Google has recently updated the Gemini app on both Android and iOS platforms, introducing a streamlined ‘Tools’ prompt bar designed to enhance user experience and functionality. This redesign aligns the mobile interface more closely with the web version, offering a cohesive and intuitive user journey.
Key Changes in the Redesign:
1. Consolidated ‘Tools’ Menu: The previous interface featured standalone chips and a three-dot button adjacent to the ‘plus’ menu, which varied across devices—some displaying two items, others just one pill and an overflow menu. These elements have been replaced with a unified ‘Tools’ menu, represented by an icon similar to Chrome’s site info button. Upon tapping, users experience a haptic vibration, and a compact sheet appears, listing the following options without icons or descriptions:
– Create videos with Veo
– Create images
– Deep Research
– Canvas
– Guided Learning
This streamlined approach reduces visual clutter and minimizes accidental taps, providing a cleaner and more efficient user interface.
2. Persistent Suggested Prompts: Beneath the Hello greeting, users now find a series of suggested prompts for actions such as Create Image, Write, Build, Deep Research, and Create Video. Unlike the previous design, these suggestions remain visible regardless of the user’s engagement with Gemini. Tapping on a prompt reveals four related suggestions, which disappear as the user begins typing, facilitating a more dynamic and responsive interaction.
Implementation and Availability:
The ‘Tools’ redesign began rolling out to beta users in recent weeks and has now achieved wide availability with the stable release of the Google app on Android and iOS. This update follows other enhancements, including the addition of a navigation drawer and search functionality, as well as updates to the overlay on Android.
User Experience Enhancements:
By consolidating functionalities into a single ‘Tools’ menu and maintaining persistent suggested prompts, Google aims to provide a more intuitive and efficient user experience. These changes reflect a commitment to continuous improvement and responsiveness to user feedback, ensuring that the Gemini app remains a valuable tool for a wide range of tasks.
Looking Ahead:
Google continues to test and implement design changes to further refine the Gemini app. For instance, there are ongoing tests for a prompt bar design that eliminates the rounded rectangle entirely, aligning more closely with Search’s AI Mode. Users can anticipate ongoing updates aimed at enhancing functionality and user engagement.
Conclusion:
The recent ‘Tools’ prompt bar redesign in the Gemini app signifies a significant step toward a more streamlined and user-friendly interface. By simplifying access to key features and maintaining helpful prompts, Google enhances the overall usability of the app, catering to the diverse needs of its user base.
