See The Amazing Things The New Pixel Phones Can Do
October 6, 2023Photo Credit: Google
Google’s new Pixel phones come with Android 14 and a whole host of new upgrades and features that make them extremely competent pocket computers. The company has also decided to extend software and hardware support far beyond what it offered with its previous devices.
Related Article: Pixel 8 & Pixel 8 Pro, What You Need To Know
On the back of the Pixel 8 Pro, there’s a new temperature sensor that lets you scan an object to gauge its temperature. Examples of these include checking to see if a pan is hot enough to start cooking or if the milk in a baby’s bottle is at the right temperature. Google has also applied with the FDA to allow the Pixel’s Thermometer app to take your temperature and save it to a Fitbit.
Magic Editor in Google photos uses generative AI to boost details. It lets you reposition and resize subsets or use presets to improve the background. Audio Magic Eraser helps reduce audio distractions in your video like the whistling wind and noisy crowds. Machine learning models are used to separate sounds into distinct layers to control their levels.
In the coming months, Pixel 8 Pro will also get Video Boost, which allows the Tensor G3 chipset to pull data from Google’s servers to process your videos. This will let you adjust colour, lighting, stabilization and graininess. It also benefits Night Sight Video to achieve better quality videos in low lighting conditions.
Useful Software Tweaks for Pixel Phones
Pixel phones can now generate a summary of a webpage, so you can capture what’s important. It can also read the content aloud and translate webpages, allowing you consume the content even when on the move.
Pixel phones are now better at understanding nuances of human speech, which allows you to talk to it in a more natural way. If you pause or say “um” while issuing a command or phrase, it will wait till you’re done before responding. You can use your voice to type, edit and send messages in multiple languages.
Due to the improved AI software, Pixel phones’ Call Screen can help cut down the spam calls you receive by 50%. Google says that your phone will silently answer calls from unknown numbers in a natural-sounding voice. It can also distinguish between a call meant for you or one from an annoying telemarketer/spammer.
The Search giant says that eventually, Call Screen will be able to suggest contextual replies to respond to simple calls that include appointment confirmations. This negates the need for you to handle such manual tasks done yourself.
Google has decided to follow in Samsung’s footsteps by promising to keep pushing upgrades and updates to its latest Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones for the next 7 years. This is great news for potential customers and far exceeds the support offered by the Korean smartphone maker.
The updates will include improvements to safety, security, camera, and various feature enhancements to apps like Night Sight, Call Assist, Magic Eraser and Recorder. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, which are the first devices to ship with Android 14, will also receive hardware support and parts supply for the next 7 years to match the software commitment.
If you’re interested in these phones, then you’ll be happy to know that the Pixel 8 can be pre-ordered today starting at $699 and Pixel 8 Pro from $999. If you do buy the Pixel 8 Pro, Google will throw in a Pixel Watch 2 for free. Both phones will hit shelves on October 12th in select markets around the world. Check with Google to know if they’re available in your region.
