Google Reportedly Working On Enhancing Smart Features On Next Version Of Android

Google is expected to debut the next version of its mobile operating system, Android O (8.0), at this year’s I/O conference in May. The company is rumored to be adding further enhancements to the OS’s “smart features.”

The first new feature is reportedly called Copy Less which will somehow eliminate the need to copy a text in one app in order to paste it into another, according to VentureBeat’s source. For example, a user having a chat with a friend talking about where to eat could go to the Yelp app to find a restaurant. When the user switches from the Yelp app back to the chatting app and type “it’s at,” the restaurant’s address will be suggested by the keyboard.

One thing that wasn’t made clear about the Copy Less feature is where exactly it’s going to function. It might simply be baked into Google’s Gboard keyboard app, or it might be included in the Android software itself.

Google has implemented automated features for the Gboard keyboard app before. One important feature was letting users share contact information using the Gboard app. This was implemented sometime after Apple included the same feature for iOS’s Messages app last year.

VentureBeat’s source indicated that Google engineers have been experimenting with how Android functions with certain types of texts in messaging apps. Another feature that might be included in Android O is the ability to recognize addresses in messages. For example, a user might receive an address sent by a friend on a messaging app. When the user taps on the address, Android O will automatically open up Google Maps.

However, the source is unsure whether this feature will only be available on Android’s stock messaging app, or it will work across other messaging services. Nevertheless, it's clear that Google is playing catchup with Apple. After all, iOS has had this feature on its Messages app for years now.

Lastly, another feature that Google is working on for Android O is added finger gestures to open certain apps or settings. For example, a user can simply draw the letter “C” on a smartphone’s screen in order to open recent contacts.

It’s possible that users will have the option to make this feature function for other apps as well. They could draw the letter “C” and it may launch the camera app instead, as pointed out by Droid-Life.

Although these new smart features for Android O seems promising, the source says that it’s possible that Google might not include them all. Some might simply be delayed, while others might not even be made available at all. Whichever the case, Android 8.0 is still expected to be released later this fall.