Everything Google Launches in Its First Pixel Burst
Google’s new Feature Drop program launches this month for Pixel 2, 3, 3a and 4 smartphones (including XL models). You’ll find a lot in this first release of features, although not all features apply to all Pixel phones, so here’s a short list of the full set of features and the phones that get them:
Portrait blur filter for Google Photos (all Pixel phones)
This feature will allow you to apply depth-of-field blur to your photos to achieve a portrait effect without having to take a photo with portrait mode enabled.
Automatic call check (Pixel 4)
Google Assistant has been able to help weed out potential robocalls and spam calls for a while now, but on Pixel 4 phones, you can set up the AI assistant automatically to recognize and display those calls. To get started, open the Phone app, tap the three dots icon in the upper right corner, tap Settings and open the Spam & Call Screen menu.
Better Duo video calls (Pixel 4)
The Pixel 4 gets a host of AI-powered enhancements for Duo video calling, including improved face tracking and image composition, and the ability to smooth call quality by predicting the following sounds that can be played when audio starts to stutter. You will also be able to achieve a maximum speed of 90 frames per second for video playback.
Google Recorder app (Pixel 3, 3a, 2)
We mentioned not too long ago that the Google Recorder app, previously exclusive to the Pixel 4, will be available on other Pixel devices, and anyone with an officially supported Pixel device can download it now, although non-Pixel phone users can also download it unpublished. …
Live subtitles (Pixel 3, 3a)
Using the power of Google Recorder on more Pixel devices, the Pixel 3 and 3a will now be able to transcribe any video or audio that plays , even if the audio is muted.
Focus mode (Pixel 3, 3a, 2)
The Focus Mode digital wellbeing feature is now included in the Pixel 3, 3a and Pixel 2 lines and can be found and configured in the Digital Wellbeing app. Get back to work by disabling apps that would otherwise try to steal your attention.
Flip To Shshshsh (Pixel 2)
Pixel 2 devices can now be laid face down to turn off notifications. You will also find this setting in the Digital Wellbeing app.
Other updates
- Updated Google Assistant for Pixel 4 users in Australia, Canada, Ireland, UK and Singapore.
- Portrait Mode for Duo Calls (Pixel 4, 3, 2)
- Updated the performance and accuracy of Google Maps on Pixel 4.
- Better memory management on all Pixel devices.
To download all the add-ons from the first feature list, make sure your Android OS is up to date by going to Settings> Security> Check for Updates. Make sure you also update your Google apps through the My Apps & Games section in the Play Store.
Some of these features will roll out in stages over the coming weeks, so it may take a few days before they start showing up on your device. For future feature releases, we’re not sure what the timeline is, but we’ll keep you posted on any noteworthy updates.