Android

Wear OS gains offline Google Maps, Google Drive adds JPEG saving for scanned documents

Published

1 month ago

August 17, 2024

Tom Carter

Top 3 Key Points:

Offline Maps for Wear OS: Google Maps on Wear OS now supports offline maps, syncing automatically from your phone.
JPEG Option for Google Drive Scanner: Google Drive’s document scanner on Android can now save scanned documents as JPEGs.
Google Sheets ‘Convert to Table’ Feature: Google Sheets introduces an automated suggestion to convert data into well-formatted tables.

Google is rolling out new features for its services, enhancing usability across devices. Two significant updates are now available: offline maps for Wear OS through Google Maps, and a new JPEG saving option for Google Drive’s document scanner on Android.

Offline Google Maps for Wear OS

Following the announcement of the Pixel Watch 3, Google Maps on Wear OS is introducing offline support. Once you update the app, it will automatically download offline maps from your phone to your watch. You can find these under a new “Offline maps” section, just above the Settings option.

This feature is designed to automatically sync your local map data, including any offline areas you’ve saved on your phone, directly to your watch. You can easily manage these offline maps, including viewing how much storage they use and deleting them if needed.

Google also mentions that these maps will automatically sync when your watch is connected to Wi-Fi and charging. When offline, a slashed cloud icon will appear next to the time in the map view, indicating that you’re using the offline mode.

In addition, Wear OS now includes a new “Search & go” Tile, offering quick access to your Home and Work locations, along with a microphone for voice commands. You can also jump straight to the map view by tapping “Map,” skipping the main menu.

This update is available with version 11.140.0701.W of Google Maps for Wear OS, as seen on the Pixel Watch 2. Note that this feature is currently rolling out to users who are part of the public Google Maps beta.

JPEG Saving for Google Drive Document Scanner

Another useful update comes to the document scanner feature in Google Drive on Android. Previously, users could only save scanned documents as PDFs, but now there’s an option to save them as JPEGs.

After capturing an image using the camera function in Google Drive, users can edit the image and choose to save it in either PDF or JPEG format. This new option is available on the “Save to Drive” screen, where you can select the file format before saving. The file name field will update accordingly based on your choice.

This update is gradually rolling out to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. While Android users are already seeing this feature with version 2.24.x of Google Drive, it’s not yet available on iOS.

Google Sheets ‘Convert to Table’ Feature

Google Sheets has also received a new feature this week that will make data management easier. The “Convert to table” suggestion, identified by a small Gemini sparkle icon, offers an automated way to transform your data into well-formatted tables with rich data types.

This feature is turned on by default, but you can disable it if you prefer. To do this, go to Tools > Suggestion controls and uncheck “Enable table suggestions.” You can also manually convert data into a table by selecting the range of data and choosing Format > Convert to the table.

This update is available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.

These new features are part of Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance productivity and usability across its ecosystem, ensuring that users have more flexibility and control over how they access and manage their data.

Related Topics:Google Google Drive News Wear OS

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Android

Android 15 delayed, Gemini Live now free for Android

Published

13 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Tom Carter

Key points:

Android 15 for Pixel devices was pushed back to October 15.
Gemini Live, Google’s AI assistant, is now available for free Android users.
Pixel 6 and later devices will get Android 15, but Pixel 6/6 Pro won’t get future updates.

Android 15 Delayed

Google’s latest Android update, Android 15, is taking a bit longer to reach Pixel phones. While it was released for developers in September, it won’t be available for Pixel users until October 15th. This delay is likely due to Google wanting to make sure the update is as bug-free as possible.

Gemini Live Goes Free

In other Google news, Gemini Live, the company’s AI assistant, is now free for Android users. This means you can use Gemini to help you with tasks like writing emails, summarizing articles, or even translating languages.

Pixel 6 and Later

The Pixel 6 and later devices will be the first to get Android 15. However, this will also be the last guaranteed update for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. While they will continue to receive security updates, they won’t get any new features after Android 15.

Android

Faster keyboard switching on Android

Published

1 day ago

September 18, 2024

Tom Carter

Key points:

Android 15 QPR1 Beta introduces a new navigation bar key for quick keyboard switching.
This allows for faster switching between multiple keyboard apps and languages.
The feature is currently being tested and is expected to become standard on Google Pixel devices in December.

Android users will soon experience a significant improvement in keyboard switching. A new feature being tested in Android 15 QPR1 Beta introduces a dedicated key on the navigation bar that allows for rapid switching between different keyboard apps and languages.

Imagine having the ability to seamlessly switch between multiple keyboards without navigating through settings or menus. This new key, visually represented as a globe, provides a direct and intuitive way to change keyboards on the fly. Whether you need to switch between different languages or prefer different keyboard apps for specific tasks, this feature offers a convenient solution.

For example, if you have multiple languages enabled and use both Gboard and SwiftKey, you can quickly toggle between them by pressing the new key. This eliminates the need for extra steps and ensures a smooth typing experience.

While this feature is currently in beta testing, it’s expected to become a standard part of Android 15 QPR1, which is scheduled to be released on Google Pixel devices in December. This means that many Android users will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of faster and more efficient keyboard switching.

Android

Ultra-Wideband and AR enhancements coming to Google’s Find My Device, plus easier management of trusted places

Published

2 days ago

September 17, 2024

Tom Carter

Key Points:

Google is adding Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and AR to enhance indoor tracking in Find My Device.
The Find My Device app may soon offer AR-based directions to locate lost devices with high precision.
Google plans to simplify managing Trusted Places for extended unlock with a new toggle feature.

A few months ago, it was revealed that Google was developing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and augmented reality (AR) support for its Find My Device network. Today, new details have emerged about these exciting features, which aim to improve the way you locate your devices.

UWB Support: Precision Indoor Tracking

Google’s Find My Device will soon incorporate UWB technology, which is designed to enhance precision when tracking lost devices indoors. This improvement would allow Google to compete more directly with Apple’s Find My service, which already uses similar technology. UWB enables highly accurate location tracking, helping you pinpoint devices within close range, even when they’re hidden behind objects like furniture.

AR Directions: Guiding You to Your Device

Another upcoming feature is the addition of ARCore support in Find My Device. This integration could mean that AR directions, such as “turn left” or “the device is behind you,” would guide users to their lost devices in real-time, similar to how Samsung’s SmartTag 2 works with SmartThings. These AR-based cues could make finding misplaced items much faster and more intuitive, using visual overlays on your phone’s display.

While these features were first uncovered months ago, they haven’t gone live in the app yet. It’s important to note that, as with any app update, there’s no guarantee of when or if these additions will be officially released.

Simplified Trusted Places Management

In addition to the updates in Find My Device, Google is working on making its “Trusted Places” feature easier to manage. Trusted Places allows your phone to stay unlocked in secure locations, such as your home, for up to four hours. This feature is part of the Extended Unlock option in Android, but until now, it has been difficult to manage when you want to make temporary changes.

A new beta version of Google Play Services (v24.37.31) includes a convenient toggle that lets users turn the Trusted Places feature on or off without deleting the saved locations. Previously, if you wanted to disable Trusted Places, you had to remove all your trusted locations, which was inconvenient for short-term changes.

This update streamlines the process, making it easier to enable or disable the feature. There’s also a revamped location picker interface to help users set up Trusted Places more efficiently.

What’s Next?

Although these updates aren’t fully rolled out yet, they align with Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance Android’s security and usability. With the new UWB and AR capabilities in Find My Device, and the simplified Trusted Places management, users will have more control and convenience in keeping their devices secure and easy to locate. Keep an eye on future updates for these exciting improvements.