Google enhances Play Store and Gemini for a smarter user experience introduction
The Google Play Store is home to millions of apps, but not all of them deliver a good experience. In parallel, Google continues refining its AI-powered Gemini assistant to streamline interactions. Both efforts aim to improve usability and help users make better choices while using Google services. Let’s explore these updates and what they mean for users.
Play Store: Identifying Low-Quality Apps Before You Download
Google is testing a new feature in the Play Store to help users avoid low-quality apps. In version 43.7.19-31 of the Play Store, certain warning messages might appear on app detail pages to alert users about apps that don’t perform well. These include:
- Frequent Uninstalls: Alerts when an app is uninstalled more often than similar apps.
- Limited User Data: Warns if Google has insufficient data to assess the app’s quality.
- Few Active Users: Flags apps with a significantly smaller user base compared to alternatives.
These messages will appear discreetly on the app’s page instead of interrupting downloads with pop-ups. This approach prevents false alarms for niche or purpose-driven apps that may still offer value despite limited usage.
Why It Matters
- Better Informed Choices: Users can decide if an app is worth downloading, especially those with slower internet or limited mobile data plans.
- Enhanced Trust: Warnings can help users avoid poorly developed apps, creating a safer ecosystem.
- Support for Non-Tech-Savvy Users: People unfamiliar with app quality metrics get a handy guide to make better decisions.
While this feature is still under development, it promises to improve the Play Store experience by steering users away from “crappy apps” without penalizing niche developers unfairly.
Google Gemini: Streamlining AI-Driven Assistant Interactions
Google’s Gemini AI is replacing traditional Google Assistant with advanced capabilities. However, its rapid development has created a somewhat cluttered interface, which Google is now addressing.
Current State of Gemini
Currently, Gemini provides multiple menus for interacting with responses. These include:
- Long Press Menu: Options like Export to Docs or Create Public Link.
- Three-Dot Menu: Tools for Select Text, Modify Response, and more.
- Bottom Row Options: Buttons for rating the response.
This spread of options across multiple menus can confuse users, making it harder to quickly find the desired feature.
Upcoming Improvements
In a future update (spotted in version 15.46.36 of the Google app), Google plans to consolidate these options into a single, unified menu. This menu will include all interaction tools like exporting, modifying responses, creating public links, and rating responses.
Benefits of Centralized Menus
- Simplified Interaction: Reduces the cognitive load of remembering which menu holds a specific option.
- Faster Access: Users can quickly access all tools from one place, improving efficiency.
- Enhanced Usability: Streamlining the interface makes Gemini more approachable for all users.
Currently, this improvement isn’t live, but its introduction will likely make the Gemini experience more seamless and user-friendly.
Conclusion
Google’s efforts to refine the Play Store and Gemini demonstrate its commitment to enhancing user experiences. The Play Store’s warnings about low-quality apps will save users time and data, while the Gemini overhaul will simplify AI interactions. Together, these updates reflect Google’s push to create smarter, more intuitive digital ecosystems.
Stay tuned for more updates as these features roll out and improve how we interact with Google’s vast services.
Google Wallet gets Digital Passports and Pixel phones get battery-saving features
Google Wallet can now store digital versions of your US passport! This can be used for domestic travel security checks at TSA checkpoints if your state doesn’t offer a digital ID yet.
Here’s how to add your passport to Google Wallet:
- Open the Google Wallet app on your Android phone (version 9 or later).
- Tap “Add to Wallet” and then “ID” followed by “ID Pass.”
- Follow the steps to scan your passport information page and the security chip inside the back cover.
- Record a short video of yourself for verification.
Important things to remember:
- This digital passport isn’t a replacement for your physical passport, so always carry both when traveling.
- It currently only works for domestic travel within the US.
- If you lose your phone, you can remove the digital passport from your Google account.
Pixel phones get new features to improve battery health!
The latest update lets you set a charging limit of 80% to slow down battery degradation. There’s also a hidden feature called “bypass charging” that might be even more helpful.
What is bypass charging?
With bypass charging, when your battery reaches 80%, your phone will continue to use power directly from the charger instead of the battery. This reduces wear and tear on the battery, especially while gaming or using demanding apps.
Is bypass charging available on all Pixel phones?
It’s not entirely clear yet. The 80% charging limit works on many Pixel models, but bypass charging has only been confirmed on the Pixel 8 Pro so far. It likely works on Pixel 8, 8a, and the Pixel 9 series too, but Google hasn’t officially confirmed this.
Pixel Screenshots get smarter!
The latest update for Pixel Screenshots on Pixel 9 phones integrates with Gboard. Now, when you take a screenshot that includes a movie, song, or product, Pixel Screenshots remembers that information.
How does this help?
For example, if you screenshot a song title and then open a music app, Gboard might autofill the song name for you. This feature is called “proactive recall.”
Other Pixel Screenshots updates:
- The image viewer now suggests more search terms based on your screenshots.
- The app automatically categorizes your screenshots (this might take some time).
- You can easily save a specific part of a screenshot with “Circle to Search.”
This update also brings new features to Gboard, including a sticker pack and the ability to browse Emoji Kitchen combinations.
Google Updates: Gemini, Docs, and Messages
Gemini Gets a Mini Makeover:
- The website’s text field now looks like the mobile app.
- The Android app now shows your Gemini model type (like “1.5 Pro”).
40 New Templates for Google Docs:
- Google Docs has added new, modern templates for various uses like business proposals or meeting notes.
- These templates are designed to save you time by providing a starting point for your document.
- You can find them by going to File > New > From template gallery.
Customize Your Google Messages Profile:
- Google Messages now lets you easily edit your profile information, including name and picture.
- This helps people you message recognize you better.
More to Come:
- Google says to expect even more new Docs templates in the future.
- Google Messages’ profile feature is rolling out to everyone soon.
Android
Android 15 QPR1 Bug: Mixed-up icons
Some Pixel users who have updated to Android 15 QPR1 have noticed a strange visual bug. The update seems to be mixing up the light and dark themes for app icons.
For example, if your phone is set to light mode, you might see app icons appear in their dark mode versions. Conversely, if your phone is in dark mode, you might see light mode app icons. This can make the phone’s interface look inconsistent and a bit jarring.
This issue is particularly noticeable with themed icons, which are designed to match the system’s color scheme. However, due to this bug, they appear in the opposite color scheme, creating a visual mismatch.
While this is a minor bug, it can be quite annoying for users who prefer a consistent look and feel on their devices. Fortunately, Google is aware of the issue and is working on a fix. It’s likely that this bug will be addressed in a future update.
In the meantime, users will have to wait patiently for a resolution. While there’s no official workaround at the moment, some users have reported that switching between different accent colors and then reverting back to the original color scheme might temporarily fix the issue. However, this is not a guaranteed solution and may vary depending on the device and Android version.
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