Google App v7.20 beta is now rolling out to users enrolled in the Google App beta on the Play Store, and while Google hasn’t published an official changelog for the update, we did an APK teardown and found some changes related to the Google Assistant, Google Duo support for Smart Displays, and more. We’ve noted them below.
An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by Google in a future build.
Google Duo calling from Smart Displays
“Jasper” is the codename for Smart Displays powered by the Google Assistant. They’re new smart speakers from companies such as LG, Sony, JBL, and Lenovo with touchscreen-enabled displays that can play videos, pull up pictures from Google Photos, and more, and strings from the Google App v7.20 beta show that they’ll be able to perform video calling via Google Duo. There’s built-in support for Knock-Knock and a new Video calls menu that’ll allow users to sign into, sign out of, or unlink a Duo account.
name="assistant_device_id_jasper_duo_preference_category_title">Video calls</>
name="assistant_device_id_jasper_duo_preference_category">assistantDeviceIdJasperDuoCategory</>
<name="jasper_duo_account_title">Duo Account</>
<name="jasper_duo_knock_knock_summary">See the caller's video before you pick up. And let people you call see your video while their phone rings. <a href="https://support.google.com/duo/answer/6376115">Learn more</a></>
<name="jasper_duo_knock_knock_title">Knock-knock</>
<name="jasper_duo_not_signed_in">Not signed in</>
<name="jasper_duo_signed_in">Signed in</>
<name="jasper_duo_unlink">Unlink</>
A new hotword
The teardown also hints at the possibility that Google will soon enable a third hotword alongside “OK Google” and “Hey Google”. However, we can only speculate at this point.
< name="hotword_enrollment_enroll_listening_talkback_assistant_device_again">Say it again</>
< name="hotword_enrollment_tgoogle_summary_header_title">"%1$s" is now available</>
<name="hotword_enrollment_tgoogle_summary_usage_example_first">"%1$s, what's my name?"</>
< name="hotword_enrollment_tgoogle_summary_usage_example_second">"%1$s, what's the traffic to work?"</>
<name="hotword_enrollment_tgoogle_summary_usage_example_third">%1$s, tell me about my day.</>
<name="hotword_enrollment_tgoogle_summary_usage_sample_end">You can also still say "%1$s" and "%2$s" to talk to your Assistant.</>
< name="hotword_enrollment_tgoogle_summary_usage_sample_title">Your Assistant will now respond when you say things like:</>
< name="user_defined_action_task_custom_query_query_summary">You can enter any Google Assistant command.</>
<name="user_defined_action_task_custom_query_query_title">What custom command would you like to run?</>
<name="user_defined_action_task_custom_query_title">Custom command</>
Smart Displays notifications and reminders
It also shows developments in the software platform which will power Smart Displays, known as “Quartz”. We’re seeing placeholders for notifications, alert badges, reminders, and playback controls (e.g., pause and play).
<name="quartz_badge_view_less_than_ten">%1$d</>
< name="quartz_badge_view_ten_or_more">9+</>
< name="quartz_notification_list_title">Notifications</>
<name="quartz_notification_type_other">Notification</>
<name="quartz_notification_type_reminder">Reminder</>
< name="quartz_photo_list_slideshow_button_pause_content_description">Pause</>
<name="quartz_photo_list_slideshow_button_play_content_description">Play</>
New order tracking messages
Google also appears to be working on more detailed order tracking messages. The new strings contain labels indicating when items have shipped, when they’re expected to be delivered, and whether the delivery’s been canceled or delayed.
<name="order_group_header">Orders</>
<name="shipped">Shipped</>
< name="shipped_with_estimation">Shipped, delivery expected %s</>
< name="expect_delivery_day">%s</>
<name="out_for_delivery">Out for Delivery</>
<name="delivered">Delivered</>
< name="available_pick_up">Available for Pickup</>
<name="delayed">Delayed</>
<name="cancelled">Cancelled</>
< name="returned">Returned</>
< name="action_required">Action Required</>
<name="more_orders">More Orders</>
Podcast management features
Finally, we see some developments on the podcast front. Currently, the Google App doesn’t have a native podcast manager, and it’s unclear when (or if) Google will launch this feature. But the new strings show the beginnings of a podcast downloader, subscription manager, and more.
<name="sign_in_message">Sign in to subscribe to podcasts and access your listening history on other devices</>
<name="sign_in_reject">Not now</
<name="sign_in_accept">Sign in</>
< name="downloads">Downloads</>
<name="downloaded_episodes">Downloaded episodes</>
<name="download_setting_message">Downloaded episodes are removed after 30 days or 24 hours after completion</>
<name="all_downloaded_episodes">All downloaded episodes</>
< name="homebase_link_tool_tip_message">See your subscriptions here</>
<name="opt_in_message">Web & App Activity is turned off. Turn it on to access your podcasts and listening history on other devices.</>
< name="remove_completed_episodes">Remove completed episodes</>
<name="remove_unfinished_episodes">Remove unfinished episodes</>
We will update this post if we find any more interesting things in the teardown.
If you’re looking for the latest Google App beta, enroll in the preview program and update the Google App from the Google Play Store.
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