The Pixel Feature Drop For June Has Special Things For The Pixel 8 Series, But A Little Bit For Other Pixels
The June Feature Drop brings a lot of good stuff for Pixel users, though you might notice that a lot of them are for those among us who are using the devices in Google’s latest flagship family, the Pixel 8 lineup. However, there’s enough for older Pixel users.
Pixel 8 And Pixel 8a Get Gemini Nano
It was said before that the Google Pixel 8 didn’t have the muscle to handle Gemini Nano, despite the only major performance-related difference between it and its older sibling, the Pixel 8 Pro, being less RAM. Google eventually stepped back on that decision to tell us that the Pixel 8 was getting Gemini Nano.
The best part is, considering that the Google Pixel 8a has the same processor and the same amount of RAM, it is also getting the beautiful advantage of Gemini Nano, which is the search giant’s AI model for on-device operation. You can turn it on from Developer Options starting today.
Recorder Transcripts On Pixel 8 And Pixel 8a Can Now Be Summarized
Thanks to the presence of Gemini Nano, summarizing voice recordings on your Google Pixel 8 or Google Pixel 8a is now possible. The Pixel 8 Pro had this ability beforehand, but now the whole family is included in the fun. What’s even cooler is that Gemini can identify names and attach them to speakers so you get an even more detailed transcript.
The Pixel 8 Family Now Supports Screen Mirroring Over USB-C
Casting doesn’t always need to be a wireless thing (especially if you value low latency). The entire Pixel 8 lineup will now be able to project to a larger display over a USB-C connection, a feature we’ve been waiting to see materialize for quite some time now.
Find My Device Works With A Switched-Off Pixel 8 Series Device
Looking for your phone but you know the battery has run out? Or perhaps you’re trying to detect your device after it’s been snatched from you and switched off? Either way, Find My Device will now let you see your device for up to 23 hours of moving around with a dead battery.
Camera App Can Detect The Best Shot In HDR+
The camera app on your Google Pixel Tablet, Fold, or Pixel 6 and newer will now be able to detect the very best moment after you click the shutter when snapping in HDR10+. That means less blurry images with your eyes closed or your mouth contorted in a strange manner.
Look Up Unknown Numbers From The Phone App
If you have a Pixel 6 or newer, or a Pixel Fold, the Phone app has just gained a new “Lookup” button that will let you do a search on the internet for an unknown phone number in your call log. This should hopefully help you figure out who exactly you’re about to return a call to before you do.
Choose Which Camera Lens You Want To Use For A Shot
It took me a bit to understand what this new feature meant, but once I did, it made sense. Most phones, including the Pixel prior, allowed you to switch between your phone’s camera by tapping on the 0.6x or 2x zoom buttons. That would take you to the appropriate camera, but only when you wanted to use the zoom it is specialized for.
However, what if you want to zoom in using the ultrawide camera because it gives the image you’re taking a specific look that you’re after? That’s what you’ll now be able to do on the Pixel 6 Pro, 7 Pro, 8 Pro, and Pixel Fold.
