Feature drops are Google’s way of adding more features to Pixel devices to make them more fun to use. Google releases Feature Drops throughout the year, but the ones released in December, at the end of the year, offer the most features. This year’s December feature drop is out and here’s everything new in Pixels and Pixel Watch.
Camera
The update brings new features and improvements to the Pixel camera. For the Pixel 8 Pro: it promised Video Boost, Night Sight Video and Night Sight Timelapse features are finally here. While other features mentioned are available today, Video Boost will launch tomorrow according to Google’s official blog. Additionally, the Pixel Fold gets a new Dual Screen Preview feature that does exactly what the name suggests.
The new camera update also brings a “Clean” feature that, when scanning documents, helps remove all types of spots or spots on them with the help of AI. The feature is not exclusive to the Pixel 8 series, but is also available on older Pixel devices.
Gemini Nano-powered AI features
One of the biggest updates in the Pixel Feature drop is the new Gemini AI model by Google. The company claims it is the most powerful AI it has rolled out to date. Google has added some useful AI features, such as AI Summarize and Smart Answers. You may know that Google Recorder records transcripts, but reading text can be tricky. Summarize your shots with the new Gemini Nano on Pixel 8 Pro.
Similarly, Smart Replies also uses Gemini Nano to suggest replies based on the text messages you receive. It currently only works on WhatsApp, but Google says support for more apps will be coming soon next year.
Use Pixel Camera as a webcam
The webcam function has been introduced Been a beta for a while and is finally available in the December feature drop. As the name suggests, this feature lets you use your Pixel as a webcam during meetings. All you need is a USB cable; swipe down and under USB options, tap the Webcam option.
Repair mode
Another feature in this drop that isn’t exclusive to the Pixel 8 is Repair Mode. The feature creates a safe environment to protect your data when your device is being repaired.
Contextual answers: Google Assistant
For our readers in the US, Canada, and Europe, Google Assistant gets smarter with the addition of contextual answers for the Pixel 6 and later. Google claims Assistant’s accuracy in detecting spam has increased by 50%.
Contextual Answers help users by letting Assistant take the call and ask the party on the other end what they are calling for. The Assistant will then display the reason and you can choose whether to accept or cancel the call. This should give users more power, in addition to Call Screening.
Speaking of call screening, the same is now available on Pixel Watch with a Google Dialer update.
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Other possibilities
Among the new features are many bug fixes and improvements. Google has finally bundled together a new Mali GPU driver that delivers performance improvements in graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact. It claims that the performance gains should be noticeable on all Pixels with Tensor SoC.
It’s hard to keep track of features given the exclusivity of certain devices; So here’s a chart posted by Google that tells us what features are coming to both the new and old Pixels.
Have you received the December Pixel Feature Drop yet? Let us know in the comments below.
