Google expands Discover carousel to more Android devices
By ForGeeks Google continues to evolve the Discover feed by adding new elements of personalization. One of the latest features, the interactive carousel “Your space” (Your space), previously available to a limited number of devices, is now available to a wider range of Android users.
What is Google Discover Space
The «your space» feature doesn’t have an official name, but is essentially a set of interactive cards with up-to-date information placed at the top of the Google Discover feed. They resemble compact widgets and allow you to quickly get to the data you need without opening apps.
- Air Quality
- Weather
- Sunrise and sunset
- News and updates on topics of interest
- Finance
- Shopping
- Sports
- Television and movies
- Games (including the new «Games by Google»)
- Podcasts («Daily Choice»)
Device Support Expansion
With the release of Google 16.12 beta, the feature has started to appear on new Android devices. Specifically, it’s now available on the Pixel Tablet and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 foldable smartphone. That said, it’s the launch delay on the Z Flip 6 that seems unexpected – the device is inherently closer to a phone than a tablet.
The feature on the Pixel Tablet was more logically delayed due to adapting the interface for larger screens, but it still underscores the current problems with unifying interfaces for Android tablets.
UI features and trouble spots
The Discover Space carousel can be displayed in one-line or two-line format, depending on the amount of information in the card. On the new devices, the «Daily Interest Podcast» feature is now available, but with a twist: on foldable smartphones, the podcast player works, but on the Pixel Tablet when you tap it, nothing happens the app just won’t launch.
Discover Space’s podcast player works, but on the Pixel Tablet when you tap it, nothing happens the app just won’t launch.
Google also recently updated the podcast card itself: it now shows description of the first episode rather than just the date. It’s a small but important improvement that may encourage users to listen – the card is now more informative and visually appealing.
What’s next?
Google, as usual, hasn’t officially announced a major expansion of the Discover Space feature, but according to various sources, its rollout is underway. You can expect to see the carousel appear on other devices – including users with shells from Xiaomi, OnePlus and other manufacturers – in the coming weeks.
The carousel will also be available on other devices, including users with shells from Xiaomi, OnePlus and other manufacturers.
It’s a logical step toward deep personalization of the Android interface, and if Google continues to develop the idea of «your space», it could become an important element of everyday interaction with the system – something like a personal dashboard without having to launch dozens of apps.
