Google brings Family Bell and BMW Digital Key to Android smartphones

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To help you get more than upcoming holidays, Google launches some features that, although not fully new, makes their first appearance on Android. These features include various categories, including new widgets to make the Android smartphone home screen more useful, simplified reminders for the whole family, and even the ability to lock and unlock certain cars with pixels 6.

Bell family expansion.

Google Assistant has long been trying to help you understand your life and your home, the latter often through the smart speakers of Google Nest (previous Google Home) and smart view. The Bell family, the features offered on this nest device, can be used to set reminders for everyone in the household. Google expands family bells to the Android mobile device, the company has announced.

With this feature, users can, for example, use their Android smartphone to notify Google Assistant to make a family bell reminder. Users can select reminded times, and which devices will receive it. It can be used to remind everyone at home that it is almost time to go or remind everyone at dinner is ready.

Android 12 for drivers

Earlier this year, Google said it was working with BMW and chose another car maker to bring digital key features to Android 12. In a new announcement today, the company said the digital key feature is now available for use in several markets, assuming you have a smartphone and model The right BMW car.

Google says the digital key feature on Android 12 can now be used on pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S21. BMW outlines the announcement, noting that Android users who have one of these supported handsets can use cellular functionality with vehicles that support BMW digital buttons.

The owner of the BMW that has a vehicle with digital key support can use the feature to unlock and lock the car by placing a smartphone close to the driver’s door handle. Placing a smartphone in a wireless charging compartment vehicle will cause the vehicle to start automatically. According to BMW, the functionality continues to the owner in the following markets:

Pixel 6 and 6 Pros: As, Canada, England, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore