Google Assistant is a major feature of Android phones and has its own app on iOS, and today it's getting a makeover.
The new Google Assistant design "combines the best of talk and text", says Google. There are bigger visuals that are easier to glance at and get your info, new controls and sliders for managing smart home devices, and an interactive messaging UI to help you quickly make edits while you're composing messages.
Android users are getting another notable improvement. Open the Google Assistant and swipe up and you'll see an overview of your day, including the current weather, commute travel times, your upcoming meetings, and more.
Google says that developers and brands can now easily take full advantage of the phone screen with Assistant, too. Starbucks has thumbnail images to help you select recommended items from their menus, Food Network has larger images of recipes, and FitStar uses GIFs to show a preview of a workout.
This updated Google Assistant is now rolling out on Android and iOS. Google Assistant is built in to Android phones, but if you're on iOS, you can grab the Assistant app from the App Store.
This looks like a great update to Google Assistant. It's in line with Google's new Material look, using a more white interface and cards with rounded corners, and the new controls and sliders for smart home devices should make it easier to do things like set your thermostat at just the right temperature. If you've got Google Assistant, be sure to let us know what you think of this new-look version when it hits your phone!
