Of course, Samsung has its own AI playground Google wants fans to spend time there, but it’s making sure Galaxy users also have to consider the Android maker’s Gemini chatbot. Now that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 are official, Google is making sure its Gemini AI capabilities are just a swipe or “Hey, Google” away, just like it did with the latest pixel phones.
With Samsung’s next line of foldable phones, Google says users can access Gemini by swiping up from the corner of the screen or saying the classic “Hey Google.” That will bring up the Gemini chatbot interface in a floating window on the Z Fold 6’s unfolded screen. You can move and resize it in a floating window like any of Samsung’s split-screen interfaces. Most of these updates are expected to be available “in the coming months.”
Google said YouTube TV subscribers can multiview on the Fold 6’s larger screen. While that might start to get in the way, those who want to stream multiple sports games directly to their eyes while texting a friend might enjoy it.
In a blog post, Google explained how the Gemini App on Android can provide you with information about any YouTube video you watch. The AI will suggest “Ask a question about this video.” If you don’t want the AI to describe a video you’re already watching, you can also open Gemini to take action in Gmail, Docs, Drive, and other Google apps.
Google also brings its Practical circle for research feature on Galaxy Z phones. This feature was last introduced with the Pixel 8 And Galaxy S24But it’s seen some improvements since then. The latest Galaxy Z phones include Google Lens-like translation capabilities and features that help with math and physics. It’s a feature that works better on larger screens, and if you opt for the Z Fold 6 case with the built-in stylus, it’ll be a little easier to highlight what you want to search for on your screen.
Now that the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra have finally arrived, we also have a better idea of their packaging software. Both watches will be powered by WearOS 5, which isn’t a huge surprise, but Google promises that the next version of its software will bring better battery life and performance. While there’s the expected list of new watch faces and UI improvements, the Mountain View tech giant has been emphasizing three times the battery life. It’ll be interesting to see how much extra battery life we’ll see with the Watch 7.
WearOS 5 is in beta In the last few months, people have already been able to test its capabilities. The operating system is based on Android 14 but contains more watch-specific features, such as more accurate race dataWearOS 5 can also track users’ health data even when tracking apps aren’t running, provided users allow them to.
