Google is adding five new features to the Android operating system for the holidays. Some users will already have access to some of the features due to them being available in Android 11.
But later this Winter Google is opening up them up to more devices. Even those that aren’t running on the Android 11 software.
Each of these features can provide a fresh new way to interact with your Android devices. Whether it’s communicating with family or getting directions to somewhere locally that you’ve never been. From emoji to Google Maps, Android is going to have even more usefulness than before thanks to these new features, and just in time for the holidays.
New Android features coming for the holidays includes the Go Tab in Google Maps
One of the new features that’s on the way is called the Go Tab. It’s a new quicker way to get directions to places around your local area.
It was designed for places you’ve already been. And is meant to feed immediate directions to you for those destinations. Hence the name Go Tab and the focus on quick navigation.
When you access this tab in the bottom navigation bar, you can pin favorited locations to have quick access to them. Once pinned there’s a readily available navigation button that’s always primed for telling you where to go. You can pin routes for driving and for public transit too. Making this a pretty versatile new feature to have.
Voice Access is coming to Android 6.0 and above
Voice access is one of those features that’s already available on Android 11 devices. And what it does is basically allow you to navigate your device menus and other stuff just by speaking.
Google is updating this feature to support any Android devices that are running Android 6.0 and above. Which means that anyone on Android 6.0 through Android 10 will now be able to take advantage of it.
Emoji Kitchen is getting a ton of new combinations
If you love using emoji in your messages or replies, and you use Gboard, there’s good news.
Google is going to be adding in more unique combinations for the emoji that can be used. Currently there’s a few hundred combinations but in the near future this is going to increase to over 14,000. Which is no doubt going to send the usage numbers soaring to untold new heights.
If you have the most recent beta version of Gboard you should already have access to this. But in the “coming weeks” it’ll be extending out to anyone on Android 6.0 and above. And outside of the beta as well.
Share apps with nearby users
Another feature that’s being added in the coming weeks is through Android’s Nearby feature. While Nearby already exists, it’s being updated to allow the ability to share apps from Google Play.
You’ll be able to open the My Apps & Games section of the Play Store even without a data connection of any kind, and share those apps with users.
ebooks are getting auto-generated narrators
Perhaps one of the coolest new features being added is the auto-generated narrators. With many books on Google Play, audiobooks aren’t available.
But with the new auto-generated narrators, Google will be able to expand the library of books that can be listened to just like official audiobooks. Google says it’s working with publishers in the US and the UK to make this happen. However, it didn’t specify which publishers and which books would get the treatment.
This is a publisher tool, which means users don’t have access to it. So it isn’t something that you can turn on personally. Publishers will need to use the tool themselves to have their books auto-narrated. That being said, it will still end up expanding the pool of audiobooks available.