A recent APK teardown of the latest update to the Google Android application (v7.18) has uncovered various lines of code hinting at potential new features being implemented in the future. This includes an option to “donate” images captured with Google Lens in order to “improve Google products,” and it appears that the “People also view” feature implemented on iOS last September might also make its way onto Android OS eventually. Furthermore, the “Personal” tab within the Google app might be updated with new options for “Shared Links” and images, and finally, there seem to be a few lines of code within Google app 7.18 hinting at the display resolutions which may be employed by the search engine giant’s rumored Quartz smart speaker.
Google Lens was launched for the Pixel and Pixel 2 smartphones late last year, allowing users to scan items and barcodes with the handsets’ cameras in order to gain additional information via the Assistant. Now, according to the teardown of Google app v7.18, the app might eventually be updated to allow users to “donate” images captured with Lens in order to “improve Google Products.” It’s not clear how this type of feedback will improve the service but the feature will likely be optional. Moving on, the latest Google app update for Android OS includes a couple of strings of code hinting at the possible inclusion of the “People also view” feature which was introduced to the iOS client in September. The code hints that this option may be added to the Android ecosystem along with an additional feature for sending feedback on these types of suggestions for content accessed by other users.
Other strings of code within Google app 7.18 seem to be linked with the ability to view shared links and images, possibly within the “Personal” tab. And finally, the code includes lines for a device called “Quartz,” and this moniker has been previously linked with the rumored Google Home speaker which will reportedly be equipped with a display. The strings of code mention three resolutions, namely 960p, 1024p, and 1280p, suggesting that the Quarts smart speaker could arrive in three different sizes. In closing, it should be reminded that APK teardowns may reveal potential upcoming features or products but offer no guarantee of when or if they will actually be implemented.