{"id":587193,"date":"2026-09-01T19:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T19:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/587193\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T19:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T19:36:14","slug":"androids-new-features-have-me-excited-especially-this-one-for-motion-sickness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/587193\/","title":{"rendered":"Android\u2019s New Features Have Me Excited, Especially This One for Motion Sickness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google on Tuesday rolled out its latest batch of Android updates<\/a>, with a focus on practical improvements rather than blatantly AI-heavy features.<\/p>\n

The new Android phone<\/a> capabilities will help you keep tabs on your belongings, let you contribute to shared notes within a chat, identify objects around you with your camera and allow you to customize chat themes in Google Messages. A motion sickness feature can also help mitigate the challenges of staring at your screen in a moving vehicle \u2014 something I welcome with open arms.<\/p>\n

The updates come weeks after Google launched its latest Pixel lineup, including the Pixel 11<\/a>, 11 Pro<\/a> and 11 Pro Fold<\/a>. The phones run Android 17<\/a> and come with Gemini Intelligence<\/a>, a suite of AI features designed to handle mundane tasks such as adding events to your calendar and sharing flight details with loved ones.<\/p>\n

Many of those features felt helpful<\/a> while I tested the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Rambler, for example, removes filler words and corrects errors as you speak, while Live Translate for media dubs YouTube videos in real time.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"I<\/p>\n

This month\u2019s Android update incorporates Gemini into several refreshed capabilities, but emphasizes practical uses, such as remembering where you put your passport or quickly compiling a list with friends. A new accessibility feature also builds on other tools designed to make Android more useful for more people<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what\u2019s landing on Android devices this month.<\/p>\n

Track your important items<\/p>\n

\"FindFind Hub can be used to keep tabs on your important items that don\u2019t have a tracker tag on them.Google<\/p>\n

Do you have a tendency to forget where you put items such as your passport or a spare key? You can now ask Gemini to remember where you placed those objects<\/a>, and it\u2019ll save their locations in Find Hub<\/a>, Google\u2019s tracking app for people, phones and accessories.<\/p>\n

Just say something like, \u201cHey Google, remember in Find Hub that I put my passport in my bedroom drawer.\u201d You can add a photo, too. When it\u2019s time to track down that item, ask Gemini where it is or check your remembered items tab in Find Hub. This can be handy for smaller or everyday items you don\u2019t put a tracker tag on.<\/p>\n

This feature is available on devices running Android 16 and up, where Gemini and Find Hub are supported<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Motion Assist<\/p>\n

\"MotionMotion Assist on Android displays moving dots on a phone\u2019s screen to counter the motion of a vehicle.Google<\/p>\n

As someone who struggles with car sickness, one of my favorite features that launched on the iPhone with iOS 18 was Vehicle Motion Cues<\/a>. It\u2019s a layer of moving dots that appears across your screen and changes with the motion of a vehicle. Apple says the feature helps reduce the sensory conflict between what you see and what you feel, making it easier to look at your screen while in a car. I\u2019ve definitely noticed the difference when Vehicle Motion Cues is on; I can scroll or read on my iPhone for longer without feeling nauseous.<\/p>\n

At last, a similar feature is coming to Android. Called Motion Assist<\/a>, this adds a bubble overlay to your phone\u2019s screen that moves as the vehicle does. As Google put it in a blog post, \u201cIt\u2019s designed to help bridge the gap between what your eyes see and the movement of your ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can adjust the shape, color and opacity of the bubbles. You can also set Motion Assist to turn on automatically when you\u2019re in a moving vehicle, and add it to Quick Settings for easy access. Motion Assist is available on phones running Android 17.<\/p>\n

Create and edit shared notes in a chat<\/p>\n

\"GoogleYou can now share and edit Google Keep notes within a chat.Google<\/p>\n

Now, you can share and update a Google Keep note or list with friends within a chat<\/a> \u2014 no need to switch apps to make an edit. That way, if you\u2019re planning a trip or making a grocery list, it\u2019s easier for everyone to contribute right within Google Messages.<\/p>\n

Tap the plus (+) icon in Google Messages to add Google Keep to the conversation. <\/p>\n

Chat themes in Google Messages<\/p>\n

\"AYou can choose a custom background photo for your group chats.Google<\/p>\n

Speaking of Google Messages updates, you can now customize each chat with different backgrounds and colors<\/a>. You can choose a wallpaper or your own photo for the background, and the text bubbles will automatically match that theme \u2014 or you can choose a different hue altogether. <\/p>\n

Guided Vision<\/p>\n

\"GuidedGuided Vision can help someone pinpoint where an object is using their phone\u2019s camera and Gemini Live.Google<\/p>\n

By sharing your camera in Gemini Live<\/a>, you can get descriptions of your surroundings. Gemini Live is part of the Gemini app, and lets you have a more in-depth, back-and-forth conversation with Google\u2019s AI.<\/p>\n

The new capability, called Guided Vision<\/a>, can assist with reading fine print on a food label or ordering from a menu in a dimly lit restaurant. It can also help you identify something on your shelf or locate objects around the house. If an object isn\u2019t aligned with the camera, voice feedback will help you reframe to better identify it. This feature can be especially helpful for people who are blind or have low vision. But, as is true with all accessibility features, anyone can benefit.<\/p>\n

This is Google\u2019s latest visual intelligence feature catered toward accessibility, following apps such as Lookout<\/a>, which similarly helps people who are blind or low-vision identify objects and read documents, and which uses AI to generate detailed image descriptions<\/a>. Guided Frame<\/a>, which launched on the Pixel 7<\/a>, is also designed to make it easier for people who are blind or low-vision to frame shots by using audio and haptic cues.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"I<\/p>\n

On the iPhone, features such as Live Recognition and Magnifier<\/a> also use the camera to respectively describe someone\u2019s surroundings and show information using large, high-contrast text.<\/p>\n

On Android, you can launch Guided Vision from the TalkBack<\/a> menu, or add it to your Accessibility shortcuts. The capability is coming soon to phones running Android 9 and up, in countries where Gemini is available<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Abrar\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAbrar Al-Heeti\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSenior Technology Reporter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAbrar’s interests include phones, streaming, autonomous vehicles, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. In addition to her current role, she’s worked for CNET’s video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco — steep inclines and all.
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