Android Update Includes Parking Payments by Voice

Google has rolled out several new features and updates across its suite of products, including the addition of voice payment capabilities for parking by saying, “Hey, Google, pay for parking,” in ParkMobile street parking zones, Engadget reported Thursday (March 10).

After completing the transaction using Google Pay, users can ask Assistant to check their parking status and extend their time, according to the report.

Among Google’s other new features is an on-device grammar check tool for Gboard on all Android devices, which allows users to detect errors and suggest corrections while typing, the report stated. Google also updated the Android Live Transcribe app and added an offline mode that generates real-time, speech-to-text captions without an internet connection.

Users can access the offline mode on a plane, in the subway or in other areas without access to mobile data or WiFi.

Meanwhile, Google TV added a highlights tab with a feed of entertainment news and reviews based on previously watched movies and shows, according to the report. The articles include links to the related shows or movies, allowing users to tap them and start watching the program.

Google also updated Nearby Share on Android 6 and higher to improve the sharing of photos, videos and other kinds of files to several people by adding multiple recipients during a transfer, the report stated. Android has added a screen time widget, which shows the three apps users access most each day and lets them set daily timers on apps, set a focus mode to pause distracting apps at certain times, and set a bedtime mode that silences the device and changes its screen to black and white.

In February, Google said it is extending its Privacy Sandbox project to its Android smartphones to try to curb the practice of advertisers gathering user data.

Read more: Google Will Curb App-Tracking on Its Smartphones

Google’s Anthony Chavez said in a company blog post that the tech giant plans to develop privacy-focused measures that would replace the alphanumeric identifiers tied to smartphones that some apps use to collect user information.