Skip to main content

Brace for the storm with new data in Google's weather update

google weather update
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Googling for the weather on Android just got a whole lot more colorful and animated.

If you’re using an Android device, Google is rolling out a new updated look for weather cards through the Google app. The cards in Google Now don’t change at all, but when you click on them, search for the weather, or ask Google about the weather, you’ll get an aesthetically pleasing card above your Google search results.

It’s not just fancy animations and colorful cards though — the new look also comes with a whole lot of new information you can check out, such as hourly sky conditions, chance of rain, severe weather alerts, a detailed 10-day forecast, air quality, UV index, and more. You can add your preferred locations by searching for them, and you’ll be asked if you want to save it. Tapping the drop-down search will bring up those locations for a quick glance at the weather.

Tapping on the weather card pushes it into a sort of “full-screen mode,” wrapping the whole Google app in the color of the weather card. You can slide between three tabs — today, tomorrow, and a list for the next 10 days. In the 10-day tab, you can click on each day to see an expanded view of the day’s wind speed, humidity levels, UV index, as well as sunrise and sunset times.

For each day, the card also provides an air quality report, and even offers health message on being aware of symptoms due to poor air conditions.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on Google’s new “meteorologically inclined friend,” as well as the various locations and activities he’ll be partaking in. The Google app was updated this morning, and you can grab it here.

Editors' Recommendations

Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
Google Messages vs. Samsung Messages: Which app should you use?
Google messages versus samsung messages app icons side by side on Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Amid the rise of third-party messaging apps, texting remains a popular means of messaging in the U.S. If you own an Android phone, you've likely used or heard of Google Messages, which is positioned as the default text messaging app for Android. It is the culmination of Google's long history with multiple messaging platforms. Google has pursued smartphone companies to use its Dialer and Messages apps as their default since at least 2017 and now mandates them to use Google Messages as the default messaging app on all devices.

Meanwhile, if you have been a Samsung user in the past, you have likely also known and experienced the Samsung Messages app, which comes preinstalled on all Samsung phones and cannot be uninstalled. This is despite losing its spot as the default messaging app on Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

Read more
Have a Google Pixel phone? You’re about to get these new features
A person holding the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

One of the great things about Google’s Pixel phones is how often the company sweetens the pot with its Pixel Feature Drops. While they’re not always the most exciting updates, every so often, we get some pleasant surprises; this month’s Feature Drop fits into that latter category with some new goodies that will be of particular interest to owners of phones in the recent Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 8 lineups (and of course the Google Pixel Fold).

That doesn’t mean older Pixel phones are entirely left out of the party, though. There’s at least one helpful enhancement here for the Pixel 6 and even some smaller improvements that go back to the Pixel 5a. Let's dig into everything that's new.
New features coming to Pixel phones
Circle to Search Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more
Google just announced 8 big Android updates. Here’s what’s new
A photo of many Android figurines on a white wall.

At Moblie World Congress (MWC ) 2024, Google is bringing a healthy bunch of new features to Android. In line with the AI push all across the industry, some notable AI-driven enhancements are on the table. There are also a handful of core Android features that sound practically amazing.
The first in line is Gemini. The generative AI chatbot recently got a standalone app for Android, and now it’s headed for the Google Messages app. Users can chat with Gemini directly in the messaging app and use its generative capabilities for a host of things, like drafting replies, refining a message, and more.

Another feature that was showcased a while ago is finally ready for prime time. Android Auto is gaining support for message summarization for standalone texts and group chats, and it can also suggest replies. With a single tap, users will also be able to drop a message, start a call, and share an estimated arrival time. The idea is to deploy AI for crucial tasks so that it can minimize distractions while driving.
Lookout, an accessibility-centric feature for users with vision challenges, is also getting meaningful AI love. On Android phones, Lookout will now read AI-generated captions and descriptions for media content. For now, the AI boost to Lookout and Messages is limited to the English language.

Read more