January Feature Drop for the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is Here!

Google has announced a new batch of AI powered features to make their way to the Pixel 8 line as part of its January 2024 Feature Drop. All of these updates are geared towards making your Pixel phone a lot more helpful, while also bringing in some much-needed updates to certain components.

Of course, for those who’ve followed our coverage of the Galaxy S24 launch event, some of these features may not necessarily sound new. For those who didn’t though, we’ve got you covered right here:

Circle to Search comes to Pixel!

Those who’ve tuned in to Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event probably already saw this much talked about “new way to search” on your phone. Circle to Search promises to make it easier to look for things you come across on the web or any app without interrupting your current session.

Simply long press the home button then encircle, highlight, or scribble over the item you want to look up and voila! Google should automatically look it up for you, no app switching necessary.

For example, you can immediately look up the clothes a model wore on your Instagram feed. Or look up the answer to a particularly tough crossword clue. (But why would you do that?) It’s all powered by the AI that’s steadily making their way into these Android mobile devices.

Magic Compose

Another AI feature to make its way to the Pixel smartphones is Magic Compose. As we saw from the Galaxy Unpacked event (we’re seeing a little pattern emerge here, hmm…), Magic Compose lets Google’s AI tech help rewrite some of your text in a number of different ways.

Worried your current draft is too long? Magic Compose can summarize it for you and make it more concise. Need to type out a business message to associates? Use the ‘Professional’ setting in order to give it a formal air? Want to be playful when talking to friends and loved ones while showcasing your inner theater kid? Try the “Shakespearean” setting and give your words some flair!

Google’s even promising to bring Magic Compose to older Pixel phones, up to at least the Pixel 6. However, some of these older Pixel devices may have to do all this processing work via the cloud as opposed to the Pixel 8 Pro which can do this on-device.

Photomoji and Quick Share

Photomoji has also been confirmed for the Pixel 8 series. For those who don’t know, this is an AI feature that allows you to use photos you’ve taken as an emoji when you respond on the Messages app. The phone will even save your creations in a special tab so you can reuse it again.

Google is also updating the Pixel’s Nearby Share feature to Quick Share, which should further enhance your ability to share pictures, files, and texts to compatible Android, ChromeOS, and even Windows devices. You can simply tap the Quick Share icon and immediately bring up a list of all devices you can send a file too. Works when offline too!

Users also get complete control of their privacy when using these features, letting you choose when they activate as well as who can discover your own device and send files too.

A minty fresh colorway!

If you’re now considering the Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro for your next upgrade, then you do get some added options in terms of color. To go along with their feature drop, Google is also releasing a new ‘Minty Green’ color for both versions of the Pixel 8.

Finally, a functional thermometer for humans!

Here’s one that’s exclusive for those with the Pixel 8 Pro. If you recall, the Pixel 8 Pro launched with an added thermometer that you can supposedly use to measure the temperature of different surfaces…except humans. At the time, plenty of people found it weird considering this might be the main reason why you’ll even use this feature.

Well, Google has finally secured an FDA clearance for their thermometer so now you can finally use the phone’s thermometer on yourself or other family members. Provided of course, you went for the Pixel 8 Pro and not just the regular Pixel 8.

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