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

Google Password Manager adds Passkey support on desktop and Android Auto introduces Tesla NACS charger compatibility

Published

5 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Tom Carter

Top 3 Key Points:

Google Password Manager now supports saving passkeys on desktop Chrome for easier sign-in.
Android Auto now includes support for electric vehicles (EVs) using Tesla’s NACS charging system.
The latest Android Auto update makes it easier to find NACS chargers for non-Tesla EVs.

Google has made it simpler for users to save and access passkeys on their desktop Chrome browser through its Password Manager. Previously, passkeys could only be saved through the Google Password Manager on Android devices. To log in from a desktop, users needed to scan a QR code with their Android phone, which added a layer of inconvenience.

Now, with this new update, Google Password Manager on Chrome can store passkeys for macOS, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS (currently in beta testing). Support for iOS is expected soon. This means you can sign in using a passkey by just scanning your fingerprint or entering your device’s passcode directly on your desktop, removing the need for QR code scanning.

When creating a new passkey on your desktop, you’ll be prompted to enter a six-digit recovery PIN. This PIN is essential for unlocking your passkey on other devices. Additionally, your Android’s screen lock can act as a backup security method. Google highlights that this PIN enhances security by ensuring your passkeys are encrypted and cannot be accessed by others.

On a different front, Google is also rolling out a significant update to Android Auto. This update is important for electric vehicle (EV) users, especially those who need access to Tesla’s NACS (North American Charging Standard) charging stations. Until now, Android Auto supported various charging systems like J1772, CCS, and CHAdeMO, but it didn’t support NACS, which is now expanding as a major charging standard.

With this update, users with non-Tesla EVs can now enable NACS charging options through Android Auto. By doing this, they can easily locate Tesla’s NACS charging stations using Google Maps. It’s worth noting that Tesla vehicles do not natively support Android Auto, but this update will benefit non-Tesla EV users who use the NACS charging network.

A recent example of how this is useful is the approval of NACS adapters for GM’s electric vehicles. These adapters allow GM’s EV drivers to use both the NACS and CCS charging options. Google is gradually rolling out this update through the Play Store beta, and it should be available to a broader user base in the coming weeks.

Source/Via

Android

Android 15 delayed, Gemini Live now free for Android

Published

18 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.