● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Google Messages rolls out new features including chat themes and iOS RCS improvements
Key points
- Chat themes allow extensive conversation customization.
- Long-press menu redesigned for message and image interactions.
- iOS 27 will enable inline replies and photo reactions for Android-iPhone RCS.
- Messages for web is transitioning from QR code to Google Account sign-in.
New Customization and Interaction Features
Google Messages is introducing a "Chat theme" feature, replacing the older "Change colors" option. This allows users to extensively customize conversation appearances with various color carousels and wallpaper options. Themes are client-side only, meaning they only appear on the user's device.
The application is also updating its long-press menu. Instead of a top toolbar, long-pressing a message or image now opens a floating menu with a blurred background. This new menu allows users to copy specific parts of a chat, a change from the previous method of copying the entire message.
Enhanced RCS Interoperability with iOS
With the upcoming launch of iOS 27, Android-iPhone conversations using RCS will gain significant new capabilities. These include support for inline replies with quotes and photo reactions that display actual emojis instead of text descriptions. This feature is currently in beta testing.
Read Receipts and Web Client Updates
Google Messages is implementing a redesign of read receipts, reverting to a two-circle design underneath messages after experimenting with a single circle within the bubble. A new variant moves the timestamp and encryption lock, making them accessible by swiping left, while direct replies are accessed by swiping right.
For Messages for web, the QR code pairing method is being phased out. Users will now be required to use Google Account sign-in for access. The QR code method remains available for a limited time.
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Reporting from
Google Messages is rolling out several new features, including customizable chat themes, a redesigned long-press menu, and enhanced RCS support for Android-iPhone conversations when iOS 27 launches. These updates aim to improve the user experience and interoperability of the messaging platform.