The Latest Pixel Feature Drop Includes a Slew of Improvements

For Pixel owners, Google has launched a new Pixel Feature Drop. “Related upgrades” are being rolled out to the Pixels that are still in use, but only for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro models, according to Google.

So, without further ado, here we go. Quick Tap to Snap is now available in the December Pixel Feature Drop, which places Snapchat on your lock screen (assuming you want it to be there). Google claims that this means you’ll be able to take a Snap faster than on any other device. Snaps will have access to a Pixel Face Lens “beginning this month,” which is an unique to the Pixel camera. The Pixel 4a 5G and subsequent phones will be able to use this feature in the near future.

Car keys follow. For select 2020-2022 BMW models, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro can now be used as a digital car key “in some countries,” as previously promised. Nearby Share on the Pixel 6 Pro has been enhanced thanks to the addition of ultra-wideband radios.

https://youtu.be/FmznwhHlCP8

Now accessible for Pixels, the Sound Amplifier app’s Conversation mode is a “early-stage” accessibility tool. You can better hear discussions in noisy surroundings by focusing on your conversation partner’s speech and filtering out background noise.

When it can’t identify a song for you using the Now Playing feature, you can turn on the new search button and tap to let the Pixel find the song for you – this is vaguely worded in Google’s press release, but we assume that once you tap that button, the search will be performed online, rather than on-device.

You’ll also find new wallpapers in the Curated Culture collection in honor of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

In addition to Spain, Ireland, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and the United States, crash detection is now available in Taiwan, Italy, and France. To use this feature, you must have the Personal Safety app installed on your Pixel 3 or newer device. Whenever a crash occurs and there is no reaction from you, the phone will check to see whether you’re okay and share your position with emergency responders.

When using the Recorder app on a Pixel 3 or later device, you’ll be able to transcribing in Japanese, French, and German.

As a final touch, the A-Series Pixel Buds are getting a boost in bass-level control. Open the Pixel Buds app on any Android 6 or later device and use the slider to change the bass level from -1 to +4.