The Google Messages app benefits from a voice ambience feature in beta version

In November last year, Google introduced a handful of new features to the Google Messages app. Since this announcement, the company has gradually rolled out these features one by one. Sometimes these features first arrive in the beta version of the app before making it to the final or public release. Most recently, Google Messages received the voice ambience feature in beta.

You can now add voice ambiences to audio messages

Google Messages now lets you attach an emoji to audio messages, what Google calls a “mood.” This is a good way to allow someone to understand the content of your audio message at a glance before listening to it. The emoji you select to accompany the audio message will also include an animation.

Currently, there are nine different voice moods accompanied by relevant emojis. This feature is available in the latest Google Messages beta version “20240501_RC00”. Soon, the voice ambience feature for audio messages will be rolled out to the stable version of the Google Messages app.

Vocal ambiances are accompanied by a new audio recording interface

The latest Google Messages beta also comes with a new audio recorder UI. Previously, users had to long press the voice memo button to send audio messages. This opened the usual “Swipe to undo” user interface. However, the new interface takes inspiration from the Material You design language.

Now you will find the “Tap to record your voice” text with simple icons for microphone, cancel and attachment options. Every time you start recording an audio message, a new one “Noise Cancellation” button. It helps you eliminate background noise from audio messages.

That said, all of the new features are aimed at providing a more proactive audio messaging experience in RCS chats. The search titan will release more features for Google Messages in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for regular updates.

May 9, 2024