What you need to know
- Google has introduced “Notes in Messages” feature, which allows users to alert others in a group chat about their texts by using the “@” symbol to that specific person.
- Users can tag multiple users in a text, and they can edit the recipient’s “saved name” if you don’t want others to see their nickname, the post says.
- Previous updates to Messages in March included built-in live location sharing and a trash folder for accidentally deleted chats.
March was a busy month for Google Messages, as another new feature was introduced for users to help with intense group chats.
This morning (March 20) Google announced The power of the “@” update for the Messages app on Android. To improve visibility, this week, notes in the Messages app are spreading to group chats. Even though the text is available in the group chat, Google says that when a person (or more) is mentioned, it will send them a notification to ensure their response.
Naming multiple people is simple. Users just need to type “@Derrek” and “@Shruti” (for example) in the text field before the message. However, Google says it’s adding one last feature: the option to edit the nicknames you’ve given others. These group chats will pull the “recipient’s saved name” on your device.
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But if you don’t want others to know that name, Messages will let you edit it. Finally, notes in Google Messages are about visibility in another chaotic environment. This feature seems to be intended for group chats with RCS enabled. Google adds that RCS “must be enabled for all group chat members.”
All about texts
In March, Google Messages got two more updates to be a trash can. Accidentally deleting a message (or something bigger) can be heartbreaking. Google has stated that the trash can can be considered a “safety net” for users who might accidentally delete something. Deleted chats will remain in the app’s trash for 30 days before it deletes them permanently. If you realize your mistake, you can go into the folder and restore it or delete it yourself permanently.
Elsewhere, Google is big March update for Android Includes live location sharing built into the Messages app. Users can share information with friends or family who are interested in the app without logging into Maps. Although it was announced earlier this month, reports suggest that Google has not actually launched spread by this week.
Android Central’s Take
It took some time for Google to add group records. It’s such a useful feature (among several others) that Google strangely always has to catch up. I have a few friends that I always message in group chat outside of the listed Messages. It’s hard for me to switch and start using the Google app for my group chats, but it’s good that this feature is finally here and spreading across the RCS cracks.
