Google Wallet Gears Up: Improved Wear OS app, wider website access, and more
Here’s what’s new with Google Wallet: a smoother experience on your smartwatch, easier access on the web, and even train ticket integration!
Top 3 Updates:
- Wear OS App Enhancements: Manage your passes more efficiently with grouped listings, pass archiving, and support for “unsc dostępne karty” (unscannable passes) in Polish (and other languages).
- Website Access Expands: Google Wallet’s online management tool (wallet.google.com) is now available in 43 countries, making it easier to control your digital wallet from anywhere.
- Train Tickets in Gmail: Google Wallet now automatically integrates train ticket information from your Gmail, adding them alongside existing loyalty cards, movie tickets, and boarding passes.
Deeper Dive:
Calling all smartwatch users! The Google Wallet app on Wear OS just got an upgrade. Now you can experience:
- Grouped Passes: No more endless scrolling! Passes will be grouped for a more organized view. Simply tap a group to see each pass displayed in a carousel.
- Pass Archiving: Declutter your list without deleting it completely. Archived passes will reside in a dedicated section at the bottom of your Wear OS app, accessible when needed.
- Unscannable Pass Support: Google Wallet now recognizes and displays even “unsc dostępne karty” (unscannable passes) in Polish and other languages.
This update ensures a smoother experience for managing your passes on your wrist.
Going Web-Wide:
Remember wallet.google.com? This online tool lets you manage both Google Wallet and Google Pay from a web browser. Great news! It’s now available in 43 countries, a significant leap from the initial 15 launched in July. Google assures this is just the first step in making it accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Train Tickets Join the Party:
Traveling by train? Google Wallet is now pulling information from train ticket confirmation emails found in your Gmail. This joins the existing functionality for loyalty cards, movie tickets, and boarding passes, creating a one-stop shop for your travel essentials.
Developer Corner:
Google Wallet also has some exciting updates for developers:
- Closed Loop Transit API: This API now allows physical transit cards to be converted into digital ones within Google Wallet, further streamlining the commuting experience.
- VDV Support: Google Wallet now supports VDV (eTicket Services Motics specification), a secure mobile ticketing standard in Germany. This enables transit agencies and developers to leverage Google Wallet’s secure infrastructure, preventing ticket copying, falsification, and fraud.
These updates solidify Google Wallet’s position as a comprehensive and secure platform for managing your digital life, both on your phone and online. Stay tuned for even more exciting features in the future!
Google Calendar is getting a fresh look with a new visual design. Along with the updated look, Google has added some handy new features to simplify managing your schedule.
One of the most noticeable changes is the return of the three buttons for creating new events. You can now quickly choose between making a regular appointment, a task, or a birthday event.
Birthday Reminders
For birthdays, you can set reminders for the day itself, a week before, or even further in advance. This is a great way to ensure you never forget a special occasion.
Google Photos Gets Smarter
Google Photos is also getting a significant upgrade with the introduction of “Ask Photos”. This new feature allows you to ask questions about your photos using natural language. For example, you could ask “When was the last time I went to the beach?” or “Who is that person in the photo?”
AI-Powered Search
Using artificial intelligence, Ask Photos can analyze your photos and provide relevant answers to your questions. While it’s still in its early stages, Google promises that Ask Photos will become even more powerful over time.
Quick Search Tips for Google Photos and Play Store
Google has also made it easier to search for apps and photos. You can now quickly access the search bar in both Google Photos and the Play Store by double-tapping the search icon. This eliminates the extra step of opening the search tab first.
These new features are a welcome addition to Google Calendar and Google Photos. They make it easier to manage your schedule and find the photos you’re looking for.
Google Photos is rolling out a powerful new feature called Ask Photos! This AI-powered tool lets you search your photo library with natural language questions. Gone are the days of clunky keywords. Now, you can ask things like “Show me Halloween costumes over the years” or “When did my child learn to swim?”
The feature is still in its early stages, but it shows great promise. It appears as a new tab in the Photos app, replacing the “Search” function. Initially, it focuses on recognizing people and places in your photos. It might not be perfect for events or objects yet, but it’s constantly learning.
Signing Up for Ask Photos:
While not available to everyone yet, Google opened a waitlist last month. If you signed up, keep an eye out for the update! For others, the waitlist is still open (US only for now).
A New Look for Google Shopping:
In addition to the exciting Photos update, Google Shopping is getting a makeover! It seems a new logo is on the way, replacing the familiar price tag icon. The new logo is a simplified shopping bag in Google’s signature colors, swirling together for a clean, modern look.
The website itself might also be getting a refresh. We spotted glimpses of a redesigned site with a user-friendly layout and helpful features like browsing recommendations and price comparisons.
What’s Next?
While official announcements from Google are likely forthcoming, these updates hint at exciting things to come for Google Photos and Shopping. Ask Photos has the potential to revolutionize how you search your memories, and the Google Shopping revamp promises a more streamlined shopping experience.
Google has released a new version of Android Auto, version 13.0. While you won’t see any big changes on the surface, some important updates are happening under the hood.
What’s New?
- Car Media: Google is working on a new feature called “Car Media.” This feature will allow you to easily control your car’s AM/FM radio and local media.
- Bug Fixes: The update includes bug fixes and improvements to make Android Auto run smoothly.
When Will Car Media Be Available?
Google hasn’t announced an official release date for Car Media yet. But they’re actively working on it, and we might see it in a future update.
How to Get Android Auto 13.0
The Android Auto 13.0 update is available now on the Google Play Store. Just search for “Android Auto” and install the latest version.
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