Macro videos and more: new features for Pixel smartphones

Google provides its Pixel smartphones with new functions every three months. In June 2023, however, there will be some functions that only run on the newer models with a Tensor chip - i.e. from the Pixel 6 onwards. The updates are due to be released in the next few weeks. Google is not giving exact dates - but the first ones could already be available by the time you read this.

From security check to macro videos and cinematic wallpapers

You will soon be able to send a message to your emergency contacts via the Google Assistant or schedule this for a later time. The command for this is: "Hey Google, start a safety check for 30 minutes". If you do not respond to the alarm, the smartphone will notify your emergency contacts and share your location with them.

In future, accident detection will not only inform the emergency services in the event of a car accident. In such a case, you can also have your emergency contacts notified. However, accident detection is not yet available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but is already available in France, Italy and the Netherlands, among other countries.

From the Pixel 6 onwards, there is a new gesture for starting the self-timer. As with some other smartphones, you only need to hold your palm in the camera to start the timer. Macro mode for videos is only available for the Pixel 7 Pro.

"Cinematic Wallpaper" is also available from the Pixel 6 onwards, where an AI transforms your 2D background images into 3D animations with some movement. The Emoji Workshop presented at Google I/O [is also coming to the devices. You can use it to create a pattern of emojis in different colour combinations for your wallpaper.

Export transcripts, less vibration and AI on load

The new functions of the recorder app are also only available from the Pixel 6 onwards. You will soon be able to export transcripts of audio recordings to Google Docs and search for different people within the recording. The app also creates short video clips of audio passages on request, including details of the person speaking.

The Pixel 6a and 7a can reduce their vibrations when they realise they are lying on hard and flat surfaces.
If you use the Home app for smart home devices, you will soon be able to add suitable control fields to the quick settings. You will then be able to switch on the light bulb from the lock screen, for example.

Google also wants to use AI when charging the battery. This should primarily apply to devices that are charged overnight. Based on the previous charging behaviour, the AI is supposed to guess the time when you remove the charging cable. The charging process should take place so slowly that the battery is full one hour before this moment.
If you use the Google Assistant in American English, you will soon have two more voices to choose from.

[[small:Cover photo: Jan Johannsen]]