TL;DR
- New naming and options: Google’s newest replace for Pixel units, now known as Pixel Drops (beforehand Pixel Function Drops), introduces a wide range of enhancements throughout Pixel telephones, watches, tablets, and buds.
- Main Pixel telephone updates: Key new options for Pixel telephones embody Evening Sight for Instagram, underwater images capabilities, enhanced theft safety, and extra.
- Pixel Pill and Pixel Watch updates: The Pixel Pill is gaining notification syncing and new screensaver functionalities, whereas the Pixel Watch is receiving updates like Lack of Pulse Detection and a brand new contacts tile.
- Pixel Buds replace: The Gemini AI chatbot is now out there on older Pixel Buds, marking an growth of Google’s AI options throughout its {hardware}.
Google is rolling out a considerable replace for its Pixel telephones, Pixel Watches, Pixel Pill, and Pixel Buds. Previously often known as Pixel Function Drops, these updates are actually merely known as Pixel Drops, a change unveiled through the Pixel 9 launch in August. Whereas the title has modified, the updates proceed to ship an intensive array of latest options for Google’s units. There’s a lot to discover, so we’ll manage the announcement into sections to showcase all of the enhancements and options coming to your units.
Pixel Drop October 2024: Pixel telephone updates
As at all times, the largest set of updates is coming to Pixel telephones. Google’s smartphones would be the first to achieve Android 15 and obtain a number of new options.
- Evening Sight for Instagram: This function is designed to reinforce night time images on Instagram. The most recent replace permits customers to seize high-quality photographs in low-light situations straight from the Instagram app. Evening Sight for Instagram might be out there globally on Pixel 6 and newer units. Sadly, it received’t be coming to the Pixel A collection of telephones.
- Underwater Images & Video: Pixel telephones can now routinely detect when a scene is underwater. Google says this new function within the October Pixel Drop will help customers make the most of any waterproof case to seize photographs whereas snorkeling or swimming, leading to richer and extra correct colours. Customers can simply allow or disable the function of their telephone’s settings. Nonetheless, the supply of the function is presently restricted to solely the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, and Pixel 9 Professional XL.
- Theft Safety: You’ve in all probability already heard in regards to the three new Theft Safety options on Android. Google introduced them again in Might, they usually began rolling out to some customers a number of days in the past. The function suite, together with Theft Detection Lock, Distant Lock, and Offline Gadget Lock, ought to now be out there on Pixel 6 and newer units globally. Actually, these options aren’t unique to Pixel telephones and are a part of the final Android 15 launch. You may head to Settings to allow Theft Safety.
- Personal House: That is one other function we’ve seen a whole lot of within the varied Android 15 betas which have come and gone. Personal House is now out there on Pixel 6 and newer units globally. It’s designed to assist customers preserve apps in a separate house that they will cover and lock with a PIN. Right here’s a fast hands-on with the brand new Personal House function.
- Audio Magic Eraser improve: Google upgraded the Audio Magic Eraser function on the Pixel 9 collection to assist customers cut up the audio observe of their movies into distinct layers and improve or lower the amount of these particular layers. Now, the function is coming to older telephones. Not solely are you able to take away undesirable sounds and movies, however you may flip particular sounds up or down and separate the voices of various individuals to regulate their quantity independently. These capabilities are rolling out with the October 2024 Pixel Drop to the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Professional, and Pixel 8a globally. They may also be out there in restricted markets on the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, and Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
- New Astrophotography toggle: Pixel customers can now entry Astrophotography mode extra simply by way of Evening Sight. Merely faucet the Evening Sight icon and slide to Astro to start out capturing Astrophotography pictures.
- Object Temperature Sensor: Google is making temperature sensing extra helpful on Professional Pixels. The corporate says it’s integrating the digital camera as a viewfinder on the Thermometer app so you may make sure you’re pointing on the proper spot. Nonetheless, the function isn’t actually new as a result of customers began recognizing it means again in August alongside measurement presets. What appears new is that the Thermometer app can be getting stay studying capabilities and the flexibility to seize and save measurements to latest outcomes. All these adjustments might be out there globally on Pixel 8 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional, and the Pixel 9 Professional XL.
- Pixel Climate app and pollen information: The brand new replace to the Pixel Climate app is designed to get customers prepared for allergy season with a pollen tracker. Now you can examine pollen index ranges, pollen sorts, and forecasts in your Pixel 6 and newer units in addition to the Pixel Pill. The function is supported in France, Germany, Italy, and the UK. Talking of the Pixel Climate app, the redesigned model of it that got here with the Pixel 9 collection is now rolling out to legacy units, together with the Pixel 6 and newer telephones in addition to the Pixel Pill.
- Subsequent-gen Name Display screen increasing to extra nations: In March, Google rolled out the next-gen Name Screening function, which features a new Whats up button. This button lets Google Assistant communicate in your behalf and allows you to hear the response in real-time. The function is now increasing to the UK and Japan. It is going to be out there on Pixel 6 and newer units.
- Gemini Reside: Gemini Reside can be increasing to extra markets, together with Brazil, Denmark, India, Japan, and Korea. It is going to be out there on Pixel 6 and newer units in these nations.
- Widget Discovery: Your Pixels will now get a Widget Discovery function that primarily recommends widget classes and offers a preview of what you are able to do with these widgets. Widget Discovery might be out there globally on the Pixel 6 and above units.
- Adaptive Vibration: We instructed you about this upcoming function some time again, and now it’s going stay for Pixel 7 and newer units. Primarily, Adaptive Vibration will stop your telephone from vibrating loudly in locations like libraries and places of work. It can additionally make sure you don’t miss an alert in noisy environments. The function makes use of your telephone’s This function makes use of your telephone’s microphone and different sensors to find out sound ranges and context then routinely adjusts the vibration depth of ringtones.
- Gemini Extensions for Pixel Screenshots: Gemini can now pull up something you saved in Pixel Screenshots. From wherever in your telephone, you may merely say, “Hey Google, use Screenshots to seek out XYZ,” and it’ll immediately take you to the screenshot you had been on the lookout for. This tremendous cool function might be out there on the Pixel 9 collection in the US, Canada, Eire, Australia, India, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Pixel Drop October 2024: Pixel smartwatches
The Pixel Watch portfolio can be receiving quite a lot of helpful updates by way of the most recent Pixel Drop. These embody the next:
- Lack of Pulse detection: Google launched Lack of Pulse detection on the Pixel Watch 3 earlier this 12 months. With the most recent Pixel Drop for the Pixel Watch 3, it’s now rolling out in additional nations. Customers in Belgium, Italy, and Spain can now make the most of Lack of Pulse detection. The function helps establish when somebody’s coronary heart out of the blue stops beating because of situations corresponding to cardiac arrest after which notifies emergency providers for assist. Sadly, there’s nonetheless no assist for the function within the US.
- Contacts app improve: The brand new Particular person Contact Tile will allow you to decide and show your most well-liked contacts prominently. You may then use fast actions to name, message, or open the contact for extra particulars with only a faucet. The brand new Tile might be out there on all Pixel Watch fashions.
- E-mail emoji reactions: All Pixel Watch customers can now view and ship emoji reactions to Gmail.
Pixel Drop October 2024: Pixel Pill
- Notification dismissals: That is maybe probably the most helpful function touchdown on the Pixel Pill. As we beforehand instructed you, Google will now let customers sync notification dismissals between their Pixel Pill and Pixel telephones. Meaning if you dismiss a notification on one system, it’s going to disappear out of your different Pixel units. Customers might want to allow the function in Settings and be related to Wi-Fi to make use of it. Pixel Drop is bringing notification dismissals to Pixel 6 and newer telephones and the Pixel Pill globally.
- Panel Screensaver: The Pixel Pill screensaver with residence controls that we noticed beforehand is now formally headed to the Google slate. It can let customers management their sensible residence units and digital camera feeds whereas their Pixel Pill is idle and charging.
- Picture Body Actions: Because of the Google Images library, customers can now share, favourite, or archive pictures straight from their Pixel Pill photograph body screensaver.
- Clock screensavers: Google can be rolling out new clock screensavers to the Pixel Pill.
- Solid to close by units: One other function we noticed in an unique APK teardown, Solid to close by units, will enable customers to simply switch media from their Pixel Pill to their Pixel telephones. All you must do is deliver your telephone near your pill. Customers can make the most of this function to deliver Spotify songs or YouTube movies over from their Pixel Pill to Pixel Telephone with out the additional steps of tapping the solid icon. The function might be out there globally on the Pixel 6 Professional, Pixel 7 Professional, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional, and Pixel Pill.
Pixel Drop October 2024: Pixel Buds
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
Gemini on Pixel Buds: It appears Google is lastly rolling out Gemini to older Pixel Buds with this Pixel Drop. The AI chatbot will now be accessible on the first-gen Pixel Buds Professional, Pixel Buds A-Sequence, and the unique Pixel Buds aside from the Pixel Buds Professional 2.
These are all of the options Google is rolling out within the October Pixel Drop. The tech large has additionally made Android 15 official with this replace. You may examine all Android 15 options right here.