There are numerous changes that Google has announced as a part of this Feature Drop, the simplest thanks to express all of them may be a list, (though we should always note that Google's level of detail during a few spots leaves something to be desired):
- New play/pause gesture for Pixel 4 Motion Sense
- Pixel 2 gets Live Caption
- Car Crash Detection rolls out for Pixel 4 in Australia and therefore the UK
- AR effects for Duo video calls
- Pixel 4 front-facing/selfie camera portrait blur improvements
- 169 new emoji from the 12.1 release
- New power button wallet menu for quick access to Google Pay payment methods, boarding passes, tickets, etc.
- Support for screenshots of boarding passes is additionally coming for Pixel 3, 3a, and 4, with real-time flight updates
- Scheduled dark theme/mode, including sunset/sunrise triggers
- New automation Rules for Wi-Fi networks or physical location (possibly including a wider rollout spotted earlier)
- Long-press within the Pixel Launcher for the Pixel 4 now includes "firm" presses
- Pixel 4 screens set to adaptive brightness will get brighter now in strong, direct light (probably the hidden/disabled HBM support spotted last fall)
Some of these changes are very specific, while others are more nebulous. for instance, Google's Pixels already support front-facing/selfie portrait mode photos, but Google is specifically improving the results of these shots on the Pixel 4 (with depth data probably gathered with either the radar from Motion Sense or the face unlock system, given the limited device support). On the opposite hand, we've no idea what Google is talking about when it involves the long-press changes for Pixel 4 within the Pixel Launcher — maybe the app shortcut tweak we spotted last December? Google's forum announcement is more clear: it adds "firm" presses for the Pixel 4.
Many of the new features we are already conversant in, though. The new play/pause Motion Sense gesture popped up within the first Android 11 Developer Preview, alongside the scheduled/automatic dark theme. We noticed some substantial improvements in Motion Sense gesture reliability as a part of the change, so hopefully, that trickles down also. Google's also been teasing the facility menu wallet for nearly a year — last, I saw it for a couple of hours on my Pixel 4 last Friday. If you've used an iPhone, then you recognize quick access to your wallet for contactless payments may be a convenient feature, and I am glad to ascertain it roll out.
Google isn't specific about the changes to adaptive brightness or if they're limited to particular devices, but we all know the Pixel 4 had a disabled High Brightness Mode that Google had elected to not use. Although we found the phones' brightness okay outside, the Pixel 4 could certainly stand some brightness improvements to compete with other flagships, and this might make a difference. We also thought that Car Crash Detection might see a wider rollout to more devices given the app works on older Pixels now, but Google's announcement seems clear that it's merely coming to Australia and therefore the UK.
Some of these features have already been spotted within the wild, others could be subject to additional server-side deployments or app updates.
We're told that the second Pixel Feature Drop should start rolling bent currently supported Pixels beginning today. Whether you're rocking the newest Pixel 4, a Pixel 3a, or an older Pixel 2/3, this month's update is bringing many new features. We just hope the rollout is quicker than the last Pixel Feature Drop. And, of course, you'll expect all the newest security patches and tweaks to land with it, too.
0 Comments