The way we communicate has evolved. To accommodate our changing habits, Google is rolling out a unified emoji, GIFs, and sticker menu. An instant messaging application developed by Google has become increasingly familiar to the online messaging community.
For those who use this messaging frequently, an exciting new upgrade has been introduced recently. To make chatting engaging with friends all the more effortless and accessible, there are new features. For those who haven’t tried Google Chat’s enhanced messaging features, now is the time to learn them all.
In the newly launched version 8.0 of Google Messages, the emoji menu has been enhanced to make it easier for users to navigate the app. There are many ways to enter emoji and other expressive media, with most messaging apps offering their own experience. Google Messages is now redesigning its emoji, sticker and GIF picker while simplifying entry.
The application in the redesign has the option for insertion of content other than text in the messaging field. This brings up a standard visual media picker with three separate tabs for emojis, GIFs and stickers.
Adding to this modification, Google has removed GIFs and stickers from the ‘+’ at the very left and placed them elsewhere along with the emojis. That menu is now shorter and more compact,
because of being condensed to contain location, Google Assistant, contacts and files to be shared.
Meanwhile, a small tweak to Assistant here sees Google making use of custom icons for restaurants, movies, and weather rather than just the generic logo.
Let us take a closer look at what steps you need to follow to enjoy the new feature of Messages.
Dive into Google’s chat feature, if you haven’t already.
First, you’ll need an Android phone with Google Messages application installed and set as the default text-messaging app. The service is globally available and can also be set up for Web, which allows you to send and receive text messages from your computer.
To enable Chat, you can either wait for a prompt in the Messages app asking if you want to see when your friends are typing. You can even go into the Settings section of Messages and look for the switch to turn Chat on. But there’s a catch, whoever you’re talking to will also need to have the feature enabled. To use the new chat features, though of course the all usual texting features still apply.
If you are already onboard with the app, that’s well and better.
To enjoy the novel additions of the application, update your version of Google Messages to the newest from the Google Play Store. It’s unclear if a specific version is necessary for the new changes to appear as the upgrades appear on some earlier versions as well, but it seems to be a server-side update.
Boost your conversations by bringing the recent revisions into play.
The new emoji menu can be accessed by tapping on the ‘smiley face’ icon on the messaging board. Three tabs for emojis, GIFs and stickers will appear respectively side-by-side. Such an arrangement will allow you to maneuver the three types of visual media effectively. Here you can conveniently include them in your conversations whenever you want. There is also a search bar that can help you find the exact emoji or sticker or GIF you want to use.
We have also spotted another strand of the redesign that lacks GIFs and stickers in the ‘+’ icon stimulated menu. By tapping on this icon, four successive tabs will appear which will allow you to share your information. You can share location or contacts, attach files and use customized media and help in searching for brands through Google Assistant. These include restaurants, movies and weather, besides other local businesses. It’s a small change, but the design looks a lot cleaner rather than having the generic Google Assistant logo over every option.
This development is your cup of tea because.
Overall, this cleans up media insertion in Google Messages. A great deal of it acknowledges how emoji, GIFs, and stickers are the main form of content people want to add when messaging. Those expressive options are now consolidated into one menu. It’s also an alternative to the native Gboard experience.
It adds to the benefits of the app wherein it allows its users to enjoy better group or personal chats. It allows you to share high-quality media, documents and immersive messages in real time comfortably.
The true value of using emojis, stickers and GIFs in virtual communication is their power to help uncover thoughts and feelings. This way you can express yours in an interactive manner.
It might take a few days for people to get used to the change, but sharing “the Simpsons”,”Wear masks” and “Stay at home” GIFs with friends and family in no time at all!
Such visual media have become our new vocabulary on messaging apps. It is only fair to make efforts to increase their ease of use but also make conversations richer and more meaningful.
The conservation media platform is rapidly evolving. Google has already established its keenness to run along the evolution. By introducing new features like emoji reactions, customized emojis and now the reformed navigation menu, it has leveled up the game. This goes to show that this field is ever-changing and there still might be more innovations to look out for!
