News
Circle to Search: Galaxy S24’s most popular AI feature you didn’t know was made by Google
Samsung revealed Circle to Search is the most popular AI feature of the Galaxy S24 series. While Galaxy AI is loaded with many tools derived from artificial intelligence and GenAI, Google’s AI magic is popular among Galaxy users.
According to Samsung (really!), Circle to Search is the most popular feature among Galaxy S24 users, which Google made. The list of popular features also includes a handful of Galaxy AI features, but Circle to Search is on top.
Samsung’s press release reads:
- Circle to Search with Google revolutionized the way users search, helping it become the most widely used AI feature amongst Galaxy S24 users. It allows them to learn more about almost anything on their screens quickly with a simple gesture, without having to switch apps.
Circle to Search feature made its official debut at the Galaxy Unpacked earlier this year. Samsung revealed Google has exclusively developed this feature for the best Android phones, available only on Galaxy and Pixel phones.
Recently, Google’s CEO announced that Circle to Search is expanding to Pixel 6, 6a, 6 Pro, 7a, Fold and Tablet devices. Samsung is also bringing it to the Galaxy S23 series, Z Flip 5, Z Fold 5, and Tab S9 series with One UI 6.1.
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Google Photos introduces ‘Updates’ Feed; YouTube for Android TV adds quick ‘Subscribe’ button to improve user experience
In recent updates, Google Photos and YouTube for Android TV have each introduced new features aimed at enhancing user convenience and interaction. Google Photos has shifted from the former “Sharing” tab to a new “Updates” feed, while YouTube for Android TV has added a more accessible “Subscribe” button within its player interface.
Google Photos’ New ‘Updates’ Feed
Following the August switch from a “Library” to a “Collections” tab, Google Photos has now replaced its “Sharing” tab with an “Updates” feed. Previously, the “Sharing” page featured a “people” icon situated between the ‘plus’ menu and the profile icon. Users could access shortcuts like “Create shared album” and “Share with partner,” followed by an “Albums and Memories” carousel and a list of “Conversations” at the bottom.
Now, this layout has been restructured. A notification bell icon in the app bar indicates sharing activity and directs users to the new “Updates” feed. This feed organizes recent sharing actions, including shared links and conversations, streamlining the view of shared moments and memories. The overflow menu also provides direct access to:
- Sharing activity: Track shared links, shared memories, and ongoing conversations.
- Conversations: View shared discussions in one place.
This change reflects a move away from the in-app messaging function, “Conversations,” aligning with Google’s common UI pattern of a notification bell, seen across apps like Google Home, Play Store, and YouTube. Currently, the “Updates” feed rollout is available for Google Photos on Android, though not yet on iOS.
YouTube for Android TV Adds Prominent ‘Subscribe’ Button
YouTube on Android TV has introduced a more visible “Subscribe” button directly within the main player interface, allowing users to easily subscribe to channels without needing to exit the video. The Android TV version of YouTube has evolved over the past few years, adopting a dual-column layout and larger visuals designed for TV screens. These adjustments allow easier navigation with a remote instead of a touchscreen or mouse.
In this latest change, users watching a channel they aren’t subscribed to will now see a prominent “Subscribe” button within the player UI. This quick-access feature lets users instantly join channels they find interesting or valuable without multiple steps. For those already subscribed, the button won’t appear, keeping the layout cleaner for regular viewers.
Additionally, the “Like” and “Dislike” buttons, previously combined, have returned to individual icons, adding more control options within the interface. Though this may make the UI appear somewhat crowded, it serves to encourage users to subscribe while also improving their content interaction options.
These changes across Google Photos and YouTube for Android TV are part of Google’s broader strategy to streamline user interaction and engagement across its ecosystem, offering convenient and quick-access tools in both mobile and TV settings.
Android
Chromecast remote’s volume buttons get it right, while Google TV streamer feels like a downgrade, plus Quick Share on Android adds transfer progress
Google’s new Google TV Streamer has some noticeable improvements, but its remote design—especially the placement of the volume buttons—feels like a step back. Many users, myself included, feel that the original Chromecast remote handled volume control more effectively.
The first Chromecast with Google TV introduced a remote that was simple yet functional. It featured eight buttons, a navigation pad on the front, and two volume buttons conveniently placed on the side. This side-button design, although polarizing, received praise from users who liked its ergonomic feel and ease of use. Others, however, thought volume buttons should be more visible on the top of the remote.
After trying out the Google TV Streamer in my main entertainment spaces, I realized just how functional the side volume buttons were on the Chromecast remote. The Chromecast’s remote, with its rounded base, allowed for a steady grip when adjusting volume, even if the remote wasn’t lifted entirely off the surface. On the Google TV Streamer’s remote, however, the volume buttons have been moved to the top, making it less stable. When adjusting the volume, this design makes the remote wobble, requiring you to pick it up fully each time. Though the new remote includes some helpful upgrades like a dedicated shortcut button, this design change detracts from its overall usability.
Overall, I feel Google made the wrong call by changing the volume button placement. I’d love to know if others prefer the new design or miss the side-mounted volume controls from the original Chromecast remote.
In other news, Android’s file-sharing feature, Quick Share (previously known as “Nearby Share”), now provides a more transparent view of transfer progress. Previously, the sender could see the exact percentage of file transfer completion, but the receiver only had a progress ring. Now, Quick Share shows the transfer percentage directly on the recipient’s device screen, offering clearer feedback on how much longer the transfer might take. This update is now widely available across various devices, including Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy models.
While small files may transfer too quickly for you to notice the percentage, it’s especially useful for larger files, like videos, where knowing the progress can save you time and provide better insight. This update might seem minor, but it’s a helpful addition that makes Android’s sharing experience just a bit more user-friendly.
Google Messages adds new photo quality options and custom contact photos
Google Messages, the default messaging app for Android, is set to receive some exciting updates, including the ability to set custom profile pictures for contacts. Users will be able to switch between Google account display photos and images saved directly on their device. This update, discovered in recent code, hints at more personalized and user-friendly options for managing contact visuals.
Additionally, Google Messages is expanding support for dual-SIM RCS (Rich Communication Services), allowing users with multiple SIM cards to enjoy enhanced messaging features more easily. While customizing contact photos is a visual update, dual-SIM RCS support is a valuable feature for people who use more than one SIM on their devices.
Perhaps the most notable improvement is Google Messages’ new option for selecting image resolution before sending photos, inspired by WhatsApp’s similar feature. WhatsApp introduced this function earlier this year, enabling users to choose between Standard and HD photo quality. Google Messages aims to enhance this by offering both HD and HD+ options, giving users flexibility in balancing image quality with data usage.
- Standard (Optimized for Chat): A lower-quality version that conserves data and sends faster.
- HD+ (Original Quality): Sends the full-resolution image but may take longer to transmit and uses more data.
A small HD or HD+ icon will appear on the image’s bottom right, indicating the quality selected, visible to both sender and receiver. Though this feature hasn’t reached the Google Messages web client yet, a rollout across mobile and web versions is anticipated, similar to WhatsApp Web’s media quality feature.
These improvements reflect Google Messages’ efforts to enhance both customization and user control over data use and image quality, making it a more versatile option for Android users.
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