5 new features coming to Android including improvements to Google Messages, Gemini Live, and Find Hub

Date:
Wed, 02 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Description:
Five new features are rolling out across various Android services, including Google Messages, Gemini Live, and more.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Google has announced five new Android features These include updates to Google Messages, Gemini Live, and Find Hub, along with the launch of Motion Assist All of these features should either be available now or rolling out soon Android is constantly evolving, and you dont need to wait for major new releases to get new features. Indeed, following on from the launch of Android 17 in June, Google has now announced five new improvements coming to Android.

These include updates to Google Messages, Gemini Live, and Find Hub, plus a whole new tool to help reduce motion sickness, so theres quite a lot here. Youll find full details of all five new features below some of which should be available now, while others are coming soon. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: 1. Motion Assist (Image credit: Google) Weve known for a while that Google was working on a feature designed to combat motion sickness, and now its finally launching.

Dubbed Motion Assist, this Android 17 feature places a subtle bubble overlay on your screen thats designed to reduce motion sickness when youre in a
moving vehicle, by moving in time with the vehicle, allowing you to read, browse, and watch videos while in a car or on a bus, train or boat, all without feeling ill. You may like Android 17 is out now here are the best new features Wear OS 7 launches with 3 handy new features and more coming
soon Android users express frustration as Google Assistant is replaced by Gemini

You can set Motion Assist to turn on automatically or add it to Quick Settings, and you're able to customize the shape, color, and opacity of the bubbles.

It remains to be seen how well it will work, but Apple launched a similar
tool called Motion Cues a couple of years ago, and that can make a real difference, so hopefully this will too. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. 2. Chat themes in Google Messages (Image credit: Google) Google Messages has finally got a feature it probably should have had years ago customizable chat wallpapers and themes.

This is actually slightly less new than the other things on this list, as Google already announced the feature and rolled it out a few days ago, but
its highlighting it again as part of this latest Android announcement.

With this upgrade, youll be able to add more personality to your chats and make them more aesthetically pleasing but dont worry, any customizations you add are only visible to you, not the people youre talking to. What to read next Android 17 QPR1 beta 4 rolls out with Screen Reactions and performance fixes Google Home update adds new Gemini voice commands and Spotify fixes Google rolls out Gemini Live to older smart speakers and displays 3. Google Keep in Google Messages (Image credit: Google) Google Keep is also being
added to Google Messages, meaning you can share a note or a list in a chat
and allow it to be updated by everyone in that chat.

That could be useful if, for example, you want to build a grocery list together or brainstorm vacation or gift ideas. It should make for a handy combination of two existing Google apps, and it's starting to roll out now.
4. Remembered items in Find Hub (Image credit: Google) Find Hub is soon getting an upgrade that will allow you to make a searchable inventory of your belongings, simply by telling Gemini where theyre stored. It will then remember where they are for you.

For example, you could say "Hey Gemini, remember in Find Hub that I put my passport in the bottom drawer of my bedside table." Then, when you need to find it in the future, you can simply ask Gemini where it is or check the
new 'remembered items' tab in Find Hub.

This feature is rolling out soon to phones running Android 16 and above, in countries where Gemini and Find Hub are available. 5. Guided vision in Gemini Live (Image credit: Google) Finally, theres a new visual assistant in Gemini Live that can deliver audio guidance about your surroundings by looking through your camera.

The goal here is to extend your ability to read and understand whats around you, so this could be useful for example to read fine print on a label, or read a menu in a low-lit restaurant.

This feature is coming soon to phones running Android 9 and above, in countries where Gemini is available. Today's best Android phone deals
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/android/5-new-features-coming-to-android-incl uding-improvements-to-google-messages-gemini-live-and-find-hub


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