Six new features coming to your Android phone

These features include dark mode in Google Maps, Password Checkup tool and more.

New Android features

Google has announced six new features for Android. The new features include Password Checkup, schedule send in Messages, Google Maps dark, updates to TalkBack, Assistant and Android Auto. Some of these features have been in testing for a few months, and are now rolling out widely to more Android users.

Password Checkup

Google has added Password Checkup to devices running Android 9 and above. This feature helps in identifying if a password you used before has been previously exposed, and what to do about it. Passwords entered using Autofill will be checked against a list of known compromised passwords using this tool.

Schedule send

Google started rolling out schedule send in Messages last year. It is now making the feature available to devices running Android 7 and higher. This feature lets users schedule messages according to their preferred time and date.

TalkBack

TalkBack app for the visually impaired users has been updated with more intuitive gestures, a unified menu, a new reading control menu and more. Google said it worked closed with the blind and low vision communities on revamping the TalkBack app.

Google Assistant

Google Assistant has been updated to work better when your phone is locked or across the room. You'll have to turn on Lock Screen Personal Results in Assistant and say “Hey Google” to send text messages and make calls. You can also say “Hey Google, set an alarm” or “Hey Google, play pop music on Spotify.”

Google Maps dark mode

This feature too has been rolling out to select users since last year. Google Maps is also one the last popular Google apps to receive dark mode. Users can choose between dark theme, light theme or set it to the same as device theme.

Android Auto

Android Auto also got a bunch of new features including custom wallpapers for your car display. You can also play voice-activated games like trivia and “Jeopardy!”. Just say, “Hey Google, play a game” to play these games on Android Auto. Google has also launched shortcuts on the launch screen for quicker access to contacts. There's also a split-screen feature that shows a real-time view of Google Maps and media controls.