Smart Reply is coming to all messaging apps with Android Q

If you use Google’s Messages app or Gmail, then you’re familiar with Smart Reply. Thanks to machine learning, the feature anticipates what you’re going to type before you type it out. With the upcoming Android Q release, Smart Reply will be heading to other third-party messaging apps. Aside from using it to reply to messages, it’ll also anticipate your actions. So, if a friend sends you an address, it’ll assume you want to open Google Maps and suggest that to you. If you’re worried about sending your activity to Google, the machine learning happens on-device, so you don’t have to worry about it hitting Google’s servers. The company has really been rallying around promoting the privacy and security of its users with this next Android release.

Source: Android Authority

Get real-time subtitles on any audio or video on your phone with Android Q's Live Caption feature

One of the most useful features coming to Android Q makes it easier for the hard of hearing or deaf users to understand what’s happening in video and audio clips they’re watching or listening to. Live Caption will let you see any audio or video clip transcribed in real time, which The Verge’s Chris Welch is said to be done “with extremely accurate results.” The Live Caption is overlaid on top of whatever media app you’re using. It even works for video chat apps like Skype and Google Duo as well as with video or audio you record yourself. It makes use of on-device machine learning so it doesn’t have to send your data to the cloud to interpret what’s happening. It also works even when volume is turned down or muted. However, it won’t save the translations for later use.

The captions, which appear in a black box that you can move around, disappear when the content is over. It is turned off by default, but you can enable the feature in your phone’s accessibility settings. These can then be enabled through a software icon that appears in the volume UI pop-up. The feature will prove to be useful even to those without hearing problems. Imagine being on a crowded train and just wanting to watch a clip without having to turn up the volume to hear what’s happening or use it as a guide for transcribing.

Pre-orders are now up for the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL

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Google is making some changes in its smartphone hardware business. Unlike the past few devices it launched where the focus was on the premium market, Google is bringing back its mid-range line with the launch of the Pixel 3a and 3a XL.

Unlike its past devices, too, these are available for pre-order now through the Google Store in 12 other countries outside of the US—Canada included. So, if you want to get Google’s newest smartphones, you can do so now. The Pixel 3a is priced at $549 CAD, while the Pixel 3a XL goes for $649. In the coming weeks, these will be available for pre-order through carriers like Rogers, Bell, Telus, Fido, Virgin Mobile, and Koodo. They will also be available through Best Buy, Costco, T-Booth Wireless, Wireless Wave, Walmart, and WoW Mobile.

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Google Pixel 3a XL shows up at Best Buy in the US ahead of official release

Well, this killed any remaining mystery surrounding the more affordable Google Pixel devices—specifically the Pixel 3a XL. The phone was spotted at a Best Buy store in Springfield, Ohio. The phones were kept under glass but it showed the two previously leaked colours, “Purple-ish” and “Just Black.” The phone was being rumoured for a launch at Google’s I/O event on May 7^th. This seems to confirm that the phone will make an appearance then. The rumoured specs of are 5.6-inch for the Pixel 3a and 6-inch for the Pixel 3a XL. The phones will reportedly run on a Snapdragon 670 and 710 processors, respectively, with 4GB of RAM and the same Pixel Visual Core that runs on the cameras of the current Pixel 3 phones. The prices are said to be US$399 for the Pixel 3a and $479 for the Pixel 3a XL. While this seems legitimate, the launch hasn’t happened yet, so as usual, it’s best to take this information with a grain of salt.

Source: Android Police