Google is bringing a wave of new features to Android phones, focusing on safety, accessibility, and enhanced user experience. This update comes alongside the significant milestone of Android 15 nearing its public release.
Earthquake Alerts: A Nationwide Safety Net
Google’s impressive earthquake alert system, previously in testing since 2020, is now available across all US states and territories. Utilizing vibration readings from phone accelerometers and crowdsourced data from the Android Earthquake Alerts System, your phone can detect seismic activity and send timely warnings.
These alerts, triggered when an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 or higher is detected, come in two forms:
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Be Aware:
This alert advises users to brace themselves in case light shaking intensifies.*
Take Action:
This warning prompts users to seek immediate cover during strong shaking.In addition to the alerts, a dedicated dashboard provides further safety instructions and resources. Earthquake alerts are enabled by default on Android phones.
Music Discovery with AI Boost
Google Assistant’s popular ‘Hum to Search’ feature, which identifies songs based on humming or whistling, is getting an AI upgrade. The new feature leverages ‘Circle to Search,’ allowing users to long-press the home button and tap a music icon to activate audio recognition. Once the AI identifies the track, it automatically provides a YouTube link, eliminating the need for humming or using other apps for music identification.
Accessibility Updates: Gemini AI, Chrome’s Reader Mode, and More
Android’s TalkBack system, which provides audio descriptions of on-screen content, is getting a boost from Google’s Gemini AI chatbot. Users will now receive more detailed and natural-sounding descriptions for webpages, images, and social media content.
Similarly, the Chrome browser on Android is gaining a reader mode. This feature not only reads aloud page content but also allows users to adjust language, select a preferred voice narrator, and customize reading speed.
Offline Maps on Wear OS
Google is expanding the functionality of Wear OS smartwatches. When users download maps for offline use on their smartphones, those maps are now automatically synchronized with their connected Wear OS smartwatch. This enables users to access maps even when their phone is unavailable, ideal for hikes, cycling trips, or situations where phone use is impractical.
Wear OS also receives new navigation shortcuts, allowing users to check their surroundings with a tap on the watch face or use voice commands to search for locations. These additions enhance the smartwatch’s usability and offer more convenient navigation options.
