Gemini app redesigns ‘plus’ menu, adds Canvas and Audio Overviews

The Gemini app has rolled out significant updates for both Android and iOS users, including a redesign of the 'plus' menu and the introduction of new features like Canvas and Audio Overviews.

The revamped 'plus' menu now displays Camera, Gallery, Files, and Drive (not available on iOS) side-by-side, offering a more streamlined and user-friendly interface. Beneath the pill-shaped buttons, users will find shortcuts for Deep Research (for in-depth answers) and Canvas (to create docs and code).

A new addition to Gemini is Canvas, which is now accessible on mobile devices. This feature enables users to create and manage documents and code directly within the app. However, Canvas on mobile doesn’t yet offer the split interface available on desktop, meaning users can view drafts but need to close a document and start a new chat to make changes. The ability to highlight and edit text is also unavailable on mobile.

Another exciting update is the introduction of Audio Overviews, which allows users to generate podcast-like summaries. While loading a document or slideshow, mobile users will see a new chip suggestion titled “Create Audio Overview,” alongside the option to “Talk About It Live” (the latter feature is not fully available on Android yet). You can also open an additional menu in Deep Research reports to create a podcast.

Once the audio overview is created, it takes a few minutes for Gemini to generate a conversation between two AI hosts. Google will send a notification once it’s ready. Users can access the history of these audio overviews through the chat history section in the top left corner of the main screen.

These audio overviews can last for several minutes and aim to summarize the material, establish connections between topics, and provide unique perspectives. It's important to note that audio overviews based on files are generated from the source material rather than real-world knowledge.