Google has hosted The Android Show ahead of Google I/O to give us an early look at some of the big announcements we’ll hear about in its annual developer conference.
Here are the top Android, Android Auto, and Gemini features coming soon that you should know about.
Gemini Intelligence
Google sees Android moving from an operating system to an “intelligence system”, and part of that is the introduction of Gemini Intelligence. Gemini will shift from answering questions to getting things done. It will have new animations to show when it’s working, with special visual signals to guide attention rather than distract you.
- Its agentic nature means it will work inside apps, ready to build grocery lists or book tickets, all from contextual prompts. You could take a photo of a flyer for a special event related to a trip you have planned, and Gemini will search for similar events that fit with your plans.
- Rambler in Gboard takes the existing speech-to-type feature and adds new features to remove filler words, structure sentences, and even add emojis or build lists, all by speaking to the phone. You can even switch between languages mid-message and it will understand. It’s similar to Nothing’s Essential Voice.
- Create my Widget is a way to break free of the pre-generated Android widgets, and make your own based on your requirements. For example, a widget may look at tickets for specific event spaces, and display events along with the lowest ticket prices. Or, you could ask for a widget with a custom, Gemini-created meal plan for the week. The special widgets will work across Android and Wear OS too.
- Many Gemini features currently found in Chrome on the desktop will be integrated into Chrome for Android, where Chrome can automate tasks like finding parking based on event tickets, and update orders based on preferences. More interestingly, Gemini’s Personal Intelligence feature will look at connected apps to make filling out online forms easier by recognizing relevant information, such as hire car license plates and calendar entries.
Android
- Pause Point re-imagines app timers, and is a new way to isolate distracting apps. You can label an app as a distraction, and when you open it there’s a pause screen with the option to do something different, such as a breathing exercise or to look through a photo gallery.
- Screen Reactions is an unusual tool built for those who want to film picture-in-picture style video reactions. Instead of multiple apps, a green screen, and a lot of time, Screen Reactions works by recording the screen and with the selfie camera at the same time to get the effect. It’s coming to Pixel phones in the summer.
- An Adobe Premiere app will arrive on Android this summer, with access to special templates and effects made for YouTube Shorts.
- Instagram has some Android-specific enhancements, including Night Sight and Ultra HDR integration, plus video stabilization too. The Instagram Edits app gets several new Android exclusive tools, such as AI upscaling and options to separate audio tracks to boost sound, or eliminating unwanted elements.
- Google has redesigned 4,000 emoji with a new 3D look, and they’ll be available across Google devices later this year, with Pixel phones getting them first.
- Quick Share has already had an update recently, with the ability to share between it and Apple’s AirDrop, but it requires a compatible device. Google has worked with Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, and Honor to bring Quick Share to more phones.
- In an update available now, Quick Share will generate a QR code letting you share files via the cloud without needing a specific device. Later this year, Quick Share will be available in specific apps too, including WhatsApp.
Android Auto
- Android Auto is getting its own Material 3 Expressive design overhaul for smoother animations, wallpapers, and customizable widgets. Shortcuts for car-specific tools, like a garage door opener, can be added to the main screen. Cleverly, the entire Android Auto UI will now adapt to any size or shape screen in the car.
- Google says Maps will get its biggest update in a decade, with immersive edge-to-edge navigation, where you’ll see a 3D view with buildings, bridges, overpasses, and terrain indicators, plus traffic lights, stop signs, and clear lane indication to make navigation much easier.
- In cars with Google built-in, Live Lane Guidance uses your vehicle’s front camera for precise navigation guidance. Gemini will be able to answer questions about your specific vehicle, including information on warning lights, and even if an item will fit in the trunk or not.
- Entertainment has a selection of new features. Video will play in HD at 60fps, and with Dolby Atmos sound, and then convert over to audio when you start driving. YouTube Music and Spotify apps will get a redesign too.
All the new features in Android, Gemini Intelligence, and Android Auto will arrive at different times over the coming months, and some may be specific to certain devices or vehicles.
Google has also announced the Googlebook, which takes the best of Chrome OS and Android and puts it inside a new laptop. You can read about the Googlebook here.
