Google Contacts, the default contact management app for Android smartphones, is now rolling out a new feature that brings birthday notifications to its users. This highly anticipated addition aims to simplify the process of managing and adding birthdays to contacts, ensuring important dates are not overlooked.
Hinted Feature Becomes Reality
The inclusion of birthday reminders within Google Contacts was first hinted at in March when the For You section’s Highlights tab was introduced. Users were then given the ability to add birthday notifications to individual contacts. Currently, some users are reporting the presence of a new “Add birthdays” card within the For You section.
Limited Availability
The feature appears to have been enabled with version 4.7.26.x of Contacts, but it may not be accessible to all users at this time. The visibility of the new additions seems to be limited to a select group of users, even if they have the latest version of the app.
Effortless Birthday Management
Upon accessing the “Add birthdays” card, users are presented with a list view of their contacts, where those without a birthday added are denoted by a cake icon. Additionally, individual contacts can have a birthday notification added by opening the overflow menu in the top right corner.
Navigational Considerations
It is worth noting that the list view of contacts’ birthdays seems to be exclusively accessible within the new “Add birthdays” card in Highlights. However, it remains unclear how users can navigate to this view once they dismiss the card, which may pose an inconvenience for some.
Continued Improvements
Recent updates to Google Contacts have brought several enhancements, including the introduction of Material You home screen widgets that prioritize contacts who are frequently interacted with. The app has also improved its tablet interface and added contact images within Chats. Moreover, Google Calendar is expected to receive its own version of birthday reminders, mirroring the functionality seen in Google Contacts.
Enhanced Contact Management
The introduction of birthday notifications in Google Contacts fulfills a long-awaited demand, providing Android users with a useful feature that streamlines contact management. By ensuring important dates are readily accessible and reminders are in place, Google Contacts continues to enhance the user experience and simplify everyday tasks.
