Key points:

• Circle to Search Expansion: Soon, you’ll be able to use Google’s Circle to Search feature on messaging bubbles.
• Improved Touchpad Support: Android 15 introduces a new gesture for easier touchpad navigation.
• No More Alarm Annoyances: Shared tablets will get a feature to handle background alarms more smoothly.

Google’s Circle to Search feature, which lets you quickly search for information about anything on your screen, is getting even better. In the upcoming Android 15 update, you’ll be able to use it on messaging bubbles, making it easier to find information related to conversations.

Android 15 is also making it easier to use your tablet with a touchpad. A new gesture will let you drag and drop items more smoothly. Plus, you’ll have more control over touchpad settings, like pointer speed and tap-to-click behavior.

If you share your tablet with others, you’ll appreciate a new feature that helps manage background alarms. When an alarm goes off for a different user, you’ll get a notification to mute it or switch to that user’s profile. This eliminates the frustration of trying to silence an alarm that’s playing in the background.

Top 3 Key Points:

1. Android 15 now blocks notifications older than two weeks.
2. Old notifications won’t trigger sounds or vibrations.
3. Google is working on further improvements for smoother notifications.

Android 15 Silences Old Notifications for a More Peaceful Experience

Android is known for its robust notification system, with features like grouped notifications, smart replies, and in-line responses. However, a persistent issue many users face is dealing with old, irrelevant notifications. If you have an Android device that you don’t use regularly, such as a secondary tablet, you’ve probably experienced a flood of outdated notifications when it reconnects to the internet. Fortunately, Android 15’s latest beta update finally brings relief by addressing this long-standing problem.

The Old Notification Hassle

Imagine you have an Android tablet that you only turn on occasionally, maybe for travel. After being turned off for days or weeks, when you power it back on and connect to the internet, the device starts receiving every notification you missed during that time. If the sound is on, each of these notifications triggers its alert tone, leading to an overwhelming amount of noise. Even if your tablet is muted, vibrations can still be disruptive if you’re holding the device.

For those with multiple Android devices, like tech reviewers or Android enthusiasts, this issue is even more common. Thankfully, Android 15 Beta has introduced a much-needed change to solve this annoyance.

A Smart Fix: Blocking Old Notifications

With Android 15’s QPR1 Beta update, the system now automatically ignores notifications that are more than two weeks old. These outdated notifications won’t play a sound, vibrate, or even fully display their content. Instead, only basic information about the app or contact that sent the notification will be shown, allowing users to check in if they wish without interruption.

The logic behind this fix is straightforward. Even though you’re just booting up the device and receiving notifications for the first time, the system compares the original timestamp when the message was sent to the current time. For notifications sent through Google’s Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), which powers most Android notifications, the system uses the time the message was sent—like when someone replied to a chat message—not when the device retrieves the notification.

This new feature stops the backlog of notifications from becoming overwhelming. Instead of a flood of pings, Android 15 blocks the noise from older alerts, making the experience much more manageable.

More Notification Improvements Coming Soon

Google is also exploring additional improvements to notifications. They’re working on syncing dismissed notifications across devices, ensuring that once you clear an alert on one device, it won’t pop up again on another. Additionally, a “cooldown” feature could prevent multiple notifications from causing back-to-back pings in a short time frame. While some experiments, such as changes to the way notifications appear in the status bar, may not see the light of day, Google is focused on reducing notification annoyances in the future.

Conclusion

The Android 15 update’s ability to block old notifications is a significant step forward for users who’ve been frustrated by irrelevant alerts. With this improvement, and more on the way, Android is making sure that notifications remain helpful rather than overwhelming.

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Top 3 Key Points:

1. Google TV and Android TV OS now run on 270 million monthly devices, marking 80% growth since 2023.
2. New features include a Home Panel for smart devices, a Sports page, and an AI-driven screensaver.
3. Gemini app on Android gets a simplified home screen, enhancing user experience.

Google has rolled out significant updates to its TV and Android ecosystem, including the launch of new features like the Home Panel for smart devices, a dedicated Sports page, and a simplified Gemini home screen on Android. These enhancements come alongside remarkable growth, as Google TV and Android TV OS now power over 270 million devices, reflecting an impressive 80% increase in just one year.

Home Panel – Smart Device Control at Your Fingertips

One of the key new features is the Home Panel, a quick-access tool that allows users to manage their smart home devices directly from the Google TV interface. Located in the Quick Settings menu, this feature mirrors the Favorites tab from the Google Home app. Users can now control lights, view live camera feeds, adjust thermostats, and access other smart home gadgets with ease. Additional controls for cameras, lighting, climate, and WiFi settings are also included, as well as doorbell notifications that will soon be available on all Google TV devices.

Sports Page – Personalized Game and Highlights Hub

Google TV also introduces a Sports page within the “For You” tab, which provides live and upcoming game details for users’ favorite teams. This page delivers personalized content, including YouTube highlights and commentary. This update enhances how sports fans engage with live games and their favorite sports content in one place.

Gemini App – Simpler Homescreen for Android

Another key development is the redesigned Gemini app home screen for Android users. This new interface offers a cleaner and more intuitive user experience, replacing the previous complex layout with a simple greeting and streamlined navigation. The new home screen design focuses on essential functions, with recent conversations and “Gems” easily accessible, making it easier to use.

Growth and Expansion of Google TV

Google TV and Android TV OS have experienced dramatic growth, now reaching over 270 million monthly active devices, up from 150 million in 2023. The platform’s popularity is surging globally, driven by its integration into more smart TVs, projectors, and smart monitors. Brands like TCL and Hisense, which sell millions of devices each year, contribute to this growth. Google is also expanding its TV services to new markets, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

The rapid adoption of Android TV OS by device manufacturers and its entry into more countries are key factors behind this success. Google now claims that Android TV OS is the largest streaming platform globally, supported by brands that are increasingly adopting the system to power their devices.

Freeplay – Enhanced Channel Experience for US Users

For users in the US, Google has revamped its Freeplay experience, offering over 150 free channels with an improved browsing guide. This guide allows users to navigate by genre and topic, improving the overall content discovery experience for free TV.

These updates solidify Google’s role as a major player in the streaming and smart home device markets, while also enhancing the user experience with AI-driven features and a more intuitive interface across its apps and services. The significant growth in devices using Google TV and Android TV OS reflects the company’s continued success in this space.

Source/Via