Google has introduced several new features for Android devices, including an enhanced Music Search feature, which allows users to identify songs playing nearby or within other apps without interrupting their current activities. This feature is part of the new Circle to Search functionality, which is rolling out to Android phones, tablets, and Wear OS watches.
Key Features:
Music Search in Circle to Search:
- How It Works: Users can activate Circle to Search by long-pressing the home button or the navigation pill on their device. Once activated, they can click on the music note icon next to the search bar to start identifying a song.
- Functionality: The feature listens to the song playing around the user or within another app. An overlay screen displays “Listening” and, once identified, the Google search results show the song’s name, artist, and links to YouTube videos. Users can also add the identified tracks to their YouTube playlist directly.
- Use Cases: This can be particularly useful when users hear a song on social media, in a video, or in a public space and want to know more about it without switching apps.
Audio Features in Chrome:
- Listening to Pages: Users can now have web pages read aloud to them in Chrome. The feature allows customization of the listening speed, voice type, and language, providing a more personalized experience.
Enhanced Talkback Screen Reader:
- Gemini Model Integration: Google’s screen reader, Talkback, now uses advanced Gemini AI models to provide audio descriptions for digital images. This feature aims to make images more accessible by describing them in detail, whether they are in online product images, photos, text messages, or social media.
These new Android features demonstrate Google’s continued commitment to enhancing the user experience with AI-powered tools that are convenient and accessible across various devices and platforms.