Android Messages app to allow you to schedule texts

One of the new features coming to Android Messages will help those who want to have better control over when their messages are sent. Similar to what Google offers in Gmail, the Android Messages app will support scheduled text messages. All you have to do is press and hold on the send button with the text message you plan to schedule, and then you'll get the option to select a date and time to send your text.

The feature will be available for devices running on Android 7 or later. But Google hasn't specified when it will be available. When it does roll out, Google requires that you have the latest version of the Messages app to work.

Some of the other new features we've written about include Password Checkup for Android, Google Assistant locked screen support, new Android TalkBack capabilities, Android Auto updates, and Dark Mode for Google Maps.

Android Messages now lets you delete multiple messages in a conversation thread

It's a feature that should've been available for a while, but better late than never, we say. Version 4.7 of Android Messages will allow you to delete multiple messages in a conversation thread.  For many Android phones, Android Messages is the default messaging app for a lot of Android phones, but some OEMs have their proprietary messaging app. If you aren't using Android Messages and want to use it, the app is available for download on the Play Store.

To batch delete messages, open the app and select the chat thread you want. Once you're there, long-press on a message to highlight it. You can then tap on any additional messages you wish to remove. You can then tap on the trash can icon from the menu bar up top to delete the texts.

Source: Lifehacker

MWC 2019: Google Assistant is coming to Android Messages

Google is rolling out "over the coming months" an easier way to pull up information when you're on Android Messages. The messaging app is getting Google Assistant support. This means you'll be able to see a Google Assistant button appear in the smart replies section of the app. When you tap it, it'll ask Assistant a question and give you options of what you can answer in your thread. Like if you want to find out about restaurants in the area where you're meeting up with a friend. For starters, the feature is limited to English.

Google claims it isn't reading your messages. The only information that gets sent to Google is the text of the Google Assistant button you tap. The "suggestions chips" are based on a local analysis of what's in your conversation thread. When you tap on a chip it'll send you a card with information and options. From there you can send the results of your search to the chat. This feature basically helps you do your search right from within the thread.

Source: The Verge

New code change suggests Google will move its Messages web app to Google.com

Google seems to be moving away bit by bit from the Android brand. A new code change seems to suggest it’s doing it this time with its Messages web app. In case you didn’t know, Android has a Messages app that lets you manage your messages from a browser. It’s hosted at the URL messages.android.com. But the code change spotted in Chromium’s Gerrit source code management suggests Google plans to move it to messages.google.com. The code itself shows a simple mechanism that remotely tells Chromebooks to stop using the former URL and switch to the Google.com one. The latter isn’t available yet but we might see the change soon or at least a couple of versions of Chrome in Chromebooks down the line.

Source: 9to5Google