What you need to know
In a move that signals its commitment to enhancing user experience, Google is currently testing a significant update for its Phone app on Android devices. This beta phase has unveiled a promising feature aimed at addressing a common frustration among users: the unexpected switch to landscape mode during calls.
- The new “Controls” toggle, which can be found in the Display settings, is designed to help users maintain their preferred portrait mode during calls.
- This feature emerged after users reported that the app was inconsistently adhering to their auto-rotation preferences across the system.
- Additionally, the latest beta includes an intriguing option for users to mark their calls as “urgent,” ensuring that important communications are prioritized.
As part of this update, Google is also refreshing the overall user interface of the Phone app. A previous beta version introduced a more streamlined layout, eliminating the old Favorites tab in favor of a more intuitive display of frequently contacted individuals at the top of the “Recents” section. This redesign consolidates the Favorites into a sleek horizontal row, enhancing accessibility and usability.
Moreover, the dedicated “Frequents” list has been removed, prompting users to actively favorite those they call most often. This shift reflects a broader trend towards simplifying user interactions within the app.
In its quest to ensure that users never miss critical calls, Google is also introducing a feature dubbed “Expressive Calling.” This allows users to select a “call reason” when dialing, such as “It’s urgent!” or “Quick question,” thereby increasing awareness and urgency for the recipient. These enhancements collectively aim to refine the calling experience, making it more efficient and user-friendly.
