Google just announced a ton of new features and improvements for the Android ecosystem, including ways to share locations, lost luggage location, Google Play shorts, personalized calling cards, a kid-friendly lineup of Android Auto games, and Emoji Kitchen sticker combos.
Plus, the new March Pixel Drop is coming soon, with Circle to Search upgrades, Magic Cue restaurant recommendations, At a Glance updates, and new Gemini task assistance features. Pixel Watch also gets a slew of new stuff, too, with Left behind phone reminders, phone lock on disconnect, mobile trusted locations, Express Pay options, One-handed gestures, and some Safety feature updates as well.
Android improvements galore
Find Hub, Google Play, Phone, Kid Games, and new Emoji combos
Now you can see your friends on a real-time map view right in Google Messages, powered by Find Hub, which will also underlie a new lost luggage location sharing abiltiy with airlines. If you’ve added a tracker tag to your bags, you can share a link with participating airlines to help identify your luggage and provide updates on where it is.
Google Play will bring new short-form videos from apps, helping you find the cool stuff in the Play app. Imagine seeing how an app works right in Google Play without having to try it out on your own.
In the Phone app, you can now personalize your contact photo, font, and color so they see what you want them to when you’re calling.
Android Auto gets a new kid-centric feature: Teacher-approved games for the little ones. Now you can have the kiddos play on the Android Auto screen and know that the apps have been approved by Google for them.
Finally, Emoji Kitchen gets new sticker combos that will let you mix and match your favorites. You can even share them with friends in Gboard.
March Pixel Drop is coming
New Phone, Circle to Search, At a Glance, and Gemini features
If you’re lucky enough to own a Pixel, you’ll soon see some improvements in Circle to Search, with Find the Look to identify specific pieces of an outfit from images, and Try on with Circle to Search, which will let you see how the clothes look on you from videos, social content, or your own images.
Magic Cue brings new restaurant recommendations using Gemini to proactively suggest a search for restaurants, giving you personally tailored results so you can find a place to eat.
At a Glance updates with My Commute, which will give you real-time transit updates on your home and lock screen, and sets up your ringer and Bluetooth settings via Transit Mode. Sports scores will appear in real time for all your followed teams during live matches, and end-of-day updates on Google Finance watchlist members will arrive in time for you to be ready for the next day.
Gemini also gets task assistance capabilities, and you’ll be able to start UI automations for new cases.
Pixel Watch
Reminders, phone locks, Express Pay, and more
Now, if you leave your phone behind, the Pixel Watch will send you an alert immediately. It will also lock your phone when you move out of range to keep your information safe while you rush back to grab your phone. Plus, if your Watch and phone are connected, you’ll get faster identity checks for easier access.
Express Pay will be more convenient now; you don’t have to open Wallet anymore. Just a simple tap, and you’re paying at retail. One-handed gestures will finally arrive on Pixel Watch 3, and there will be new safety feature updates, like a standalone earthquake alert and Satellite SOS expansion to Europe, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska.
