Google announced several new features today coming to all Android phones as part of their quarterly Android Feature Drop system. Similar to the Pixel Feature Drop idea, where Google would add a lot of new features to its Pixel phones, these regularly released batches of features should go out to all Android phones.
For this June drop, Google is bringing new Gboard features to everyone, Google Play Points as a pay-as-you-go option, improvements to background noise reduction in Sound Amplifier, and a new image mode for Lookout.
Here’s an overview of the new features you’ll soon be playing with:
- Gboard custom stickers: Previously exclusively for Pixel phones, Google has opened custom text stickers in Gboard for everyone. Now as you type, you will be able to turn the text into a custom sticker of your choice. All you have to do is start typing, then choose an emoji recommendation for those words, and then you will see a new option to customize.
- Summer and Pride stickers in Emoji Kitchen: Another update for Gboard lands as a bunch of new summer and Pride Month related stickers in Emoji Kitchen. You know we love Emoji Kitchen.
- Google Play Points to checkout: The Google Play Points rewards app will soon start appearing as an under-the-box payment option for in-app items. You will be able to cover the full price of the item in the app or split between points and your other payment methods.
- Audio amplifier enhancement: Google updates Sound Amplifier to better reduce background noise and bring faster and more accurate sound. The new interface should also be easier to see.
- Google Lookouts new image mode: Google Lookout updates with a new image mode that can take a picture and then tell a description of the picture. Google also improves the Text, Documents, Food Labels, and Explore modes to be more accurate. Lookout can also work offline now.
All of these new features will be launched in the coming days and weeks. Just make sure to grab the latest updates for each as they appear and the new features will eventually be there.