Google’s Pixel June Feature Drop brings cinematic wallpaper, improved safety features, and more

After a week’s delay, the June Pixel Feature Drop is rolling out for the Pixel phones (Pixel Watch, too). The feature drop arrives with the Android 13 QPR3 build and bumps the security patch version to June 2023.

Compared to a few last feature drops, the June one is a substantial one bringing features like macro mode in video, cinematic video, and emoji wallpaper (shown at I/O 23), along with nifty improvements to health and security features, among other updates.

Macro Focus Video on Pixel 7 Pro
The Pixel 7 Pro’s camera has a new feature called Macro Focus Video which lets users capture close-up videos of things like fluttering butterflies and swaying flowers. This is in addition to the ultra-wide lens’ auto-focus, which can take close-up still shots as close as three centimetres away, but now you can go closer to the subject.

Pixel 6 and newer models have a cool new feature on the Google Camera app. You can start a selfie timer by raising your palm to the phone. Choose between a 3 or 10-second timer. Perfect for when your phone is too far away, but there are limits to this feature.

Cinematic Wallpapers and Emoji Workshop
At I/O 2023, Google showed off Cinematic and Emoji Wallpapers, and now they are rolling out to Pixel phones.

Cinematic Wallpapers, available on Pixel 6 and new models, allow users to create a 3D image from any regular photo. Select an image for your wallpaper as you would normally to activate the cinematic effect and click the sparkle button in the screen’s top-right corner.

Google says it is using an on-device convolutional neural network to estimate the depth and a generative adversarial network (GAN) to in-paint the background as it moves, creating a parallax effect when the device is tilted.

Users can create unique wallpapers with over 4,000 emojis with the Emoji Workshop. Up to 14 emojis can be chosen, with various styles and a density slider available. Users can also make the wallpaper interactive and select a background and emoji colour. The Emoji Workshop is available on Pixel 4a and newer models.

Improvements to Safety Check and Crash Detection
Now, the user can trigger the Safety Check via Google Assistant by saying, “Hey Google, start a safety check for 40 minutes.” The safety check feature of Google Pixel sends a notification to your emergency contact if you fail to respond at the designated time.

With the latest Pixel Drop update, the Crash Detection feature will notify emergency services and your emergency contacts of your real-time location in case of a car crash.

Other new features coming to Pixel phones
Starting next week, users can attach speaker labels for their recordings in the Google Recorder app. This feature will make identifying who is speaking in the recording easier. Additionally, users can export the recording transcripts to a separate Google Docs file, create speaker-labelled video clips, and search for speakers within the tapes.

The Pixel 6a and 7a will also receive adaptive haptics to reduce rattling by lowering vibration intensity when the device is on a hard, flat surface.

The adaptive charging feature is also getting some AI treatment, which will now slowly charge the phone to 100% an hour before it is expected to be unplugged. This feature requires a few charging cycles to become more effective as it learns about charging habits. Previously, the adaptive charging feature relied on setting alarms during specific periods.

Additionally, Google is launching two new Google Assistant voices, bringing 12 U.S. English voices available to users.

Pixel phones are getting a redesigned Pixel Home app that lets you quickly access smart home devices through the lock screen.

What does Pixel June Feature Drop has for Pixel Watch and Fitbit users
Google’s latest Pixel Drop includes a new feature for SPO2 monitoring, which can provide insight into changes in blood oxygen levels while sleeping to measure sleep quality. Users can benefit from this feature, although it is not intended for medical diagnosis.

In addition, Pixel Watch now alerts users if their heart rate is very high or low, prompting them to seek professional medical advice if necessary.

Wear OS’s Google Assistant now supports Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Polish, and Spanish.

The update includes three new Spotify tiles for initiating a Spotify DJ session, listening to podcasts, and checking out tracking in heavy rotation. Pixel Watch can now auto-pause and resume running, walking, or biking exercises.

The June feature drop adds some nifty features to the Fitbit devices. Now, you can easily check your Daily Readiness Score to determine if you are prepared for a workout. You’ll find a comprehensive list of different workouts in the Your Exercise menu, with your most recent activity appearing at the top for easy access, available on Charge 5, Luxe, and Inspire 3.

Additionally, specific devices support text messaging in Hindi, caller ID in Arabic, and event viewing in Vietnamese (available on Sense 2, Versa 4, Charge 5, Luxe, and Inspire 3). Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 users can now log periods, view menstrual cycle information, and edit details directly from their watch with the new tiles feature.

FacebookTwitterLinkedin

end of article

After a week’s delay, the June Pixel Feature Drop is rolling out for the Pixel phones (Pixel Watch, too). The feature drop arrives with the Android 13 QPR3 build and bumps the security patch version to June 2023.

Compared to a few last feature drops, the June one is a substantial one bringing features like macro mode in video, cinematic video, and emoji wallpaper (shown at I/O 23), along with nifty improvements to health and security features, among other updates.

Macro Focus Video on Pixel 7 Pro
The Pixel 7 Pro’s camera has a new feature called Macro Focus Video which lets users capture close-up videos of things like fluttering butterflies and swaying flowers. This is in addition to the ultra-wide lens’ auto-focus, which can take close-up still shots as close as three centimetres away, but now you can go closer to the subject.

Pixel 6 and newer models have a cool new feature on the Google Camera app. You can start a selfie timer by raising your palm to the phone. Choose between a 3 or 10-second timer. Perfect for when your phone is too far away, but there are limits to this feature.

Cinematic Wallpapers and Emoji Workshop
At I/O 2023, Google showed off Cinematic and Emoji Wallpapers, and now they are rolling out to Pixel phones.

Cinematic Wallpapers, available on Pixel 6 and new models, allow users to create a 3D image from any regular photo. Select an image for your wallpaper as you would normally to activate the cinematic effect and click the sparkle button in the screen’s top-right corner.

Google says it is using an on-device convolutional neural network to estimate the depth and a generative adversarial network (GAN) to in-paint the background as it moves, creating a parallax effect when the device is tilted.

Users can create unique wallpapers with over 4,000 emojis with the Emoji Workshop. Up to 14 emojis can be chosen, with various styles and a density slider available. Users can also make the wallpaper interactive and select a background and emoji colour. The Emoji Workshop is available on Pixel 4a and newer models.

Improvements to Safety Check and Crash Detection
Now, the user can trigger the Safety Check via Google Assistant by saying, “Hey Google, start a safety check for 40 minutes.” The safety check feature of Google Pixel sends a notification to your emergency contact if you fail to respond at the designated time.

With the latest Pixel Drop update, the Crash Detection feature will notify emergency services and your emergency contacts of your real-time location in case of a car crash.

Other new features coming to Pixel phones
Starting next week, users can attach speaker labels for their recordings in the Google Recorder app. This feature will make identifying who is speaking in the recording easier. Additionally, users can export the recording transcripts to a separate Google Docs file, create speaker-labelled video clips, and search for speakers within the tapes.

The Pixel 6a and 7a will also receive adaptive haptics to reduce rattling by lowering vibration intensity when the device is on a hard, flat surface.

The adaptive charging feature is also getting some AI treatment, which will now slowly charge the phone to 100% an hour before it is expected to be unplugged. This feature requires a few charging cycles to become more effective as it learns about charging habits. Previously, the adaptive charging feature relied on setting alarms during specific periods.

Additionally, Google is launching two new Google Assistant voices, bringing 12 U.S. English voices available to users.

Pixel phones are getting a redesigned Pixel Home app that lets you quickly access smart home devices through the lock screen.

What does Pixel June Feature Drop has for Pixel Watch and Fitbit users
Google’s latest Pixel Drop includes a new feature for SPO2 monitoring, which can provide insight into changes in blood oxygen levels while sleeping to measure sleep quality. Users can benefit from this feature, although it is not intended for medical diagnosis.

In addition, Pixel Watch now alerts users if their heart rate is very high or low, prompting them to seek professional medical advice if necessary.

Wear OS’s Google Assistant now supports Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Polish, and Spanish.

The update includes three new Spotify tiles for initiating a Spotify DJ session, listening to podcasts, and checking out tracking in heavy rotation. Pixel Watch can now auto-pause and resume running, walking, or biking exercises.

The June feature drop adds some nifty features to the Fitbit devices. Now, you can easily check your Daily Readiness Score to determine if you are prepared for a workout. You’ll find a comprehensive list of different workouts in the Your Exercise menu, with your most recent activity appearing at the top for easy access, available on Charge 5, Luxe, and Inspire 3.

Additionally, specific devices support text messaging in Hindi, caller ID in Arabic, and event viewing in Vietnamese (available on Sense 2, Versa 4, Charge 5, Luxe, and Inspire 3). Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 users can now log periods, view menstrual cycle information, and edit details directly from their watch with the new tiles feature.

FacebookTwitterLinkedin

end of article