Google brings Smart Resume, Bookmarks and more to improve audiobook listening experience.

Audiobooks are not my thing at all and some attempts to indulge ended with me sleeping after about 45 minutes struggling to stay focus on the voice in my head. Same too when I listen to an unnecessarily prolonged podcast. So, when Google launched audiobooks two months ago, it was a non-event for me. But that does not mean I do not cover any news pertaining to audiobooks if this post is any indication.

Two months after the launch of audiobooks in Google Play, Google is releasing some new features and improvements to enhance the listening experience.

Smart Resume
It's hard nowadays to engage in any activity without some form of interruptions. Well aware of that fact of life, Google is introducing 'Smart Resume'. A feature the company says "will intelligently rewind you to the beginning of the word or sentence when you pick up your audiobook again, so you'll jump right back into where you left off."

Bookmarks
Google is making it easy to save bookmarks that readers can refer back to later. Simply tap the new bookmark icon and you're done.

Routines
Thanks to Google Assistant, readers/listeners will be able to add audiobooks to their 'Routines' to begin listening on their commute by simply saying "Ok Google, tell me about my day". Google Assistant will tell you about traffic, whatever item is on your calendar and continue playing your book.

Speed it up or slow it down.
This update lets users choose their reading pace. If you're a speedster, you can listen to audiobooks at 3x speed to get to the end faster. Or you can slow it down to 0.5x for whatever reason.

Share with Family Library
Depending on the book you're reading and the country you live, you can share audiobooks and eBooks to five family members. This feature is currently rolling out in 13 countries including Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Chile, Mexico, Japan (audiobooks only) and South Africa.

These new features are rolling out today on Android and other supported platforms.

Source: Google

Download: Google Play

Google Assistant to become multilingual and support more than 30 languages.

Unlike some other company on the upper-west coast of the United States, Google is gearing up for Mobile World Congress next week in Barcelona with some exciting stuff. Yesterday, the company announced that Android Go devices will be unveiled during the world's largest mobile trade show. And they have more up their sleeves.

Remember how Google Assistant was all over the floor during CES in Las Vegas earlier this year? Well, Google has more in store for the world as it goes global with Google Assistant. The latter is indeed diversifying its language portfolio with the addition of 30 more languages throughout the year and Google says this move will make the Assistant reach "95 percent of all eligible Android phone worldwide." In the next few months, Google Assistant will be available in Danish, Dutch, Hindi, Indonesian, Norwegian, Swedish and Thai, with more to come throughout the year. 

Additionally, Google is making the Assistant multilingual. A feature that will come handy to those individuals or families that speak more than one language. Google says, "with this new feature, the Assistant will be able to understand you in multiple languages fluently. If you prefer to speak German at work, but French at home, your Assistant is right there with you." A very cool feature indeed which will first be available in English, French, and German. Of course, more languages will be added later. As a bilingual myself, I can't wait to try this feature out.

No doubt, MWC promises to be exciting and the Samsung S9 won't be the king of the show.

Source: Google