Latest news with #PixelVIPs
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Business Standard
23-07-2025
- Business Standard
Google rolls out Pixel Drop with improved Gemini app experience: What's new
Google has rolled out its latest Pixel Drop update, bringing a host of new features for Pixel device users. Among the highlights are AI-powered video creation via the Gemini app, a new Pixel VIPs widget for closer connectivity with contacts, support for LE Audio in hearing aids, and creative upgrades through Pixel Studio. The Pixel Drop aims to enhance both creativity and accessibility across supported Pixel devices. AI video creation in Gemini app Google has introduced a new AI video generation tool in the Gemini app. Pixel users can now upload images directly from their camera roll, type a prompt to describe a scene, and let the AI create animated videos based on the input. The feature transforms still images into dynamic visuals, powered by Google's generative AI. Announcing the feature on X (formerly Twitter), Google said: 'With our latest #PixelDrop, you can now upload images directly from your camera roll, enter a prompt to describe a scene, and let Gemini bring it all to life.' Pixel VIPs widget for key contacts The new Pixel VIPs widget helps users stay connected with their closest contacts. It shows live location updates, upcoming events, and recent calls or messages, including from WhatsApp, on the home screen. It aims to centralise important updates from key people in one accessible view. Creative tools with AI and personalisation Pixel Studio, available exclusively on Pixel 9 devices, enables users to generate visuals using Google's Imagen 3 model. Whether it's memes, posters, or digital art, users can quickly create high-quality images on-device, without needing design skills. Pixel Drop also adds tools to personalise content with stickers, captions, and creative elements. For example, users can turn personal photos into stickers or add event-specific details to visuals. These can be shared instantly via Gboard, allowing for one-tap sharing in chats, social posts, or emails. LE Audio support for hearing aids Pixel devices now support LE Audio, enhancing the functionality of compatible hearing aids. Users can take calls directly through their hearing aids and adjust key settings like ambient volume and sound presets from within the phone's settings—no need for a separate app. This integration is aimed at improving accessibility and audio clarity on the go.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
I can't believe Google is making such a big deal out of Pixel VIPs — it's the most disappointing new feature in years
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Pixel VIPs is a new feature that's part of Android 16, and if you paid attention to Google's marketing and release notes,you'll know that it's being treated like a flagship addition — something that's to be desired, and that'll make owning a Pixel phone worthwhile. Now that Android 16 is here, I can tell you that this absolutely isn't the case. In fact, Pixel VIPs seems pretty darn pointless in the grand scheme of things. Of all the new features that have landed in Android 16, I don't know why Google is making such a big deal out of something that doesn't really offer anything of value. Pixel VIPs is a new feature in the Contacts app on Android 16. As the name suggests, it's exclusive to Pixel phones. You can preselect up to 8 VIPs, each of whom have their own special pages. Those pages have icons for the phone app, Google Messages, Google Meet, the Contacts app and (if you give Pixel VIPs permission) other third party apps like VIP pages also features a location option for "local updates," details on when you last spoke to each VIP, and notes and suggestions on "things to do together." It'll also remind you about their birthday, assuming you've told the app when it is. The Pixel VIPs can be accessed through Contacts, or with a special new Pixel VIPs widget — which is also technically part of the Contacts app. Really, it's kind of like the MySpace top friends list from back in the pre-Facebook era. Any readers born after 1995 should go and ask their parents or older siblings what I'm talking about. I can see what Google is trying to do here. It's a way of resurrecting that idea of having your favorite or most important people in a list and adding some practical value to it. But every time I look at, or tinker with the Pixel VIPs feature, all I can think of is "Why?" Do I need Google to suggest things I can watch with my girlfriend? Even after disclosing the kind of things she likes, those recommendations aren't particularly good. I also don't need another app to remind me when her birthday is — that's already in Google Calendar with all the other birthdays that don't belong to VIPs. She also has an iPhone, so conversing on Google Meet is never going to happen I also don't need to know what the weather is like wherever my VIPs are. I'm English. Discussing the weather is half of what we all talk about, and without it, there would be little reason to speak to anyone. I could maybe see some use in adding specific group chats to a list like this, but the fact Pixel VIPs is tied to the Contacts app means that isn't possible. The only real benefit is that these contacts are supposed to be able to bypass the Do Not Disturb setting on your phone — though as far as I can tell, there's no way to toggle this particular feature on or off for individual contacts. So if you actually want to get the benefits of Pixel VIPs for certain people, you apparently need to be willing to give them unfiltered access to your phone as well. Having a feature that lets key people contact you regardless of whether Do Not Disturb is on or not could be useful. But it feels like something that should be its own feature. Frankly, it would have been better if Google had quietly added this feature in the background, and let more important apps and updates take the center stage. Because Pixel VIPs just doesn't have headliner potential. Unfortunately, as it stands, Android 16 doesn't actually have a whole lot going for it. Maybe it's the fact the software was released so early, but it seems like all the actual upgrades are few and far between. Take the Material Expressive 3 redesign, as one example. Google announced this at I/O 2025, but confirmed that it wouldn't be arriving until much later in the year. When that might be is anyone's guess. The same is true for the Desktop windowing feature, which is set to hit "large screen devices" toward the end of the year. Similarly Live Updates, which seem to be Google's closest thing to Apple's Live Activities in the Dynamic Island doesn't seem to have a home on my Pixel 9 Pro. There's no settings menu for the feature, and I can't seem to find evidence that it's actually been added to my phone. But, assuming it has, Google said that it would be restricted to ride share and food delivery notifications at first. And that's not a particularly large number of use-cases, so it feels rather disappointing even if I know these features can't include all apps right away. So when you think about it, Google didn't have much chance not to try and hype up Pixel VIPs. Because it's not like anything more exciting was available. Massive Samsung leak tips Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 features — here's what we could see at Unpacked 11 best hidden iOS 26 features — here's my favorites so far This hidden Android feature was a lifesaver when my home internet died — here's how it works
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
I've been using Android 16 for two weeks — here's why I'm so underwhelmed
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Google's doing things a little differently with Android 16, compared to other recent Android upgrades. Not only has the software launched around 4 months earlier than Android 14 and 15, the biggest upgrades won't actually be arriving until later this year. In my professional opinion, those two things are almost certainly related. And it shows with the amount of things Android 16 can actually do compared to Android 15 — which is to say, not a lot. I've been using the final version of Android 16 for just under two weeks, and I have to say that I'm very disappointed. As bland and uninspiring as previous Android updates have been, Android 16 takes it to another level — and it doesn't even feel like an upgrade. The one thing that gets me most about Android 16 is that it's basically just a carbon copy of Android 15. I'm not saying that every version of Android has to be drastically different from its predecessors. In fact I've argued that Android having bland updates isn't necessarily a bad thing, so long as the updates are actually present. But that does need to offer something that you couldn't get on older software. Android 16 doesn't really offer that kind of experience. After a few days of using Android 16 I had a sudden urge to double check that the update had actually taken hold. The experience was so close to that of Android 15 that it didn't actually feel like I'd updated, and I had to dive into the system menus to check my phone was, in fact, running Android 16. To make matters more confusing, Android 16 is also only available on Pixel phones — and was released alongside the June Pixel feature drop. That means features like the new Pixel VIPs arrived alongside Android 16, but technically aren't part of it, meaning Android 16 has even less to offer than some people might have suspected. Sadly this doesn't change the fact that I think Pixel VIPs is a pretty useless feature that doesn't deserve the attention Google has been giving it. But sadly it's one of the only things Google actually can promote right now. To make matters worse Android 16 is filled with a bunch of bugs — two of which I've experienced pretty frequently. One of the best parts of having an Android phone is the back button, and in Android 16 it only works about 70% of the time. Google's promised fix can not come soon enough. The one big Android announcement we got at Google I/O was the Material Expressive 3 redesign. Android 16 was getting a whole new look, with the aim of making the software more personalized and easy on the eyes. Which is great, assuming you can get over Google's purple-heavy marketing, because Android has looked pretty samey for the past several years. Other features of note include Live Updates, which offers something similar to Apple's Live Activities and lets you keep tabs on important updates in real time. Though this was confirmed to be limited to food delivery and ride sharing apps at first. There's also an official Android desktop mode, officially called "Desktop Windowing." Google likens this feature to Samsung's DeX, and confirmed that it offers more of a desktop experience — with moveable app windows and a taskbar. It's unclear whether that would be limited to external displays, or if you could do it on your phone too. These are all great things, but the slight issue is that none of them are actually available yet. Material Expressive isn't coming until an unspecified point later this year, while Desktop Windowing will only enter beta once the Android 16 QPR3 beta 2 is released. Since we're still on the QPR 1 beta, right now, it's going to be a while before anyone gets to use that particular future. Assuming they have a "large screen device," which sounds like this won't be available on regular phones. Live Updates is an interesting one, because all Google material acts like this feature is already available. But I can't find any evidence that it's actually live and working. No mentions in the settings menu, nothing on social media and no tutorials on how it actually works. It's nowhere to be found. Asking 3 features to carry an entire software update is already pushing it, but when those features just aren't available at launch, it begs the question of why Google actually bothered to release Android 16 so early. Android 16's early release didn't do it any favors. It seems Google rushed it to ensure the Pixel 10 launches with it, but the update feels unfinished — virtually no different from Android 15. Like Apple with iOS 18, Google is selling a future promise rather than a present product. Android 16 ends up being one of the blandest updates in years. Honestly, a short delay to finish key features would've been better. This hidden Android feature was a lifesaver when my home internet died — here's how it works I timed how long it took to update to iOS 26 vs Android 16 — and the results shocked me Google's Pixel Camera now teaches you how to use all the best features — here's how
Tom's Guide
29-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I've been using Android 16 for two weeks — here's why I'm so underwhelmed
Google's doing things a little differently with Android 16, compared to other recent Android upgrades. Not only has the software launched around 4 months earlier than Android 14 and 15, the biggest upgrades won't actually be arriving until later this year. In my professional opinion, those two things are almost certainly related. And it shows with the amount of things Android 16 can actually do compared to Android 15 — which is to say, not a lot. I've been using the final version of Android 16 for just under two weeks, and I have to say that I'm very disappointed. As bland and uninspiring as previous Android updates have been, Android 16 takes it to another level — and it doesn't even feel like an upgrade. The one thing that gets me most about Android 16 is that it's basically just a carbon copy of Android 15. I'm not saying that every version of Android has to be drastically different from its predecessors. In fact I've argued that Android having bland updates isn't necessarily a bad thing, so long as the updates are actually present. But that does need to offer something that you couldn't get on older software. Android 16 doesn't really offer that kind of experience. After a few days of using Android 16 I had a sudden urge to double check that the update had actually taken hold. The experience was so close to that of Android 15 that it didn't actually feel like I'd updated, and I had to dive into the system menus to check my phone was, in fact, running Android 16. To make matters more confusing, Android 16 is also only available on Pixel phones — and was released alongside the June Pixel feature drop. That means features like the new Pixel VIPs arrived alongside Android 16, but technically aren't part of it, meaning Android 16 has even less to offer than some people might have suspected. Sadly this doesn't change the fact that I think Pixel VIPs is a pretty useless feature that doesn't deserve the attention Google has been giving it. But sadly it's one of the only things Google actually can promote right now. To make matters worse Android 16 is filled with a bunch of bugs — two of which I've experienced pretty frequently. One of the best parts of having an Android phone is the back button, and in Android 16 it only works about 70% of the time. Google's promised fix can not come soon enough. The one big Android announcement we got at Google I/O was the Material Expressive 3 redesign. Android 16 was getting a whole new look, with the aim of making the software more personalized and easy on the eyes. Which is great, assuming you can get over Google's purple-heavy marketing, because Android has looked pretty samey for the past several years. Other features of note include Live Updates, which offers something similar to Apple's Live Activities and lets you keep tabs on important updates in real time. Though this was confirmed to be limited to food delivery and ride sharing apps at first. There's also an official Android desktop mode, officially called "Desktop Windowing." Google likens this feature to Samsung's DeX, and confirmed that it offers more of a desktop experience — with moveable app windows and a taskbar. It's unclear whether that would be limited to external displays, or if you could do it on your phone too. These are all great things, but the slight issue is that none of them are actually available yet. Material Expressive isn't coming until an unspecified point later this year, while Desktop Windowing will only enter beta once the Android 16 QPR3 beta 2 is released. Since we're still on the QPR 1 beta, right now, it's going to be a while before anyone gets to use that particular future. Assuming they have a "large screen device," which sounds like this won't be available on regular phones. Live Updates is an interesting one, because all Google material acts like this feature is already available. But I can't find any evidence that it's actually live and working. No mentions in the settings menu, nothing on social media and no tutorials on how it actually works. It's nowhere to be found. Asking 3 features to carry an entire software update is already pushing it, but when those features just aren't available at launch, it begs the question of why Google actually bothered to release Android 16 so early. Android 16's early release didn't do it any favors. It seems Google rushed it to ensure the Pixel 10 launches with it, but the update feels unfinished — virtually no different from Android 15. Like Apple with iOS 18, Google is selling a future promise rather than a present product. Android 16 ends up being one of the blandest updates in years. Honestly, a short delay to finish key features would've been better.
Tom's Guide
19-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I can't believe Google is making such a big deal out of Pixel VIPs — it's the most disappointing new feature in years
Pixel VIPs is a new feature that's part of Android 16, and if you paid attention to Google's marketing and release notes,you'll know that it's being treated like a flagship addition — something that's to be desired, and that'll make owning a Pixel phone worthwhile. Now that Android 16 is here, I can tell you that this absolutely isn't the case. In fact, Pixel VIPs seems pretty darn pointless in the grand scheme of things. Of all the new features that have landed in Android 16, I don't know why Google is making such a big deal out of something that doesn't really offer anything of value. Pixel VIPs is a new feature in the Contacts app on Android 16. As the name suggests, it's exclusive to Pixel phones. You can preselect up to 8 VIPs, each of whom have their own special pages. Those pages have icons for the phone app, Google Messages, Google Meet, the Contacts app and (if you give Pixel VIPs permission) other third party apps like VIP pages also features a location option for "local updates," details on when you last spoke to each VIP, and notes and suggestions on "things to do together." It'll also remind you about their birthday, assuming you've told the app when it is. The Pixel VIPs can be accessed through Contacts, or with a special new Pixel VIPs widget — which is also technically part of the Contacts app. Really, it's kind of like the MySpace top friends list from back in the pre-Facebook era. Any readers born after 1995 should go and ask their parents or older siblings what I'm talking about. I can see what Google is trying to do here. It's a way of resurrecting that idea of having your favorite or most important people in a list and adding some practical value to it. But every time I look at, or tinker with the Pixel VIPs feature, all I can think of is "Why?" Do I need Google to suggest things I can watch with my girlfriend? Even after disclosing the kind of things she likes, those recommendations aren't particularly good. I also don't need another app to remind me when her birthday is — that's already in Google Calendar with all the other birthdays that don't belong to VIPs. She also has an iPhone, so conversing on Google Meet is never going to happen I also don't need to know what the weather is like wherever my VIPs are. I'm English. Discussing the weather is half of what we all talk about, and without it, there would be little reason to speak to anyone. I could maybe see some use in adding specific group chats to a list like this, but the fact Pixel VIPs is tied to the Contacts app means that isn't possible. The only real benefit is that these contacts are supposed to be able to bypass the Do Not Disturb setting on your phone — though as far as I can tell, there's no way to toggle this particular feature on or off for individual contacts. So if you actually want to get the benefits of Pixel VIPs for certain people, you apparently need to be willing to give them unfiltered access to your phone as well. Having a feature that lets key people contact you regardless of whether Do Not Disturb is on or not could be useful. But it feels like something that should be its own feature. Frankly, it would have been better if Google had quietly added this feature in the background, and let more important apps and updates take the center stage. Because Pixel VIPs just doesn't have headliner potential. Unfortunately, as it stands, Android 16 doesn't actually have a whole lot going for it. Maybe it's the fact the software was released so early, but it seems like all the actual upgrades are few and far between. Take the Material Expressive 3 redesign, as one example. Google announced this at I/O 2025, but confirmed that it wouldn't be arriving until much later in the year. When that might be is anyone's guess. The same is true for the Desktop windowing feature, which is set to hit "large screen devices" toward the end of the year. Similarly Live Updates, which seem to be Google's closest thing to Apple's Live Activities in the Dynamic Island doesn't seem to have a home on my Pixel 9 Pro. There's no settings menu for the feature, and I can't seem to find evidence that it's actually been added to my phone. But, assuming it has, Google said that it would be restricted to ride share and food delivery notifications at first. And that's not a particularly large number of use-cases, so it feels rather disappointing even if I know these features can't include all apps right away. So when you think about it, Google didn't have much chance not to try and hype up Pixel VIPs. Because it's not like anything more exciting was available.
