Google has rolled out a new location-based Map tool for the Gemini mobile application on Android and iOS, alongside preparations for a significant interface adjustment to how users invoke custom skills and connected tools according to 9to5Google.
Location-Based Map Tool Integration
The newly introduced Map feature is positioned at the end of the mobile shortcut carousel alongside options like Photos, Camera, Files, Drive, and Notebooks, though it remains unavailable on the web interface. Activating the tool opens a live map centered on the user's current location featuring a circular focus area.
Users can pan, zoom, and utilize a magnifying glass icon to search for specific locations globally. Selecting an area generates an Explore this area action, which appends a Map Area reference directly into the prompt box for subsequent text queries.
Transition to the @ Symbol for Skills
In addition to the map release, Google app beta version 17.63 indicates an upcoming shift in how users access custom capabilities within the conversational interface. The platform is preparing to replace the forward slash character previously used to invoke skills with the @ symbol.
This updated symbol is already utilized for Connected Apps, which are slated for a rename to Connectors. The revised syntax brings skills, connectors, and other utilities into a unified access menu via a slightly widened prompt box that also features a direct shortcut for creating new skills.
Availability and Scope
While the location-based Map tool has achieved a wide rollout across mobile platforms, the interface modification transitioning shortcut commands from a slash to the @ symbol is still in early deployment and not yet widely available to all users.
AI-generated editorial illustration; not a documentary photograph.
Source: Gemini app gains new ‘Map’ tool, replacing ‘/’ with ‘@’
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