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  • Google Messages Levels Up: Unveils User-Friendly Features in New Update

    Google Messages Levels Up: Unveils User-Friendly Features in New Update

    Following the termination of Samsung Messages, Google Messages has risen to prominence as the primary texting application for Android. It boasts notable features such as Rich Communication Services (RCS) support and end-to-end encryption. However, it has been criticized for its lack of some fundamental features. According to reports, these missing features might soon be introduced, as they have been seen in the app’s beta version.

    Enhancements to the Long Press Menu

    The current long press menu in Google Messages has faced criticism for being less than user-friendly. When a message is long-pressed, a ‘pill’ with emoji actions and Photomoji is displayed, followed by four action buttons: copy, delete, star, and a three-dots button.

    Tapping the three-dots button reveals an extra menu with options like reply, share, forward, and view details. The user has to navigate through multiple steps to access even basic actions. With the new update, this is set to change.

    In the updated version, long-pressing a message will bring up a new menu that contains all the essential action buttons. Moreover, a blur effect has been added to the background, modernizing the app’s look. The emoji bar remains unchanged and still appears when a message is long-pressed.

    This adjustment was first noticed in January, but it was only accessible to a select few testers. Now, it’s widely available on almost every device registered to receive the latest Google Messages beta version.

    Text Selection Feature

    One of the most significant issues with Google’s messaging app is its inability to select a specific part of a message. For instance, from a message saying, “Hey, this is Aman from PhoneArena,” it’s impossible to choose and copy a particular section like “from PhoneArena”; users can only select and copy the entire message.

    The current solution is to copy the entire message, paste it where required, and manually remove the unwanted part. Recognizing that users sometimes want to copy a particular section from a lengthy message instead of the whole text, Google has introduced the capability to select only the needed part of a message.

    This change first surfaced months ago, but it now seems to be reaching more Google Messages beta testers.

    Users’ Long-Standing Demands

    Following Samsung Messages’ discontinuation, its users were urged to transition to Google Messages. Nevertheless, some users expressed dissatisfaction with the Google messaging application’s lack of basic features, such as the ability to select and copy a specific part of a text message. One user, evidently a former Samsung Messages app user, mentioned that they started using a third-party SMS application specifically because Google Messages didn’t offer this feature.

    Another user humorously remarked on how long the above-mentioned features have been in the beta phase, a sentiment shared by many, given that it’s been over six months since they were first noticed, yet they remain unavailable in the stable version of the application.

    Progress Towards Completeness

    Despite offering impressive features like RCS, Google Messages lacks several basic functions typically expected in any texting application. The good news is that these shortcomings are being gradually addressed. It recently introduced the trash feature. It now also allows theme changes, which was a significant complaint among Samsung Messages users.

    The new long press menu and the ability to select only the desired text are also on the verge of being added to the app’s stable build. All these improvements are steadily shaping Google Messages into one of the top messaging applications for Android.

    Questions & Answers

    What are the new features being introduced in the Google Messages update?
    These include an enhanced long press menu and the ability to select a specific part of a message.

    Why was there criticism regarding Google Messages?
    Critics pointed out that it lacked some basic features, such as a user-friendly long press menu and the ability to select and copy specific parts of a text message.

    What improvements have been made to address these criticisms?
    Google has introduced an improved long-press menu and the ability to select and copy a specific part of a text message. Additional features, such as the trash feature and theme changes, have also been added.

  • Hong Kong’s Luxury Hotels Triumph in Recovery, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels

    Hong Kong’s Luxury Hotels Triumph in Recovery, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels

    The luxury hotel sector in Hong Kong has shown remarkable resilience, bouncing back stronger than the broader hospitality industry in the city. According to the property consultancy JLL, room rates have even surpassed those of 2018, indicating a significant rebound in demand.

    A Robust Recovery for Luxury Hotels

    JLL reports that luxury properties were the only hotel segment to return to their 2018 average daily rates by 2025, reaching HKD2,169 (US$277). This figure represents a 1% increase over rates recorded before 2019 and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Meanwhile, the general hotel market in Hong Kong recorded average daily rates of HKD1,263, an 8% decrease from the 2018 level. In the first quarter of this year, luxury hotels maintained their strong performance, with average daily rates rising 12.3% year-on-year to HKD2,452. In contrast, non-luxury segments posted increases between 7% to 8.7%.

    Cleavon Tan, Senior Vice-President of JLL’s Hotels and Hospitality Group in Hong Kong, notes that the luxury hotel segment’s recovery in 2025 was more robust than that of the broader hotel market. He attributes this to the combination of improved demand in conjunction with a constrained supply environment, which allowed luxury hotels to rebuild occupancy while maintaining pricing power.

    Tan suggests that Hong Kong’s hotel recovery and long-term growth prospects will depend on specific segments and assets. Luxury hotels may experience slower physical-supply growth but potentially stronger pricing power, whereas selected mid-market hotels may capture broader visitor growth if their location, product, and cost structure remain competitive.

    Demand Drives Transaction Volumes Across Asia-Pacific

    The demand for luxury hotels across the Asia-Pacific region has also significantly increased. JLL’s report noted that this surge in demand has driven transaction volumes, including sales and acquisitions, up 77% between 2017 and 2025, totalling about US$2.1 billion.

    Luxury hotel transactions accounted for almost 20% of all hotel deals in the region in 2025, a sharp increase from 8% in 2017 and surpassing the previous pre-pandemic peak of 16%.

    In Hong Kong, prime luxury hotel assets are primarily held by local conglomerates, family offices, strategic long-term owners, and high-net-worth investors, resulting in a limited supply. Recent market activity has predominantly focused on refurbishments, repositioning projects, and reopenings rather than adding new supply.

    Noteworthy developments include the 2023 return of The Regent in Hong Kong, the launch of Mondrian Hong Kong, the upcoming Andaz Hong Kong Central, and the recent reopening of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental.

    Questions & Answers

    Why are luxury hotels in Hong Kong experiencing a stronger recovery than the broader hotel market?
    The stronger recovery in the luxury hotel sector is attributed to increased demand in tandem with a constrained supply environment, enabling these establishments to increase occupancy rates while retaining their pricing power.

    What does the future look like for Hong Kong’s hotel industry?
    The long-term outlook for Hong Kong’s hotel industry will vary depending on specific segments and assets. Luxury hotels may see slower growth in physical supply but potentially stronger pricing power. In contrast, selected mid-market hotels could capture more extensive visitor growth if their location, product, and cost structure remain competitive.

    What are some notable developments in Hong Kong’s luxury hotel market?
    Significant developments in Hong Kong’s luxury hotel sector include the 2023 return of The Regent, the launch of Mondrian Hong Kong, the upcoming Andaz Hong Kong Central, and the recent reopening of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental.