In a significant update to its Gemini application, Google has repositioned the Veo 2 feature to the prompt bar, enhancing user accessibility and streamlining the interface. This change is part of a broader effort to improve the app’s functionality and user experience.
Veo 2 Integration in the Prompt Bar
Previously located within the model picker, Veo 2 now resides directly in the prompt bar alongside Deep Research and Canvas. Each feature is represented by an icon, and hovering over them reveals brief descriptions:
– Deep Research: Provides in-depth answers to user queries.
– Canvas: Facilitates the creation of documents and code.
– Veo 2: Enables video generation from text descriptions.
This strategic relocation simplifies the model picker and enhances the visibility of Veo 2, especially on desktop web interfaces where horizontal space is abundant. On mobile devices, due to limited screen width, Veo 2 is accessible via an overflow menu.
Prompt Bar Interaction
Selecting Veo 2 in the prompt bar changes the default prompt from Ask Gemini to Describe your video, aligning the interface with the feature’s functionality. This adjustment provides a more intuitive user experience by clearly indicating the purpose of the selected feature.
Additional Web Interface Enhancements
Alongside the Veo 2 integration, Google has updated the desktop ‘plus’ menu:
– Image and Upload Files: These options have been merged into a single Add from Drive feature, streamlining the process of incorporating external content.
– Code Folder: This option remains unchanged, continuing to support code-related functionalities.
On mobile web interfaces, a Camera shortcut has been introduced, allowing users to capture and upload images directly within the app.
Mobile Application Status
As of now, these updates are exclusive to the web version of the Gemini app. The Android and iOS applications have not received these changes, indicating that mobile users may need to wait for future updates to experience similar enhancements.
Conclusion
Google’s recent updates to the Gemini app, particularly the integration of Veo 2 into the prompt bar and the refinement of the web interface, demonstrate a commitment to improving user experience and accessibility. These changes simplify navigation and make powerful features more readily available to users, reflecting Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance its suite of applications.
