Latest news with #GeminiSpace
Phone Arena
12 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Google's Pixel phones may soon borrow a trick from Samsung's Now Bar
Referential image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with the Now Bar. | Image credit — Phonearena Google might be working on its own version of Samsung's Now Bar, according to new details spotted in the latest Android 16 beta. The feature, called "Gemini Space," could be a major step forward for Google's At a Glance widget, offering more real-time information on the lock screen. As reported based on findings through a deep dive of the underlying code, traces of this new experience first appeared in last month's Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 release. A new system configuration file named "Ambient Data" was added, which appears to be the internal codename for Gemini Space. That file was found in firmware for both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro, suggesting the feature won't be limited to the upcoming Pixel 10. Other clues point to an "Ambience Hub," though it's not clear how it will work. The name suggests a new interface for showing useful data on the lock screen or always-on display. This would align with other Google features that use 'ambient' in their name, such as ambient display or ambient AOD. More interestingly, the Android System Intelligence app — which powers the current At a Glance widget — now includes hints about sports scores and finance updates. A toggle for finance recaps was even found in the At a Glance settings, further supporting the idea that these updates could appear as part of Gemini Space. OneUI's Now Bar and Now Brief was a welcome addition when it launched with the Galaxy S25 series. | Image credit — PhoneArena All signs point to Google preparing a rebranded and upgraded version of At a Glance. If true, Gemini Space would serve a similar purpose to Samsung's Now Bar and Now Brief — the former being a live info chip on the lock screen, and the latter offering a full-page summary of your day. While some may say that At a Glance already covers this, Pixel phones don't have anything quite like the Now Brief: a dedicated, rich feed of contextual updates accessible right from the lock screen. That could change if Gemini Space and the rumored Ambience Hub roll out as expected. Whether this will be a Pixel 10 exclusive or come to older models remains to be seen, but the feature looks like a natural evolution of At a Glance — and perhaps a strategic way to keep Gemini AI front and center. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
Android Authority
18 hours ago
- Android Authority
Gemini Space is coming to Pixel phones, and it could be Google's take on Samsung's Now Bar
Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Google is developing a new feature called 'Gemini Space' for its Pixel phones, which is expected to debut on the upcoming Pixel 10 series. 'Gemini Space' could be a rebrand of the At a Glance widget that will add new information like finance recaps and sports scores. This new feature could be Google's version of Samsung's 'Now Brief,' providing a full-screen, contextual summary of your day from the lock screen. Google is locked in a race with rival OpenAI to get people to use its Gemini AI over ChatGPT, and one of its key advantages in the race is its hardware ecosystem. The company has already integrated its Gemini AI into multiple features on its Pixel devices and plans to introduce even more with the upcoming Pixel 10 series. One such upcoming feature is called 'Gemini Space,' which we expect will debut on the Pixel 10 before trickling down to previous devices. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. Our first clue about 'Gemini Space' appeared in last month's Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 release, which quietly added a new system configuration file named 'Ambient Data.' The file hints that 'Ambient Data' is the internal codename for 'Gemini Space.' Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority This 'Ambient Data' configuration file is present in the firmware for both the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 8 Pro, suggesting the feature will be supported on at least some current-generation devices. Unfortunately, the file itself and the rest of the firmware offer no further details about what the feature does. We did find some related references to an 'Ambience Hub,' though details on how it works are similarly scarce. However, the naming offers a clue. Based on existing features like 'ambient display' and 'ambient AOD,' it's likely that 'Ambient Data' refers to contextual information shown on the ambient display. The 'Ambience Hub' feature, then, might be a new interface for presenting that data. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority So what will this 'Ambient Data' consist of? We found clues in the Android System Intelligence app, which is responsible for the Pixel's At a Glance experience. Our findings suggest Gemini Space will show a finance recap and sports scores — two features we've been tracking for a while. We even managed to recently surface the finance recap toggle in the Pixel's At a Glance settings. Code Copy Text gemini_space_finance_recap gemini_space_sports_score This evidence suggests Google could be planning to rebrand At a Glance as 'Gemini Space' and relaunch it with more capabilities. Specifically, 'Gemini Space' could be Google's version of the 'Now Bar' and 'Now Brief' features on Samsung Galaxy phones. On Galaxy devices, the Now Bar is a small chip on the lock screen with live app updates, complemented by the Now Brief, a full-screen summary of your day with contextual information. While one could argue that At a Glance is already a version of the Now Bar, Pixel phones lack a comparable experience to Now Brief that is accessible from the lock screen. The 'Gemini Space' and 'Ambience Hub' features could finally provide that. Notably, we spotted Google testing a change last year that repositions the At a Glance widget to the bottom of the lock screen, which would make it look strikingly similar to Samsung's Now Bar (and Live Activities on iOS). With such limited information, our theory could be off base, and 'Gemini Space' might have no parallels to Samsung's features. If that's the case, we truly don't know what Google is building. I'm personally hoping for a feature similar to Nothing's Essential Space, but beyond the name, there's no evidence for this. It's also possible this feature is tied to the long-rumored Pixel Sense — now expected to be called Magic Cue — but we're not sure how. However, Magic Cue is expected to be a Pixel 10 exclusive, whereas our findings suggest 'Gemini Space' will not be as limited. Whatever the case, it's clear Google plans to integrate Gemini more tightly into its Pixel lineup. While the exact role of 'Gemini Space' remains to be seen, we're excited to find out. Google is rumored to launch the Pixel 10 series at a Made by Google event in August, so we hopefully won't have to wait long to see what form this feature ultimately takes. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
