Android
Google’s Pixel Feature Drop: A bunch of new features

Google has released a new update for its Pixel phones and watches, bringing a bunch of cool new features. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new:
For Pixel Phones:
- Improved Screenshots: You can now search, categorize, and edit your screenshots more easily.
- Clearer Voice Recordings: The Recorder app now has a feature to reduce background noise.
- Better Instagram Photos: The Instagram camera on Pixel 9 phones can now take even better HDR photos.
- Smarter Call Screening: Your phone can now suggest helpful replies to incoming calls, like “I’m in the lobby” or “Not outside.”
- Enhanced Foldable Features: Pixel Fold and Pixel Fold 2 users can now preview photos together with the person being photographed.
- Easier Tablet Use: Pixel Tablet users can now use widgets on the lock screen and access a VPN.
- Simplified View: A new feature that makes your phone’s screen easier to read and use.
- Live Call Transcripts: Your phone can now transcribe calls in real-time.
- Better Music Recognition: The Now Playing feature can now identify more songs and show album art.
- More Powerful AI: Gemini AI is getting better, with features like smarter chat, home control, and messaging.
- Improved Security: Your phone can now recognize if you’re in an unsafe location and ask for extra authentication.
- Expressive Captions: Video captions are now more descriptive, including emotions like “gasps” and “cheers.”
- Easier Sharing: You can now share files with others by scanning a QR code.
For Pixel Watches:
- Live Video Feed: You can now see live video from your Nest cameras on your watch.
- Detailed Health Tracking: Your watch can now track your heart rate and activity in more detail.
- Improved Safety Features: Your watch can now detect falls and heart-related emergencies in more countries.
Overall, this update brings a variety of improvements to Pixel devices, making them even more useful and enjoyable.
Android
Android Auto 14.3 brings more bug fixes and starts wider rollout

Google has started rolling out Android Auto version 14.3 more widely after a limited release earlier this month. This update doesn’t bring new features, but it focuses on making things work better by fixing bugs and improving performance.
Android Auto 14.3 began showing up for more users through the Google Play Store, especially those using the beta version. If you’re already part of the beta program, you should see the update soon. For others, the rollout is happening gradually, so it might take a few days to appear.
While Google hasn’t provided detailed patch notes for this version, early users say that the update improves the overall experience by making the system more stable. Users haven’t noticed major visual changes, but smoother performance is always welcome, especially during driving.
As usual, Android Auto updates mostly happen in the background. If you want to check which version you have, open Android Auto settings on your phone. You can also join the beta program or install the APK manually if the update hasn’t reached your device yet.
In short, Android Auto 14.3 is all about improving stability and fixing problems that users might have faced in previous versions. It’s part of Google’s regular efforts to make the in-car experience better and safer for everyone.
Android
Android 16 brings smart notification shortcuts with ‘Magic’ actions

Android 16 could include an update to make notifications simpler to process. Google is working on a feature called “notification cooldown with action buttons,” which addresses repeated alerts and provides helpful buttons whenever needed.
If you keep getting lots of notifications from the same app, Android usually does not alert you right away. Android 14 and 15 are currently testing the feature known as notification cooldown.
Now with Android 16, Google could go one step more by allowing app developers to add smart actions to each notification. They are helpful because they can respond to your recent usage of the apps or programs.
In some cases, if you get notified while using music, the message will also have an option to immediately handle your music settings. Similarly, a “reply” button may appear quickly or you could get other options useful for whatever is going on in your phone. It allows you to perform tasks you see in the notification without going into the app.
There is no official release yet, yet the code included in Android 16 hints that it is under development. If this solution is used, it may make receiving notifications more useful and less troublesome.
Generally, Android 16 attempts to make receiving notifications easier and more useful with its “magic” actions.
Android
Gboard gets a fresh emoji menu with a cleaner look

Google is rolling out a new look for the emoji section in Gboard, giving it a cleaner and simpler design. This updated layout is starting to show up for users on the latest Gboard beta version (13.9), and it might soon come to the stable version too.
In the new design, the emoji panel now floats above the keyboard instead of being attached to it. The search bar, category tabs, and the emoji grid all appear inside a neat floating window with rounded corners. This gives the whole emoji section a modern and less cluttered appearance.
The categories at the top are still there, but they now sit in a card-style bar that blends nicely with the rest of the UI. The search bar has also been updated with a clearer background, making it easier to use. Even though the layout looks different, the actual emoji and features like stickers and GIFs are still available and work the same way.
Some users have also noticed that this new style matches the look of other Google apps that follow the updated Material You design. It’s part of Google’s effort to make its apps feel more consistent and user-friendly across Android.
Right now, the redesign seems to be rolling out in stages, so not everyone will see it immediately. If you’re using Gboard beta, you might already have it, or it could show up soon.
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