All the Best Features of the Improved Google Apps
This week, Google rolled out a slew of improvements for a few of its reliable mobile apps — Maps, Calendar, and Drive, its cloud-storage system — updating each with the “Material design” introduced in the new Android operating system, Lollipop.
But with these aesthetic updates come a few functional improvements, too. Below is a brief roundup of the new, cool things your Google apps can do:
Google Maps
In addition to looking prettier all around, the new Google Maps app makes it possible to book reservations directly after looking up a restaurant.
So, after searching for a restaurant nearby, you’ll arrive at its regular page, as per usual.
But now, if you scroll down, there’ll be a series of buttons at the bottom of the page that display available reservation times.
Click one, and you’ll immediately be brought to a confirmation page, with your full name and email filled in.
You just have to add your phone number and tap the Confirm button at the bottom of your screen.
Finally, you’ll get an email confirming that the reservation went through, as well as information about the restaurant’s location, the time of your reservation, and — this being Google Maps — how to get there.
There’s also a minor improvement to the Uber-integrated feature in the app. Earlier this year Google added a feature to its directions service: When you look up how to get somewhere, Maps now tells you how long it will take when using the Uber car service, in addition to giving you estimated times by driving yourself, public transit, walking, or bicycling.
That Uber time estimate was fine. But now you can also see the estimate of how much ordering up an Uber will cost.
(Google)
Google Drive
Google Drive’s update might not be quite as exciting: The major change is that you can now open your Drive files in other apps, like Evernote.
You can also now save video files from your Google Drive to your Camera Roll. But for anyone who uses an iPhone with Touch ID, there is a super-cool feature that allows you to log in to the app by scanning your fingerprint.
You might be wondering: Since when do you have to unlock Drive in the first place? Well, there’s been an option to enable a passcode on the app for a while now, and if you happen to be transferring sensitive files, I’d highly recommend enabling it.
This is how you do it:
When you open the Drive app, tap the three lines in the upper-left corner of the screen. A side panel will open, and you can then tap the tool symbol in the upper-right corner of the screen
From there, you’ll see a section labeled Passcode Lock. Toggle that On.
From there, you’ll have to actually set up a passcode. But once you return to the tool, you’ll have the option to enable Touch ID.
Then, next time you’re asked to enter your passcode, you can do it via fingerprint instead!
Google Calendar
As my colleague Daniel Bean mentioned earlier this week, the new Google Calendar app autoschedules events in your calendar, based on clues in your email inbox. This is a godsend for anyone who gets distracted three seconds after reading an important email about an important meeting (me).
(Google)
Your email is smart enough to recognize basic things like concert ticket receipts, flight confirmation emails, and hotel reservations. It can also pick out moments like anniversaries, birthdays, or dinner reservations.
Yes, it’s kind of creepy that Google can scan your messages that easily, but are you really surprised?
The feature is available now for Android phones. It’s said to be coming to iPhones soon.
Follow Alyssa Bereznak on Twitter or email her.
