You can now look up a place in Google Search and send the directions straight to your Android phone

Working that 9-5, we can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to quickly rush out the door at the end of our shift in an attempt to make it to a business before it closes. When looking up directions to a place or business, this is handled usually one of 2 ways: simply using the Maps app on our phone to search (slow), or preemptively searching for a place on our desktop then using that search history in the Maps app to find directions (slightly less slow). For whatever reason, the last method doesn’t always work out so well, with our search history not always syncing up when we need it.

Thankfully, Google is here to streamline this process in Google Search. Starting today, you can search for a place or business in Google Search where a link at the bottom of the Maps result will allow you to shoot the location off to your Android phone. Simply type in “send directions” and add the destination location. Once sent, the Maps app will open on your phone with that specific location, allowing you quickly and easily navigate to the destination from the Maps app. It’s a small update, but one that is big on convenience. You can try it out for yourself right now at Google.com.

[Google+]

You can also send notes, reminders, and alarms to your phone from Google on the web

Last week we told you about how you can send Google Maps directions to your phone from Google Search. Just type “send directions” into Google and a new card will allow you to choose a destination and then send it to your device. This functionality is similar to an old app called Chrome to Phone. It’s a great idea, and it looks like Google is adding even more features.

In addition to sending directions you can also send notes, set alarms, and add reminders. All of these commands work the same way as the directions. Simply type “note to self, set and alarm,” and “set a reminder.” A card will show up with the appropriate text boxes and options. Fill out the card and click “send to phone.”

In order to have your phone show up as a recipient you need to have a few things. Make sure you have the most recent Google app, Now cards enabled, web & app activity enabled, Google Now notifications turned on, and “high accuracy mode” location reporting.

[via Google]

Facebook Messenger is adding mobile payments, lets you send money to friends/family

The ability to send cash quickly and easily has seen a boom in recent months. Aside from mobile wallet services like Square Cash or Google Wallet, we’re now seeing it creep into messaging services like Snapchat and today, Facebook.

Using Facebook on the desktop or Messenger for Android and iOS, users in the US will now be able to send money to friends or loved ones inside as easily as sending a text message. Facebook decided to go with debit cards — for both sending and receiving (after creating a PIN) — so that users can avoid those transaction fees. Free is good. As usual, money being transferred is nearly instant, taking a few business days depending on your bank of choice.

We know, Facebook already knows just about everything about you and providing them with your credit card info may not sound like the best idea to some folks. In their announcement post, Facebook reminds users they have been processing payments for gamers and advertisers since ’07. In other words — they know what they’re doing.

Send Money to Friends in Messenger on Vimeo

You can now send Hangouts messages by saying “OK Google, send a Hangouts message”

Yes, folks, this is finally happening. It is now possible to send a Hangouts message through Google Search’s “OK Google” command on your phone or tablet. Simply say “OK Google, send a Hangouts message,” and a dialog box will popup to let you enter your recipient’s name and the message. This information can be inputted via voice dictation or traditional text entry methods, both of which can, of course, be accessed through your keyboard.

Once everything looks good simply send it off and you will have sent that ever-so-important message without actually having to venture into the Hangouts app. It’s a small change, but one that’s sure to make life easier for those who use Hangouts as their primary form of communication.

The feature seems to require server-side activation so even if you’re on the latest Google Search and Google Hangouts update you might not have access to it just yet. In that case it might simply require a degree of patience. For those lucky enough to already have the feature, go nuts!

[via Reddit]

Hangouts 4.0 for iOS brings new UI, lets you send multiple photos at once – so where’s the Android update?

It’s probably not the Hangouts update Android users have been expecting, but Hangouts 4.0 rolled out today for iOS users and brings a slick new user interface and a few other tricks along with it.

Most notably, an all new attachment UI that looks similar to other popular messaging apps, with photos that replace the keyboard for easy sending. What’s more is you can now send multiple photos at once, something anyone that’s spent a lot of time with the app will appreciate. With Google Photos now backing up all your photos and videos for free (the Android version of the app pools these in with your on-device photos), this is something that should really come handy.

While we have yet to hear a peep out of Google, we’re crossing our fingers that an Android version isn’t too far behind. With “Update Wednesday” soon approaching, it could be no more than a few days away although we wont get our hopes up. Maybe Google will finally allow Android users to send video clips — like they already do on iOS — as well?

[iTunes]

Gmail’s ‘Undo Send’ feature is out of beta, will eventually make its way to mobile

“Undo send” is one of the better Gmail features that we have to admit, has saved our asses more than a few times. It recently made its way to Inbox by Gmail only last month and is almost hard to believe that, like most things Google, it was in beta this entire time. After 6 long years, the feature has now been added to Gmail proper, with the setting making the move out of Gmail’s Labs section, to the regular ‘ol “General” tab.

There’s can now also change the cancellation period, choosing between 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds before an email is sent and can no longer be undone. For those that didn’t already have the setting enabled, you’ll have to jump into the General tab to turn it on. Those already using undo send will find it’s already been turned on so no need to rush out and change anything.

Right now the feature is only available for Gmail users on the web, but according to Mashable, Google says it will be arriving on mobile at some point in the future. We’re hoping now that it has officially dropped that beta tag, it will happen sooner rather than later.

[Google Apps Updates]