Android users experience a revamped homepage and prompt bar with the latest rollout from Gemini
The Gemini app for Android users has received a significant update, introducing a cleaner, more spacious interface with a focus on usability and practical guidance.
A key change in the redesign is the relocation of the prompt bar and feature chips. The prompt bar remains docked at the bottom of the screen, but the previously cluttered feature chips have been moved into a new "Tools" bottom sheet accessed via an icon next to the '+' button. This change declutters the main screen and improves layout, especially in portrait mode.
The redesign also removes short descriptions of features for clarity. Gemini’s functionality is now grouped into three streamlined sections: Write, Build, and Research. Each section offers guided sample prompts to help users explore capabilities.
Write: Compose emails, thank-you notes, or kid-friendly summaries. Build: Generate basic websites, apps (like recipes), or simple generators (like fireworks or a photography portfolio). Research: Plan trips, follow health trends, or compare services like family cell phone plans or daycare centres in Mexico City.
Google aims to assist new or infrequent users by showing practical, everyday tasks Gemini can help with, rather than generic suggestions. This update is currently rolling out selectively in the Google app beta version on Android, but it is not yet available in the stable release or with full navigation drawer/search integration.
The redesign also introduces a new guide to better inform new or infrequent users of Gemini's capabilities. Furthermore, a related UI update makes the Gemini Live overlay visually cooler with a darker theme, rounded corners, smaller icons, and a circular floating widget for a more vibrant and refined appearance.
In summary, the new Gemini Android redesign focuses on a clearer, more organized UI with dedicated Tools access and constructive prompt guidance to improve user experience in creative and research tasks. The update is a step towards enhancing Gemini amidst growing AI assistant competition, including recent features like audio overviews and Wear OS support.
[1] [Link to article about audio overviews] [2] [Link to article about Wear OS support] [3] [Link to article about UI update for Gemini Live overlay]
- With the redesign, the placement of the feature chips has shifted into a new "Tools" bottom sheet, making it easier for users to navigate the app, especially in portrait mode, especially when using smartphones, as part of the focus on usability and practical guidance with the Gemini app.
- The Gemini app's newest version now offers three streamlined sections for users: Write, Build, and Research, each providing guided sample prompts to help users explore capabilities, transforming smartphones into tools for personal tasks like composing emails, generating websites, or planning trips, thanks to the introduction of new technology and improvements.
