As of Thursday afternoon (PT), excitement is brewing among Android users as the Gemini app rolls out its innovative Astra Live camera and screen sharing features to a broader audience. This rollout, which began in March, has seen a significant surge in user reports over the past two weeks regarding its availability.

Google confirmed their commitment to expanding access, stating they are “working hard to make it available to more people.” As of now, users with any Android device that's part of the Gemini Advanced subscription can tap into these new functionalities.

In our tests, Astra has been successfully activated on two different Pixel phones across separate Google Accounts in the US and Europe. However, it’s interesting to note that these features are not yet available on other devices logged into the same accounts, indicating the gradual nature of this rollout. As reports pile up, it’s clear that Gemini Live is becoming increasingly accessible.

Once the Astra features are live on your device, users will notice a new prompt saying “Share your camera or screen with Gemini Live” within the Gemini app. This tool is perfect for collaborative discussions, providing visual assistance, or helping you better understand the surrounding environment. This is a significant leap in how users can interact, learn, and share in real-time.

To access the new camera features, simply launch Gemini Live which features a new button in the app’s compact bottom menu. You can easily switch to the front-facing camera using another newly introduced button at the screen's corner. A helpful prompt suggests that for optimal results, users should capture objects with steady movements, ensuring a smooth experience when viewing through the live feed.

Additionally, screen sharing can be activated from the same fullscreen interface or through the Gemini overlay, allowing for seamless screen sharing regardless of what you’re doing on your phone. Upon initiating this feature, a privacy prompt will appear to confirm that you're ready to “Share your screen with Google.” A status indicator will then appear in the status bar, displaying a live count adjacent to the time.

Eager to try out Astra? If you don’t see it yet, try force-stopping the Gemini app and relaunching Live to see if you can access the new features.

With these enhancements, Gemini is poised to solidify its position in the competitive landscape of real-time collaboration tools, giving users exciting new ways to connect and share their experiences like never before! Want to stay updated? Keep your app updated and check often for availability!