Tech enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to as Gemini, Pixel Recorder, and Google Messages unveil significant updates aimed at improving user experience and functionality. Here’s a deep dive into these updates and what they mean for users.

Gemini App Expands with Utilities Extension

The Gemini app has begun a wider rollout of its Utilities Extension, allowing users to handle various tasks directly within the app. This new addition eliminates reliance on Google Assistant for basic functions like turning on the flashlight or setting alarms.

How to Access the Utilities Extension

1. Open the Gemini app.
2. Tap multitasking, select App Info, and force stop the Google app.
3. The Utilities feature should now appear in the Extensions section of Gemini and is enabled by default.

Key Features

With Utilities, users can perform numerous tasks even from the lock screen, such as:

• Managing alarms, timers, and notifications.
• Controlling device features like Bluetooth, Flashlight, Battery Saver, and Do Not Disturb mode.
• Adjusting volume and brightness settings.
• Powering off or restarting the device.
• Capturing photos or screenshots.

The update also allows Gemini to interact with Pixel Screenshots, enabling advanced browsing or searching through screenshots using voice commands.

Detailed Capabilities

Gemini supports multitasking with commands such as:

• “Turn on Battery Saver and reduce brightness to 50%.”
• “Take a selfie with a 10-second timer.”

Additionally, it can open apps, settings, and websites or manage alarms and timers with natural language commands like:

• “Set an alarm for 7 AM.”
• “Show my alarms and delete the one for 8 AM.”

Pixel Recorder Preps “Clear Voice” Feature

Google is testing a new feature for Pixel Recorder called Clear Voice, designed to reduce background noise for clearer speech playback.

What is Clear Voice?

This feature isolates human speech while removing environmental sounds, improving recording quality. However, it only works with the phone’s internal microphone and mono audio, as external microphones and stereo recording are not supported.

Technical Highlights

• Users can toggle Clear Voice in the Recorder app settings.
• Strings within the app suggest guidance like:
  • “Switch to mono audio for this feature.”
  • “Clear Voice is disabled for new recordings by default.”

Though Clear Voice isn’t live yet, its development shows promise, particularly for those frequently recording in noisy environments.

Other Recorder Updates

Pixel Recorder has also integrated Gemini Nano multimodality for summarizing longer transcripts on Pixel 9 devices. Additionally, a Recorder app shortcut has been added for quick access, and support for wrist-based recordings on the Pixel Watch 3 and older models was recently introduced.

Google Messages Rolls Out New Text Field Redesign

Google Messages is undergoing yet another design revamp, improving usability and addressing feedback from prior updates.

What’s New?

The latest beta version introduces a left-aligned text field with redesigned button placement:

• Plus Button remains on the far left for quick access.
• Buttons for Magic Compose, Emoji, and Gallery are rearranged for better ergonomics.
• Voice Memo/Send remains to the right of the text field.

This redesign seeks to declutter the interface while maintaining functionality.

Additional Updates

• Read Receipts Redesign: Now visible on the main message list, though this may still be in beta testing.
• Smart Reply Suggestions: Users hope for a return of the Magic Compose/Rewrite option for more streamlined messaging.

How to Try the Update

To access the redesign, install the beta version (20241202_01_RC00) and force stop the app via settings. However, it may not be available to all users yet, as the rollout is gradual.

Conclusion

The recent updates across Gemini, Pixel Recorder, and Google Messages signal Google’s commitment to enhancing usability and efficiency. Whether it’s through Gemini’s expanded task management, Pixel Recorder’s noise-reduction technology, or Google Messages’ improved interface, these innovations make life easier for users in a tech-driven world.

Stay tuned as these features continue to roll out and improve over time!

Google has updated the Pixel Troubleshooting app to introduce a new feature that lets Pixel 6 through Pixel 9 users monitor their phone’s temperature in real-time. This capability offers enhanced insights into how your device is performing and what actions you can take to manage its temperature effectively.

How to Check Device Temperature

You can access this new feature through the following steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Battery > Battery diagnostics (scroll to the bottom).
3. Look for the “Phone is very warm” section.

Previously, this section simply indicated that “All settings are optimized.” Now, it provides a live temperature readout, which is updated in real time.

Temperature Indicators and Messages

The device temperature is classified into four distinct categories, represented by color-coded labels:

• Cold
• Normal
• Warm
• Elevated

Each category comes with tailored messages to help users understand the phone’s status and take necessary actions:

• Cold:
  “Your phone’s estimated temperature is lower than normal. It may shut down suddenly.”
• Normal:
  “This estimated temperature is typical with normal phone use.”
• Warm:
  “Your phone is slightly warm, but this is normal during use. To prevent further temperature increases, screen brightness and network speeds may be reduced.”
  For devices charging:
  “Charging is paused, and screen brightness and network speeds may be reduced.”
• Elevated:
  “Your phone’s estimated temperature is higher than normal. Your phone will try to cool down by temporarily limiting performance and pausing certain features.”

Tips for Managing Device Temperature

Google offers several tips to help you maintain your device’s temperature:

1. Provide airflow: Ensure your phone has proper ventilation.
2. Use proper cases: Stick to cases designed specifically for your Pixel device.
3. Close power-intensive apps: Shut down apps like games or video streaming to allow the phone to cool down.
4. Keep it protected in cold environments: Use an insulated case or keep it in an inner pocket close to your body.
5. Let it rest before heavy tasks: Before gaming or video calls, let the phone stabilize to prevent damage.

These suggestions aim to optimize your phone’s performance and extend its longevity.

Technical Insights

Google notes that the temperature reading is an estimate derived from multiple internal sensors. The information can also be accessed by searching “Device temperature” directly in the Settings app.

Availability

This feature is available with version 1.0.693922709 of the Pixel Troubleshooting app. It works on the Pixel 6, 7, 8, and 9 series running Android 15 (November release or later). However, it is not yet supported on the Pixel Tablet.

The update is gradually rolling out via the Google Play Store. If it’s not available on your device yet, you can check the app listing directly to see if you can manually update.

Why It Matters

Real-time temperature monitoring enhances the user experience by offering greater control and transparency over device performance. As smartphones handle more demanding tasks, such tools are essential for maintaining reliability and preventing hardware issues.

The Pixel’s temperature-checking capability is another example of how Google is leveraging software updates to improve user experience on its devices.

Source – 9To5

Google is rolling out significant updates to its ecosystem, enhancing user experience through advanced AI-powered responses in Google Assistant and expanded features in Google Wallet for Wear OS devices. Here’s what’s new and how it changes the way you interact with your devices.

Gemini-Powered Google Assistant: A Smarter, More Conversational Experience

Google Assistant, now backed by Gemini large language models (LLMs), is delivering improved, more natural interactions on smart speakers and displays like the Nest series. This marks a shift towards a more human-like conversational assistant, offering richer, context-aware responses.

What’s Changing?

1. New Voice for Complex Queries:
   Some Nest users are experiencing a fresh Assistant voice that feels warmer and better-paced, reserved for conversational tasks. For simpler questions, like asking about the weather, the standard voice remains.
2. Enhanced Interaction:
   The Gemini-powered Assistant excels in follow-up questions, allowing a back-and-forth conversation. For example, when asked, “What’s up?”, users report receiving detailed, thoughtful replies compared to the simpler responses seen before.
3. Natural Language Understanding:
   This upgrade enables the Assistant to handle pauses, adjust to multiple or rephrased questions, and adapt better to user intent.

Features in Development:

Google Home app hints at upcoming updates that users can expect soon:

• Richer Responses: Summarized yet clear explanations for complex topics.
• Improved Voices: More lifelike tones for easier communication.
• Enhanced Flexibility: Ability to adjust responses dynamically to your changing queries.

Google Wallet for Wear OS: Corporate Badges, Campus IDs, and More

Google Wallet on Wear OS is evolving into a versatile tool beyond payment cards. Soon, it will support “access cards,” including work badges, campus IDs, and hotel keys, making it an essential companion for wearable device users.

Key Features Coming to Wear OS Wallet:

1. Access Cards Integration:
   Users can store corporate badges, student IDs, and hotel keys on their Wear OS devices, making entry to workplaces, campuses, and hotels hands-free and seamless.
2. Expanded Support for Passes:
   Following the introduction of loyalty cards and QR code-based passes last year, Google Wallet now groups and archives passes, allowing for easy organization and retrieval.
3. International Reach:
   Google Wallet’s web interface, launched earlier this year, now serves over 90 countries. This platform lets users manage saved payment methods, view transaction histories, and access digital passes from one centralized hub.

Rollout Timeline:

The new features will debut with version 24.47 of Google Play Services. While not widely available yet, users can expect a gradual rollout over the coming weeks.

Why This Matters

These updates reflect Google’s focus on making everyday tasks more intuitive through AI and enhanced device connectivity. The smarter Assistant powered by Gemini LLMs ensures smoother conversations, while the expanded Wallet features on Wear OS bring convenience to both personal and professional settings.

Stay tuned for further updates as Google continues refining its ecosystem, blending cutting-edge AI with practical everyday tools.