Latest news with #textFormatting
Android Authority
4 days ago
- Android Authority
Google Messages is hiding a useful text formatting feature from users
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR It turns out Google Messages supports text formatting, but currently, only the integrated Gemini chatbot can use it to format its own replies. The hidden feature uses Markdown syntax, as seen when the Gemini chatbot formats its own text with symbols like double asterisks for bolding. A full rollout may be challenging due to cross-platform compatibility needs, as text formatting isn't a standard part of the RCS specification. Google Messages was a simple SMS app back in the day, but since adopting Rich Communication Services (RCS) and becoming Android's default texting app, it has steadily grown more feature-rich. However, it still lacks some basic quality-of-life features found in competing messaging apps, such as text formatting — or so we thought. It turns out Google Messages does have text formatting support, but it's hidden away from users. Many messaging apps let you apply basic formatting to your messages before sending them. You can typically bold, italicize, strikethrough, or underline text. Android apps with this capability usually let you format text by selecting it and choosing an option from a context menu or toolbar. Google is no stranger to this, as both Google Chat and Google Keep already support text formatting. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Formatting text in Google Chat Regular Android Authority contributor Assemble Debug first spotted evidence in November 2023 suggesting that Google was planning to bring text formatting to Messages. In the year and a half since that discovery, however, nobody had reported the feature going live, so we thought it had been abandoned. Yesterday, however, Telegram user derelict_arch informed us that the Google Gemini chatbot in Messages was formatting its own text using Markdown — a system that adds formatting by wrapping plain text with simple symbols. For example, the chatbot bolded words by wrapping them in double asterisks (**word**) and highlighted code by wrapping it in backticks (`code`). derelict_arch on Telegram While I was also able to get Gemini to respond with Markdown-formatted text, I couldn't format my own messages before sending them. It seems that while Google Messages has backend support for text formatting, only the Gemini chatbot can currently use it. Unfortunately, there's no way for users to format texts themselves. I can understand why Google hasn't rolled out Markdown text formatting for everyone, as it's a niche feature. The average person doesn't know Markdown syntax and would struggle to use it. However, Google could still add text formatting to Messages without forcing users to learn Markdown. The company could simply add formatting options to a context menu or toolbar, similar to its implementation in Google Keep. The main challenge, then, would be ensuring formatted text renders properly on other devices. This wouldn't be a problem on Android, as most devices use Google Messages, allowing Google to handle the formatting. However, it might pose a problem when texting between iPhone and Android, as text formatting isn't defined in the latest RCS Universal Profile 3.0 release for person-to-person chats. According to some users, iMessage added support for basic text formatting with the same syntax as Google Chat and WhatsApp in iOS 18, so it's not out of the realm of possibility for Apple and Google to adopt it. For now, though, we have no indication that either company is working on this, so we'll just have to hope it comes to fruition. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
The Verge
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Verge
Microsoft releases a bold new update for Notepad
Microsoft is adding text formatting to its Windows Notepad app. The significant Notepad update is available for Canary and Dev Channel testers on Windows 11, and introduces bold and italic styling, alongside hyperlinks and even Markdown support. The addition of text formatting in Notepad means there's now a formatting toolbar at the top of the app, alongside the existing File, Edit, and View options. The toolbar includes access to bold, italic, and hyperlink options, but it also includes support for lists and headings. 'The experience supports Markdown style input and files for users who prefer to work directly with the lightweight markup language,' explains Dave Grochocki, principal product manager lead for Microsoft's Windows inbox apps. 'You can switch between formatted Markdown and Markdown syntax views in the view menu or by selecting the toggle button in the status bar at the bottom of the window.' Since Notepad is usually used with plain text, you can also easily clear all formatting from the formatting toolbar or from the edit menu in the app. If you're not a fan of the lightweight formatting options, you can also fully disable this new support in the Notepad app settings. This formatting addition to Notepad comes just a week after Microsoft started testing a new feature in the app that can generate text for you using AI. The new Write feature in Notepad can be used to 'quickly draft text based on your prompt,' and alongside these formatting options Notepad is starting to look a lot more like Microsoft Word.
