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Google brings automatic call screening to all of its Pixel phones
Over the last couple of years, Google has updated older Pixel devices with features that first appear on its most recent phones. The latest tool to make its way from Pixel 4 to the original Pixel, Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 is automatic call screening, which debuted on the former in December.
Pixel 4 gets improved Face Unlock and other surprise updates
Earlier this month, Google announced that instead of regular Android updates, Pixel 4 devices would get a "Pixel Feature Drop" to show off splashy new features. That update has now arrived, and on top of expected changes like robocall screening and Duo call centering, there are a few welcome surprises, as spotted by XDA Developers and Android Police.
Google's voice recorder app is heading to older Pixel phones
One of the niftiest features Google revealed for Pixel 4 at the device's launch event last month was a Recorder app, which captures and transcribes audio simultaneously. Owners of older Pixel devices won't necessarily miss out, however, as Google revealed in a Reddit thread it plans to bring Recorder to other phones.
The Pixel 4 box is hiding an AR Easter egg
If you were one of the first people to scoop up a Google Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL, you might want to try pointing Google Lens at the rear of the box when you receive your phone. That's because Google has hidden an augmented reality Easter egg on the packaging.
Google will fix Pixel 4 face unlock issue with 'eyes open' update
Shortly after Google's Pixel 4 launch last week, the BBC discovered that its Face Unlock biometric security system would unlock your phone, even if your eyes were closed. That would mean that someone could unlock your phone even if you were sleeping, which makes the Pixel 4 a less secure than Apple's iPhone Face ID, which requires "attention" or open eyes.
Google needs a sustainable phone moonshot
"Developing sustainable solutions to mass production and consumption is one of the biggest challenges we face today as an industry," Rick Osterloh, Google's senior vice president for devices and services said onstage yesterday. "It impacts all of us and it will for generations to come." Sustainability was a major focus of the Pixel 4 event. The company said it would spend another $150 million on renewable energy projects, for instance, that will generate the same amount of electricity that is currently required to build Made by Google products. Ivy Ross, the head of Google's hardware design team, revealed that all of its 2019 Nest products will include some amount of recycled material, too. The new Nest Mini speaker, for example, has a fabric top made entirely from old plastic bottles.
Google rolls out real-time captioning starting with Pixel 4
At I/O in May, Google showcased its Live Caption tech, which provides captions for all audio on your device in real-time, except for voice and video calls. Google has now revealed when you'll be able to take advantage of the accessibility feature.
Google's Daydream VR experiment is over
Google is bringing the Daydream VR experiment to a close. The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones it announced today don't support the platform, and it won't sell Daydream View headsets anymore. The Daydream app and store will still work for people with other Pixel devices, however.
Google's Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL pack 2X telephoto cameras
We ranked the Pixel 3 XL as the number one smartphone out there for camera tech, and with the launch of the Pixel 4, Google aims to keep that lead. Both the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL now pack multiple cameras, with 12.2-megapixel f/1.7 main, 16-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto and 8-megapixel selfie cameras. That puts them nearly on par with the iPhone 11 and Huawei's P30 Pro -- apart from the unfortunate lack of an ultra wide-angle lens. As for video, the cameras can handle 4K at up to 30 fps, and 1080p at 120 fps.
Google Assistant has a new look on the Pixel 4
Google has given Assistant an overhaul, giving it a fresh look for Pixel 4 and making the voice assistant more useful, with a better understanding of context for the information or actions you ask it about. At the Made by Google event, the company showcased some of what the new Assistant has in store, including a zippy flow from Maggie Rogers' Twitter account to her upcoming shows, sharing that info with a friend and looking for tickets using the Continued Conversation feature.
Google's Pixel 3, one year later: Amazing camera, rough start
As Google prepares to unveil the Pixel 4, surely the most leaked phone of all time, it's time to reassess its predecessor. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL arrived this time last year, with many of us balancing the list price ($150 more than the Pixel 2) against some promising camera features. For many of us, the latter won out: The Pixel 3 series packed an incredible camera that set the standard for smartphone photography for the ensuing 12 months. As we outlined in our Pixel 3 review, the major hardware highlights were a notched display, wireless charging and a soft-touch back. Other than that, though, most of the phone's best features lay in the software, whether that was being front of the line for Android updates or those aforementioned camera tricks. The Pixel 3 had a rough start, however, with several bugs ruining the experience for early adopters. Many also had to wait for several marquee Google features to go live. Some of us are still waiting.
