Google unveiled its new Now on Tap feature during its Google IO developers conference, and it looks set to be a real game-change when it comes to how we use our Android devices.
The new feature essentially allows users to bring up a wide array of information about a specific subject by holding an Android device’s Home button.Say, for instance, you’re looking at a photograph of Jennifer Lawrence. If you want to know more about the actress from Google’s vast library of information, holding down the Home button will allow you to do so.
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Likewise, if a friend sends you a text that suggests you should go watch Mad Max: Fury Road, Now on Tap will allow you to check out its reviews, trailers and showings in your local theaters. It’s simple yet ingenious, and is a major new introduction for the newly announced Android M operating system.
Even more impressive is that this feature doesn’t require Android app developers to update their software in order to make it functional with Now on Tap. The feature will instead be handled entirely by Google, meaning that when it receives its full rollout, it’ll be available to use across all of your apps and mobile browsers.
However, Google also stated that Now on Tap is not ready for release and is still in its development stages, with the devices boasting Android M that Google showed its IO attendees not carrying the upcoming feature. It’s uncertain whether it will be available come the launch of Android M in late 2015/early 2016, but when it does finally release, Android devices will never be the same again.
