Gmail to Gain New 'Purchases' Tab for Centralized Shopping Management.

Google is rolling out a significant update to Gmail, introducing a dedicated "Purchases" tab that aims to revolutionize how users track their online orders and manage shopping-related emails. This new feature provides a centralized hub for all your e-commerce activities, making it easier than ever to find order confirmations, shipping updates, and return information.

A Smarter Inbox for Your Shopping Habits.

Gmail's new "Purchases" tab is a logical extension of its existing smart features, such as Categories (Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, Forums). However, this tab is specifically tailored to the unique needs of online shoppers, offering a more robust and organized approach to managing purchases.

Here’s what this update means for users:

• Centralized Tracking: Instead of sifting through your primary inbox or the "Promotions" tab for order details, all emails related to your online purchases will be automatically filtered into this new tab. This includes order confirmations, shipping notifications, delivery updates, and even return labels.
• Enhanced Organization: The tab will likely go beyond just listing emails. It's expected to present purchase information in a more structured, glanceable format, potentially displaying key details like order numbers, delivery dates, and product images directly within the tab interface.
• Reduced Clutter: By moving shopping-related emails into their own dedicated space, the "Purchases" tab will help reduce clutter in your main inbox, allowing you to focus on more urgent or personal communications.
• Seamless Integration: This feature leverages Google's existing AI capabilities to identify and categorize purchase-related emails accurately. It will likely integrate with other Google services in the future, potentially linking directly to Google Pay or Google Assistant for package tracking.

Image Credit: Google

How the "Purchases" Tab Will Work.

While specific details on the tab's exact functionality are still emerging, it's expected to operate similarly to existing Gmail categories:

1. Automatic Classification: Google's AI will automatically detect emails containing order confirmations, shipping details, and receipts, moving them to the "Purchases" tab.
2. User Control: Users will likely have the ability to manually move emails into or out of the "Purchases" tab if the automatic classification isn't perfect, and potentially train the system over time.
3. Notifications: Users are expected to be able to customize notifications specifically for this tab, ensuring they receive timely updates on important deliveries without being overwhelmed.

This update reflects a growing trend towards specialized inboxes that cater to specific types of communication. For online shoppers, the "Purchases" tab promises a significant improvement in managing their digital retail footprint.

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• Gmail’s New Manage Subscriptions Feature to Clean Inbox.
• Gmail for Android Gets a Fresh Look with Material 3 Expressive Redesign.
• Google Reassures Users, Reaffirms Gmail's Robust Security Following Misinformation.

Gemini Canvas Introduces 'Select and Ask' for Intuitive Visual Editing.

Image Source: Google

Google is empowering developers and designers with an incredibly intuitive new feature in Gemini Canvas: "Select and Ask." This update revolutionizes how users can visually edit web applications, allowing for direct, no-code modifications by simply clicking an element and describing the desired change in natural language.

"Select and Ask": The Future of Visual Web App Editing.

Gemini Canvas, Google's generative AI platform for web development, is designed to streamline the creation and modification of web apps. The "Select and Ask" feature takes this a giant leap forward by introducing a direct, conversational approach to UI (User Interface) adjustments.

Here's how this innovative feature works:

Click to Select: Users can now directly click on any element within their web application in Gemini Canvas's preview mode. This could be a button, a text box, an image, a navigation bar, or any other UI component.

Describe the Change: Once an element is selected, a prompt will appear, allowing the user to describe the desired modification using natural language. For example, you could say:

• "Make this button green and slightly larger."
• "Change the font of this headline to sans-serif and bold."
• "Move this image to the left and add 20 pixels of padding."
• "Change the color scheme of this section to a darker theme."

Instant Preview: The moment the description is entered, Gemini Canvas uses its underlying AI models to interpret the request and instantly apply the changes in the preview mode. This allows for real-time iteration and immediate visual feedback without writing a single line of code.

No Code Necessary: The power of "Select and Ask" lies in its ability to abstract away the complexity of code. Users don't need to understand CSS, HTML, or JavaScript to make visual adjustments. Gemini's AI handles the translation from natural language intent to code modifications behind the scenes.

Impact on Web Development and Design Workflows.

"Select and Ask" in Gemini Canvas is poised to significantly impact various roles within the web development and design ecosystem:

• For Designers: It allows designers to rapidly prototype and iterate on UI elements with unprecedented speed, directly seeing their vision come to life without needing developer intervention for minor tweaks.
• For Developers: While it doesn't eliminate coding, it frees up developers from mundane visual adjustments, allowing them to focus on more complex functionality and backend logic. It also simplifies client feedback loops, as changes can be demonstrated and implemented instantly.
• For Non-Technical Stakeholders: Business owners, product managers, and other non-technical stakeholders can now participate more directly in the design process, providing immediate feedback and seeing changes applied in real-time. This can bridge communication gaps and accelerate project timelines.
• Rapid Prototyping and A/B Testing: The ability to make instant visual changes makes rapid prototyping and A/B testing far more efficient. Different design variations can be generated and compared almost instantaneously.

This new feature in Gemini Canvas underscores Google's commitment to making generative AI a cornerstone of creative and technical workflows, democratizing web development by putting powerful visual editing capabilities directly into the hands of users with natural language.

Google AI Plus: Budget-Friendly AI Subscription Tier for Emerging Markets.

In a significant move to make advanced artificial intelligence more accessible, Google has launched "Google AI Plus," a new, more affordable subscription tier. This plan, which is currently rolling out in countries like Indonesia, is a direct response to the growing demand for powerful AI tools in emerging markets.

While Google's existing Google One AI Premium plan (previously known as AI Pro) caters to power users with its extensive features and high limits, the new AI Plus tier is designed to be a budget-friendly alternative that still offers substantial value. It strategically bundles core AI features with essential Google services to appeal to a broader audience.

What's Included in Google AI Plus?

The Google AI Plus subscription is built around a blend of advanced AI and productivity features. Here’s what users get for a lower price point:

• Gemini 2.5 Pro: The plan includes access to Google's sophisticated Gemini 2.5 Pro model. While the usage limits are less than the premium tiers, it still provides a powerful AI assistant for writing, coding, brainstorming, and complex problem-solving.
• Gemini in Google Apps: A key feature of this plan is the integration of Gemini into popular Google apps. Users can get AI assistance directly within Gmail and Docs to help with drafting emails, writing documents, and organizing content.
• Creative Tools: The subscription provides access to new creative tools, including Veo 3 Fast, Google's AI model for video generation. This allows users to create short videos directly from text prompts.
• Google One Storage: AI Plus is not just about AI; it's also a value-added service. The subscription includes 200 GB of Google One storage, which can be used across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. This is a significant benefit for users in markets where storage space is at a premium.
• NotebookLM: Subscribers also get higher access to NotebookLM, Google's AI-powered research and writing assistant, with more audio overviews, notebooks, and sources per notebook.

Google AI Plus vs. Google One AI Premium.

The introduction of Google AI Plus creates a clear tiered structure, allowing users to choose a plan that best fits their needs and budget.

Feature	Google AI Plus	Google One AI Premium
Primary Goal	Democratize AI in emerging markets	Cater to advanced users and professionals
Core AI Model	Access to Gemini 2.5 Pro (with lower usage limits)	Highest usage limits for Gemini 2.5 Pro
Context Window	Standard context window	1 million tokens
Creative Tools	Veo 3 Fast (video generation)	Veo 3 Fast + access to Veo 3 and other models
Deep Research	Limited access to Deep Research	20 reports per day (on Gemini 2.5 Pro)
Deep Think	Not included	10 prompts per day (exclusive feature)
Google One	200 GB storage	2 TB storage + other premium benefits
Price	More affordable, regional pricing	Standard pricing ($19.99/month)

The Bigger Picture: A Strategic Move.

Google's launch of AI Plus is a strategic play to expand its AI ecosystem globally. By offering a more accessible and affordable entry point, Google can attract a new segment of users in high-growth regions. This move positions Google to build a stronger user base for its AI products and compete effectively in the global AI market. It also reflects Google's understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach to AI subscriptions may not be effective worldwide.

Google Breaks Down Gemini's Usage Limits for Free and Paid Users.

For months, Google has been using vague language like “limited access” and “highest access” to describe the usage caps for its Gemini AI. This left many users, from casual testers to professional creators, in the dark about what they were truly getting. Now, Google has finally provided a clear and detailed breakdown of the daily and monthly limits for its different Gemini tiers.

This is a major update for anyone in the tech and AI space, as it allows users to make informed decisions about which plan is right for them. Here’s a detailed look at the new limits for prompts, image generation, and other advanced features.

The Free Tier: What Users Get with Gemini 2.5 Pro.

The free tier is designed for general use and for those who want to experience the power of Gemini without a subscription. While it provides a solid introduction, the limits are designed to prevent heavy, daily use.

• Prompts: You can use Gemini 2.5 Pro for up to 5 prompts per day. This is a significant clarification from the previously unstated limits.
• Image Generation: You are able to generate or edit up to 100 images per day. This generous allowance is perfect for artists, social media managers, or anyone needing to create a steady stream of visual content.
• Context Window: The free tier includes a 32,000-token context window, which is ample for most standard conversations.
• Deep Research: For more in-depth queries, you are limited to 5 Deep Research reports per month. These reports are powered by the less advanced Gemini Flash model.
• Audio Overviews: All users, including free ones, can get up to 20 Audio Overviews per day.

Google AI Pro: The Sweet Spot for Creators.

Priced at $19.99 per month, the Google AI Pro plan is part of select Google One subscriptions and dramatically increases the usage caps, making it ideal for content creators, marketers, and developers.

Prompts: The limit jumps to 100 prompts per day with Gemini 2.5 Pro, a 20x increase over the free tier.

• Image Generation: This plan offers a massive increase in creative capacity, allowing for up to 1,000 image generations per day.
• Context Window: The context window is expanded to a colossal 1 million tokens, enabling significantly longer conversations and the ability to process large documents in a single go.
• Deep Research: You get a substantial boost to 20 Deep Research reports per day, and they are powered by the more advanced Gemini 2.5 Pro model.
• Video Generation: The Pro tier introduces video creation with 3 Veo 3 Fast videos per day (currently in preview).
• Other Benefits: The plan also includes priority access to new features and other Google One benefits, like 2TB of storage.

Google AI Ultra: The Ultimate Plan for Power Users.

For professional teams and individuals with extremely high demands, the Google AI Ultra plan offers the highest level of access and exclusive features. This plan is designed for heavy-duty research and development, with a price point reflecting its capabilities.

• Prompts: You get up to 500 prompts per day with Gemini 2.5 Pro, a staggering 100x increase compared to the free tier.
• Image Generation: Image generation remains at a high of 1,000 per day, matching the Pro plan.
• Context Window: The standard context window is also 1 million tokens, but this tier includes a special feature.
• Deep Research: The daily limit is a massive 200 Deep Research reports per day, providing almost unlimited research capabilities.
• Deep Think: This plan provides exclusive access to the Deep Think reasoning model, with a limit of 10 prompts per day and a 192,000-token context window.
• Video Generation: You can generate up to 5 videos per day using the latest Veo 3 model (currently in preview).
• Other Benefits: AI Ultra subscribers get 30TB of Google One storage, among other premium benefits.

Final Thoughts: The Importance of Transparency.

Google's decision to provide specific numbers for its Gemini tiers is a significant step towards greater transparency and user empowerment. It replaces the guesswork with a clear understanding of what each plan offers, allowing users to choose the best option based on their specific needs.

As Google notes, these limits may change over time, but for now, the new breakdown provides a clear roadmap for free and paid Gemini users. This move also highlights Google's commitment to making its AI tools more accessible and predictable, a crucial factor for anyone building a workflow around its capabilities.

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Google's "AI Mode" Expands to More Languages.

Google has announced a major expansion of its "AI Mode" in Search, bringing the powerful, AI-driven experience to millions of new users worldwide. The feature, which was previously only available in English, now supports five new languages: Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese.

This update represents a significant step in Google's mission to make its most advanced AI capabilities globally accessible and locally relevant. According to Google, this goes beyond simple translation, as the company has leveraged a custom version of its Gemini 2.5 model to ensure a "nuanced understanding of local information."

What is AI Mode?

AI Mode is a new tab within Google Search designed to handle complex, multifaceted queries that would typically require multiple searches. It uses a "query fan-out" technique to issue multiple related searches concurrently across various subtopics and data sources. This method allows it to provide comprehensive, AI-based answers that offer greater breadth and depth of information than a traditional search.

The feature is particularly helpful for exploratory questions, such as planning a trip, finding local recommendations, or understanding complex topics. It also offers conversational follow-up questions, similar to what users have come to expect from Gemini and AI Overviews.

Impact and Future Outlook.

The expansion to these new languages comes shortly after Google made AI Mode available in over 180 countries and territories. This rapid rollout underscores the feature's importance to Google's future strategy. Google has claimed that AI Overviews and AI Mode are driving more queries and quality clicks to websites, despite some concerns from publishers about a potential drop in traffic.

With this expansion, Google is making it clear that AI-powered search is here to stay and will continue to evolve, reaching an ever-growing global audience.

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• Google Adds AI Mode Shortcut to Android Search Widget.
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How To Create Cinematic Photos in Google Photos.

Have you ever looked at a still photo and wished you could feel the moment all over again? With Google Photos, you can. The Cinematic photos feature breathes life into your static pictures by adding a subtle, three-dimensional motion effect. It's a simple way to transform your favorite memories into something magical, without any advanced editing skills. 

This guide will walk you through exactly what cinematic photos are, which photos work best, and a step-by-step tutorial to create your own.

What Are Cinematic Photos?

A Cinematic photo isn't a video, but it looks like one. Using sophisticated machine learning and artificial intelligence, Google Photos analyzes a flat, 2D image and creates a 3D representation of the scene. It identifies the main subject, like a person, pet, or landmark, and separates it from the background. 

Once the layers are separated, Google Photos animates a virtual camera, creating a smooth panning effect. This gives the illusion of depth and movement, making the subject "pop" from the background and turning your simple photo into a short, dynamic video clip.

How to choose the Right Photo for Cinematic?

Not every photo is a good candidate for this effect. The best cinematic photos come from images that have a clear subject and a distinct background. Here's what to look for when choosing your photo:

• Clear Subject Separation: Photos where the main subject is clearly separated from the background will work best. Think of a portrait of a person standing against a wall or a tree in a field.
• Good Depth: Photos taken with "Portrait Mode" or those with a natural depth of field are often ideal. The more the camera can understand what's close and what's far away, the better the final result.
• Simple Backgrounds: Images with busy or complex backgrounds can sometimes confuse the AI, leading to less-than-perfect results. A photo with a simple background will yield a cleaner, more striking cinematic effect.

How To Create a Cinematic Photo?

You can either wait for Google Photos to automatically create a cinematic photo for you (it often does this for your "Memories") or create one yourself. Here's how to do it manually. You can also remove unwanted objects from your photo before creating a Cinematic video out of it.

Step 1: Open Google Photos and Select a Photo.

Launch the Google Photos app on your smartphone or tablet. Browse through your photo library and tap on the picture you want to transform into a Cinematic photo. For the best effect, choose a photo where the subject is clear and well-separated from the background.

Step 2: Open the Options Menu.

Once the photo is open, look at the top-right corner of the screen. Tap the three-dot menu icon to view more options for that photo.

Step 3: Choose the “Create” Option.

From the list of options that appear, tap on Create. This option is represented by a brush icon. Tapping it will open a creation panel at the bottom of your screen.

Step 4: Select “Cinematic Photo”.

In the Create new panel, you will see different creative tools. Scroll if needed and choose the option labeled Cinematic photo (usually the last one in the list). This tells Google Photos to start generating the effect.

Step 5: Wait for the Cinematic Video to Generate.

Google Photos will automatically analyze your chosen photo and apply motion effects using AI. After a few seconds, it will create a short 7-second Cinematic video that gives your picture a smooth 3D-style camera movement.

Step 6: Preview and Save the Cinematic Photo.

When the video is ready, it will play on your screen so you can preview it. If you like the result, simply tap the Save button. The Cinematic photo will then be stored in your Google Photos library as a video file.

Google Photos’ cinematic feature is a fantastic example of how AI can enhance our daily lives. It offers a simple, powerful way to take your favorite photos from static snapshots to captivating, living memories. By using this guide, you can start creating your own stunning cinematic photos today, adding a touch of movie magic to your personal photo gallery.

Gemini App is Allowing User to Upload Audio Files.

Google has rolled out a highly-requested "quality-of-life" improvement for its Gemini app, introducing the ability for users to upload audio files on the web, as well as on Android and iOS devices. This new feature significantly enhances Gemini's capabilities by allowing it to process and understand spoken content from external sources.

The process for uploading audio is straightforward and consistent across platforms. Users can access the feature by tapping the "plus" menu and selecting "Files" on their mobile device or "Upload files" on the web. The tool supports popular audio file formats, including MP3, M4A, and WAV, making it versatile for a wide range of uses.

Subscription Tiers and Audio Length.

Google has implemented a tiered system for audio length based on a user's subscription status:

• Free Users: Can upload audio files with a total length of up to 10 minutes. This is perfect for quick transcriptions, summarizing short meetings, or processing voice notes.
• Google AI Pro / Google AI Ultra Subscribers: Have a much larger capacity, allowing them to upload audio files up to 3 hours in length. This is ideal for professionals, students, and anyone needing to transcribe or analyze longer-form content like lectures, interviews, or podcasts.

This feature opens up a world of possibilities, from easily transcribing lectures for students to summarizing long interviews for journalists, making Gemini an even more powerful tool for productivity.

Also Read:

• Google Gemini Rolls Out Temporary Chats Option.
• Gemini App Gets a Major Upgrade with the Nano-Banana AI Model.