Google’s latest Feature Drop brings Gemini Nano to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a
The June 2024 Feature Drop also adds Car Crash Detection to Pixel Watch 2.
Google's June 2024 Feature Drop for Pixel devices (phones, smartwatches, tablets) is now here. Check below to see what new features are available.
The next major update to Google's Pixel products is now here. Google has brought the June 2024 Feature Drop to various Pixel devices, with a handful of new or improved functionalities across its mobile, smartwatch, and tablet range.
Google uses quarterly updates to shake up its gadgets with new software tools. Sometimes, these additions target old devices, such as the March 2024 announcement, which saw Circle to Search going to Pixel 7 series users.
Without further ado, below are the key updates seen in June 2024's Pixel Feature Drop.
Gemini Nano goes to more Pixel phones
Google's latest generative AI model for efficiency, Gemini Nano, was previously launched on the Google Pixel 8 Pro (review here). Gemini Nano should combine information from multiple source types, such as text, image, audio, video, and documents (multimodal), to provide solutions vastly different from the standalone text-only or image-only generative AI models currently available.
Now, Gemini Nano is added to Pixel 8 (review here) and Pixel 8a (review here) devices if you enable developer options.
Doing so would enable Gemini Nano-related features on Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel 8a, like Summarise (in the Recorder app), which gives detailed and downloaded summaries of your audio recordings and transcripts that are split into speakers.
From USB-C to a bigger display
Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel 8a now support USB-C content transmission to a larger display (TV or monitor). Simply plug a USB-C cable that supports data into the display of your choice and watch your shows.
Find My Device still works on a flat battery
The Find My Device app can now locate Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel 8a (in certain countries) even when the battery is flat for at least 23 hours. Bluetooth and location services need to be enabled before that happens, though. Google said that location data would still be encrypted and private when this occurs.
"Automatic" Best Take, but for camera selfies in HDR+
The update didn't give a name for the feature, but this official image by Google calls it Top Shot.
Remember Best Take, where you can make everyone in a group photo look presentable via generative AI editing? Google has improved it and is now supporting selfies. It's also automatic, so you only need to snap a photo, and it's done. Also, the resulting selfie is in HDR+. The only thing we are unsure about is the feature's name, since there was no mention, but Google named its demonstration sample Top Shot.
Manual lens selection (U, W, and T) now available in Pixel's default camera app.
Also, the Pixel Fold, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 8 Pro now support manual camera lens selection for photography. The options are "U" (for ultra-wide), "W" (for wide, also known as the standard 1x zoom on the main camera), and "T" (for telephoto).
Reverse phone number search in call log
You can now do a reverse phone number lookup on the Web directly from the call log of your default phone app.
Pixel Fold, Pixel 6, and newer Pixel phones can conduct reverse phone number lookups directly from the call log in your Phone app. As the screenshot shows, it's the "lookup" shortcut when you pull up its sub-menu.
Google Wallet supports boarding passes, loyalty cards, and more
When Google Wallet launched in India recently, it could add other valuables, like boarding passes, loyalty cards, event tickets, public transport tickets, and gift cards.
Well, the feature is now globally available.
Pixel Watch 2 updates
Car Crash Detection comes to Pixel Watch 2, including Singapore.
Pixel Watch 2 (our review here) now has a new safety feature called Car Crash Detection, which is available in select countries (Singapore is included).
Car Crash Detection automatically calls your country's emergency services when it detects a severe car crash and the user does not respond. It's also integrated with Emergency Sharing, which automatically notifies programmed emergency contacts and shares its live location. Fall Detection also gets improved bicycle fall detection.
Google Wallet on Pixel Watch 2 also now supports PayPal, but this feature is only available in the U.S. and Germany.
The Google Home app on the smartwatch has also been revamped. Home Favourites are accessible with one swipe. You can also add a specific Home device to the Wear OS watch face, creating a tappable shortcut. All this is on top of compatibility with smart window blinds and fans.
Pixel Tablet updates
Richer doorbell notifications for a docked Pixel Tablet.
When docked in hub mode, Pixel Tablet now offers "richer" doorbell notifications that allow two-way conversation and Quick Response. Unfortunately, the Pixel Tablet is still unofficially available in Singapore.
Source: Google (blog)
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