Google’s Android messaging app is getting an interesting new update today. Recently, the message from Google, which is the name of the app, can display the reaction from the iPhone as an emoji. “It’s just like when you’re exchanging messages with people using your Android device,” Google says.
It can be used on devices initially set to English. Second, videos shared by Google via messages can be sent as Google Photos links in the conversation. This means iPhone users can watch high-quality versions of their videos through Google Photos instead of the blurry mess normally sent via MMS. Soon, you will send photos as well.
Google didn’t waste time blaming Apple for ignoring RCS, the standard that today “allows people with Android devices to share beautiful, high-quality photos and videos with each other”. Google has fully stated that it is encouraging “Apple to join other mobile industries and adopt RCS.” This allows you to “make messaging better and more secure no matter which device you choose.” Messages by Google have several other new features, such as an organized inbox that automatically sorts your messages into the Personal and Business tabs.
One-time password messages can be set to be automatically deleted after 24 hours to reduce confusion. This feature has landed in the United States since it was first released in India. A gentle nudge reminds you to reply to messages that you may have missed or simply forgotten (Gmail does this too).
It will be first deployed to English users around the world. Finally, if you save someone’s birthday in the contacts app on your device, you’ll see a gentle reminder when you open a message or jump into a conversation with that day. All of these updates will be rolled out “in the coming weeks.”
