Google Messages is not the most acclaimed of Big G’s many applications, but it does not lack reasons of interest and with the two innovations it is welcoming at the moment it tries to modernize the classic messaging experience a little more.
Google Messages (Beta): the news of the update
The changes we talk about today make their way to Google Messages starting with the Beta version of the application. As we told you in recent days, the Mountain View team is implementing the new navigation drawer already seen on the other Google apps here and, in addition, it is integrating Google Photos within Messages.
Unlike a few days ago, it is no longer necessary to do anything to activate the innovations described: the same is being rolled out for Google Messages Beta, even if at the moment they are still not widespread.
If you are among the first lucky ones, just open the app to meet the new prompt ” Share videos as they’re meant to be seen “, through which Big G explains that the novelty consists in the possibility of sending the videos in the form Google Photos upload/link. In order to use the function, you need to log in with your Google account, but there is also the option that allows you to use Messages even without an account.
The breath of fresh air compared to traditional messages relates to the fact that the new function – integrated directly into the selector of multimedia files to be sent – can also be used in place of the archaic MMS: Messages allows you to select more than one image at a time and it even provides an estimate of the file size before uploading. Unfortunately, Google’s behavior is unclear, as it fails to remind the user that, unlike the old MMS, the new function erodes the user’s space on Photo/Drive.
The user can activate the function individually for each type of file in the preferences, while the shortcut Manage links in Google Photos at the bottom of the page allows you to delete the content sent and does nothing but invalidate the shared URL.
In addition to this significant practical innovation, Google Messages has also undergone a graphic restyling, with the addition of a navigation drawer that follows the dictates of the Material You of Android 12 to the letter, including dynamic themes. At the top right appears a profile avatar that allows you to recognize on the fly the account from which access was made. The app settings remain in the previous position, but everything else moves from the navigation drawer.
How to update Google Messages
The innovations described are being rolled out with the latest update of Google Messages Beta, but are not yet widespread. You can download the latest version of the app – and possibly subscribe to the beta program – directly from the Google Play Store.