In Short:
Google announced five new features for Android users, enhancing accessibility and functionality. Key updates include an upgraded TalkBack screen reader with AI-powered audio descriptions, a music identification tool in Circle to Search, a text-to-speech option in Chrome for listening to web pages, expanded Earthquake Alerts for all US users, and offline Google Maps for Wear OS smartwatches.
Google has unveiled a series of new features for its Android users, announcing the addition of five enhancements to existing tools, including TalkBack and Circle to Search. Notably, Google Chrome will introduce a text-to-speech feature that allows users to listen to articles and web pages effortlessly. Additionally, offline Google Maps will be made available on supported Wear OS devices, and the Android Earthquake Alerts System is set to expand its reach to a broader user base across the United States.
New Android Features Announced
The Mountain View-based tech giant shared details about these new features in a blog post. It is noteworthy that these enhancements are not exclusive to Pixel devices; all compatible Android devices will benefit from them. The rollout of these features has commenced, although it may take up to 14 days before all users have access.
TalkBack, the accessibility feature designed for visually impaired users, is receiving a substantial upgrade. Enhanced by Gemini, Google’s proprietary artificial intelligence model, this feature will now offer detailed audio descriptions of digital images, gallery photos, and pictures found in text messages or social media posts.
In a recent development, a report indicated that Google was testing a music search feature for Circle to Search, which has now been officially confirmed. Android users with devices that support visual lookup will have the capability to identify songs playing on their devices or nearby. Users simply need to activate the feature and tap on the music button to receive information about the track name, artist, and even open a YouTube video related to the song.
Google Chrome is set to enhance its functionality with a text-to-speech feature, which will enable users to listen to web pages directly within the browser. This addition will facilitate the consumption of news articles, blog posts, and more, with customizable options for listening speed, voice type, and language.
The Android Earthquake Alerts System, which was previously made available in beta to a select group of users, is being expanded to all users in the United States. This feature utilizes crowd-sourced detection technology to send alerts during earthquake events, although it is important to note that it remains unavailable to users in regions outside of the US.
Lastly, Google is launching a feature for Wear OS smartwatches, allowing users of supported devices to download offline Google Maps. This functionality will enable users to access maps even without their smartphones. Furthermore, when connected to the internet, users can search for destinations using voice commands and view their current location with a simple tap on their watch face.
