The Google app for Android was recently updated, but there weren’t any major user-facing changes to be found. That doesn’t mean that Google didn’t make some notable tweaks to the app, though.
According to a report from Android Police, the latest update to the Google app (v4.8) begins laying the groundwork for using the “Ok, Google” hotword offline. The current version of the app will return an error if you try to use “Ok, Google” without a connection, but the code for the app includes references to “Offline voice tips.” According to the code, you’ll be able to “Make a call,” “Send a text,” “Play some music,” and “Turn on Wi-Fi.”
Since this feature isn’t official, it’s tough to say exactly how well offline “Ok, Google” will work. Because the hotword is such an important part of Google’s Android, it’s good to see Google is implementing some sort of offline capabilities for the feature, allowing even some basic functionality for the times that you may not have a connection.
There are lots of other goodies hidden away inside the code of this new Google app APK. Some of them include warnings for when you’re connected to an insecure network, voice commands for changing screen brightness and volume, and a Google Cast card in Google.
Because all of these features are hidden away inside the Google app’s code, it’s not know exactly when or if they’ll become fully-fledged additions to the app that all of us can use. Still, it’s exciting to get a peek at what might be coming soon to the Google app for Android devices.
