Update your Android! Message upgrades, pay with your voice and more
If you have an Android device, you’ll want to hit that “update” button soon. Tap or click here for seven things you didn’t know your Android could do. Google released a significant update for the mobile operating system, adding many new functions and accessibility options.
After downloading the update, a new widget will let you see how much time you spend looking at your top three most-used apps. This should give you a good indication of whether you need to scale down your mobile usage.
Keep reading for details on what’s included in the update and how to get it.
Updating your phone
Here’s how you update your Android phone:
- Open your phone’s Settings app
- Tap System, then System update
If the update is available, follow the on-screen instructions. Here are some of the exciting additions that come with the update.
iPhone-like reactions on Messages
A feature that Android users have been clamoring for is finally here. In the latest update, reactions from iPhone users will now appear as emojis on text messages.
Before the change, Android users saw a notification that describes the iOS user’s response. But through tinkering with the backend code, the awkward replacement text is a thing of the past.
Pay to park using your voice
The update combines the powers of Google Assistant and Google Pay so that you can pay for your curbside parking by using your voice. After you have parked your vehicle, say, “Hey Google, pay for parking,” and the app will do the rest.
Google apps will help the hard of hearing
Plenty of us struggle with hearing. You know you have that TV extra loud, but it’s the only way you can hear it. You continually ask people to repeat themselves because you missed one or two words – or all of them.
Especially in this digital age, some gadgets are just too soft or their sound too tinny to be listened to comfortably.