Tag: Google Messages

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Google Messages rolling out end-to-end encryption for group chats

Google’s Messages app is now getting support for encrypted group chats.

The much-anticipated feature appears to be rolling out as part of a Messages update and has been spotted by several people online as well as publications like Android Police. Those seeing the feature are running Messages version ‘20230329_00_RC01.phone_dynamic’ — you can check the encryption status of a group chat by opening the chat, tapping the three-dot icon in the top-right corner, tapping ‘Group details’ and looking for the ‘End-to-end encryption’ section.

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) rollout for group chats is a major milestone for Google Messages and the Rich Communication Services (RCS) platform. E2EE is an important privacy and security feature offered by many of the most popular messaging services, and it prevents messages from being decoded by a third party. RCS lacked E2EE when it launched, but Google added it for one-to-one messages in 2021. That, unfortunately, left group chats vulnerable.

Android Police notes the rollout seems to be fairly widespread, although Google hasn’t made an official announcement yet. Ultimately, it’s great to see E2EE in RCS becoming more widely available. Many people stick with the default options on their phones — if the default messaging option offers better security, that’s a win for everyone.

Source: Android Police

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Google Messages launches new feature to send images faster

Google Messages has quietly rolled out a new feature that allows users to send images faster by reducing their resolution.

The feature, which was first reported by 9to5Google, is called “Send photos faster,” and appears as a toggle in settings.

Google is currently rolling out the feature to users, though it hasn’t shown up on all devices. The feature could be especially beneficial to users with limited internet access and in data-constrained areas as the feature reduces the resolution of images before sending them. However, there seems to be no discernible visual difference between the images, which is a good sign.

According to 9to5Google, the setting is toggled on by default, and users can turn it off by tapping their Google Account thumbnail and navigating to Message settings. The feature should be located underneath the toggle for Bubbles if it is available.

The “Send photos faster” toggle on Google Messages is a welcome addition for users who want to reduce the data used to send images or those who have limited storage or data caps.

Source: 9to5Google

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Google Messages reactions now allow any emoji

Google is now rolling out the ability for users to use any emoji for a Google Messages emoji reaction.

The feature, which was first tested in mid-November – is now ready for widespread use. It allows Google Messages users to react to messages with any emoji they choose.

Google Messages Emoji Test 1

Until now, Google Messages only allowed the use of seven different reaction emojis (thumbs up/down, Smiling Face with Heart-Eyes, Face with Tears of Joy, Face with Open Mouth, Crying Face, and Angry Face).

To access the entire emoji keyboard, all you have to do is long-press on an SMS text or RCS chat and hit the “plus” button. From there, you are greeted by the entire catalogue of Google emojis.

For Andriod users, the reaction will appear just like it did before, attached to the bottom right of the message. However, this does not do away with these reactions showing up as quoted text for recipients with iPhones.

The wider rollout is now available on the latest update of the Google Messages app.

Via: 9to5Google

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Google Messages expands end-to-end encryption support to group chats

Google Messages’ Beta program users can take advantage of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in their Messages group chats, starting now.

Google started Beta testing E2EE for regular two-person conversations back in November 2020, while the feature left beta and entered the public build in June 2021. When it comes to E2EE for group chats on the platform, a bunch of Redditors shared what appeared to be Google resting the feature out in group chats. Now, Google has made it official in a blog post that it is testing E2EE for group chats, and the feature is entering beta testing.

Image credit: Google

Google has been pushing Apple to adopt RCS, in favour of using outdated SMS technology when sending messages between iOS and Android users. Currently, iPhones automatically use iMessage (the blue message bubbles) when messaging another Apple user but revert to SMS/MMS (green bubbles) when messaging people with other smartphones or even iPhones that don’t have internet access.

Photos and videos sent via a message from an iPhone to an Android device are often tiny and blurry because of Apple’s continued use of SMS/MMS and texts, and similarly, texts can’t be sent over Wi-Fi.

While today’s blog post wasn’t meant to persuade Apple to adopt RCS, Google did throw shade at the Cupertino-based company. “Apple refuses to adopt RCS and continues to rely on SMS when people with iPhones message people with Android phones, which means their texting is stuck in the 1990s,” reads the blog post.

In addition to E2EE support for group chats, the blog post also mentions that soon, Messages will let you react to RCS messages with any emoji of your choice, instead of being limited to a few pre-selected emojis, making the overall experience of using Google Messages more in line with the likes of WhatsApp and Apple Messages.

Learn more here.

Source: Google

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Mobile Syrup

Google Messages app is getting three new tools, APK deep divers discover

It looks like Google’s Messages app is getting three new tools regarding voice memos, emoji reactions and more. The APK deep divers at 9to5Google have discovered some new details via the Messages app beta.

The first of the updates coming to the app are transcripts of voice memos. These will automatically translate your recorded messages into text. Reportedly, Google says this is designed for when you’re unable to listen to someone’s recorded messages, you can now just read them.

9to5 says that the experience is slower than voice typing with Assistant on Pixel 6 and doesn’t have the same level of accuracy.

Additionally, Google is opening up emoji reactions by allowing users to pull up a full list of emojis available on their Android phones. Previously, reactions only had seven emojis.

Another update includes a revamped gallery view in the Messages app. Currently, the app sports a horizontal grid when you’re looking to attach an image or screenshot. In a new update, you’ll be able to vertically scroll through your photos, which makes the experience more spacious. That old Gallery button is also replaced with the ‘Folders’  button; however, it offers the same experience.

It’s unclear when these features will hit the Google Messages app.

Source: 9to5Google

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Google Messages users can now receive iPhone reactions as emojis

Google has added new features to its Android Messages app that make interacting with iPhone users a better experience.

Reactions from iPhone users will now appear as emoji on text messages — just like when you message your Android friends. This feature was available for Google Messages beta users starting last month, but it’s now rolling out for everyone.

Another new Messages app feature sorts your messages into ‘personal’ and ‘business’ tabs. One-time password messages will be deleted after 24 hours. Additionally, you’ll get nudges to reply to messages if you miss them.

Google Messages will also offer grammar corrections on Gboard now, but this only works with English (U.S.).

The Live Transcribe that’s preinstalled on Pixel and Samsung phones no provides real-time speech-to-text captions offline.

Lastly, Nearby Share is releasing to all devices Android 6+ devices, and you can now share with multiple people at a time.

Source: Google

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Your Android device will soon remind you to reply to messages

We usually nudge people to get their attention. Now, Google is doing the same thing with its Android Messages app.

First seen in the development phase back in September, the ‘Nudge’ feature is meant to remind you of unread texts and messages you might have forgotten to reply to. Now, as XDA Developers points out, the feature is rolling out to some users.

According to XDA, the feature offers a couple of toggles, including the following:

  • Suggest messages to reply to: Messages you might have forgotten to respond to will appear at the top of your inbox.
  • Suggest messages to follow up on: Messages you might need to follow up on will appear at the top of your inbox.

Once the feature is live for you, you’ll see that messages you might have forgotten to respond to or messages that you might need to follow up on will appear at the top of your inbox.

While the feature doesn’t seem to be live for us at MobileSyrup, you can head to the Messages app, navigate to Settings -> Suggestions and check if there is a ‘Nudge’ option at the bottom.

You can also head to APKMirror to grab the latest Google Messages 10.8.260 beta build.

Via: XDA Developers

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Future Google Messages update could work better with iMessages

Android fans rejoice — your prayers might soon be answered.

A recent update to Google Messages is reportedly preparing for a way to handle iMessage reaction messages.

Android users know this message pretty well, “loved [insert text here],” as whenever a friend with an iPhone uses reactions in a conversation, you receive a lengthy message about the text.

When iPhone users are talking to each other on iMessage, these reactions display as an emoji. However, on Android, you see a message that writes out the reaction used and quotes the text the iPhone user reacted to.

9to5Google did a deep dive into the APK for the latest beta update to Google Messages and found that Google is looking into a way to handle these messages. According to the code, Google Messages will be able to intercept the iMessage reaction and turn it into an emoji.

Google Messages currently has an RCS option when you’re talking to another Android user with the feature enabled, allowing you to react to these messages like iMessage. There’s a possibility Google will try to match these reactions with iMessage’s, but it’s unclear.

Further, Google Messages will offer birthday reminders that display directly in conversations, according to the APK breakdown. You’ll likely need to add the user’s birthday to your Google Contacts listing for this feature to work. Then, when you’re in a chat with someone, you’ll see a banner to remind you it’s that contact’s birthday.

Source: 9to5Google

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Google Messages upcoming feature automatically reminds users about unread texts

Google Messages is the main Android app for messages that is automatically downloaded on most Android devices.

A new APK Teardown by XDA Developers indicates that the popular app will soon “nudge” users if they have an unread text message. According to the report, the update’s description reads,”messages you might have forgotten to respond to.”

Additionally, messages that “nudge” the user are pushed to the top of your conversations list automatically.

In the teardown, XDA was able to make “Nudges” appear in the settings and says that the feature offers a couple of toggles, including the following:

  • Suggest messages to reply to: Messages you might have forgotten to respond to will appear at the top of your inbox.
  • Suggest messages to follow up on: Messages you might need to follow up on will appear at the top of your inbox.

The Messages app currently lets users manually set reminders for different messages and threads. However, the ‘Nudges’ feature will automatically remind users, which is a bit more useful.

The functionality isn’t available in the Message beta yet, but it will likely be making its way there sooner than later.

Source: XDA Developers