Gemini Not Yet Ready to Replace Google Assistant on Android
Gemini, despite much anticipation, is not yet ready to replace Google Assistant on Android, according to recent user sentiment and feedback. Google is fortunately aware of this fact and is addressing the various issues surrounding Gemini and its integration with the Android platform.
The Missing Features and Services
In a support document, Google has explicitly listed the features and services of Google Assistant that are currently not supported in Gemini:
- Media Service Providers: Podcasts, news and radio stations, as well as third-party music providers, are not yet compatible with Gemini.
- Routines: Gemini does not support the ability to start a Routine, unlike Google Assistant on Android phones. However, Routines can still be initiated using Google Assistant on Home devices, such as speakers and Smart Displays.
- Reminders: Users are required to switch back to Google Assistant in order to create and manage reminders and tasks.
- Interpreter Mode: To access the Interpreter mode, users must switch back to Google Assistant.
Additionally, Google has acknowledged that certain key tasks and features, such as calendar, reminders, and routines extensions, need to be fixed as soon as possible. It is likely that these capabilities will be added through extensions, building upon the existing Google Workspace extensions available for Gmail, Drive, and Docs.
Furthermore, Google has already addressed the issue of “conversational overlay input submit” on the Gemini Android app. The voice input method on the overlay panel, although elegant, previously required users to manually press the send icon to submit the speech-to-text input. This functionality has now been fixed.
The Global Expansion of Gemini
In terms of availability, the Gemini app is scheduled to launch its English support in various countries and regions, including Latin America, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Canada, starting from Monday. The app will also add support for Japanese and Korean during this initial roll-out. The United Kingdom, Switzerland, the European Economic Area countries, and associated territories are expected to follow soon with the availability of the Gemini app.
Google’s Focus on Gemini Advanced
Google is particularly emphasizing the introduction of Gemini Advanced, which is offered as a free service for the first two months. This introductory period serves as a soft launch for the paid tier of Gemini’s advanced features.
With Gemini, Google aims to provide an improved writing style, enhanced creativity in generating ideas and finding the right words, exceptional response speed, avoidance of usage caps, reliable online connectivity, inclusion of relevant images in responses, and seamless integration with other Google tools, such as Gmail and Maps.
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