Google Fit is, in many ways, a capable companion, though it does not meet the needs of every person who picks it up. I have used it long enough to value the straightforward manner in which it reports my daily steps and the distance they cover. It also allows me to note my weight, measure the energy I’ve spent, and look back over the small archive of my past activity.

Yet the app is pared down to such a degree that much is left out. As with many tools bearing Google’s name, its simplicity is both its virtue and its failing. There are no social avenues by which one might follow a friend’s progress, nor any competitive boards to lend the work a spark of play.

5 Top-Rated Alternatives to Google Fit for Better Tracking & Motivation

If your purpose is to gain strength or build muscle, Google Fit offers little help. It provides no detailed account of training sessions, nor any way to record the food that fuels them. So, if Google Fit no longer answers your needs, the wiser course may be to turn to one of several other apps, five in particular, that better suit different ambitions.

1. MyFitnessPal – For Diet-Focused Users Who Want Precise Calorie & Macro Control

If your aim is to shed a few pounds, or to put them on as part of a deliberate bulk, this app is far better suited to the task than Google Fit. Google’s tool concerns itself chiefly with movement, counting steps and little more, while MyFitnessPal is rooted firmly in the matter of food.

When you first create an account, you must set down your present weight, the figure you hope to reach, and the pace at which you wish to lose or gain. The app then works out the daily calorie limit you ought to follow. From that point on, you simply record each item you eat, and by the end of the day you can see plainly whether you have kept to the mark or strayed beyond it.

The rule of “calories in and calories out” remains the foundation of weight control, and unless you keep an honest record of what you consume, you may find your efforts in the gym undone by your habits at the table. One cannot, as the saying goes, outrun a poor diet, and this is what makes a tool like MyFitnessPal so useful. To unlock all its features, however, you must pay for a yearly subscription, which stands at roughly $80.

2. Strava – Great social features

One might say that Strava is less a fitness tool than a kind of social square dressed up in athletic colours. Its chief purpose is the sense of community it fosters, letting you see the exertions your friends have undertaken and offering you the chance to display your own. You may leave remarks, acknowledge someone’s effort with a small token of praise, and, in doing so, find a measure of encouragement.

The app is built chiefly for those who rely on GPS to guide their pursuits such as cyclists, runners, walkers, and anyone who spends long hours tracing paths across open ground. There are groups you may join, formed around particular sports, regions, or shared interests. There are also challenges set out for anyone willing to test themselves. In all, the app can follow more than forty types of activity, and it connects readily with the familiar range of devices from the major makers.

Strava costs nothing to begin with, though a few of its more useful features lie behind a paid tier. Among these is the route tool, which lets you plan new paths or draw on the store of routes created by others – useful whether you prefer a quiet walk or a long day on a bicycle. You may devise your own routes as well and share them in turn. The annual subscription rests at roughly $80.

3. Samsung Health – A Complete Wellness Ecosystem for Android Users

Samsung Health stands as a closer rival to Google Fit than Strava ever does, yet it carries a degree of refinement that Google’s own app lacks. It is worth noting that the full breadth of its abilities is unlocked only for those who use a Galaxy phone or watch, though it functions well enough on other Android devices.

It offers the usual tally of steps and calories, but it also allows you to record your meals and the water you drink. I find the latter particularly valuable, having lately realised how seldom I take in as much as I ought.

Those who own certain Galaxy Watch models gain further advantages, among them the power to measure body fat and other markers through the built-in BioActive sensor. Its sleep-tracking system is also more sophisticated, providing tailored guidance based on the patterns it observes over time.

4. AllTrails – Advanced Trail Maps & Offline Navigation

If you feel the urge to leave the pavement behind and take to the hills, AllTrails will serve you well. It allows you to discover suitable paths with little effort, supplying the essential facts like how steep the climb will be, how long the route runs, and how much time you should expect to spend on it.

A useful feature is the ability to download routes for use when you have no signal, though this privilege sits behind a paid tier. You may alter a path if you wish to wander off course, or even draw up an entirely new one of your own. Each trail carries a rating, giving you some sense of what awaits before you set out.

You can sift through the trails with ease, narrowing your search to those that promise sweeping views or those that carry you deep into the woods. The filters are numerous enough to help you pinpoint precisely the sort of outing you have in mind. There is also a small community element, letting you follow friends and see which routes they have explored of late.

5. Hevy — Strength Training Companion 

If weightlifting is your chief concern, Hevy is the strongest contender among these apps. It allows you to draw up your own training scheme from a wide range of exercises already built into the system and to follow your progress with some precision. You may record sets, repetitions, the weight you’ve used, and other details, and then watch how your numbers change over time. Should you prefer not to devise your own plan, there are ready-made programs waiting for you.

The app is also well suited to tracking changes in your body. You can enter the measurements of your arms, waist, and other parts at regular intervals, then see plainly whether you are growing or shrinking according to your aims.

Like Strava, Hevy includes modest social features, letting you keep an eye on friends and the pace of their training. The app is free to begin with, though the no-cost version comes with limits—among them the ability to create only four routines. To unlock everything, you must pay for a subscription, which costs about $24 a year.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it is quite comparable to picking a running partner: what is a fit with one individual might be the bane of another. The minimalist nature of Google Fit is in the service of people who desire nothing beyond a daily tally, as a pedometer that just so happens to reside in your phone. However, to the rest of the world, the social butterflies who need virtual high-fives, the obsessive calorie-counters, the iron pumpers, or the mountain wanderers, there is a more appropriate companion. 

The great news is that you will not need to pay a penny to test most of these alternatives, but the really devoted ones will end up digging into their wallets. You are going to follow your morning walk or you are about to lift a small car, there is an app that will be ready to congratulate you, remind you when you need it, and even act like it is impressed with your performance. 

FAQs

Q1: Which fitness app is most accurate for tracking steps?

The truth of the matter is that none of them are perfect, your phone will record excited arm movements as steps, and that is why playing an orchestra will be considered a marathon. That being said, applications that rely on the inbuilt sensors of your phone usually work in a similar way. Smart watches such as the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch are more reliable, as they are closer to the action and less susceptible to being deceived by a person making a sandwich.

Q2: Can I use multiple fitness apps at once?

Yes, but whether you should is a completely different question. Having Strava, Samsung Health, and MyFitnessPal running at the same time will not make you any more fit, but will make your phone battery cry in the corner. Most apps are compatible with one another.

Q3: Are free versions of fitness apps enough, or should I pay?

The free versions are sufficiently good to start with for most individuals. The premium levels usually open up features that you were unaware of and would not likely miss – the kind of premium cable channels you subscribe to and never watch. When you really feel restricted by the free version after several months of heavy usage, then you can pay. Otherwise, spend your money on decent running shoes, which are much more important.

Q4: Do fitness apps actually help you lose weight?

Apps are not magic wands, as we would like them to be. They can assist by keeping you on track and making trends visible. However, the app is just a recorder of what you want to do. 

The post The 5 Best Fitness Apps to Use When Google Fit Isn’t Enough: Complete Guide to Smarter Tracking appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Google TV devices may, in time, arrive with remotes that draw power from the steady glow of the living room, marking a quiet shift away from the steady churn of throwaway batteries. Epishine, a Swedish outfit specializing in solar cells designed for ordinary indoor light, says its technology now lies within a new reference remote built for Google TV systems, as first noted by 9to5Google. The handset itself is produced by Ohsung Electronics, Google’s established supplier for such models, and depends on a small rechargeable battery sustained by solar panels mounted on both its faces.

The Technology Behind Google’s Solar-Charging Remotes 

The mechanism is straightforward. Any routine exposure to household light should be enough to keep the device replenished, leaving it to fade only if it vanishes into some unlit corner for too long. This offers a practical answer to the long-standing bother of remotes that consume AA or AAA batteries, which households replace, discard, and purchase again with weary regularity. Here, instead, is a design that leans on the light already present in every room, and in doing so, promises a modest but welcome reduction in waste. 

Epishine’s solar cells are fashioned with indoor life in mind. Rather than depending on the hard glare of the sun, they draw steady power from the mild, persistent glow of household lamps. This is significant, for a remote seldom leaves the confines of a room and rarely basks in direct daylight. By fitting panels on both faces, the makers widen the field for gathering light, allowing the charge to build evenly no matter how the device is set down.

Rising Industry Momentum Toward Light-Powered Remote Designs

Solar-driven remotes are not a novelty, yet they have grown more sensible with time. Hama released a universal model last year that relied on Exeger’s Powerfoyle material. Samsung’s Eco Remote, refined over several generations of its televisions, has shown that light-fed charging can function well for ordinary families. Now that Google has prepared reference hardware already suited for solar cells, more manufacturers of streaming devices may follow the path without bearing heavy development burdens.

Although manufacturers of Google TV dongles or streaming boxes can design their own controllers, most of them prefer the easier way out and rely on the templates developed by Google. The Onn-branded players of Walmart, as an example, come with minor differences on these standard remotes, taking the design and only including what is necessary to their own purposes. 

The new solar-ready model is known as the G32 reference remote. It is yet to be installed in any boxed gadgets, and it cannot be bought separately. Previous models are the G10 with twenty-two buttons and G20 with almost twice the number. The design of shortcut keys is often changed by manufacturers to fit the needs of Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, or any other local services their customers subscribe to.

Environmental and Everyday Benefits of Light-Powered Remotes

The amount of waste produced by discarded batteries increases every year. A remote which is powered in part by light changes this habit in a small yet significant manner. Samsung has already travelled that path with its televisions. Its Eco Remote uses the energy of indoor lamps, the sun (when it is available) and even stray radio signals (in certain models). All this is geared towards the reduction, or even prevention, of the tiresome battery replacement process. 

Convenience, Longevity, and Practical Advantages for Users

During normal operation, the remote accumulates its charge without ado. No cord to be attached, no battery inside to wear out, as it is rarely driven to the last gasp. In the event that the broader ecosystem that Google operates in adopts this strategy, it would lead by example to the smaller makers who heavily rely on Google reference designs. 

To the majority of families, it is a question of mere convenience. One purchases a streaming stick and does not have to worry that the controller will break down after a few seasons. It also eliminates the daily task of replenishing spare batteries, which is so widespread that it is usually overlooked.

In the long run, it trims the steady flow of discarded cells, a form of waste overshadowed by the more publicised debris of phones and laptops. And for the lesser-known brands, it offers a touch of refinement without demanding a fresh design from the ground up.

The question that remains is when manufacturers will begin releasing devices paired with the G32 remote. If Google’s partners, and its rivals, choose to adopt this method, solar charging might become the norm for low-cost streaming gear. For the present, it sits only as a reference design, yet its appearance in Google’s catalogue hints at the direction in which the whole ecosystem may slowly turn.

Final Words

The simple television remote, the constant companion of the couch, might finally come out of its battery addiction. Although this will not help reduce climate change or reinvent entertainment, it will address one of the petty domestic annoyances of life, the fear of having to replace batteries once more. 

The technology is not a revolutionary one. The point is that Google has put its significant weight on the design that can be easily adopted by smaller manufacturers without reinventing the wheel. Should the G32 stick, we may be looking at the rarest of consumer electronics success stories: an actual improvement, which is also green. The realization of this solar-powered future will all be in the hands of manufacturers who will use the thing. 

The post Google TV’s New Remote Powers Itself Using Indoor Light, No Batteries Needed appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Google now appears to be designing its Translate application to a future where fast instructions in a foreign speech could be directly in the line of view. A more careful examination of the latest release suggests new features of Live Translate that can send audio to particular devices, and a system-wide way of allowing translations to continue running in the background – minor, useful additions, but ones that still feel very comfortable on a pair of smart glasses. As the speech recognition advances further with the help of Gemini, the application will seem more like a simple, reliable wearable companion, one that can be used without reservations or embarrassment.

Live Translate Updated With Wearable-Friendly Audio Controls

In its current state, Live Translate provides text lines on the screen and, should one desire it, a voice translation of every phrase. But when you become used to the functionality of Android to guide sound tidily through your phone and its applications, you realize that Google has gone even further in the new design, letting each language have its own channel of audio-silenced, transmitted through the handset speaker, to the headphones, or to some future glasses channel to either side of a conversation. 

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Practically this would allow you to hear yourself talking in silence through a bud or a pair of spectacles and allow the other party to listen to their translated response on your phone, without any muffled echoes or cross-voices, and without either side having to do any awkward juggling. Even such a small shift changes the business of the daily conversation more than one might have thought. 

Separating the sound by language saves everybody the inconvenience of having to turn up the volume or switch a handset back and forth. It is also an indication of the arrival of a small display in front of your eyes, where you get to take your orders in silence and the other person who is facing you gets to hear the translation.

Background Translation: Laying the Groundwork for True Hands-Free Operation

The app will also provide a standing notification, which will enable Live Translate to be active when you switch between tasks, and there will be easy controls to stop or resume the stream. This is not a mere nicety, but the minimum requirement of any device that is supposed to be the core of a wearable lifestyle. 

Translation should not fail you whether you are reading a map, weighing a list of dishes or responding to a short note. Google has already tried something like that with Gemini Live, and it is easy to imagine extending that behavior to Translate to fit well with an age that values hands-free functionality and information that can be scanned in a glance.

Combined with the background operation and accurate audio routing, two of the long-standing flaws of Live Translate are addressed. The screen is no longer held hostage by translation, and the sound itself can be directed where it belongs. This is the basic foundation of glasses in which the phone does the thinking and the frames, silent and unobtrusive, give the means of both input and response. 

Why Smart Glasses Make Translate More Powerful Than Ever

Translate is already a necessity, which is not a small feat in a youthful world of wearable devices. It serves more than a hundred languages and is based on the latest multimodal research of Google with Gemini. Combined with glasses, it is even more valuable: captions attached to the environment, no embarrassing situations as you raise a phone between two individuals and fewer embarrassing moments as you raise a phone and hear your own voice whispering in your ear and your companion hearing the voice that fits him or her. 

In the past, Google has demonstrated translations on glasses, with captions floating over the person. These new changes in the app appear to be the clockwork behind the scenes that needed to be redesigned before such a demonstration could be made dependable to a large number of people, namely, sending sound to the correct device, keeping translation alive as you switch tasks, and providing a choice that, quite frankly, includes glasses as one of its desired destinations.

Rising Competition and Tech Signals Driving Google’s Strategy

And now the competition is heading into the same direction. The new Ray-Ban brand by Meta has an assistant built into the product itself, capable of translating spoken language as well as printed text into a different language. A large number of smaller manufacturers have also attempted to create serviceable AI captions. 

According to industry observers, interest has rekindled because artificial intelligence is no longer a gimmick, but rather something that is undoubtedly helpful. In the event that Google could marry the sheer scale of Translate to the low-latency, low-jitter audio and crisp lettering on a lens, it would have a compelling case to make in the eyes of the common consumer. But the hardware should be prepared. 

The delivery of reliable translation via a pair of glasses relies on beamforming microphones, fast and efficient Bluetooth, i.e., LE Audio with LC3, and speech processing without emptying the battery. The capability of Google to move between local computation and the cloud, which it already has in Pixel tools and Gemini, could enable the company to reduce delay without compromising the quality of the result.

Key Indicators of Google’s Smart-Glasses Translate Roadmap

Software wise, it can be anticipated that Google will allow the device picker to select the glasses option and continue to reduce the delay on its way to a smoother interface between handset and wearable. On the hardware front, any Android XR alliances news which focuses on sound, captioning and clear indications of when recording is occurring will be worth mentioning, as these are the circumstances under which such devices may gain popular acceptance. 

The intention is clear: to transform translation into an unspoken thing, secret when it needs to be, and available at all times. Provided that Google learns those details, Translate would not only be a good application to smart glasses, it could be the reason why people will decide that these glasses are not a fad anymore, but a need.

Final Words

The fact that Google is quietly working on Translate indicates that the technology giant is finally prepared to transform smart glasses into something that is no longer a tech demonstration but an item that you would wear in the street. The real test? Whether humans will accept the idea of talking with computerized spectacles, or it is another episode in the long history of technology finding solutions to the problem. Should Google get the implementation right, smooth, non-obtrusive, and truly useful, then those Meta Ray-Bans would have some serious competition. 

The post Google’s Live Translate Gets Major Improvements to Power Real – Time Translation on Smart Glasses appeared first on Tech Magazine.

The Nano Banana of Google Gemini is transforming the basic selfie taking into something strange and shocking in an interesting way – half alive portraits that are trapped between dream and shadow. The pictures it gives us are caressed with weird accuracy: faces are lit by an airy, spectral light; the atmosphere behind them is filled with apparitions, with flickering lanterns, with the radiance of pumpkins smouldering in the dark. The internet is buzzing all over the world as people get ready to celebrate Halloween on the thirty-first of October – the most popular American holiday after Christmas – with this spooky union of art and algorithm. 

It is the start of Halloweens, when the ancient ceremonies of awe and respect are reenacted once more, and even the contemporary world cannot but look back. Following are some AI prompts that have been able to stir the imagination of millions, each of them a little spell in itself, calling forth faces of the borderland between memory and invention, beauty and dread.

Trending AI Halloween Prompts Take Over the Internet

1. Mafia & Monsters

Among the stranger concepts being spread by the Internet users is that of the X user @fahabib91. It calls upon individuals to imagine a weird coalition between mobsters and creatures of the dark. The idea is threatening and ridiculous, a marriage of strength and anarchy, which is performed in the dark sides of the mind. Perhaps it is so attractive because the monstrous and the criminal are so natural at recognizing each other.

“8k Hyper-realistic, A cinematic photo of a man (keep it real face 100% from uploaded image) he is wearing mafia suits with black boots, sitting on a bean bag holding a cigar in a circle surrounded by famous horror movie villains: Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Chucky, Pennywise the Clown, and Ghostface. They all sit together in seats on a couch, as if casually talking and smoking a cigar.”

2. Half-Human, Half-Skull

A second vision, shared by @Samann_ai, is colder and more intimate. It demands a portrait half man, half skull – the living face yielding to the dumb architecture of death. The picture is disturbing but attractive, as though it tells some unspoken truth about the thin line between the presence and disappearance. It is not as much a picture as a silent face to face with the inevitable.

“Create an ultra close-up 3:4 portrait of (CHARACTER), centered, camera extremely near the face. Vertical split down the midline: left side living skin, right side realistic human skull (or swap sides if requested).

Premium black mood: deep matte black background, dramatic low-key lighting, soft Rembrandt key at 45°, crisp rim on hairline, high contrast, no visible backdrop. Living side: hyper-real pores, subtle peach-fuzz, hydrated highlights, calm neutral expression, closed lips, eye tack-sharp with catchlight. Skull side: museum-grade realism; sharp sutures, micro-pitting, hairline cracks, dark patina in cavities. Mix of decayed and intact bone: some teeth chipped and eroded, others clean and intact; patchy erosion on zygomatic and maxilla; deep shadow inside the eye socket.

Seam: perfectly aligned anatomy at nose bridge, philtrum and jaw; no displacement or double features.
Composition: symmetrical, forehead to chin fully in frame, no cropping of the chin or skull. Lens & focus: full-frame 90–105mm macro look, f/2.8, extremely shallow DOF—focus on the living eye and front teeth; ultra-sharp details.

Color & grade: cinematic photoreal, neutral skin tones, bone slightly warm; no colour cast. Styling notes (optional): (hair / crown / glasses / earrings) kept minimal and only on the living side; no text, watermark, border, blood or gore. Quality tags: hyper-realistic, ultra-detailed, masterpiece, high-res, editorial. Parameters: aspect ratio 3:4, close-up, head-and-chin in frame.”

3. Gothic Candlelight Portrait

The other experiment of @Samann_ai produces the vibe of the Victorian age. It envisages a portrait, illuminated only by the shaky light of a candle, each wave of which intensifies the atmosphere of sadness. The outcome is one that is both beautiful and sad, a figure trapped between light and darkness, between beauty and destruction. It is almost possible to hear a ticking of an invisible clock in that empty room.

“Create a hyper-real 3:4 portrait of (CHARACTER) seated upright on a high-back Victorian armchair upholstered in burnt-orange velvet, centered, hands gently folded. A Halloween skeleton stands just behind the chair on camera-left, resting one bony hand on (CHARACTER)’s shoulder. Dress (CHARACTER) in an elegant Halloween outfit that fits their persona (gothic tailoring and/or lace), with a black-and-orange palette and fine textures. Scene set in a moody dark room: black paneled walls, big spiderweb decor, warm string lights, carved pumpkins on the floor, and wrought-iron candelabras with tall candles. Lighting is cinematic low-key: soft candle glow, subtle rim light, shallow depth of field. Camera at eye level, ~85mm, f/2–2.8, crisp eyes, rich fabric detail, natural skin, clean hands. Wood floor and vintage side tables visible. Ultra-detailed, 8k photoreal, PBR materials, no motion blur. Aspect ratio 3:4, portrait framing.”

Google Gemini Nano Banana Spooky Prompts

Even Google has not been left behind in this inquisitive procession. The company posted a list of Halloween prompts in its Nano Banana model on the twenty-fourth of October. The concepts are light-hearted, but there is a hint of the discomfort of machines participating in old human traditions.

1. Turn Yourself into a Victorian Ghost

“Transform this person into a semi-skeletal spectral translucent Victorian ghost. Victorian clothing. Maintain existing pose and framing. ultra-realistic photograph. black and white Daguerreotype. wet plate photography. streaks. Stains.”

2. Star in a 90s-Style AI Horror Movie Poster

“Create a photo of me in a dream Y2K style portrait of me laying in shiny purple bedding as I hold a large 90s-style landline in a daydreaming pose. My long hair falls freely in loose curls. I wear delicate jewellery and gold chunky rings. The room behind me is girly with 90s-style posters that are licence-free. My makeup is simple yet glamorous with pink lip gloss. The photo should have a grainy 90s style with a light source like a lamp in a dimply lit room at night. A 90s photo album rests beside me with a disposable camera. A ghost in a bedsheet stands behind me staring at me, slightly transparent, with its body dimly lit, and it should be standing in the doorway of a dimly lit hallway. The background behind it should be slightly dark and ominous.”

3. Pet Costumes and Magic

“Turn my cat, Sunny, into a cartoon character wearing a wizard costume.”
“Dress my dog in different costumes for Halloween.”

The post Viral AI Halloween Portrait Prompts That Are Turning Selfies into Ghostly Art with Google Gemini Nano Banana appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Only a few days have passed since Google revealed Gemini’s arrival within Google Home, accompanied by a newly designed Home app. Alongside this, the company introduced several additions to its smart home family – a fresh Nest Cam, a Nest Doorbell, and a new Home Speaker. Yet among these devices, one absence was plain to see: there was no new Nest Hub. The omission stirred speculation that Google’s smart displays might be quietly fading into the past.

However, that may not be the full story. In a short exchange with The Verge, Anish Kattukaran, who oversees Google Home, offered a hint of what may come next. While he stopped short of confirming any new model, his words suggested that the line has not been abandoned.

Google Confirms Ongoing Interest in Smart Displays

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Kattukaran remarked that Google remains “definitely committed to smart displays,” adding that though there is nothing new to reveal at the moment, users should “definitely expect that we’ll have news to share there.” The comment, measured but deliberate, implied that a successor could already be taking shape behind the scenes.

He also observed that smart displays offer a remarkable way to engage with something like Gemini for Home. With their union of screen, speaker, and microphone, they enrich voice interaction by giving shape to sound – allowing the spoken word to be seen as well as heard. In Kattukaran’s view, this combination makes the smart display nearly the ideal device for bringing intelligence and comfort into the home.

Why Google Might Still Bet on the Nest Hub

It seems, then, that smart displays still hold a place in Google’s vision. Though Kattukaran avoided confirming that a new Nest Hub is in the works, his words implied that the idea has not been discarded. Yet there is, at present, no firm evidence of an active project or forthcoming release.

It has, after all, been some time since Google last produced a new Nest Hub. The original appeared in 2018, followed by a second version three years later. Between the two came the larger Nest Hub Max, a bolder attempt that has not since been repeated.

From the Pixel Tablet to the Future of Home AI

Then came the Pixel Tablet – a curious hybrid that served as both tablet and smart display when placed upon its dock. Yet, like several of Google’s past experiments, its successor was quietly abandoned before it could find a firm place in the market.

For some time, it has appeared that Google was prepared to leave the smart display behind, turning its attention to other devices. But Kattukaran’s recent remarks suggest a different story. Even as the present Nest Hub line prepares to receive Gemini integration, it is clear that this family of devices is in need of renewal – a genuine step forward rather than another small revision.

Final Words

The history of Google hardware releases can be read like a mystery novel, with all the usual elements of great start, twist of the plot, and the character who disappears without a trace. (Looking at you, Pixel Tablet 2.) The well-selected words used by Kattukaran provide a sufficient amount of hope so that the enthusiasts would not necessarily pack their smart displays away permanently. 

It is yet to be seen whether his hints will lead to a real device or just another installment of the long history of Google of almost announcements. In the meantime, owners of Nest Hub can rest assured that their gadgets are not forgotten, merely waiting in line behind whatever new shiny projects has drawn the attention of Google, known to be wandering. Stay tuned, they say.

The post Google Hints at a New Nest Hub: What’s Next for Smart Displays in the Gemini Era appeared first on Tech Magazine.

Google is introducing its conversational AI search tool, Search Live, to India – launching it first in English and Hindi. The company is also extending its AI Mode to seven additional Indian languages, a sign of its growing investment in one of its most dynamic and expanding markets.

Originally released in the United States in July, Search Live draws upon Google’s Project Astra system. It allows users to hold their phone up to an object and engage in a spoken exchange, with the AI interpreting both words and images in real time. The result is a kind of dialogue between person and machine , one that blends human curiosity with mechanical observation.

Google Chose India to Refine Its Next-Gen AI Features

India is the second country to gain access to the feature, a choice that reflects Google’s reliance on the country’s large population of early technology adopters. These users have already helped the company refine products such as the Gemini Nano Banana model. Google intends to use India’s varied environments – its streets, signs, and daily scenes – to expand the range of visual understanding that trains its systems.

“People in India are power users of multimodal search, forming our largest user base for both voice and visual search globally,” said Hema Budaraju, vice president for product management at Google Search. Her remark, though offered as praise, also reveals the company’s intent: to learn from India’s immense diversity and feed that knowledge back into the machine, making its gaze sharper and its voice more certain.

How Search Live Works and How to Access It

Search Live began reaching users in India today and will continue to spread in the coming weeks. Once it appears, people will be able to open it by touching the “Live” symbol beneath the search bar in the Google app, or by launching Lens and choosing “Live” from the bottom of the screen. The process is simple enough, though it signals the quiet entry of a new kind of machine intelligence into everyday life.

Earlier this year, Google disclosed that Search Live runs on a custom-built version of its Gemini model. The Gemini app itself already includes a feature known as Gemini Live, released in May, which performs nearly the same function. The resemblance between the two names is bound to cause some confusion, the kind that slips easily into the machinery of modern technology.

AI Mode Expands to Seven Indian Languages

Alongside the rollout, Google has extended its AI Mode to seven Indian languages: Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The expansion is part of a broader global push, bringing AI Mode to more than 35 additional languages and 40 new countries and territories. With this, Google’s AI-powered search now reaches well over 200 countries and territories – a spread that shows both the reach of its ambition and the quiet inevitability of its advance.

Google’s AI Mode, first introduced in the United States in March and extended to more users two months later, allows people to pose layered and intricate questions through an intelligent interface. It reached India in June and spread to other regions in August. Only last month, Google added five more languages – among them Hindi, Indonesian, and Japanese – widening the tool’s reach and ambition.

Balancing Innovation and the Open Web

According to Hema Budaraju, Google’s vice president for product management in Search, the company’s custom Gemini model gives AI Mode its strength. Yet the rise of AI-powered search has not passed without dispute. Critics say that tools such as AI Mode and AI Overviews are drawing attention away from publishers and shrinking the traffic that once sustained independent websites. Google rejects this claim, insisting that its technology does not weaken the open web but merely changes the way people reach it. Whether that defense will hold in the long run remains to be seen.

Final Words

The introduction of Search Live and the addition of AI Mode to its already seven additional Indian languages, prove what we already assumed: that we are not users, we are unpaid research assistants who are training the algorithm and believe that we are receiving a new fun toy. The irony is delicious. Google glorifies the Indians as power users and at the same time transforms our daily commutes into data gathering adventures.  We speak Malayalam, take pictures in Mumbai, and in Mountain View, some server is purring with satisfaction. Google is assuring that the web is fine, it is just different. 

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Google has widened the reach of its AI Mode, the search feature driven by machine intelligence, bringing it into five new languages after half a year confined to English alone. The company said on Monday that users may now turn to Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese. This change follows a recent move to spread the English version across 180 additional regions, after first appearing in America and later finding its way to Britain and India.

“With this expansion, more people can now use AI Mode to ask complex questions in their preferred language, while exploring the web more deeply,” explained Hema Budaraju, a vice-president for product at Google Search, in a public note. AI Mode was first offered in March as a trial for those paying for Google One’s AI Premium plan. It stands as Google’s counter to newer rivals such as Perplexity and OpenAI’s search tool linked to ChatGPT. At its base is a modified release of Gemini 2.5, designed with powers of reasoning and the ability to handle words and images alike.

Google AI Mode Steps beyond English

In August, Google added what it calls agentic tools to AI Mode, giving it the power to secure restaurant bookings, with plans to widen the service to local appointments and ticket sales in time. For now, these additions are kept to users of the AI Ultra plan in the United States, and may be tried through a Labs program under the name “Agentic capabilities in AI Mode.” The Ultra plan is priced at $249.99 each month.

AI Search Tools Becoming a Core Feature of Google

At present, AI Mode can be reached through its own tab on the search results page, or by pressing a button within the search bar. The company seems intent on making this machine-led form of search the standard choice “soon,” as Logan Kilpatrick, a product head at Google DeepMind, hinted in reply to a user’s post on X last week. Yet the firm’s recent shifts, from AI Mode to AI Overviews, have drawn censure for cutting into the number of clicks on ordinary search results. Last month, however, Google rejected the charge that its new tools were draining traffic away from the wider web.

Final words

The linguistic growth of the AI Mode at Google is a little like a tech giant learning to say hello in five new languages – at a premium price. With the Ultra plan priced at $249.99 a month, users can now pose their burning questions in Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian and Brazilian Portuguese, but one wonders whether the answers will be worth more than a decent car payment. The bold goal of the company to transform AI-powered search into the default in the nearest future implies that we are seeing the gradual demotion of the lowly blue link. 

Google denies that it cannibalizes traditional web traffic, but critics are not convinced. With the spread of AI Mode to languages and continents, there is one thing that is certain: Google is still on a search dominance mission, but with a multilingual touch and restaurant reservation features. 

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Google has strengthened the Gemini app with a significant update that expands its capabilities in image processing. At the core of the update is the Nano Banana model, which is designed to correct the previous shortcomings and provide more competent tools to use in everyday life. 

This move highlights how Google has been on a consistent course of useful artificial intelligence, which is to transform complex work into something simple and easy to handle. It arrives as the AI systems are developed rapidly and capture the territory in both creative and professional spheres.

Cutting-Edge Image Transformation Features

Nano Banana adds obvious benefits to accuracy and detail. Previous devices within Gemini were not always refined, whereas the new one focuses the image changes and gives cleaner output. Users can now add their own images and issue contextual commands using a prompt called Reimagine, transforming a single image into multiple altered images. 

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An ordinary portrait, as an example, can be placed in various situations- maybe in a playground, or transformed into the image of an astronaut in his whole equipment. The system is conditioned to obey descriptive hints with caution, which has results that combine fantasy and technical restraint. 

In addition to changing individual images, the update introduces the ability to combine multiple edits. This allows the user to merge two different photos into one, cohesive picture. An individual and an animal, separated by a shot, can now be seen in the same environment. It is focused on realism and flowing transitions, which used to be difficult to achieve.

Practical Benefits Beyond Entertainment

Entertainment is still a primary attraction, but now Google presents these devices in terms of practical application. Multi-edit feature can be used in planning, like experimenting with new wall colours, moving furniture around, or experimenting with lighting before any actual work is undertaken. This demonstrates the way AI editing can go beyond fun gimmicks to decisions that inform design and planning.

Google is also tightening its belt around distribution of apps with the new editing model. It has also indicated that developers will shortly undergo a more rigorous vetting process prior to posting on the Play Store or providing apps via sideloading. The change is intended to combat the old menace of counterfeit and malicious apps which have been used to transmit malware and fraud in locations like India. 

Coupling AI improvements with more robust security regulations, Google positions Gemini as a creation instrument and a more secure environment in which the users can operate. The Nano Banana model is a progressive move in AI image-making, and the broader transformations indicate a definite determination to be part of progress without rushing.

Final Words

The Nano Banana update by Google shows that even the tech giants cannot escape the naming conventions of fruits, although, thankfully, this banana will not turn brown in your online fruit bowl. The addition of photo editing features to Gemini is not only another AI upgrade, but it is an indication that Google is determined to make advanced technology truly available to the average user. 

Although it may appear to be a waste of time to turn your morning selfie into an astronaut portrait, the technology behind it has some gravitas to creative professionals, marketers, and anyone who ever had a hard time with the intricate photo editing programs. The additional security provisions also indicate that Google is learning its lessons and building a more secure ecosystem in which the users can explore such new features. 

With the current pace of AI development, Nano Banana serves as a reminder that in the majority of cases, the most successful innovations are those that merge the latest technology with the practical and user-friendly use. 

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Earlier this month, Google added a new function to its Search application, now available to users of both Android and iOS in India. This feature, powered by generative artificial intelligence, goes by the name AI Mode. It marks another small but deliberate step in the broadening role of machine intelligence in daily affairs.

PDF Uploads Now Supported & Deep Research Capabilities

The company has since introduced further updates. Once the app has been brought to its latest version, users will gain the ability to upload PDF files. These can then be read in full by the AI, which will produce a shortened version, stripped of excess and reduced to its essential points. For pupils grappling with science texts, this may offer a real advantage. What might have taken an hour to work through becomes something clear and quickly understood.

But the capacity does not end there. Should the reader wish to look further into a topic, the system can seek out more detail, pulling from science sources that are known to be credible. In this way, the tool becomes more than a convenience; it offers a quiet shift in how people come to know things, not by search, but by suggestion.

New Canvas Tool Helps Plan and Organize Thoughts with AI Support

Another addition is something called the Canvas, a tool meant to help users set out their intentions for the days or weeks ahead. It is simple in appearance, but its purpose is plain enough: to bring order to a disordered routine. For students and office workers alike, it offers a way to keep one’s mind on the task at hand. A student, for example, need only type a short phrase “Create a Canvas” into the search bar while AI Mode is active. In an instant, panels appear, and from there the user may shape the guide to suit their own ends, drawing upon course notes, syllabi, or other files at hand.

There is also a second feature of note: Search Live, now with the use of video input. Here, too, the change is quiet but far-reaching. It draws directly from Project Astra, a system built on Google’s most advanced speech technologies. For those unfamiliar with the name, Astra is designed to listen, to hold long and varied conversations, and to carry out a series of commands without delay or confusion. The idea, it seems, is not merely to assist but to anticipate, to reduce the friction of everyday tasks until they are almost forgotten.

Real-Time Visual Problem Solving

Take, for example, a case where the user points their camera at a page covered with a difficult maths problem. The system can break it down at once, offering each step in turn, so that the answer is not merely given but explained. To begin, one need only open the Lens tool in the Google app, tap on the Live symbol, and speak aloud whatever question comes to mind while keeping the camera fixed on the subject.

The conversation need not be stiff or limited. With AI Mode active, the user may speak freely, and the machine will reply in kind, drawing on the images before it, whether still or in motion, from different sides or at different distances. In this way, the tool becomes almost like a companion, able to see and think at once. These features, taken together, form the latest part of the AI Mode expansion. They will arrive by means of an app update, first to users in the United States, where they are expected by the end of the week. Other countries, India among them, will receive the changes shortly after.

Final Words

The spread of AI Mode in Google is not merely another technological upgrade but the next step of the corporation in its effort to be our digital butler, therapist, and study buddy in one. Google is basically saying, “We got this.” PDF summarization that would leave CliffsNotes in tears, a Canvas feature that will help us to get our lives together and Search Live that can solve math problems before most students can start panicking about them, this is Google. It is yet to be determined whether this is a glorious procession of mankind into an easy life of productivity or a gradual descent into AI addiction. 

There is one thing that is definite, and that is that students all over the world are soon going to find out how much their textbooks actually needed to say in the first place. With these features being implemented around the world, we must ask ourselves whether Google is interested in making us smarter, or whether they just want to make thinking optional. In any case, our cameras will at least have something to look at other than our lunch.

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For several years now, I have regarded Visible as offering the most sensible bargain in American mobile service. Its modest rates and liberal data limits make it an obvious choice for cost-conscious users. What strengthens its appeal further is that the higher-tier plans, Plus and Plus Pro, deliver speeds that approach those of Verizon’s main offerings. Yet this benefit carries a caveat: Visible is wholly owned by Verizon. That fact may comfort former Verizon users weary of creeping fees, but not all are eager to rely on a company tethered to one of the nation’s largest telecom giants.

For those who would rather keep some distance from the major carriers, and who are open to leaving Verizon’s network behind, Google Fi stands out as a strong alternative. With the arrival of Visible’s new Pro plan and recent changes to Fi’s services, I’ve spent the past few months testing both providers on the same device, using a dual-SIM setup. Each has its virtues and its drawbacks, but which one delivers greater value? The answer deserves a closer look.

Google Fi vs Visible: Breaking Down Pricing Structures and Multi-Line Savings 

Visible’s pricing is better suited to those with one or two lines. Google Fi, in turn, is more cost-effective when spread among a group. Both providers currently provide three unlimited plans. Google Fi has a capped-data plan as well, but I would only suggest it as a backup to those who travel and have to use multiple numbers. To keep things simple, we are going to discuss the unlimited plans here. 

The rates of Visible range between 25 and 45 dollars per month per line, regardless of the number of lines you use. The code SAVE5 can also be used to shave off 5 dollars a month on the first year of the bill by new customers. The unlimited plans of Google Fi start at a higher price, between 35 and 65 dollars per line, but decrease significantly when more people are using the service. At four or more lines, the price decreases to between 23 and 40 dollars per line, which is approximately similar to the prices offered by Visible.

Data Caps vs Unlimited Usage: Speed, Priority, and Network Access

In case your primary focus is unlimited data without restriction, Visible is a more reliable choice. It enables you to use it beyond 100GB per month without reducing your speeds. Google Fi, however, has a higher network priority at a cheaper upfront price. Although its more expensive plans, Plus and Plus Pro, offer mid-level or better Verizon postpaid performance, the Basic plan is noticeably slow when the network is busy. Google Fi, in its turn, is similar to the middle tier of the T-Mobile postpaid service, so even its most affordable plan is generally faster than Visible Basic at peak hours. 

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There is however, a significant difference. Google Fi is not an unlimited service. Its plans are accompanied by 30GB to 100GB of high-speed data; after which the speed plummets to 256kbps, which is hardly enough to perform basic tasks like checking email. One must also remember that the two services rely on different networks; Visible on Verizon, Google Fi on T-Mobile. As such, the performance you receive will depend heavily on which carrier has better coverage where you live. 

If both are equally strong in your area, Google Fi is likely to give a smoother experience to those with modest needs. But users who rely heavily on mobile data would be wise to choose one of Visible’s higher-tier offerings. In practice, I found little to separate the two in day-to-day use. In my region, Verizon’s signal is stronger, and so Visible delivered slightly faster speeds. On a recent visit to St. Louis, Missouri, both services held their own, regularly exceeding 100Mbps, even when the network was under strain.

Device Choices, Deals, and Insurance Benefits Compared

Visible provides a broader selection of handsets, including iPhones, and occasionally marks down certain models. Google Fi does not sell Apple devices, but its offers are often more generous, with frequent promotions and, at times, a free phone included with activation. At present, Visible lists over 40 phones, ranging from top-tier flagships to basic models, from brands such as Apple, Samsung, and Google. Google Fi, by contrast, stocks only 16, focusing mainly on Pixel and Samsung devices. Though Apple products are absent from Fi’s catalog, users may bring their own.

Visible extends device insurance to its entire lineup. Google Fi, however, typically restricts coverage to Pixel phones. For those looking beyond built-in coverage, third-party options, Assurant and Progressive among them, remain open to both carriers. Payment plans are similar on both sides. Visible’s promotions tend to be less frequent, though not without merit. Its $149 offer on the 2025 Razr, for instance, stands out. Google Fi currently counters with a free Pixel 9a and considerable discounts, often between $200 and $300, on select devices.

Customer Support: Digital-Only vs Live Assistance Options

Google Fi supports both online and phone-based assistance, though users have noted a decline in quality over the years. Visible, on the other hand, relies entirely on digital communication, a model that may not suit everyone. Neither service offers in-person support, so if you prefer resolving issues by phone, Google Fi will better suit your needs. Visible requires that all matters, ordering, billing, plan changes, be handled through its website or app.

Though Google Fi also lacks retail locations, certain account changes can still be made by speaking to a representative. That said, long-time users will likely recall a time when Fi’s service was quicker, and more precise, than it is today. Delays are more common now, and the overall experience is less polished than it once was. Apart from its absence of phone-based help, Visible’s support system does not differ much from Fi’s. In either case, users should expect to manage most issues alone, particularly compared to traditional or prepaid services like Cricket or Metro, where walk-in assistance remains available.

International Perks and Device Flexibility: Who Offers More?

Google Fi has a distinct advantage in terms of international use of your phone or connecting other smart gadgets. Visible, which is more modest in the range of features, provides a higher quality of streaming and a decent package of international features, but not enough to compete with Google Fi on the whole. Visible has never said it is a luxury. It poses as a stripped-down carrier for daily use. However, in reality, it has additional benefits than an individual would anticipate. It is enough to summarize:

High-resolution streaming, as high as 4K UHD 

Unlimited Mexico and Canada calls and texts, and additional coverage is based on the plan 

One or two Global Passes per month (maximum twelve) that can be used to travel in other countries 

Smartwatch connectivity comes with its best plans, or as a $10 add-on in other places 

As much as these are good features, Google Fi beats Visible in many aspects. The only aspect that Fi is behind is video quality, which it usually limits to standard resolution, about 480p, but 720p is sometimes possible under network conditions. Even the lower-end Unlimited Standard plan offered by Fi includes some international access. 

In the Premium plan, it takes the lead, though: 50GB of high-speed data are provided in almost every country where it has coverage. It has a secure VPN that is offered free of charge, smartwatch support is standard across all plans, and tablets or laptops can be connected in the Premium plan. 

Concisely, in case your requirements involve more traveling or wider device compatibility, Google Fi is the better choice. Visible is the more appropriate option only to those who are more concerned with simplicity and clear video quality more than anything. 

Which Carrier Should You Choose in 2025? 

Their prices are usually comparable, especially when it comes to families, but the experiences that Visible and Google Fi provide are rather different. The decision between them is a matter of priorities. Both the carriers are international-friendly and pairable with smart devices, but they are radically different in terms of data policy, network coverage, quality of support, and compatibility of devices. Finally, I would recommend Visible in case the following is true: 

• Verizon has better coverage in your area than T-Mobile
• You use a lot of mobile data and do not want to think about throttling and monthly limits 
• You are going to buy an iPhone or use an Apple Watch, which Google Fi does not support
• You are purchasing service to yourself and not a group; single-line pricing on Fi is more inclined to be steep

In comparison, Google Fi can be a more suitable option in the following situations: 

• You are happy with capped high-speed data, usually 30GB to 100GB, depending on plan
• You have to travel to foreign countries frequently and need a service that can be used across the borders, even during long stays 
• You have a Galaxy Watch or a Pixel Watch, both of which are compatible with Fi, but Visible only supports the latter 
• You are attracted to regular device offers and free phone offers, which Fi has more regularly 
• You would like to have the possibility of accessing data on a tablet or laptop, which is included in the Unlimited Premium plan of Fi

Conclusion

In the epic cellular gladiator contest of 2025, Visible and Google Fi both come out bloody in their corners but winners. Visible punches with unlimited data and the powerful network of Verizon, whereas Fi jumps around with international style and multi-device magic. The winner? It all depends on whether you are a data-guzzling homebody or a jet-setting tech enthusiast. Indeed, both services are still one of the most affordable options on the market. It all depends on your circumstances as to which one prevails. 

FAQs

Q1: Which carrier is cheaper for a single line? 

A: Visible wins this one, with plans starting at 25-45 dollars a month no matter how many lines you subscribe to. Google Fi is more expensive at $35-65, but it pays off when you bring your friends on board- four or more lines, and it competes. 

Q2: Can I actually use unlimited data on both services? 

A: Yes, with Visible, you can binge-watch cat videos even more than 100GB without being throttled. Google Fi? Not quite so much. Once you have consumed 30-100GB (again depending on your plan) you will be crawling along at 256kbps- not even enough to send a strongly-worded email about your slow internet. 

Q3: Which is better for international travel? 

A: Google Fi wins here. Although Visible does have a few Mexico/Canada benefits and a few Global Passes, Fi has 50GB of fast international data on its Premium plan.

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