Google Messages is rolling out a “Double tap to heart” feature for Android users. This makes it easier to send a red heart emoji in response to messages. Instead of having to press and hold a message to bring up the reaction options, you can now just double-tap on a message to quickly send the heart emoji.

Since February 2024, the Double tap to heart feature for Google Messages has been in the works with select users experiencing it during earlier beta phases.. After months of testing, it’s now becoming available to more users.

Once you get and install the update, you’ll see a small message pop up the first time you use it, letting you know about the new feature. After that, it will disappear, and you can just double-tap away.

Interestingly, Google chose the red heart emoji for this feature, which seems more focused on love or affection. Many might expect a thumbs-up emoji, which is more commonly used for quick reactions.

This new feature is part of a broader redesign in Google Messages, which also enhances changing how RCS status indicators and read receipts work.

Notably, the change will remove the ability to tap directly on a message to view its timestamp or encryption status. Instead, users will now need to swipe left to access those details, which clears the way for the more streamlined double-tap gesture.

To enjoy this feature, ensure your Google Messages app running on the latest version.

WhatsApp is testing a new feature in its latest beta update that will bring themed icons to contacts and group chats. Users of Android devices can verify the new update via version 2.24.24.12.

Currently, when a contact or group chat doesn’t have a profile photo, WhatsApp shows a simple grey icon. In the upcoming update, WhatsApp will introduce colorful icons, which makes it easier to tell contacts and groups apart.

Each icon will have its color, which will help users quickly identify chats, even if they have the same name or no profile picture. This change is similar to the color-coded icons seen in the Android address book for contacts without photos.

The new themed icons will be especially useful for users who don’t set profile pictures, as the different colors will make it much simpler to recognize who’s who.

WhatsApp’s new colorful icons feature is under testing and will be available in a future update. If you’re using the WhatsApp beta on an Android device, you may see this feature in the coming weeks.

Aside from this, WhatsApp is also testing the new color theme feature, allowing users to choose the main color of the app. The light mode will get a sleek black theme instead of the usual green, while the dark mode will feature white as the primary color.

These features and changes aim to give WhatsApp a modern, minimalist look while improving readability. Stay tuned for updates as WhatsApp is continuously working to make new features available for users.

WhatsApp to let users pick their preferred main color for app interface

Google has rolled out the Android Auto 13.3 Beta update, which reveals exciting new radio features. The fresh update hints at new ways to manage radio stations and local media on your car’s infotainment system.

Over the past few months, Google has been working on a “Car Media” app designed to provide more control over local media, using both locally stored content and streaming services.

Now, the Android Auto 13.3 beta update suggests that Google is focusing on integrating radio stations, with the addition of a comprehensive list of music genres and radio station categories ranging from genres like Classic Rock and Jazz to Emergency and Weather programming.

The full list of genres and categories is as follows:

• Adult hits
• Alarm
• Alarm test
• “Children’s programmes”
• Classic rock
• Classical
• College
• Country
• Country music
• Culture
• Current affairs
• Documentary
• Drama
• Easy listening
• Education
• Emergency
• Emergency test
• Finance
• Folk music
• Hip hop
• Information
• Jazz
• Jazz music
• Language
• Leisure
• Light classical
• National music
• News
• Nostalgia
• Oldies
• Oldies music
• Other music
• Personality
• Phone-in
• Pop music
• Public
• Religion
• Religious music
• Religious talk
• Rhythm and blues
• Rock
• Rock music
• Science
• Serious classical
• Social affairs
• Soft music
• Soft rhythm and blues
• Soft rock
• Spanish Music
• Spanish Talk
• Sport
• Sports
• Talk
• Top 40
• Travel
• Varied
• Weather

Although we haven’t seen these features appear yet, the update hints that they are coming soon. Right now, it seems like these categories are being prepared as placeholders for radio station data. They will likely show up when the “Car Media” app is fully launched.

However, it’s unclear exactly when these radio features will be available or how they will work. The new functionality might require deeper integration with car systems, which Google has been working on recently.

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