Google Assistant has learned some new tricks that owners of Android smartphones and Google Nest smart devices may find very useful - especially if you tend to lose your phone

Among Google Assistant's new features are tools to track down misplaced phones, even if you are using iOS instead of Android Others include a streamlined checkout process for ordering takeout and improvements to the "Routines" feature in the Google Home app

To locate a lost phone with this update, simply speak "Hey Google, find my phone" to the Nest smart speaker or smart display, and a special ring tone will sound, even if the phone is in silent or Do Not Disturb mode It also works on iPhones, but you must first install the Google Home app and enable notifications and important alerts

Meanwhile, the speedy checkout feature uses the same Google Duplex technology that Google Assistant can employ for restaurant reservations: search for a nearby restaurant in the Android Google app and tap "Order Online" The partnering restaurant will automatically fill in your contact and payment information using Google Pay data

Google does not provide a list of these partner restaurants, but says it "plans to add more restaurant partners across the US later this year"

The update also builds on Google Home's routine features by allowing smart home devices and Google Assistant itself to be configured to perform certain actions at sunrise and sunset For example, smart light bulbs can be set to turn on when the sun sets

A fourth major addition also helps provide ideas for new routines by suggesting actions that you may not have set up before but that you may want, such as reminding Google Assistant when the battery is running low You can also create shortcuts to routines and place them on your home screen, just like apps Tapping on the shortcut will launch the routine's actions at your direction

The new feature was released this week and may already be available on Pixel phones such as the Google Pixel 5