Earlier this week, Google Hold for Android changed its backside bar with a FAB (floating motion button). It’s objectively a small design change, however I’m actually feeling it each time I open the app to create a brand new word. 

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Sure, it’s now two faucets, however the factor that’s getting me is having to maneuver my finger up for that second press. When blindly navigating Hold in latest days, I’ve discovered myself tapping the FAB once more considering I’ve missed the primary time. This simply means I’ve to faucet once more because the menu is now closed.

I do suppose I’ll get used to this alteration and I do like the opposite launched advantages.

To me, an important a part of Google Hold is its sticky notes-esque grid. This two-column view is very glanceable and means I don’t should open something. For essentially the most half, I by no means should scroll with every thing I would like to concentrate on already in body from app launch. The elimination of the underside bar does present extra data and that’s not nothing. 

The FAB menu for including one thing can also be per Google’s different productiveness apps, together with Calendar and Duties. Compared, the previous backside bar regarded misplaced with Materials 3. 

Whereas Hold will not be a precedence for Google, it’s not deserted both with 1+ billion downloads on Android. In 2024, it bought a reasonably large pill and foldable replace that allows you to resize the dual-pane format. It makes Hold one among Google’s finest massive screen-optimized apps. (Equally, Hold for Put on OS can also be a standout from its Tile to problems.) Talking of that huge type issue, “handwritten notes” are on the best way, whereas we’re nonetheless ready for the floating notes chat head and lock display screen notes:

• Welcome to handwritten notes: “Now you should utilize handwriting, photographs, and textual content to sketch, doodle, brainstorm, and seize all of your concepts. Works nice with a stylus or contact.”
• Welcome to Hold floating notes: “Click on the stylus to seize concepts from wherever. Accumulate data with the screenshot instrument.”
• Welcome to Hold lock display screen notes: “Seize ideas straight out of your lock display screen. Hold will save them for you. By default we make a brand new word every time. If you wish to have the identical word seem every time, go to settings within the Hold app.”

Telephone customers this yr bought “Assist me create an inventory” (which, positive) and a Gemini Extension. There’s additionally the promise that Hold reminders will seem in Google Duties and Calendar, with location performance remaining. That was introduced in April as coming “over the subsequent yr.” It’s taking some time to reach.

In the direction of the tip of final yr, we bought textual content formatting on Android, whereas the net bought a primary model historical past.  

I’ve made my peace with Google Hold simply getting the occasional replace. From how I take advantage of the cellular app, the core, if not authentic, characteristic set is sufficient. Outdoors of that, the Put on OS consumer is de facto fairly good, and I do use the Hold facet panel in Workspace apps like Gmail and Calendar so much. 

On the flip-side, I do know others bemoan the shortage of richer performance. Compared, the Apple Notes on iOS is a lot extra productivity-focused:

Alongside these strains, one factor I’d discover attention-grabbing is that if Hold was how Google introduced the Pixel Recorder’s transcription functionality to all Android units. Gemini-powered search — a la Pixel Screenshots — would even be thrilling. A smaller factor could be hold.google.com getting a Materials 3 overhaul, like Calendar not too long ago.

What are your prime characteristic requests for Google Hold? Hold forth within the feedback under.