Every quarter, Google releases a ton of new features for Android smartphones. Additionally, Google has released the Q4 2023 Android Feature Drop as the year draws close.
Similar to the earlier Android Feature Drops, this one enriches the platform with fascinating new features. Additionally, many devices have amazing new features that will improve your use.
NEW GBOARD AND ANDROID 14 FEATURES
With this Android Feature Drop, Google is expanding Gboard’s extensive collection of emoji mashups by introducing additional Emoji Kitchen combinations. Right now, you can experiment with more emojis to make a mashup that exactly captures your mood and is entertaining.
With this feature drop, Android 14’s security section also received an upgrade. For FIDO2 security keys, a custom PIN is now an option. This will enable access to password-protected apps and websites that securely use physical keys. It will also aid in preventing rogues from using the hardware key if it is taken.
Updates for Wear OS, Android TV, and Smart Homes
This Android Feature Drop aims to simplify your smart home control. It puts controls at your fingertips. In other words, light groups on the Home Wear OS app can now be controlled by Wear OS.
Other supported device types—such as vacuums and mops—are also being added with the Feature Drop. Users may now set their status from their watches to “home” or “away” using the app. These will facilitate the initiation of several practices.
Support for Google Assistant routines is also “coming soon” to Wear OS. These routines combine sequences of commands so that you can use them to, for example, turn on the lights and the heater simultaneously or obtain directions to work and have your agenda read out with a single command.
Furthermore, Assistant Routines are about to be supported on Wear OS. With this functionality, users can utilize speech to initiate complex actions. You could say “commuting to work,” for instance. This will enable the watch to notify you of the path. It will also give you an idea of what’s planned for the day. This is only one of several intricate prompts available.
Additionally, Google has revealed the Wear OS At a Glance feature. After this Android Feature Drop fully launches, the assistant will let customers catch up on items.
There was also adoration for Android TV. Ten additional free channels are being added to Google TV as part of this feature drop. Google does not specify which channels these are, though. Users can “explore movies, sports, and game show channels,” according to the company’s statement. This indicates that everything is fairly balanced.
AI-Powered Accessibility Improvements
Google hopes to simplify the process of obtaining better visual descriptions for people who use screen readers. Google is improving the TalkBack feature with this Android Feature Drop. It can now instantly generate descriptions for images. It also can read them aloud.
The TalkBack feature for Android has been upgraded and is compatible with all photos. That also applies to the ones you took on your own. Furthermore, Live Caption will be offered in additional languages, according to Google. However, the corporation has not yet disclosed which languages would soon receive support.
Additionally, you can use Live Caption to answer calls without speaking on the phone. Thanks to the Android Feature Drop, it can now handle conversations more effectively. It is not necessary to hear the opposing viewpoint. However, you can enter text for Live Caption to read aloud to the person on the other end.
GOOGLE MESSAGES GET MANY UPDATES DUE TO THE ANDROID FEATURE DROP
Google Messages has received a significant number of upgrades. With these latest app updates, Google commemorates one billion monthly active users of RCS. Nonetheless, voice moods, photomojis, screen effects, and custom bubbles are among the new features that Android Feature Drop offers.
You can add visual effects to your voice messages here with Voice Moods. Photomoji is an AI-powered photo-to-reaction tool. You can include animations in your messages by using screen effects. Finally, you can customize the message bubbles’ size and color using Custom Bubbles. This site will tell you more about the new capabilities of Google Messages.
AGENDA: WHAT TIME WILL YOU GET THE NEW FEATURES?
Google will gradually release these capabilities to Android users, like the previous Android Feature Drops. To offer you a more comprehensive idea of what’s in store, Google chooses to make all the announcements at once. The updates will roll out gradually after all the features are ready. However, Pixel owners will get to enjoy them first, as usual.