
- Google is formally rolling out a sequence of Android characteristic updates for spring 2021.
- The highlights are a darkish mode for Google Maps in addition to higher hands-free Assistant instructions.
- Scheduled messages, accessibility options and a system-wide password checkup are on the way in which.
Your Android telephone is about to get a welcome refresh because the climate warms up in lots of components of the world. Google is formally rolling out a string of Android characteristic updates for spring 2021, headlined by a darkish mode in Maps.
Whereas Google Maps had a quasi darkish mode if you enabled navigation at night time, the long-teased improve makes that obtainable it doesn’t matter what you’re doing contained in the app — useful when you’re in search of a late-night meals supply. When it’s obtainable, you’ll be able to allow the low-light choice by selecting “At all times in Darkish Theme” within the app’s settings.
Associated: Right here’s why you may need to keep away from darkish mode
Google Assistant, in the meantime, is extra helpful in case your telephone doubles as a sensible speaker. New easy-to-read playing cards make it easier to take advantage of the voice helper if you’re talking instructions throughout the room. Android Auto can be extra participating on drives, too, due to customized wallpapers, launch display shortcuts, and voice-based video games like Jeopardy.
A few of Google’s additions aren’t utterly new, however could also be as welcome as Maps’ darkish mode once they formally arrive (in the event that they haven’t already). Textual content scheduling in Messages is now reaching telephones utilizing Android 7 Nougat or later. The Password Checkup characteristic from Chrome now alerts you to uncovered logins outdoors your browser by Autofill utilizing Android 9 Pie or later. And when you have imaginative and prescient points, an up to date TalkBack provides extra finger gestures, a less complicated menu, and new easy-access voice instructions.
It might take some time to see all of those options. Google Maps’ darkish mode is deploying “quickly,” whereas Android Auto’s enhancements are due within the “coming days” for Android 6 Marshmallow and later. Even so, they’ll be useful by decreasing a few of the little ache factors in your cell life.