Google announces 5 new features for Android users: Offline Maps on WearOS, Circle to Search, more

Android update: Google has announced a bunch of new features for Android users. These new features bring the company's most advanced gen-AI model, Gemini, to users' fingertips. They also make using Android powered devices, including Google's WearOS-powered smartwatches tad bit faster.

So, from Circle to Search to Offline Maps on WearOS, here are all the new features coming to Android devices:

Circle to Search

Google first announced Circle to Search feature for Android devices back in January this year. However, at the time, the feature was restricted to finding information online. Now, the company has expanded the scope of this feature by enabling users to find songs that they are hearing instantly.

Google in a blog post explained that the updated Circle to Search feature will let users search the songs that they are hearing without switching apps. Users can now long press the Home button or the navigation bar to activate the feature and then tap the music button to identify the track name, artist and even open a YouTube video to explore more.

Listen to web pages on Chrome

Android's latest update also brings a new Chrome feature that will enable users to listen to web pages on the web browser. Google says that users can also adjust the listening speed, voice type and language of the web page being read.

Gemini-powered audio descriptions

With this update, Google is also updating Android's screen reader feature, TalkBack. For the unversed, TalkBack is aimed at helping people with low vision. It tells users about alerts and notifications. Essentially, it enables users to interact with their phones more effectively using sound and gestures. Now, Google has powered TalkBack with Gemini.

Google says that the updated TalkBack feature will make digital images more accessible with detailed audio descriptions on all supported devices.

Earthquake Alerts on Android

Google is also expanding the reach of its earthquake alert system. Earlier, this feature was available in select states in the US. Now, the feature is available across the US.

Offline Maps on Wear OS smartwatch

Lastly, Google is bringing offline maps to Wear OS-powered smartwatch. It is worth noting that offline maps are already available for Google Maps' Android users. Now, the company is extending this feature to Wear OS devices.

Google says that now smartwatch users can access a map that they have downloaded in Google Maps on Android, on their smartwatches. In addition to this, users can search for destinations using their voice when they are back online. They can also view their location on the map with a tap on their watch face.