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Gmail’s Gemini side panel integrates Google Calendar and Google Maps introduces new teal accent color

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Google is rolling out new features across its popular apps, including updates to Gmail’s Gemini side panel and a fresh look for Google Maps. These changes aim to improve user experience and provide better integration between services.

Gmail’s Gemini Side Panel Gets Google Calendar Integration

Initially, the Gemini side panel in Gmail integrated with Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Now, Google is adding Google Calendar to the mix, allowing users to manage their schedules directly within Gmail. This feature provides an intuitive way to handle calendar events through conversational commands.

Key Features of Gemini’s Calendar Integration:

  • Event Creation via Conversation: Users can create calendar events using natural language. For example:
    • “When is my first meeting next week?”
    • “Create a 30-minute calendar event for my weekly yoga class every Monday and Wednesday at 9 AM.”
    • “Schedule a 1-hour lunch tomorrow at noon.”
  • Automatic Recognition: There’s no need to add @Calendar to your request, but doing so explicitly invokes the service.
  • Availability: The update will roll out over the next few weeks for users on the following paid tiers:
    • Gemini Business
    • Gemini Enterprise
    • Gemini Education and Education Premium
    • Google One AI Premium

Current Limitations:

While the new integration is a significant enhancement, there are still some limitations to be aware of:

  • You cannot add or remove guests from events through the Gemini panel.
  • Extracting event details from emails, such as attachments or RSVPs, is not yet supported.
  • It cannot automatically find the best meeting times with others or suggest available time slots.
  • Tasks creation, setting out-of-office status, focus times, and working locations are not yet supported.
  • Managing meeting rooms directly from the side panel is unavailable.

Google Maps Gets a Fresh Teal Accent

Google Maps is also receiving a visual update. Historically, the app has used a blue accent color for its buttons and icons. However, a recent change brings a teal accent to the user interface.

Teal Accent Changes:

  • The teal color now appears in the bottom navigation bar and on primary action buttons, such as Directions, Start, and other key functions.
  • This change has been spotted in the latest screenshots and announcements shared by Google, indicating a broader visual update.
  • The teal accent provides a softer look compared to Google’s usual color palette of blue, red, yellow, and green.

Design Updates in Google Maps:

  • This color change follows several other design tweaks, including:
    • Moving the weather widget to a more accessible position in the bottom sheet.
    • Simplifying the bottom navigation bar, reducing it to just three main tabs.
  • The update is a server-side change, meaning it may not be visible to all users immediately on Android or iOS. The rollout is gradual and expected to expand over time.

Why the Teal Color Change?

Google hasn’t officially explained why they chose this more muted teal shade over their standard blue accent. It could be a move towards a more cohesive design language across its services or a test for user preference.

Lack of Dynamic Color Integration:

Despite this update, Google Maps still does not support Android’s Dynamic Color theming, which adapts app colors based on the device’s wallpaper. The lack of this feature may disappoint users who prefer a more personalized interface.

Conclusion

These updates to Gmail and Google Maps highlight Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance user experience through deeper integration and fresh design changes.

  • Gmail’s Gemini side panel now offers a seamless way to manage your Google Calendar, making scheduling easier and more efficient for users on paid tiers.
  • Google Maps is moving towards a cleaner, more streamlined look with its new teal accent, aligning its visuals with recent design trends.

Users can expect more updates and improvements as Google continues to refine its suite of applications. Keep an eye out for these changes rolling out over the coming weeks.

These improvements signify Google’s commitment to evolving its services, ensuring a smoother experience across its ecosystem.

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Google

New features for Google Keep and Gemini Live in Workspace

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Google

Google recently updated Google Keep and Gemini Live for Workspace, making both tools more useful for everyday tasks. These changes help users stay organized and work smarter.
For Google Keep, the web version now supports text formatting.

You can add bold, italic, or underlined text to your notes, making them easier to read and organize. This feature, already available on mobile apps, lets you highlight important details or structure your thoughts clearly. Whether you’re jotting down ideas or creating lists, these formatting options make notes more professional and visually appealing.

The update is rolling out to all Google Workspace users and personal Google account holders, so everyone can enjoy a better note-taking experience. Meanwhile, Gemini Live is now available for Google Workspace customers. This voice-based AI feature allows users to have natural, back-and-forth conversations.

You can brainstorm ideas, like planning a marketing campaign or preparing for a sales meeting. Gemini Live also supports camera and screen sharing, so you can show visuals and discuss them in real time. It’s designed for users over 18 and is starting to roll out across Workspace accounts, with full access expected soon.

These updates show Google’s focus on improving productivity tools. Google Keep’s new formatting makes note-taking more flexible, while Gemini Live brings powerful AI conversations to Workspace, helping teams collaborate and innovate. Both features are simple to use and fit seamlessly into your workflow, making work and organization easier.

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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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Android

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

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Google

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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