Enhanced Homescreen Widgets: The Latest Gemini App Update

Google is introducing new homescreen widgets for Gemini on iPhone, following the addition of lockscreen, Control Center, and Action Button shortcuts last month.

There are two types of widgets available. The first one is a square widget with a 2×2 grid of icons. The Gemini sparkle icon in the top-left corner allows users to open the app and access the keyboard. This icon is differentiated from the others by a faint outline. For free Gemini users, the icon is blue/purple, while it appears more red for Advanced subscribers. 

The microphone icon enables users to start dictating a prompt. The camera icon launches Gemini’s viewfinder for taking pictures and adding them to the prompt. The final button opens the fullscreen Gemini Live experience.

The second widget is rectangular and features a pill-shaped “Ask Gemini” bar with the microphone on the right. The row below includes two new actions – one for the system file picker to upload a document, and the other to open the gallery.

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The new homescreen widgets for Gemini have a design inspired by the Google (Search) app, fulfilling a significant user request. In addition to homescreen widgets, users are also looking forward to an iPad-optimized version, considering that Android tablets already have a similar interface.

The Gemini homescreen widgets are set to be released with version 1.2025.1662203 today. 

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