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Wear OS gains offline Google Maps, Google Drive adds JPEG saving for scanned documents

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Google Drive

Top 3 Key Points:

  1. Offline Maps for Wear OS: Google Maps on Wear OS now supports offline maps, syncing automatically from your phone.
  2. JPEG Option for Google Drive Scanner: Google Drive’s document scanner on Android can now save scanned documents as JPEGs.
  3. Google Sheets ‘Convert to Table’ Feature: Google Sheets introduces an automated suggestion to convert data into well-formatted tables.

Google is rolling out new features for its services, enhancing usability across devices. Two significant updates are now available: offline maps for Wear OS through Google Maps, and a new JPEG saving option for Google Drive’s document scanner on Android.

Offline Google Maps for Wear OS

Following the announcement of the Pixel Watch 3, Google Maps on Wear OS is introducing offline support. Once you update the app, it will automatically download offline maps from your phone to your watch. You can find these under a new “Offline maps” section, just above the Settings option.

This feature is designed to automatically sync your local map data, including any offline areas you’ve saved on your phone, directly to your watch. You can easily manage these offline maps, including viewing how much storage they use and deleting them if needed.

Google also mentions that these maps will automatically sync when your watch is connected to Wi-Fi and charging. When offline, a slashed cloud icon will appear next to the time in the map view, indicating that you’re using the offline mode.

In addition, Wear OS now includes a new “Search & go” Tile, offering quick access to your Home and Work locations, along with a microphone for voice commands. You can also jump straight to the map view by tapping “Map,” skipping the main menu.

This update is available with version 11.140.0701.W of Google Maps for Wear OS, as seen on the Pixel Watch 2. Note that this feature is currently rolling out to users who are part of the public Google Maps beta.

JPEG Saving for Google Drive Document Scanner

Another useful update comes to the document scanner feature in Google Drive on Android. Previously, users could only save scanned documents as PDFs, but now there’s an option to save them as JPEGs.

After capturing an image using the camera function in Google Drive, users can edit the image and choose to save it in either PDF or JPEG format. This new option is available on the “Save to Drive” screen, where you can select the file format before saving. The file name field will update accordingly based on your choice.

This update is gradually rolling out to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. While Android users are already seeing this feature with version 2.24.x of Google Drive, it’s not yet available on iOS.

Google Sheets ‘Convert to Table’ Feature

Google Sheets has also received a new feature this week that will make data management easier. The “Convert to table” suggestion, identified by a small Gemini sparkle icon, offers an automated way to transform your data into well-formatted tables with rich data types.

This feature is turned on by default, but you can disable it if you prefer. To do this, go to Tools > Suggestion controls and uncheck “Enable table suggestions.” You can also manually convert data into a table by selecting the range of data and choosing Format > Convert to the table.

This update is available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.

These new features are part of Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance productivity and usability across its ecosystem, ensuring that users have more flexibility and control over how they access and manage their data.

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Android

Google’s May 2025 Android updates: better performance and messaging

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Google’s May 2025 Android updates bring exciting changes to improve how your phone works and how you message. These updates focus on making devices faster, safer, and more user-friendly.
One big change is to Android’s memory system. By increasing the memory page size from 4KB to 16KB on newer devices, apps can load quicker and use less power. This helps phones, especially those with modern chips, run smoothly and save battery life. Older devices will stick with the smaller page size to avoid issues.

The Google System Updates for May also add new features. Google Wallet now supports more card types and makes transit passes easier to use in apps like Google Maps. The Play Store now shows video previews of apps, helping you decide what to download. There are also fixes to improve battery life, storage, and network performance, making your phone more reliable.

For Google Messages, a new “delete for everyone” feature lets you remove sent messages from group chats within 15 minutes. This works for both RCS and SMS, so you can fix mistakes easily. Other messaging upgrades include better scam detection and the ability to send high-quality photos and videos. These updates show Google’s effort to make Android devices faster, more secure, and better for communication. Keep your phone updated to enjoy these improvements!

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Android

New updates for YouTube, Gemini, and Google Home apps

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Google

Google is rolling out exciting changes to its YouTube, Gemini, and Google Home apps, making them more user-friendly and packed with cool features. These updates, announced in May 2025, aim to improve how you watch videos, edit images, and control your smart home.

The YouTube app for TVs is getting a fresh look. You’ll see better video previews, easier ways to subscribe to channels, and a smoother interface for browsing playlists and comments. Autoplay will also work smarter, keeping you hooked on your favorite content without extra clicks. These changes will hit your screens by summer 2025, perfect for binge-watching on Google TV or Android TV.

Meanwhile, the Gemini app now lets you edit images like a pro. Want to change a photo’s background or add fun elements? Just type what you want, and Gemini’s AI makes it happen while keeping the original picture intact. It even adds a small “ai” watermark to show it’s edited. This feature is available in the U.S. and works on both uploaded and AI-made images, with more countries getting access soon.

The Google Home app (version 3.32) is also stepping up. It now supports more smart devices, like cameras and doorbells, and offers quicker controls for lights and thermostats. A new “Activity” tab lets you see what’s happening with your devices in one place, making your smart home easier to manage.

These updates show Google’s focus on making its apps simpler and more powerful, whether you’re streaming, creating, or managing your home. Keep an eye out for these changes to enhance your daily tech experience

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Google Pixel phone and watch update for May 2025 brings fixes and a fresh app look

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Android Feature Drop

Google is rolling out its May 2025 software update for Pixel devices, making things smoother for phones, tablets, and the Pixel Watch app. This update is all about fixing bugs and adding a small but nice change for Pixel Watch users. It’s available for devices running Android 15, like the Pixel 6, 7, 8, 9 series, and Pixel Tablet. The rollout started on May 7, 2025, and will reach devices over the next week, depending on your carrier.

For Pixel phones and tablets, the update tackles three key issues: better microphone recording, improved Bluetooth pairing, and general performance tweaks. It also includes 28 security fixes, with one possibly being targeted by hackers, so updating soon is a good idea. If you have a Pixel 6 or 8, note that this update locks the bootloader, meaning you can’t go back to older software versions.

On the Pixel Watch side, there’s no major device update this month, but the Pixel Watch app on Android now has a light theme option. This gives the app a brighter, cleaner look, making it easier to use in different lighting.

Google might share more about Wear OS at I/O 2025, but for now, the app’s new style is a welcome touch. To get the update, check your device settings. Pixel users can expect a notification soon, but you can also manually check for it. Stay updated for a better, safer experience.

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