Android
Google Meet leaving Android TV and Google TV, Gmail gets storage makeover
Here’s a quick rundown of the latest tech news:
- Calling it Quits on the Big Screen: Google Meet, the popular video calling app, will soon be saying goodbye to Android TV and Google TV. While not the most widely used feature, it offered a convenient way to make video calls on your TV with a webcam.
- Storage at a Glance: Gmail on the web is getting a handy upgrade! A new storage indicator has been added to the account switcher menu. With a quick tap, this lets you see how much storage you’re using out of your total Google Drive space.
- Smarter Chat with Gemini: Google Chat is getting a brain boost with the rollout of Gemini to Workspace Labs. This AI-powered tool helps you summarize conversations, generate to-do lists from discussions, and even answer specific questions within a chat.
Let’s dive deeper into each of these updates:
Meet Exits the Living Room:
While Google Meet on Android TV was helpful during the pandemic, it seems its time has come. Recent code updates suggest Google plans to discontinue the app. A message within the app hints at this, mentioning “deprecation” and prompting users to find alternatives. This follows a similar shutdown of Meet on Samsung TVs earlier this year.
For those who relied on Meet for TV video calls, it’s wise to start exploring other options.
Gmail Gets Storage Savvy:
Ever wondered how much storage you’ve used in your Gmail account? Now, checking is easier than ever. A new storage indicator has been added to the Gmail account switcher menu. It displays a clear percentage of your total storage used, along with a handy Google One shortcut if you need more space. This complements the existing indicator already present at the bottom of Gmail’s main page.
This update extends to standalone Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides as well, offering a quick way to monitor your storage usage across various Google services.
Gemini Joins the Workspace Party:
For Workspace users, Google Chat is getting a major upgrade with Gemini. This AI assistant is now available in Workspace Labs, offering a range of helpful tools. With Gemini, you can summarize entire chat spaces or specific conversations, extract actionable items from discussions, and even ask questions and get answers directly within your chat window.