Google Slides on Android updated w/ interactive lock screen notifications

Earlier this year, Google Slides on Android was updated with support for presenting slide shows over both the Chromecast and Apple TV and today the company is expanding on that capability and making it easier for presenters to stay engaged with the audience. With today’s update, presenters can now control their slide shows directly from the lock screen of their Android device.

Whereas presenters previously had to unlock their phone and access the Slides app every time they wanted to advance a slide, they can now simply tap the next or back arrows on the lock screen to control the app. The update also makes it easier to switch to video when presenting via Hangouts. Presenters can simply tap the video camera icon at the top of their screen to view and pin other Hangout participants.

When presenting, it’s important to keep your audience’s attention. Typing and retyping your mobile phone’s password to unlock your screen and advance your presentation can be time-consuming and distracting. With this launch, when you use the Slides Android app to present to a Chromecast device or Hangout, a notification will remain on your phone’s screen, even when it’s locked. Clicking on that notification will give you options to move forward or backward through your slides or to exit your presentation entirely.

Also today, Google Sheets on Android has been updated to the ability to quickly insert charts and change their type on the go. Previously, this capability was restricted to Sheets on the web.

Both the new Google Sheets and Google Slides Android apps are available now on the Play Store.