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This leaked Google Messages feature could be a WhatsApp killer

This leaked Google Messages feature could be a WhatsApp killer
Patrick Devaney

Patrick Devaney

  • Updated:

WhatsApp is the dominant messaging app on the market, but we have seen in recent weeks how it isn’t afraid to borrow features from other less popular apps. Examples of this include the various group messaging updates we’ve seen in recent weeks such as boosting the number of participants to offer group sizes comparable to those offered by Telegram. A messaging app that is constantly overlooked, however, is Google Messages, but this leaked upcoming feature will certainly grab the attention of those at WhatsApp HQ.

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Voice notes are an excellent form of communication that have grew in popularity in recent years. They allow users short on time to send long and informative messages while on the go and without having to think about typing. Their one shortfall, however, is that they are not searchable like text messages, you can’t type in a word or phrase you remember from a message and then jump straight to it. This new Google Messages update, however, looks set to fix that single weak point.

Google is working on a voice note transcription feature update for Messages. Thanks to a report from 9to5Google, we know that there are currently two iterations of the feature. One automatically transcribes incoming voice notes meaning you will receive both the audio file and a text message, which has been transcribed from it. The other iteration includes a transcribe button, which you can tap whenever you want to read the text of a voice note or save it for posterity and to make it easier to search for later on.

Impressively, according to 9to5Google’s testing of the leaked footage, the transcriptions are mostly accurate and can even correctly place punctuation depending on the tone of the speaker as well as any pauses in speech. The report, however, states that the function isn’t as fast as using the voice typing feature on Google Assistant.

It is great to see innovation happening in some of the less popular messaging apps on the market. As Google Messages is the stock messaging app that rolls out with Android device there is a good chance this improved feature will help to build a more dedicated user base for the often-forgotten app. Another probability, however, is that it won’t be long before we are also reporting on WhatsApp testing out a similar feature.

In other recent news, did you know that WhatsApp is working on a new Communities feature?

Images via: 9to5Google

Patrick Devaney

Patrick Devaney

Patrick Devaney is a news reporter for Softonic, keeping readers up to date on everything affecting their favorite apps and programs. His beat includes social media apps and sites like Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat. Patrick also covers antivirus and security issues, web browsers, the full Google suite of apps and programs, and operating systems like Windows, iOS, and Android.

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