Google Prepares Some Of The Latest Android Features, Blur Photos Become Featured

JAKARTA - The portrait blur feature in Google Photos on Android will soon be able to blur the background in a wider range of photos. This also applies to images of pets, food, and plants.

This is one of a number of updates coming to Google's apps and services on Android, which also include adjustments to Google TV, a new screen time widget, and the implementation of broader Gboard features that help improve your grammar.

Google Photos was previously able to blur the background on photos of only people. But with this update, Pixel owners and Google One customers will be able to use it on more subjects. Portrait blur can also be applied to existing photos as a post-processing effect.

Gboard's keyboard grammar correction feature is also seeing a wider rollout having previously been exclusive to Pixel phones. Google says the feature works on devices that have an existing spell checker function.

Gboard was also updated with an additional 2,000 emoji mashups, which combine two existing emoji into stickers that can be posted on various messaging apps and online services.

The Instant Transcription accessibility app, designed to offer fast and convenient voice-to-text transcription for the hearing impaired, is being updated to work offline. Instant Transcription is available on all Android phones and comes pre-installed on Pixel and Samsung phones.

There are a number of minor upgrades to come as well. The Google Assistant is getting several parking features that let you pay, check parking status, and extend time with just your voice. It works by integrating with ParkMobile and is available in over 400 US cities.

Meanwhile, Android's Nearby Sharing feature is being updated to share files with more than one person at a time. Lastly, the new Screen Time widget released on Android is designed to offer a quick view of the apps you use to pass the time during the day.

Google has not provided an exact release date for this feature. But as with Google's update to its Messages app, it seems safe to assume that it will roll out over the coming weeks.