Google has announced its September Android Drop with five new features for Android users. The update includes new capabilities across Gemini, Find Hub, Android and Google Messages.
Gemini can remember where you put important items
Gemini will soon be able to remember where users placed important items and save their locations in Find Hub. This also works for items that do not have a tracker tag, such as a passport or spare key.
Users can tell Gemini where an item was placed and optionally add a photo. For example, they can say, “Hey Google, remember in Find Hub that I put my passport in my bedroom drawer.”
Later, users can ask Gemini for the item’s location or check the Remembered items tab in Find Hub. This allows users to keep track of items without attaching a tracker tag to them.
Motion Assist helps reduce motion sickness
Motion Assist adds a bubble overlay to the phone’s screen that moves with the vehicle while the user is travelling. The feature is designed to help bridge the gap between what the eyes see and the movement of the ride.
Users can customize Motion Assist through the following options:
- Set it to turn on automatically
- Add it to Quick Settings
- Change the bubble’s shape
- Change the bubble’s color
- Adjust the bubble’s opacity
Guided vision provides assistance through Gemini Live
Guided vision lets users share their camera in Gemini Live to hear descriptions of what is in front of them. The feature is designed for and with blind and low-vision communities.
It can help with tasks such as:
- Reading fine print on a food label
- Ordering from a menu in a low-lit restaurant
- Identifying household objects
If the camera is not positioned correctly, voice feedback can guide users to reframe the view, pan across a space, or center an object. Guided vision can be accessed through Accessibility shortcuts, the TalkBack menu, or Gemini App Settings.
Google Keep comes to Google Messages
Google Messages is adding Google Keep, allowing users to create and edit shared notes directly within a conversation. The feature can be used for grocery lists, vacation notes, and other shared information without switching to another app.
Everyone in the conversation can view, edit, and add to the note. Users can access Google Keep by tapping the + icon in Google Messages.
Google Messages adds custom chat themes
Chat theme in Google Messages lets users set a different background and color combination for each conversation. Users can choose a wallpaper or use their own photo as the background.
Text bubbles automatically match the selected background, while users can also change the colors. Each conversation can therefore have its own background and color settings.
Availability
- Remembered items: Coming soon to devices running Android 16 and later in countries where Gemini and Find Hub are supported.
- Motion Assist: Available on phones running Android 17.
- Guided vision: Coming soon to phones running Android 9 and later in countries where Gemini is available.
- Google Keep in Google Messages: Rollout starts today.
- Chat theme: Available now in Google Messages.