What you need to know
- The Google Messages app in beta brings handy new features from the November 2023 announcement.
- These include speech moods, accompanied by a redesign of the audio recorder.
- Users can also see the new noise cancellation feature as part of the UI redesign.
Beta users of the Google Messages app are seeing voice moods roll out alongside a redesign of the Audio Recorder UI that features noise cancellation, as 9to5Google discovered.
In November 2023, Google announced some exciting new features for its Messages as part of its celebration of one billion RCS users. This also included the messaging app’s voice moods, which are now being rolled out on a larger scale.
Previously, users were used to long-pressing the voice memo button, which would open the traditional “slide to cancel” interface. However, the new beta version has been redesigned with a new design inspired by Material You.
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Users can identify “Tap to record your voice” by the microphone icon and “Cancel” and “Attach” buttons. When users start recording, they will see the Noise Cancellation button, which can be enabled or disabled as per their requirement.
While the feature helps eliminate background noise when recording, Google says the improvements in overall audio quality are also due to a higher sample and bit rate.
On the other hand, the new voice moods are added via the new interface mentioned above, where users can choose from nine voice moods with relevant emojis that can be added by clicking the “Attach” button.
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Users would then, as mentioned, see a gradient emoji background added to the waveform for the UI. The same card is sent to the recipient as a message with all emojis and background images.
It’s encouraging to see Google Messages finally seeing the slick new interface, among other announced features from last year. The features, such as the redesigned audio recorder interface, can be seen in the latest beta version of Google Messages 20240501_RC00 Execution.
However, as 9to5 points out, the voice mood rollout doesn’t appear to be as extensive as the UI. However, the rollout could happen soon, followed by the official rollout in the coming weeks.