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Google Messages revives contact customization and YouTube Music refreshes design for a modern experience

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Google is enhancing its Messages and YouTube Music apps with new updates that offer more control and design improvements across Android and iOS platforms.

Google Messages Brings Back Customizable Contacts

Google Messages recently introduced a “Profile Discovery” feature, letting users show their profile photo and name when added by phone number. However, this feature automatically displays the Google account photo of the user instead of the image they might prefer, which many found limiting. Fortunately, Google seems to be addressing this with a new update.

In the recent Google Messages beta (version messages.android_20241018_01_RC00.phone_samsung_openbeta_dynamic), there’s an option to choose between a contact’s Google profile photo and a custom image saved locally on your device. By tapping on a contact’s profile picture, users can now easily swipe to switch between their Google profile photo and a custom picture. If a change is needed, the “Manage in the Contacts app” button allows users to update these images directly. This update brings much-needed flexibility, especially for contacts who don’t have a Google profile image, making the conversation list more personalized.

In addition to photo customization, Google is expected to improve privacy controls within Messages. Users might soon have more detailed options for deciding who can view their profile name and picture, adding an extra layer of customization and control over their visibility.

YouTube Music Overhauls Menus and User Interface

Meanwhile, YouTube Music is also getting a design refresh. The update brings a new floating panel style for the three-dot menu, which replaces the previous, full-width design with a floating menu that has rounded corners, similar to the main YouTube app. This subtle redesign makes the app feel cleaner and more modern, though it’s especially noticeable against YouTube Music’s darker backgrounds.

The updated design applies to all three-dot menus in YouTube Music, except for the share menu on Android, which is still in the previous style (already updated on iOS). The version 7.24 update for Android and iOS introduces these changes, with no shifts in the layout or organization of the overflow menus. This redesign enhances the app’s overall aesthetic and aligns with Google’s recent updates, such as the predictive back navigation feature.

Additionally, the “Now Playing” screen recently dropped the multi-colored glow on the “Connect to [Cast device]” button, opting for a clean black-and-white look, which minimizes distractions and brings more focus to the album art.

Main YouTube App Updates Influence YouTube Music

Earlier this month, YouTube announced several design upgrades for its main app, such as an updated bottom bar with new icons and a frosted glass effect. While it’s unclear if these specific changes will appear in YouTube Music, they hint at future design improvements. A simple icon tweak, like the Home feed button, could translate to YouTube Music, though the frosted bottom bar might require further interface updates, particularly with the mini-player. Additionally, the YouTube Music web app was one of the first to introduce the pink/magenta progress bar, which could signal more consistent design choices across platforms.

In sum, Google’s updates to both Google Messages and YouTube Music show the company’s focus on improving user experience through enhanced personalization and thoughtful design tweaks. These updates give users more control over their interactions and create a streamlined experience across Google’s ecosystem.

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Google

New Pixel Watch feature simplifies phone swaps

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Google Pixel Watch

Google has introduced a smart new tool for Pixel Watch owners to ease the transition when upgrading to a new phone. The latest Pixel Watch app update (version 2.2) now includes a “Switch phone” prompt that pops up when the app notices your watch is linked to a different device. This alert, visible on the app’s home screen, guides you to connect your watch to the new phone effortlessly.

The feature walks users through the steps to transfer their Pixel Watch, ensuring a smooth setup. Once completed, the prompt vanishes, and the app updates to show the new connection. It supports all models—Pixel Watch, Pixel Watch 2, and Pixel Watch 3—but requires the newest app version, so you may need to update.

This addition addresses a common hassle where users forget to re-pair their watch after switching phones, which can lead to syncing issues. However, the reminder might feel a bit insistent for those not ready to make the switch immediately. It’s unclear if you can turn off the prompt for good.

Google’s attention to practical tweaks like this highlights their commitment to improving user experience. The phone switch feature saves time and reduces frustration, especially for frequent phone upgraders. If you’ve recently changed phones, open the Pixel Watch app to check out this helpful tool.

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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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Smart home and navigation upgrades for easier living

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Google Maps is making driving more fun with a new feature for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Now, you can pick different car icons to show your vehicle on the map. Choose from options like a sleek sedan, a rugged SUV, or a cool arrow.

This small change adds a personal touch to your navigation and is rolling out to all users soon. Meanwhile, Ecobee’s Smart Doorbell Camera is getting a big upgrade with Google Home support. You can now see who’s at your door right from the Google Home app, view live video, and even talk to visitors.

If you have a Nest Hub, the doorbell feed pops up automatically when someone rings. This feature, already available for Ecobee’s thermostat, makes your smart home setup smoother and is available now for all users. On the AI front, Google’s Gemini app is getting smarter with the Gemini 2.5 Pro preview.

This update improves coding skills, helping developers create better apps and websites. It also handles video and text tasks more effectively. The preview is out for everyone to try, with Google planning to share more at its I/O 2025 event. These updates from Google and Ecobee bring small but meaningful improvements, making your car rides, home security, and digital tasks easier and more enjoyable.

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