In anticipation of the upcoming movie Paddington in Peru, Google has added a playful Easter egg to its search engine. When users type “Paddington,” “Paddington 2,” or “Paddington in Peru” into Google Search, they notice a special marmalade sandwich button at the bottom right of the screen. Clicking this button results in the screen being “coated” with marmalade, mimicking Paddington’s love for his favorite snack. Each click adds more sticky sandwiches, creating a fun and interactive experience, especially for fans of the beloved bear​.

This Easter egg aligns well with the promotional activities for Paddington in Peru, which releases in November 2024 in the UK and January 2025 in the US. The film follows Paddington on a journey back to Peru, accompanied by the Brown family, as they explore his native land in a new adventure filled with mystery and charm​.

Enhancements in Google Slides: New Themed Templates

Google has also made updates to its Slides platform by introducing a variety of themed templates. This new feature is aimed at enhancing user productivity by simplifying the presentation creation process. Traditionally, users relied on basic themes and layouts, but now Google Slides offers pre-designed templates tailored for specific purposes like business pitches, educational projects, and collaborative team activities.

These templates include layouts, color schemes, and placeholder content, making it easier for users to jump straight into creating visually appealing and professional presentations. Some of the available templates are tailored for investor pitches, class overviews, and even team-building games. This update is rolling out to all Google Workspace customers, including individual subscribers and those with personal Google accounts, promising more templates in future updates​.

In summary, Google is boosting user engagement and productivity through these delightful additions. The Easter egg celebrates a cultural icon, while the new Slides templates help streamline the presentation process for both professional and personal use.

Google is experimenting with multiple updates across its platforms, including Google Search, Gemini, Google Photos, and YouTube. Let’s explore these new features and enhancements:

Google Testing Real-Time Search Results with Conversational AI

Google is testing a real-time update feature for its Search app that could make search results more dynamic, similar to interactions with AI chatbots like Gemini. The goal is to offer a more conversational search experience, aligning it with the growing trend of Generative AI (Gen AI).

Key Highlights:

1. Real-Time Updates with Voice Search:
   • Google is reportedly testing a version of the Search app where results refresh in real-time as users speak. This would allow users to have a more interactive experience, similar to having a conversation with an AI chatbot.
   • According to leaked demos on X (formerly Twitter) by AssembleDebug, users can ask follow-up questions, and the search results page will update continuously without requiring manual input.
2. Integration with Generative AI:
   • This update appears to mimic the capabilities of Gemini Live, an AI platform from Google that already supports conversational responses. Google seems to be focusing on making its Search feature more intuitive and interactive, catering to users who prefer AI-driven solutions for quick and sequential answers.
   • Currently, Google Search provides Gemini AI Overviews, but it is not as seamless as a real-time chatbot experience. This new feature could bridge that gap, offering a continuous conversational flow without interruptions.
3. What’s Next?:
   • Although this conversational search mode is not yet officially available, Google seems to be testing it internally. Given the existing integration of conversational AI in other Google services, it might soon become a standard feature in the Search app.

Gemini Gets a New Dark Theme Update

Google’s Gemini platform recently underwent some visual changes, particularly to its dark theme on the web. This update reflects Google’s ongoing efforts to improve the user experience across its services.

Key Changes:

1. Lighter Dark Theme:
   • The dark mode now features a lighter shade of gray rather than the previously used deep black or dark gray. This aligns Gemini’s appearance more closely with Google Search’s dark theme, providing a unified look across Google’s platforms.
2. Consistent Design Language:
   • The update has been applied to various parts of Gemini’s web interface, including the side panel and search fields. However, some sections like the Extensions page still show inconsistencies, indicating that a full rollout might be in progress.
3. Android and iOS Updates:
   • While the web and Android versions of Gemini have received this new look, similar changes for iOS users have yet to be confirmed.

Google Photos Introduces a New ‘Updates’ Page

Google Photos has revamped its interface by replacing the “Sharing” tab with a new “Updates” feed, making it easier for users to stay informed about recent activities.

Features of the New Updates Page:

1. Organized Activity Feed:
   • The Updates feed now organizes notifications based on timeframes such as “today,” “yesterday,” “this week,” and “last month.” This helps users quickly find recent changes or updates in their shared content.
2. Enhanced Accessibility:
   • The new feed displays updates related to shared albums, conversations, partner sharing, and memory updates, giving users a comprehensive view of their photo-sharing activities.
   • Users can now easily access shared albums by navigating to the “Collections” tab, where they can filter between “All,” “Shared with me,” and “My albums.”
3. Rollout and Availability:
   • This new feature is being gradually rolled out to Android and iOS users, with full availability expected in the coming weeks.

YouTube’s Playback Speed Control Redesign

YouTube has introduced a more user-friendly design for adjusting playback speed in its Android and iOS apps, focusing on making the interface simpler and easier to use.

What’s New in Playback Speed Controls:

1. Compact and Accessible UI:
   • The previous playback speed options appeared as a tall list occupying a significant part of the screen. The new design features a shorter, bottom-row UI that is easier to access with one hand.
   • The updated control layout includes five preset speed options: 0.25x, 1.0x (Normal), 1.25x, 1.5x, and 2.0x, displayed in pill-shaped buttons for easy selection.
2. Slider for Fine-Tuning:
   • A new slider allows users to adjust the playback speed in increments of 0.5x, providing more granular control over video playback.
   • The slider is complemented by ‘plus’ and ‘minus’ buttons, letting users quickly increase or decrease the speed.
3. Server-Side Rollout:
   • The redesign is being rolled out as a server-side update, available with version 19.43 on Android and 19.44 on iOS. Users should see this new feature without needing to update the app manually.

Conclusion

Google’s latest updates show its commitment to enhancing user experience across its various apps and services. By testing real-time search results, refining visual elements in Gemini, overhauling the sharing experience in Google Photos, and simplifying playback controls in YouTube, Google is setting the stage for a more intuitive and seamless interaction across its ecosystem. These changes aim to align Google’s offerings with the increasing demand for AI-driven, user-friendly features, making it easier for users to access information and interact with content on their devices.

As Google continues to experiment and refine these features, users can expect a more integrated experience across its platforms, driven by a blend of AI capabilities and user-centered design improvements.

Google Messages has updated its design to make the Magic Compose feature more accessible. It now appears prominently outside the text field for easier use. Previously, the Magic Compose button appeared at the bottom of the message screen, between the gallery icon and the text input area, but this setup often caused the button to disappear behind a chevron as you typed.

In the latest update, Magic Compose now sits alongside smart reply suggestions in a separate, visible area—even when no suggestions are available. The button takes on a rounded “pill” shape and displays a sparkle icon, making it visually distinct and consistent with Google’s Dynamic Color theme, much like the Send button.

Once you begin typing in the message field, the icon seamlessly transitions to a “Magic Rewrite” button (pencil with a sparkle) for rewriting options. This update does not change the core functionality but rather improves its visibility and usability.

By redesigning the layout, Google eliminates the previous cramped look caused by three icons (plus menu, gallery, and Magic Compose) sitting next to the text box. This update keeps Magic Compose visible and accessible at all times, offering a cleaner and more user-friendly interface.

Users can explore this new design in the latest beta version of Google Messages, which has started rolling out.