Android features come throughout the year in updates like this fairly than in a single large OS platform improve.
The brand new At a Look widget takes a useful Pixel feature to extra units. It dynamically affords useful details about your occasions, journey, and native climate. Google can also be updating Pockets to make it simpler to add passes with barcodes and QR codes by including a photograph import characteristic.
The Lookout app, which supplies descriptions of on-screen imagery for individuals with low imaginative and prescient or blindness, will be capable to describe scenes extra intelligently and reply follow-up questions. And Android Auto is including assist for becoming a member of Zoom and Webex calls, albeit audio-only.
In the meantime, the Android emblem will begin wanting a bit of totally different. The typeface will extra intently match the one utilized by Google’s personal emblem, and Android will probably be spelled with a capital A now. Google model supervisor Jason Fournier describes the change in a company blog post, saying that it “extra intently mirrors Google’s emblem and creates stability between the 2.” Moreover, the robotic will tackle a 3D look, with colourful variations because the event requires it. There’s a furry-textured one, too, and I don’t suppose I prefer it.