Google: Google Messages app is getting contact photos in conversation threads – Times of India

Google Messages, slowly and steadily, getting an overhaul. Recently, the company brought changes in the shape of Rich Communication Services (RCS) branding and read receipt icons. In the latest update, Google has added a contact’s profile photo to the top of conversations in messages.
Before this update, which was first spotted by 9to5Google, users can tap a person’s name in the app bar to open Google Contacts. With the design change, Google is essentially emphasising this way to open Contacts. It is to be noted that the design and working is in line with other apps, such as Facebook Messenger and Telegram, and iMessage which displays the image in the centre.
Additionally, the magnifying glass icon representing “Search” has been removed from the bar and added to the overflow menu.

Google voice messages
As per a separate development, Google is also testing an improved voice message creation experience for Pixel users and is developing a new design for the voice recorder UI in the Messages app.
The redesign is reported to have a new circular icon that will enable users to start recording their voice messages. The new UI is said to show a waveform preview beneath the time elapsed indicator. The app will reportedly have the “Restart” and “Done” options.
This new Google Messages voice recorder is also said to look better with improved animations and design will conform to the Dynamic Colour feature and offer a similar UI as the Pixel’s default Recorder app, the report noted.

End-to-end encryption
Earlier this year, Google rolled out end-to-end encryption in group chats for beta testers. The feature is already available in one-on-one chats. The feature is similar to the one much-talked about by WhatsApp and it encrypts messages so they are private and secure and can only be seen by the sender and recipient.