Google rolls out Gemini Calendar extension, Wear OS 5 for Pixel Watch, and Gmail blue checkmarks on mobile
Top 3 Key Points:
- Gemini Extension for Google Calendar: Users can create and manage events through conversational commands.
- Wear OS 5 Updates: Enhances the Pixel Watch with improved running metrics and new features like grid-view apps and enhanced heart rate tracking.
- Gmail’s Blue Checkmarks: Introduces sender verification for Android and iOS apps, offering stronger email security.
Google has introduced several updates across its services, aiming to improve user experience and security.
Google Calendar Gemini Extension
The Gemini Extension for Google Calendar is gradually being rolled out for Android and web users. It offers a conversational way to manage your calendar, making creating, editing, and deleting events easier. You can simply ask Gemini to:
- “Create an event for [time] on [date] for [task].”
- “Change my meeting at [time] on [day] to [new time].”
- “Cancel my event with [name] on [day].”
The feature also supports photo uploads, enabling Gemini to extract event details from images like flyers or screenshots. However, it’s important to note that certain details, such as event locations or descriptions, cannot yet be modified through Gemini.
To check if this feature is available for you, look for the Gemini extension in your Google Calendar or Gemini app.
Wear OS 5 on Pixel Watch
Google is also rolling out Wear OS 5 for the original Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, bringing a range of new features and improvements. The update enhances health tracking, especially for runners. New metrics include:
- Ground contact time: How long your foot stays on the ground during a step.
- Stride length: The distance covered in a single step.
- Vertical oscillation: Measures how much your body moves up and down during each step.
Additionally, users can now track goal progress and other discrete health data directly from their watch. Wear OS 5 also includes a new grid-view app launcher, better camera controls, and integration with Pixel Recorder.
Once the update is available, you can install it by visiting your watch’s System updates menu. To speed up the download, disable Bluetooth to force a Wi-Fi connection.
Gmail Adds Verified Sender Checkmarks
Gmail is enhancing email security by extending the blue verified checkmarks feature to its Android and iOS apps. This feature, which was initially introduced on the web, helps users identify verified senders through the BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) standard.
Verified senders display a brand logo next to their email address, providing visual confirmation that the message is authentic. For instance, instead of seeing just an “A” for Apple, you’ll see the Apple logo alongside a blue checkmark, indicating that the sender’s identity has been verified.
Over the coming weeks, Gmail users will see this feature rolled out to both personal and Workspace accounts. Moreover, Gmail now supports a CMC (Certification Mark Certificate) option, allowing more brands to display their logos even if they don’t meet the stricter VMC requirements for the blue checkmark.
These updates mark a significant step toward making Google’s ecosystem more user-friendly and secure, offering enhanced features across its calendar, wearable devices, and email platform.