Voice-based search is a useful accessibility tool that saves you the pain of typing on a keyboard by letting you speak the words instead. As you would expect, the Google app for Android also features a voice search component, along with a handy song search functionality that lets you identify songs in the background, with the ability to detect humming as well.
New reporting has now revealed development on a design refresh of these pages within the Google app. Telegram user @shishirverm spotted these changes to the voice and song search pages in version 16.36.40.sa.arm64 of the Google app, according to Android Authority.
Based on the work that has gone into this UI refresh, it’s safe to say that these changes will eventually make it to the stable channel of the Google app. As the video above shows, the updated voice search UI retains the language switcher at the top, while the “Search for a song” pill, which activates the song search interface, is also present.
What’s missing is the row of recent search results from the main voice search interface and the “Listening” indicator. All of this is replaced by a “What’s on your mind?” banner, while the Listening indicator now resembles a semicircle, featuring some of Google’s core colors.
Tapping the “Search for a song” pill in this updated voice search interface opens up a fully revamped (and loud) song search page.
The refreshed Song Search interface may not appeal to everyone
Current (images 1 and 2) vs Upcoming (images 3 and 4)
The first thing that strikes you here is the extremely large font size for Play Sing Hum, while the same semicircle is used at the bottom of the page here as well. In its current form, the song search feature uses a circular globe-like pattern that expands and contracts intermittently.
Given that the large text on this page almost looks comical, we wouldn’t be shocked if the final version of this design revamp includes a more muted font size.
Android Authority notes that the redesign may require a server-side push, so there’s no way to get it working on your smartphone, even if you’ve got v16.36.40.sa.arm64 of the Google app installed. But the good news is that you won’t have to manually sideload the app to get this feature, as it will be rolled out automatically to everyone.
