Packed with new features on Android smartphones, smartwatches and Google TV

While Google quietly continues the distribution of Android 14 on various compatible smartphones, Mountain View announced on its official blog that many new features will come to its flagship operating system in the future. These new features obviously concern smartphones, but also connected watches running Wear OS, like the Pixel Watch, and even devices running Google TV. In total, the company introduced at least 11 features and updates. We evaluate together.

Google TV is stocking free channels

Users of Google TV devices residing in the United States will soon be able to access the Live section at: 10 additional free TV channels. As a reminder, Google TV offers free access to dozens of live channels in the US focusing on sports, series, recreation, documentaries, and even video games.

More options to control connected objects on your smartwatch

Connected watches now running Wear OS 3+ More options to control connected objects in your home. For example, you can control all your connected lights from your smartwatch, turn them on remotely, and even change the color temperature for a calmer atmosphere.

But that’s not all; Owners of smartwatches running Wear OS will also be able to: Change Google Home status on connected watches (e.g. Not at Home or Away). A welcome function to quickly configure connected objects whether you are at home or away.

Google Assistant helps you with your routines on Wear OS

Another new feature for users of connected watches running Wear OS. We will be able to achieve this very soon Activate routines saved in Google Assistant on your smartwatch through simple voice commands. To summarize, if you’ve already configured a routine for getting to work in Google Assistant (including traffic, weather, and the day’s agenda), you can reference all the information of that routine on your connected watch. It’s quite practical.

Personalized PINs make their debut

Google then focuses on security key authentication, famous for personalized PIN, one of the latest advances in digital security. From now on it will be possible configure a custom PIN In your FIDO2 security key to quickly connect to sites/services that require authentication (without a password).

Greater inclusivity and accessibility

Finally, we conclude this overview with new features in favor of inclusivity and accessibility. Thus, for blind and visually impaired users TalkBack tool provides a detailed description of an image and speaks it out loud. This feature is based on artificial intelligence. Afterwards, Live Caption will take care of displaying live captions during phone calls or while playing media on your smartphone (on YouTube, in your messages, etc.).

As Google stated, these new features will come to the relevant applications through updates in the coming weeks.