Google announces 5 new android features updates

Google has introduced new features for smartphones, tablets, and Wear OS watches. These include an improved earthquake alert system that can warn users of a potential earthquake from anywhere in the United States, an updated "Circle to Search" feature that helps users instantly recognize music, offline maps for smartwatches, and other useful features.

The new features are explained in more detail below

1. TalkBack feature

TalkBack is a screen reader developed by Google that is available on many Android devices. It provides voice assistance to people with visual impairments, allowing them to use their device without having to look at the screen.

The feature can now use Google's powerful Gemini Language Model to instantly generate detailed audio descriptions for images. Users can now hear descriptions of various types of images, including online products, photos on their camera roll, and images in text messages.

2. Google Chrome "Listen to this page" feature

Google Chrome can now read aloud articles and web pages using text-to-speech technology. To use this feature, users need to open the menu of any web page and click on the "Listen to this page" button.

Users can pause or play audio, skip forward or backward 10 seconds, scroll to the desired time, and turn on text highlighting and automatic scrolling. Additionally, they can change the listening speed, preferred voice, and language.

3. Offline Google Maps for smartwatch Wear OS

When users download a map to their phone or other Android device, it will automatically sync with their smartwatch. This allows to use the map even if there is no Internet connection.

In addition, Google Maps for Wear OS has two new keyboard shortcuts that allow to search for destinations using voice or view the surroundings with a single tap on the watch face.

4. Music recognition function "Circle to Search"

Now, users can use a feature based on artificial intelligence that will help them find a song, regardless of whether it is playing outside or inside the device, for example on social networks.

Users can easily activate Circle to Search by holding down the Home button for a few seconds or the navigation bar. In addition to showing the title of the song and the artist, it also provides links to music videos on YouTube.

5. Expanded earthquake alert system for Android.

Now, the earthquake alert feature has been expanded to all US states and their six territories. The Android earthquake alert system currently sends two types of earthquake alerts with a magnitude greater than 4.5: "Be aware" alerts, which signal weak or light tremors, and "Take action" alerts, which signal moderate or strong tremors.

These features will be included in Android 15, which will be released this year on a wider range of devices, including Pixel phones.