Google has announced five new features as part of the September Android Drop. This update includes new features related to Find Hub, motion sickness, accessibility, and Google Messages. Among these, Gemini will now help you remember where you have placed your belongings, while “Motion Assist” has been introduced to reduce motion sickness when using your phone during a car journey. Additionally, an accessibility feature called “Guided Vision” has been added. Meanwhile, Google Messages will now feature Google Keep integration and the option to set custom themes for individual chats.
Gemini will remember where you put your belongings
Gemini will soon be able to save the location of items within Find Hub. Notably, this does not require a tracker tag to be attached to the item.
For instance, if you place your passport or a spare house key in a specific spot, you can tell Gemini where you put it. When needed, you can simply ask Gemini to retrieve the item’s location. Users can also attach a photo of the item when specifying its location. Later, apart from asking Gemini, this information can be viewed via the “Remembered Items” tab in Find Hub. This feature requires Android 16 or a later version and will be available in regions where Gemini and Find Hub are supported.
Motion Assist to reduce motion sickness during travel
Google has also introduced “Motion Assist” to alleviate motion sickness caused by phone usage. It is specifically designed for using the phone while traveling in a vehicle. It displays a bubble overlay on the screen that moves in sync with the vehicle’s motion, aiming to reduce motion sickness while looking at the phone.
Users can set Motion Assist to activate automatically or add it to Quick Settings. Additionally, the bubble’s shape, color, and opacity can be customized to personal preference. According to Google, Motion Assist is available on phones running Android 17. Guided Vision: See and Describe What’s in Front of You
Google has introduced the “Guided Vision” feature to enhance accessibility. Powered by Gemini Live, it provides spoken descriptions of objects visible through the phone’s camera.
Developed in collaboration with the blind and low-vision communities, this feature enables tasks such as reading text on small labels, reading menus in low-light conditions, and identifying household objects. Users can also adjust the camera’s position using voice prompts to ensure it focuses on the right area.
Guided Vision can be added to Accessibility Shortcuts and accessed via TalkBack or Gemini settings. According to Google, support for this feature will soon be available on Android 9 and later versions in regions where Gemini is supported.
Google Keep Support Comes to Google Messages
Google Messages is introducing Google Keep integration, allowing users to create and edit shared notes directly within a conversation. For instance, users can share grocery lists, vacation plans, or other information with friends and family. Everyone participating in the conversation can view and update these notes.
To use Google Keep in Google Messages, simply tap the “+” icon. Google states that the rollout begins today, eliminating the need to switch between apps to work on notes.
Unique Chat Themes for Each Conversation
Another new feature, “Chat Themes,” has been added to Google Messages. This allows users to set distinct backgrounds and colors for different conversations.
Users can choose from available wallpapers or use a personal photo as the background. The text bubbles will then automatically adjust to match the selected background.
Users also have the option to change colors manually, allowing them to customize the look of chats with different people according to their preferences. This feature is now available to users in Google Messages. For example, the ‘Latte’ theme can be applied to one chat, while a background featuring a photo in the center can be set for another conversation.
