Google app v8.13 beta prepares car-specific settings, new app shortcut to Assistant, and more [APK Teardown]
Google set loose a beta update to it's namesake app this weekend, but like most updates, there's not much to see after updating. The most interesting things are only visible through the lens of a teardown, although they're mostly minor notes about topics we already know about or expect to be coming. Nevertheless, we can look forward to a new app shortcut to launch Assistant, car-specific Assistant settings, a couple name changes, and more.
Teardown
Disclaimer: Teardowns are based on evidence found inside of apks (Android's application package) and are necessarily speculative and usually based on incomplete information. It's possible that the guesses made here are wrong or inaccurate. Even when predictions are correct, there is always a chance that products could change or may be canceled. Much like rumors, nothing is certain until it's officially announced and released.
The features discussed below are probably not live yet, or may only be live for a small percentage of users. Unless stated otherwise, don't expect to see these features if you install the apk. All screenshots and images are real unless otherwise stated, and images are only altered to remove personal information.
Car-specific Assistant settings
New placeholders have been added that will be used for an entry in the Google Assistant settings screen to manage options for use inside of a car. The new lines include two empty strings and a new line in the device type settings layout, although it is currently hidden from view. Another sign that this is still basically a placeholder is the use of the "music note" icon for the row.
Quote
<string name="assistant_settings_car_title" />
<string name="assistant_car_preference" />from /xml/assistant_device_type_settings.xml
<PreferenceScreen android:icon="@drawable/quantum_ic_music_note_grey600_24" android:persistent="false" android:title="@string/assistant_settings_car_title" android:key="@string/assistant_car_preference" android:widgetLayout="@layout/preference_widget_next" android:fragment="com.google.android.apps.gsa.assistant.settings.features.car.CarSettingsFragment"/>
As Google Assistant becomes more capable, it has also taken on more responsibilities in the car. It makes sense to split some settings so that Assistant can behave differently based on use both inside and outside of the car.
Cameo voices
VIDEO
During the I/O 2018 presentation, Google not only committed to giving new voices to Assistant, but also to bring some celebrities in to lend their particular vocal talents. The first famous voice we can expect to flow through our Homes will be John Legend. We already knew his voice would be coming "later this year," but now there's actually a descriptive label to go with it. Google will simply call these cameo voices.
<string name="assistant_settings_voice_selection_cameo_voice">Cameo Voice</string>
"Your Household" becomes "Family Sharing"
In rebranding news, a feature that has been known as "your household" since it was first spotted in a teardown of version 7.25 will now be known as "family sharing."
Quote
// old
<string name="assistant_settings_household_title">Your Household</string>
<string name="assistant_settings_personal_info_household_title">Your Household</string>
// new
<string name="assistant_settings_household_title">Family Sharing</string>
<string name="assistant_settings_personal_info_household_title">Family Sharing</string>
This doesn't seem like the best branding choice since it bumps right up against Family Library, which could have (and probably should have) been called Family Sharing. Also, the little bit that we've seen about Assistant for Household has suggested that it is more concerned with keeping track of details about those living in the home rather than sharing things between those people. Perhaps additional information will come out that can shed some light on this name change.
At a Glance drops 'beta' label
Let's play nice and avoid making any too many jokes about Google products being in perpetual beta. But for what it's worth, the At a glance feature appears to have been promoted out of wearing the beta tag.
// old
<string name="smartspacewidget_name">At a glance (Beta)</string>
// new
<string name="smartspacewidget_name">At a glance</string>
Google Assistant app shortcut
It looks like there will be an app shortcut to launch Google Assistant. The current list of shortcuts includes a few old entry points to the Google app, but it has been missing a simple direct route to Assistant.
<string name="launcher_shortcut_assistant_short">Google Assistant</string>
Continued Conversation mode may remain English-only for a while
It's hardly conclusive, but there's a new passage related to Continued Conversation that explains it's only available in US English to regular users, and all English locales for international Googlers. If you've been looking forward to seeing Continued Conversation in other languages, it seems like this message implies that Google is currently just testing and improving the feature for English speakers for now. Once things are working properly, the tests will surely move on to new languages.
<string name="assistant_settings_summer_time_mode_availability_clarification_override">Continued Conversation is currently available in English (US) for regular users and all English locales throughout the world for internal Googlers. If you use Google Home devices not shown here, the person with the primary account on those devices may turn Continued Conversation on or off in their Assistant settings.</string>
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