Google's new Device Assist app helps you fix smartphone issues, suggests better phone usage

New York: A new Google app, Device Assist, has been launched to detect problems with smartphones and help people use phone features properly.

The app is designed to help first-time users get the best out of their phones and fix issues that it detects, for instance, with the battery, connectivity and GPS. Tips "to explore new features and improve the performance of your device" are also on offer, says the app description on Google Play Store.

For users of the Nexus, Google's flagship phone and Google Play edition devices, there is also an option of live Google support.

The app is currently available to US-based Nexus, Google Play edition and Android One devices running Android 5.0, Lollipop.

"Great for people who aren't quite so tech savvy! I'm suggesting this to all my family who constantly ask me to help them with their devices," a user said.

There are explanations of features that first-time Android users might not know about, like "screen brightness setting is battery intensive", to help users get the hang of their devices.