Google Messages Gemini button design faces issues; Google Meet revamps personal video calling with new features
Top 3 Key Points:
- Google Messages introduces a problematic design update for the Gemini button, which can now be hidden.
- Google Meet redesigns its video calling interface, adding text chat, screen sharing, and other new features.
- The updates aim to align the personal video-calling experience with standard meetings in Google Meet.
Google recently made a noticeable change to the Gemini button in its Messages app, but it hasn’t been well-received. The new design might be a bug, as it introduces two floating action buttons (FABs) that seem oversized and redundant. Previously, the Gemini button was a small, subtle icon. Now, it’s been joined by another button, resulting in two equal-sized FABs on the screen. The difference is minor, but as you scroll, both buttons shrink down to rounded squares, which feels awkward and out of place.
This new look is clunky and takes up too much space, making it harder to see the content underneath. If this change bothers you, Google has thankfully added an option to hide the Gemini button. You can do this by going to Settings > Gemini in the Messages app. The previous design, while not perfect, was at least unobtrusive. The current one, however, might be a mistake in the latest beta version of the app (20240812_01_RC00), and it’s not very user-friendly.
Meanwhile, Google Meet is undergoing a significant redesign on Android and iOS, particularly for its video calling features. These changes stem from the old Google Duo migration and aim to create a more unified experience between personal video calls and standard meetings, which usually involve joining via a link.
The updated interface includes modernized pre-call screens and new in-call controls at the bottom of the screen. Now, users can access real-time chat during video calls for sharing links or communicating when speaking isn’t possible. Additionally, there’s an audio-only mode for on-the-go calls, live captions in over 70 languages, and the long-awaited screen-sharing feature.
Expressive tools have also been enhanced, allowing users to react with emojis and apply stacked filters, effects, and accessories during calls. These updates will be rolled out gradually over the next few months, aiming to improve the overall user experience in Google Meet’s video calls.