Google Maps gets generic Dark Mode and five other Android updates

Six Google apps are getting free updates to improve their functionality, security and accessibility. Some of them are late, for example, Google Maps has gained a common "dark mode" throughout the application, while others have integrated privileges available in other services, such as using "messages" to pre-arrange text. The six updated apps are: Google Maps, messaging, speech Tips, password checking, Google Assistant and Android Automation.

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Judging from Google's blog post, these apps don't seem to have any particular rhyme or reason for improvement, but we don't complain-- remember, they don't apply to all versions of Android. Different versions update the lowest version each time (we will disclose these thresholds below). Similarly, these updates will soon be "rolled out" to Android phones, so they can reach your device in days, weeks or more-but they will come soon.

Let's update each application at once.

Google Maps has dark mode, but it only starts when you actively navigate to the destination. Now, each screen of the application will follow the visual mode of "easy-to-operate dark mode".

After the Google Maps update, you can turn on the entire phone by going to the set theme and choosing to always be in the dark theme. As far as we know, this will appear in every version of Google Maps on Android.

Arrange short messages in messages

It's simple. After you apply the update to the message, you can compose the message as usual, and then press the send button to open a menu where you can select the date and time you want to send.

This feature applies to owners of Messages apps running Android 7 and later.

Discourse Tip screen Reader: comprehensive improvement

Google's screen reader application "discourse Tip" has been comprehensively improved through feedback from blind and visually impaired communities, making it more intuitive, flexible and responsive. There are more voice and gesture controls, unified menus, new reading control menus that allow you to customize gestures, and so on.

These updates seem to apply to all versions of TalkBack- simply by downloading the latest version.

The password check update will tell you whether the login credentials you are using have been compromised-this feature can now scan all your applications.

If you use Google's password Manager to automatically fill in usernames and passwords in your application, or if you use passwords online in Chrome, password checking can help you by scanning every credential you use to scan the list of known available passwords that have been compromised (passwords stolen, possibly involved).

If the password check detects that you are using one of the passwords, it will remind you to change the password through a pop-up window. Users of Android 9 and later can use this feature. Not sure if auto-fill has been activated? Go to Settings, system, language and input method, Advanced, and then click autofill service, although this may not be a choice of autofill path on Android phones-in this case, use the search function recommended by CNET to find autofill.

Even if the screen is turned off and the device is locked, Google Assistant's new update will make it respond-if so, it will display a card with larger text that is easier to read from a distance, reducing the tedious work of checking assistant responses.

To enable this feature, go to Settings Google Assistant and click Lock screen personal search results. Maybe this applies to all Android versions.

Android Auto: shortcuts and more wallpapers

The update to Android Auto adds a shortcut to the startup screen for quick access to your contacts, Google Assistant, weather, etc. Cars with wider touch screens can use Android cars with Google Maps and media controls with split-screen features. You can also add a privacy screen to control when Android automatically appears on the screen.

The update also adds voice-activated games, such as trivial games such as danger.

Finally, the update now allows users to select wallpapers from updated emoticons, including wallpapers with a "car-inspired background". Users running Android 6.0 or later should be able to use these new features in the next few days.