Google deleting nearly 20 features from millions of Androids and iPhones– but new tricks hidden in switch-off list
GOOGLE has plans to remove nearly 20 features from Google Assistant.
Launched nearly 7 years ago, Google Assistant is a virtual assistant software app.
The app has gone through many changes in its lifespan, and now Google is making some more.
The company announced that it will be trimming nearly 20 features to focus on “quality and reliability.”
This upcoming change is expected to roll out in two weeks, on January 26.
If you try to pull up one of these features, you’ll receive a notification from Assistant noting that the feature is winding down.
You’ll continue to receive these alerts for 30 days until they completely vanish on February 26.
If you try to use any of the features after February 26, Google will simply reject the command.
WHICH FEATURES ARE BEING REMOVED?
Google shared a list of the features that might be affected on its support webpage.
The list not only displays the features but also how to get around their disabling.
We shared the full list here:
- Playing and controlling audiobooks on Google Play Books with your voice. You can still cast audiobooks from your mobile device.
- Setting or using media alarms, music alarms, or radio alarms on Google Assistant-enabled devices. You can create a custom Routine that has similar behavior or use a standard alarm.
- Accessing or managing your cookbook, transferring recipes from device to device, playing an instructional recipe video, or showing step-by-step recipes. You can use Google Assistant to search for recipes across the web and YouTube.
- Managing a stopwatch on Smart Displays and Speakers. You can still set timers and alarms.
- Using your voice to call a device or broadcast a message to your Google Family Group. You can still broadcast to devices in your home.
- Using your voice to send an email, video, or audio message. You can still make calls and send text messages.
- Rescheduling an event in Google Calendar with your voice. You can still schedule a new event.
- Using App Launcher in Google Assistant driving mode on Google Maps to read and send messages, make calls, and control media. You can still use voice control on Google Maps the same way.
- Asking to schedule or hear previously scheduled Family Bell announcements. You can create a custom Routine that has similar behavior.
- Asking to meditate with Calm. You can still ask for meditation options with media providers such as YouTube.
- Voice control for activities will no longer be available on Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 devices. You’ll need to use the buttons on your device to start, stop, pause, and resume activities. You can still voice control activities on Pixel Watches.
- Viewing your sleep summaries will only be available on Google Smart Displays. You can still ask for sleep details by voice on third-party smart clocks.
- Calls made from speakers and Smart Displays will not show up with a caller ID unless you’re using Duo.
- Viewing the ambient “Commute to Work” time estimates on Smart Displays. You can still ask for commute times and get directions by voice.
- Checking personal travel itineraries by voice. You can still ask for flight status.
- Asking for information about your contacts. You can still make calls to your contacts.
- Asking to take certain actions by voice, such as sending a payment, making a reservation, or posting to social media. You can still ask Assistant to open your installed apps.
The move by Google is to ensure users get the most efficient version of Assistant.
“We’re removing some underutilized features in Google Assistant to focus on delivering the best possible user experience,” the company said in a blog post.
“As we continue to make Google Assistant more helpful, we’re prioritizing the experiences you love and investing in the underlying technology to make them even better,” Google added.
This means that some underutilized features will no longer be supported, the tech giant explained.