Android users will get these new features in July You Should Know
Google is currently rolling out a new Google Play System update. This will provide Android users with new features every month that have a direct impact on their smartphones (regardless of the manufacturer).
According to a report by 9to5Google, Android users will be given the option to control the backup of SMS, MMS and RCS messages directly. This is similar to the separate backup setting for selected apps that we reported on last week.
Once you’ve received the update, you’ll find a new on/off switch for SMS and MMS messages, call history and device settings under Settings > Accounts and Backup > Google Backup > Additional device data. This gives you significantly more control over which data you want to store via the Google Cloud.
This is particularly important as Google has recently stopped offering free backups for Android devices. Every backup of your smartphone, therefore, counts directly towards your available storage quota, which is just 15GB in the free version.
John Brandon / Foundry
In addition, Android has now introduced local document backups. This allows you to automatically save your downloaded documents to Google Drive, ensuring they are secure and accessible from any of your devices. On the ‘Backup’ page, a new menu called ‘Documents’ will then appear alongside ‘Photos & Videos’ and ‘Other device data’.
Google explains that supported file formats include .DOC, .PPT, .XLS, .PDF “and all other documents stored on this device”. Documents are encrypted during transfer between your device and Google’s services. Changes made to documents in one location are not synchronised with other locations.
More updates
The release notes for Google System Services contain even more minor updates that are now being rolled out to Android users.
These include, among other things, a revamp of in-app purchases using an “improved, native storefront for Google One”, the transfer of work profiles to Wear OS smartwatches, a new Google location sharing feature for Chromebooks, and “new features for developers of Google and third-party apps to support processes within their apps related to Google Maps”.
All these new features have been rolling out to Android users since 6 July. You can check the currently installed version of the Google Play System Updates and, if necessary, update to a new version via Settings > Security and Privacy > Updates > Google Play System Update.
