Google

Google enhances Gemini with Spotify control and brings full tasks integration to Calendar on Android

Published

5 months ago

November 26, 2024

Google is making strides with its AI and productivity tools. The latest updates to its Gemini assistant and Google Calendar are noteworthy, improving user experiences across music control and task management.

Gemini’s Spotify Extension: Control Music with Your Voice

Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, continues evolving as it replaces the former Google Assistant. New features, called “extensions,” enhance Gemini’s capabilities, and the Spotify extension is now rolling out globally. This extension allows you to use Gemini to control Spotify with voice commands or text inputs. Here’s what you can do with it:

Play Specific Tracks: Request a particular song, album, or podcast.
Search for Playlists: Discover curated playlists or stations.
Find Songs by Lyrics: If you can recall a line from a song, Gemini can help locate it.

To get started, you must connect your Spotify account to Gemini. This feature is initially limited to the English language and requires a Spotify Premium subscription for playing specific tracks. However, note that the Spotify extension works only in the primary Gemini app and not in other integrations, like Messages or the web.

If you have multiple music apps connected to Gemini, make sure to specify Spotify as your default to avoid conflicts.

Limitations and Availability

While the Spotify extension adds significant functionality, it has some limitations:

Language Support: Currently, it works only with English.
Premium-Only Features: Free Spotify accounts are restricted in functionality.
Platform Restrictions: The extension is exclusive to Android users and is unavailable for Gemini on iPhone or web versions.

Google Calendar Introduces Full Tasks Integration on Android

In another significant update, Google Calendar for Android now integrates Google Tasks directly into the app. This feature is rolling out as a server-side update, but you’ll need version 2024.46.1 of the app from the Play Store for the best experience.

Here’s what’s new with this integration:

Unified Interface: A Google Tasks icon now appears in the top bar of Calendar, allowing you to access your tasks with a single tap.
Consistent Design: Tasks retain a Dynamic Color background and share the floating action button (FAB) design with Calendar for a cohesive look.
Seamless Synchronization: Tasks created or updated in Calendar reflect immediately in the standalone Tasks app, and vice versa.

Improved Functionality

When using Google Calendar’s Tasks view:

Create Dated Tasks: Use the Calendar FAB to add tasks tied to specific dates.
Stand-Alone Tasks: To create undated tasks, switch to the dedicated Tasks view.
Persistent View: If you leave the app while in Tasks, the view remains open upon return.
Cross-Account Sync: Switching Google Accounts in Tasks instantly reflects in Calendar.

Why Keep the Google Tasks App?

Despite this integration, the standalone Google Tasks app still offers unique features, such as:

List Widget: A dedicated widget for task lists, which Calendar lacks.
Material You Redesign: A possible future update could make the standalone app even more appealing.

There’s no indication yet that Google plans to discontinue the standalone app. Moreover, while this update benefits Android users, Google has not confirmed if the integration will come to iOS.

Enhanced Notifications

If both Google Tasks and Calendar apps are installed, notifications will now include a “Reschedule” button, making task management more flexible.

Conclusion

Google’s updates to Gemini and Calendar showcase its focus on enhancing AI tools and productivity apps. With Spotify integration, Gemini users gain hands-free control over music, while Calendar’s deep Tasks integration simplifies task management for Android users. These features, though currently limited in scope, point to a future where Google’s ecosystem becomes even more cohesive and user-friendly.

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Android

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

Published

4 hours ago

May 8, 2025

Tom Carter

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!

Google

Smart home and navigation upgrades for easier living

Published

4 hours ago

May 8, 2025

Tom Carter

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.

Google

Google updates Chrome, Search, and Play Store for better user experience

Published

12 hours ago

May 8, 2025

Tom Carter

Google is rolling out exciting updates to make browsing, searching, and downloading apps smoother and safer for Android users. These changes focus on improving Chrome’s security, redesigning the Google Search bar, and enhancing the Google Play Store’s download process.

Chrome’s Improved Security

Google Chrome now offers stronger protection with “Enhanced Safe Browsing” powered by Gemini Nano, an AI model that works directly on your device. This feature checks websites in real-time to spot phishing attempts and other online threats, keeping your data safe without relying on cloud servers. It’s a step up from the standard protection, giving users more peace of mind while browsing.

Redesigned Google Search Bar

The Google Search bar on Android is getting a fresh look. It’s now simpler and easier to use, with a modern design that fits better with your phone’s home screen. The updated widget lets you access Search, Lens, or voice commands quickly. The new layout is clean and user-friendly, making searches faster and more intuitive.

Better Play Store Downloads

The Google Play Store is improving how it shows app download progress. A new notification design displays a progress bar right in your notification panel, so you can track downloads without opening the app. This small but helpful change makes managing app installs more convenient.

These updates show Google’s focus on creating a safer, simpler, and more efficient experience for Android users. They’re rolling out gradually, so keep an eye out for them on your device!