Google Feed rolls out globally on Android, a personalised revamp of the Google App

Google has now rolled out its Feed feature globally. The feature will show Feed cards to users based on their interests, which will be determined by machine learning. This feature  was made available to Android users in the US since July. The feature will soon be rolling out to Indian users on the Google app for Android and iOS.

The customisable Feed feature is available on the Google App for Android and is coming soon to the iOS app. It’s also available as part of the Pixel Launcher. The feed will enable you to see cards containing the very latest sports highlights, top news, engaging videos, new music, stories about your hobbies and more, and will be available in English and Hindi.

The Feed comprises four main features. Follow Topics lets you follow a particular topic or a sports team and get all the relevant updates about the same in your Feed. A deep dive feature gives you more information by just clicking on the topic on the card. Feed also comes with context related features. For instance, if you are searching for a movie in the past and it has now released, the Feed card will show you the nearest theatres and the show timings. You can also add new interests.

Since these Feeds are based on user interest it needs to track user activity. Your web and app activity, along with location data, is required for the app to function correctly. In principle, the Feed is an enhanced version of Google Now, but is more local in nature. .

However, if, for instance the user wants to see more updates from their interests or are keen to change said interests, they can go to the setting sections and customise the feed. Users can add or remove interests from here, and they can also remove certain publications from the feed. Blocking certain interests and publications can also be accomplished from the Feed cards directly.

This feature was introduced on 19 July in the US. It follows Facebook’s News Feed pattern of customising results, but uses more data as it incorporates your browsing history, app usage, YouTube history, etc.

While it has been globally rolled out on Android devices, in case of iPhone users the feed would have to be turned, only then can the user see it. When it was released in the US, Ben Gomes, vice president for engineering had said, “This feed is really about your interests … It’s not really about what your friends are interested in.”

When it was released in the US, Ben Gomes, vice president for engineering had said, “This feed is really about your interests … It’s not really about what your friends are interested in.”