Google Adds 7 New Features to Android

Google today announced several new features for supported versions of Android for phones and Wear OS for smartwatches.

“Earlier this month, we shared new ways to experience Google AI on Android, along with more ways to stay safe, express yourself, and do more across your device ecosystem,” Google director of product Jan Jedrzejowicz writes in the announcement post. “Today, we’re excited to share seven new Android features and updates designed to elevate your everyday.”

They are:

Edit sent messages in Google Messages. When using RCS messaging, you can now edit messages after they’re sent for up to 15 minutes.

Instant hotspot on Chromebook. Coming soon, this feature lets you connect automatically your phone’s hotspot from a Chromebook without having to sign in or manually enable it on the phone (as one can do already with iPhone and Macs).

New Emoji Kitchen combos. Google will soon roll out new Emoji Kitchen sticker combos. “Get ready for festival season by remixing your favorite emoji, like the disco ball and headphones, and sharing them with your friends as stickers via Gboard,” Jedrzejowicz says.

Google Home favorites widget. This new widget lets you manage and control your most-used smartphone devices right from your home screen. It’s available now in public preview.

Google Home favorites tile and complication for Wear OS. Related to the above, you can customize your smartwatch with this new app to view and control your most-used smartphone devices from your wrist.

PayPal support in Google Wallet. Users in the US and Germany can now add their PayPal account to Google Wallet on a Wear OS-based smartwatch.

Digital car key improvements. The Digital car key now supports select Mini models and will soon expand to select Mercedes-Benz and Polestar vehicles, letting you lock, unlock, and start your car with your phone and securely share your digital car key with family and friends.

You can learn more on the Android New Features website.