How to Shrink the Pixel 2 on Any Waterproof Android Phone
Google’s Pixel 2 came with a pretty cool, albeit somewhat gimmick, feature : the ability to launch Google Assistant by simply squeezing the device. Now, one developer is bringing the same feature to your current Android phone.
SideSqueeze is a new free app on Google Play that allows you to squeeze your device to perform a predefined action. You can pick up your phone to return to the home screen, or set a long press (hold it for a full second) to turn auto rotate on and off. The app comes with various configurations as well as instructions for setting more complex parameters.
It also goes far beyond what the Pixel 2 is capable of, allowing you to set different compression commands based on context. You can create one gesture when the screen is on and another when it is off. And if you’re willing to pay $ 1.99, you unlock Pro mode, which adds additional gestures from the home screen or lock screen. It even allows you to adjust the amount of pressure you need if it’s too sensitive or not sensitive enough.
The only major drawback is that SideSqueeze only works with Android phones that meet two basic requirements. They need to be waterproof and they need an atmospheric pressure sensor , which are fortunately quite common in high-end smartphones. Combined, these two hardware features allow your device to determine when and how hard it is shrinking.
You also need to be running Android 7.0 or later, but this shouldn’t be a problem for any smartphone purchased in the past few years. Finally, the developer notes that they only tested the app on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8, but as long as your phone meets all the other requirements, it should work fine.