Apps
More Google Wallet features coming to Wear OS smartwatches: Report
Google Wallet is a redesigned payment application for Android smartphones and Wear OS smartwatches. At the time of launch, the Google Wallet app was only focused on tap-to-pay on Wear OS smartwatches, but reportedly, many new features are coming to the wearables.
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Yesterday, Google released a new update to the Google Pay app that replaced the application with the Wallet app and made its availability to more Wear OS-based smartwatch users in over 35 countries.
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This update doesn’t bring any new features and is still meant for quick payments with credit and debit cards on the smartwatches. However, the update is spoiling the ability to double-click a hardware button to access payments for some smartwatch owners.
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If you don’t know, the Fossil Gen 5 which is removed with Gen 6 and TicWatch Pro 3 has the ability to hit a predefined button twice to launch Google Pay and unfortunately, it’s not working after the app has been updated to Wallet.
We hope that the problem will get a fix soon, without updating the whole system. Until it gets fixed, you can set a different button to launch the Wallet if you are fine to remove the existing shortcut. Another alternative is to place the Google Wallet as a watch face complication.
Google Wallet Wear OS
The company has big plans for the Google Wallet app on Wear OS, it will release some new features to the wearables later this year. Considering the Wallet app for smartphones, it has some grateful features like transit passes, loyalty cards, event tickets, and vaccine records.
Other than these, the Wear OS Wallet app should also get support for driver’s licenses, student IDs, digital car keys, and house keys, which are already available on Apple Wallet and Samsung wallet apps.
Apps
Google Vids app makes video creation easy with AI
Google has officially rolled out its AI-powered video creation tool, Google Vids. Initially available only to Gemini customers, the app is now rolling out to a wider range of Google Workspace users, including Business, Enterprise, and Education plans.
Google Vids uses AI to simplify the video creation process. The “Help me create” feature allows users to generate an initial storyboard from a prompt and a Google Drive document.
The AI analyzes the content and suggests scenes, stock media, text, scripts, and background music to put together a draft video. Users can then customize the video further with animations, transitions, photo effects, and royalty-free stock content.
In addition, the app lets you add AI-powered voiceovers. Users can choose from preset voices or use a teleprompter with a read-along feature to record their own voiceover.
Currently, the tool’s AI features, like the “Help me create” and teleprompter, are only available in English, but Google plans to add support for more languages in the future.
Notably, AI features in Google Vids will be available until December 31, 2025. After that, there may be usage limits, and Google will notify users in advance. The full rollout of Google Vids will continue over the next few weeks.
Apps
Android Switch: Google’s new name for the Data Restore Tool
Google has renamed its Data Restore Tool to Android Switch to make it easier for users to move data when setting up a new Android device. The tool helps users transfer apps, photos, videos, messages, contacts, and settings when they switch to a new Android phone.
However, once the transfer is done, most users don’t need to interact with the tool again, so Google decided to make the app more impressive with its new name.
Along with a new name, Android Switch comes with a fresh new logo featuring three arrows made of five dots each, in blue, yellow, and green. This color scheme is similar to the one Google used for its Switch to Android app, which helps iPhone users move to Android.
Currently, the Android Switch app is listed in the Google Play Store with a description focused on compatibility with the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. These new devices allow users to transfer data even after the initial setup. Google hopes to expand this ability to all Android devices soon
With over 10 billion downloads, Android Switch is a key tool for anyone switching to a new Android phone. We can expect even more helpful features to make the process smoother.
Apps
Google App unveils ‘Activity’ tab for quick access to your search history
Google is introducing a new feature in the Google App called the “Activity” tab, which makes it easier for users to view and manage their search history and saved items. The tab is currently under testing and will replace the old “Saved” tab.
The new “Activity” tab is now at the bottom of the Google app. It gives users a simple, more organized way to access their search history and saved content.
Now, instead of going to different sections, users can manage everything in one spot. You can view, delete, or even share items from your search history directly from the tab.
Moreover, this new feature gives users a smoother and more integrated experience compared to the old web-based layout. It allows for quicker actions, like saving or deleting specific items, without leaving the app.
This feature has been under development for a couple of months, and some users are already seeing it on their devices. However, not all users have access yet.
Even though the latest version 15.44.27.29 of the Google app is available on other devices, the “Activity” tab hasn’t appeared on all phones yet. If you don’t see the new tab just yet, don’t worry, it should be rolling out to more users in the coming days or weeks.