Google Messages is the default app for many Android users to communicate with friends and family via SMS. This is despite the fact that several people have already completely converted to alternatives such as WhatsApp or Telegram. Be that as it may, this still remains an essential function of all smartphones. So Google continues to bet on it. In fact, the stakes are so great that there are many new features on the way. Attention, this is everything that will reach Google Messages!
Attention! This is everything that will reach Google Messages!
Gemini in Google Messages
This chatbot allows you to talk to Gemini. The experience has been optimized to provide more concise answers, ideal for mobile phones. Available features include access to Gemini Extensions (Gmail, Drive, Maps, YouTube, etc.) and image generation.
Google said it would begin testing this version of Gemini in late February for a small percentage of users before a wider rollout. We have not yet received any reports from users about this feature coming into operation.
Audio Recorder Redesign with Noise Canceling and Voice Moods
In late November, Google announced Voice Moods to visually theme the audio waveform. There are nine in total, so that recipients can “hear your words together with a visual effect that expresses what you are feeling at that moment”.
However, the biggest change is the redesign of the voice recording interface, which opens as a dedicated panel with large controls after tapping the button. Previously, the only option was to press and hold to continue recording. Added to this is Noise Cancellation, which increases the bitrate and sampling rate. The renewal is only available to some users, but we haven't seen Voice Moods yet.
Custom Bubbles
This allows you to customize the color and background of the bubbles in an RCS conversation. This is synchronized between you and the recipient. Once available, “Change Colors” will appear in a topic’s overflow menu. There are nine options: Standard (Material You Dynamic Color theming), Blue, Fuchsia, Green, Monochrome, Orange, Pink, Purple and Turquoise. Very few people have custom bubbles.
Profiles
Profiles let you specify the name and picture that other users see in a conversation. If the person you're talking to has set up a Profile, that will be the image you see in Google Messages, replacing any contact photos you've added manually. However, Google will not replace the contact name you have set.
This began rolling out in mid-November for some users in the Messages > Advanced > Profile Discovery settings.
More screen effects
Screen effects will briefly take over the Google Messages app. On Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24, these message suggestions and rewrites work on the device using Gemini Nano. For all other devices, conversations are sent to the cloud.
Google Messages RCS Background
Late last year, Google tested (and has since retired) the fund for RCS conversations. The design consists of overlapping circles/bubbles that were quite prominent with clear themes.
Instead of a pop-up called “Select Conversation,” you get a full-screen “Select Recipients” UI with “Recent Conversations” listed first. You are then presented with a complete list of contacts. This functionality appeared for some users and was later removed.