Google announced new technology at its yearly developers conference last week. Many of these announcements involve updates to existing tech, instead of new
gadgets
. These updates may make life a little easier.
Gmail Smart Reply
Google is adding a feature to Gmail to make it easier for the user to answer emails. Smart
Reply
learns how you write and suggests three short replies to emails you receive. You can choose one and send it or add more words to the Smart Reply.
Smart Reply will be offered in English and will expand to Spanish later this year.
Google Assistant updates
Google Assistant, the
digital assistant
from Google, is getting updates with new features. You will be able to use Google Assistant to do more things on more
devices
.
Google Assistant new features
For example, Google Assistant is learning to read. Users will be able to type questions to Google Assistant on their phones in addition to using voice commands.
History will be added to Google Assistant so users can see what they have asked in the past.
Google Assistant can help make your home smarter as it now works with over 70 smart home partners. Use your voice to control your smart home devices with Google Home.
More languages are coming to Google Assistant on Android. Google Assistant soon will be available in Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, French, and German. By the end of 2017, Google Assistant will be available in Italian, Korean and Spanish.
Google Assistant on the iPhone
Google Assistant is now available on the iPhone in the United States. People who want to use Google Assistant, but also want to use an iPhone, can now download the Google Assistant app.
Google Assistant on the iPhone
Unlike Siri, Google Assistant cannot be started by pressing the Home button on the iPhone. Users must go into the app to use Google Assistant on an iPhone.
The Google Assistant app is free in the iTunes App Store.
Google Home
Google is making its Google Home smart speaker more useful. Google Home works with Google Assistant and will be able to let you know about information such as flight delays and traffic problems that may delay your travels.
Users do not even have to ask for such assistance. Google Home will light up to let users know there is an alert. Then, they just have to ask what the alert is about.
Users also can now set calendar appointments and reminders through Google Home. The information will appear across all your devices.
Google Home will be able use voice activation for phone calls. Users can speak to Google Home to place calls and talk on the phone.
Google Home will recognize voices. For example if you tell it, ‘call Mom,’ it will call your mother and not your partner’s or roommate’s mother. Google Home calls will be free to mobile phones and to landlines in the U.S. and Canada.
