Codenamed “Material Theme,” Google has now released a big new update to the Messages app in beta build, specifically to the compose box. However, the recent modification targeting the user interface is becoming one of the most significant app updates this year.
Google Messages Gets a Revamp: Key Updates to the Compose Box
Before, the compose box had a pill-like interface where several action buttons were placed at the center of this box. These were the emoji button, the ”Magic Compose“ option, the photo gallery icon, and the plus sign button for a pop-up options menu. Voice messages, however, were put in a different tab with a floating button outside the proposed box.
From the looks of it now, in the new design, it seems like Google merged the voice message button with the compose box and got rid of the floating button entirely. The state that replaces the voice button changes to a send button to make it easier to transfer messages once a user starts typing.
All these changes continue the process that Google has been undertaking to improve the Messages app to better fit the needs of users and add more features. These are elements such as the “Magic Compose,” which in this case applies the use of artificial intelligence to make suggestions for the draft messages and delineates the extent to which Google is incorporating smart tools in its messaging application.
But as the update demonstrated, even if right now it is only being tested by beta users, it seems like Google is serious about improving the app's aesthetics and functionality.When released for all users, it can turn the Messages app into more of a fight for a contender for a dominant messaging app.
Google Messages Beta Tweaks Compose Box Design Again
Google is again adjusting the appearance of the compose box in its Messages app through the latest beta update. This tends to be one of the many changes that Google made to the client earlier this year, and the fact that it rests on a number of changes helps to demonstrate that the company is approaching the app in an iterative fashion in terms of its interface.
Subsequent to a change to the prior format in late October, in which the text field reverted to the right and the icons for emojis and voice notes were within the box, the newest beta update of the app returns the text box to the left. But the buttons are laid out in a new way in order to make them more accessible and usable.
When the design version was modified, this order was changed; a “Plus” button is shown first, then “Magic Compose," emoji, and the “Photo gallery” button. Interestingly, the voice note and send button stay out of the text box but still are easily accessible, which gives the environment a more elegant look.
One good variation is when buttons can appear and disappear depending on the context of the page. When the users start typing, every other option on the screen gets hidden beneath the keyboard except the ‘Plus’ button and emojis, making the user experience more typed-input oriented. Such dynamic behavior points to the fact that Google is trying to balance issues to do with functionality and sleekness.
These small changes are known to show that Google is fully committed to improving the Messengers app after customer feedback and testing. The changes are still in beta and offer some insights on how the app looks likely to be developed to become more appealing for use by more people, improving both its form and function for all the users.
Google Messages Beta Introduces Redesigned Read Receipts
The previous beta update for Google Messages brings a new look for read receipts to message status in order to make the process easier and look better. This release is one of the continued steps toward creating a better unified user experience in the application.
Before getting into the different aspects of the new design, one must realize that this new design has its drawbacks. As of now, the new read receipts are still not fully optimized, as the intended operation of the feature is not operational in all the interfaces of the application. For now, the design change is only implemented in the main area of read receipts, not extending to other parts of the application.
The changes to the read receipts are the enhancements introduced to provide users with the best view on messages read, with minor tweaks in the icon and status bars. While using it, users may face some issues, like reliability glitches, like uneven placements or even delayed updates, since the feature is still under development.
Nevertheless, these bugs give the signs of the improved flow of communication in the app. At the same time, the read receipt updates are critical for the usage of the app for many users, so the redesigned version states to make it more convenient to track the engagement of the messages at a glance.
As is the norm with most beta features, it will come as no surprise if the read receipt design receives one or more face-lifts before its release in a stable update. Google’s progressive nature of testing these features guarantees that they are in order for users once they are integrated, though expanding them may present some challenges for a while.
