In a bid to keep their user base engaged, Google is constantly adding new experiences to Pixel phones to make sure they keep getting better over time.
From VR-imbibed stickers to an advanced version of Google Assistant, here are a few highlights from the recent weeks that will make you love your Pixel phone even more:
1. Augmented Reality Stickers
This week, Google brings AR Stickers to Pixel to add virtual characters and playful emojis directly into photos and videos to bring user’s favorite moments to life.
Users can team up with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” characters like BB-8 and R2-D2, or even stage fun moments with Eleven – the Demogorgon, and other characters from Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’.
Use Foodmoji stickers to make it clear that you’re feeling hungry, 3D Text for when you really want to title your life, or shoot a celebratory video at a New Year’s party complete with animated AR balloons, cake, and champagne.
To explore this, open up the camera app, switch to AR Stickers mode, choose a sticker pack, and drop them into the scene. Users can move, resize and rotate the stickers, and they even interact with other characters in the scene. And the pictures and videos captured are ideal for sharing with friends on social media.
AR Stickers are rolling out over the coming days to all Pixel phones running Android 8.1 Oreo. Google will release more AR Sticker packs in the future.
2. Google Lens
Google recently introduced Google Lens in the Google Assistant on Pixel so users can learn more about the world around them. If walking past a landmark in a new city or discover a painting in a museum, just open up the Assistant on Pixel and tap the Lens button (or simply squeeze the sides of your Pixel 2 phone) to get more information about what user is looking at in real time.
And with Google Lens in Google Photos, users can now copy important information–like a Wi-Fi password, gift card code, or recipe—from a photo and then paste it somewhere else (into a field on a web page, an email, or text message for example).
3. Updated Google Assistant
There are new features on Google Assistant on Pixel too. Now users can broadcast their voice from Pixel to the Google Home devices around their house. And the Assistant now speaks new languages, including Spanish and Italian.
4. Android Oreo
Google recently rolled out Android Oreo 8.1, which makes it even faster and easier to get stuff done on Pixel. SmartSelect recognises text when long pressed, highlights the relevant word(s), and then recommends a next logical step via a suggested app, like taking users to Maps if copy an address.
This feature is powered by Google machine learning, and it can recognise addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and more.
Another useful feature in Oreo 8.1 for Pixel users is the Wi-Fi speed labels, which show how fast the nearby networks are.
Google is expected to rollout more such features in the coming months, the company revealed.
