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The great Google Maps Timeline switch deadline has been extended
It keeps Timeline data exclusively on your smartphone
Google gives you control over how long your data is saved for
Earlier this yearGoogle announcedthat itsGoogle MapsTimeline feature – which tracks where you go, over time – would be only available on phones in the future, with the web portal scheduled to be shut down near the end of 2024. Now it seems you’ve got a bit longer to switch over, if you want to keep your data.
As spotted by9to5Google,Android Police, and others, a significant number of users are getting emails and on-screen alerts mentioning a deadline of June 9, 2025. If you want to keep the Timeline data you’ve got stored in the cloud after that date, you need to move it to your Android or iOS phone before the deadline.
However, that revised date may not be the same for everyone: on my phone, I’m getting a message that sets a deadline of April 6, 2025. Previously,Google has saidthat users get “approximately six months” from their first notification about this to move over, so it may depend on if you’ve already been warned.
To be sure, load up Google Maps on your phone, tap your account picture (top right), then choose Your Timeline. If you do want to keep your data on your phone going forward, you’ll be taken step-by-step through the process. At the same time, you can select how long Timeline data is saved for.
For years, Google has offered an optional Location History feature that tracks your comings and goings via your phone. The Timeline – available via the Google Maps apps and website – has been the user-facing part of Location History, letting you go back in time to see visited places and trips taken for any specific day, week, or month.
While some users are understandably reticent to let Google keep that much information, Timeline appears to be pretty popular: people use it to relive vacations and road trips, find that coffee shop they really liked that they visited two years ago, and to make sure their travel expenses are in order, for example.
The changes now underway mean Timeline data won’t be stored in the cloud or available on the web any more – it’ll just be on your phone. Googlehasn’t said too muchabout the reasons why, but presumably privacy and data security are the main ones. In addition, Location History (including settings for deleting older data) is fully folding into Timeline.
While encrypted backups will still enable users to move Timeline data between devices in the future (for new phone upgrades, for example), the shift will be inconvenient for those who liked to explore their travel history through Google Maps on the web, or who had several different devices contributing to it.
Take a look back at what piqued your interest the most in 2024.
(Image credit: Google)
What you need to know
Google highlighted its “Year in 2024” data for what users searched for the most in Search and AI.
Circle to Search and Lens were used to “identify items,” shop, and translate items and users were the most curious about Benson Boone’s song “Beautiful Things.”
The top trending search in 2024 was Copa America while the most searched for movie was Disney’s Inside Out 2.
As the year winds down, Google is taking a look back at what users searched for the most across multiple categories.
In aKeyword post, the company highlighted various top trending searches for various user interests, like AI. Google highlighted what users searched for the most in since the arrival of Circle to Search, as well as Google Lens. The post states users used both tools to translate, shop, and “identify items” in 2024.
Moreover, the company adds that users usually combined a search with “how to use” when searching for an item visually.
Google Maps was tossed in, as the post states users looked up information about the Las Vegas Sphere and Italy’s Arena di Verona this year.
Circle to Searchlaunched earlier this year alongside the Galaxy S24 series and the Pixel 8 before hitting other phones. Additionally,Google Lensgrabbed some nifty upgrades like the ability for users to record videos.
Speaking of AI and Search, in Google’s main “Year in Search” overview, the company highlighted what songs users hummed to its engine the most.
Google’s main “Year in Search” overview for 2024 continues with the top pieces of news for 2024. According to Google, its data shows that people searched for (in order) the U.S. Election, Excessive Heat, Olympics, Hurricane Milton, and 台風 気象 情報 台風 第 10 号 (Typhoon No. 10 around Japan) the most this year.
When it came to “People,” Google states the top trending searches were Donald Trump, Catherine the Princess of Wales, Kamala Harris, Imane Khelif, and Joe Biden.
In “Sports,” the New York Yankees took the top spot, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Inter Miami CF, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and the Boston Celtics. And, lastly, in “Gaming,” the top trending searches were for Connections, Palworld, Infinite Craft, Sprunki, and Helldivers 2.
In November, Google detailed itstop apps and gamesvia the Play Store for 2024. Partiful took the award for the “Best App of 2024” due to its reinvention of event planning. For mobile gaming, AFK Journey won “Best Game” while Max took the cake for “Best Multi-device App.”
Other worthy mentions include Hoyoverse’s Honkai: Star Rail for “Best Ongoing Game,” PBS Kids Video for “Best for Cars,” and Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu for “Favorite Fantasy” book in 2024.
The Pixel 6 can’t do much more than it already does.
Google hasadded two more years of software supportto thePixel 6 series, thePixel 7 series, and theoriginal Pixel Fold. That’s fantastic news for anyone using these phones; since they use aGoogle-designed Tensor chip, it’s what should have been promised all along.
It says a bit more about Android’s immediate future, even if it doesn’t spell it out: don’t expect the next killer feature(s) to be part of Android.
You’re right if you’re thinking that Google hasn’t said anything about Android 17 yet and really hasn’t told us much about Android 16. but it doesn’t need to because we now know that whatever it is, the Pixel 6 will (hopefully) be able to run it.
The Pixel 6 wasn’t a bad phone, but let’s be honest — its Tensor chip isn’t a powerhouse, and having “only” 8GB of RAM means it’s missing many on-device AI features. It was built before Pixel phones needed chips that could process AI even faster and the memory to power the features that came along with it. We quickly saw that just one year later.
Here’s the thing — none of that, or any of Google’s AI magic, is part of Android. It’s all proprietary Google property that it releases to select devices as it sees fit. Android has been like this for a while, with Google holding back many of the features you think come with it and deciding which phones from which companies can have them. If you ever get your hands on a device that runs the free and open version of Android, you’ll easily see how it is lacking.
I like to call this thePixel paywall. Google shows us a new feature, spends 30 minutes on a stage to tell us how great it is and why we should want it, then says you only get it if you buy a new Pixel phone.
This isn’t nothing new; every other tech company does the same thing. The difference is other tech companies don’t offer a “free” operating system that powers billions of smartphones.
We’re going to see this again withAndroid 16when Google debuts a new Pixel phone. All of the new features are going to be Google’s own and not freely available as part of Android, and a handful of them will only be available for thePixel 10. Don’t expect many (or any) of them for your Pixel 6. You won’t be disappointed that way.
There’s nothing wrong with this. I don’t like it, and I know other people who feel the same way, but nobody should expect a for-profit company to turn over its best software features or the secret algorithms that power them as free software, no matter how restrictive the licensing is. Google is doing what we should expect it to do.
Future versions of Android will have plenty of other changes under the hood, and those can be very important, especially in terms of stability, security, and privacy. Many of those “API changes” that don’t get much press do just that and are 100% necessary and important.
Things like camera tricks or fancy AI-powered home screen features are separate, the same way Samsung’s are for Samsung phones or Apple’s are for iPhones. Google realizes their value and knows it will entice a few people enough to buy a new Pixel phone even though their Pixel 6 is still supported and does everything it did when it was new and more.
It’s still great that Google realizes it has an obligation (yes, I said obligation) to support Tensor-powered devices as long as possible.Nvidia can tell them a thing or twoabout how having control over the brains of an Android device means you cansupport it for a decade. Or longer.
Now you’ve got one less thing you have to fish for in your pocket or purse at the airport. Starting today, Google Wallet can carry a digital copy of your US passport and use them at Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) checkpoints.
If you want toadd your passportto Google’s virtual wallet, first you’ll need to download the Google Wallet app and log into your account or create one. Check the prompt “create an ID pass with your US passport” and follow the instructions. The app will ask you to take a video selfie to verify your identity and scan the security chip in your passport. It should only take a few minutes for Google to confirm your identity.
Your digital passport won’t work at every airport. Currently, there are 27 states (and Puerto Rico) with at least one airport that accepts digital forms of identification.The TSA websitecan show you which states and airports accept digital IDs.
Google has been testingthe use and storage of digital passports in Google Wallet for some time. Several states have started accepting digital IDs just in the last few months.New Mexicois the newest state to accept digital IDs including driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.
More images of the incoming Google Pixel 9a have leaked
The rear camera bar doesn’t appear, suggesting a design shakeup
Expect to see a launch sometime in 2025
In ourGoogle Pixel 9 reviewwe describedGoogle’s latest flagship as “a fantastic phone”, and we may have been given an early glimpse at what Google’s next handset is going to look like when it shows up sometime in 2025.
That handset is the Google Pixel 9a, and two pictures of what’s being described as a “prototype” have been posted by@feni_bookand@OnLeaks– though it’s not immediately clear where these images have come from.
These real world photos closely match leaked renders we sawback in Octoberand other imagesposted online in August. It seems Google is going to ditch the raised camera bar around the back of the phone, in favor of a flatter look.
Whether you like the raised camera bar or not, it is distinctly Pixel – so it’s a little strange that Google would abandon the established design for something that’s more ordinary and arguably less visually appealing.
(Google Pixel 9a leaked./Foto: feni_book)
These new images don’t tell us anything more about the Google Pixel 9a other than what it looks like, and that there’ll be a single selfie camera on the front and a dual-camera setup around the back of the handset.
Based on aprevious leak, we’re expecting the phone to measure 154.7mm x 73.2mm x 8.9mm, which makes it slightly bigger and wider than theGoogle Pixel 8a. It may be that the screen will be a touch larger than the 6.1-inch one on its predecessor.
That’s backed up by aseparate leakthat put the screen size of the Pixel 9a at 6.3 inches. The display will apparently jump from 60Hz to 120Hz in terms of refresh rate, while the same Tensor G4 from the Pixel 9 series is tipped to appear here too.
We might also have some color information too, with a few tweaks from the Pixel 8a that launched this year. As for pricing, the launch price of the Pixel 8a is expected to be matched next year: $499.
They were initially promised three, and now they’re getting five.
What you need to know
Google quietly updated a support document that now explains the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, and Pixel Fold will receive five full OS upgrades.
Originally, Google promised these devices would get three full Android OS upgrades, and five years of security updates.
The extension was rumored when the Pixel 6 series became eligible for the Android 16 developer preview, and it’s now official.
Google is retroactively providing an extra two years of full OS upgrades to the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, and Pixel Fold, it quietly detailed in anupdated support document. Additionally, the company says that during this extended window, these models “may” also get new features through Pixel Drops.
The change was first spotted byNail Sadykov on X(viaMishaal Rahman). It confirms what was originally suspected when Google released the first developer preview for Android 16 last month: the company plans to support the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Pixel Fold beyond its initial promises. TheAndroid 16 Developer Preview 1updatesupported the Pixel 6, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 6 Pro, even though Android 15 should be its last OS upgrade according to Google’s three-year promise.
Now, the entire Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series — plus the original Pixel Fold — will get a total of five years of OS upgrades from the time they were first released. That’s two more years than Google initially promised, as its first guarantee was that each of these models would get three years of OS upgrades and five years of security update.
The change means that the Pixel 6, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 6 Pro should receive Android 16 and Android 17. Meanwhile, the Pixel 7, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel Fold should receive Android 16, Android 17, and Android 18.
Google has significantly expanded its guaranteed software support windows since it switched to its in-house Tensor processors, setting a new industry-standard with seven years of full OS upgrades on the Pixel 8 andPixel 9 series. However, competitors are catching up. Qualcomm recently announced theSnapdragon 8 Elite chipsetcould support up to eight years of major Android version updates.
The Google Pixel brand has grown of late,earning double-digit market share. It seems that Google is now showing some goodwill to Pixel owners by extending the support their existing devices will receive.
Expressive Captions add feelings and [gasp] emotions to Android’s Live Captions
Google Lookout gets new Gemini enhancements
Gemini on Pixel phones will now remember more information about you and your interests
Googlehas released a number of new AI features for most Android phones, plus a couple that work only on its Pixel range of devices.
Some of the new features work inGoogle Gemini, Google’s AI app, but most of them work throughout the whole Androidoperating system, which means there will be some big changes for Android users. Let’s break it down.
Here’s how the same football game looks with Expressive Captions turned off and on(Image credit: Google)
First up are Expressive Captions, which are a way of bringing more emotions into the rather dull and lifeless world of subtitles and captions. Google introducedLive Captionsto Android back in 2019, so if anything plays audio on your phone, it also has captions. They work much the same way that automatic subtitles do onYouTubevideos – your phone generates them live, based on what it interprets the person is saying.
Live Captions, however, remain rather lifeless. With Expressive Captions, Google is utilizing the power of AI to help you get more of the context of what’s happening. You’ll see comments in square brackets like [whispers] and [cheers and applause] appearing amongst captions, giving you a better understanding of the feelings and emotions being conveyed.
Intense vocalizations will be written in [ALL CAPS], while vocalizations like [sighing], [grunting] and [gasping] will also appear. Ambient background sounds will also be tagged. Because Live Captions are part of the operating system you’ll now get Expressive Captions with most things you watch, so look out for them.
Google Lookoutis an assisted-vision app that’s available on Android devices via thePlay Store. It uses AI to help people with low levels of vision, or sight loss, explore the world around them using their phone’s camera. You can use it for reading out text, scanning food labels, currency identification, and even scanning your surroundings to identify things like doors and windows and find out how far away they are.
Now Gemini AI is part of the Lookout app, which means it has much richer, more helpful descriptions. If you take a photo in the app you’ll now hear its description read aloud in a natural-sounding voice, and you can ask Loopout follow-up questions about it.
New Gemini extensions
The more extensions that Google Gemini has, the more apps it can bring its AI magic to. Now Gemini has a new Spotify extension, which means you can play your favorite songs or discover playlists from within Gemini.
Gemini will now also connect to your phone and messages app, meaning you can call contacts and send messages from within Gemini. Google says that “soon” you’ll be able to use Gemini to control your smart home devices. Finally, Gemini will now also connect to Maps, which means you’ll get more information about places.
More Android features
Pizza-themed sticker combos available in Emoji Kitchen.(Image credit: Google)
Also in the December update you’ll find new pizza-theme sticker combos that you can share with friends using Emoji Kitchen in Gboard, Google’s keyboard app. You can also use QR codes in Quick Share, which makes it easy to share pictures, videos and documents without having to add people as contacts or verify devices. Now you just generate a QR code for people to scan. Documents you scan using your phone will also now be improved, with better contrast and white balance.
Pixel-only features
Circle to search on a Pixel phone.(Image credit: Google)
If you’ve got a Google Pixel phone then you get some extra features in the December Android update. There are a lot of small updates to things like the camera and security settings, but the most important feature is Gemini Saved Info. This means you can ask Gemini to remember more about you, what you’re interested in, and what you like, so that it can tailor its responses to more of what you’ll be interested in.
Pixel users will also get some updates to the Pixel-exclusive app, Pixel Screenshots. Pixel Screenshots uses Gemini to analyze and recall the information embedded in your screenshots. Now you can use Pixel Screenshots to save things when you’re using Circle to Search with just one tap.
A new Pixel Troubleshooting app update brings the temperature check feature to Pixel 6 and above.
What you need to know
Google Pixel Troubleshooting update gets new Device Temperature check feature.
It allows Pixel 6, Pixel 7, Pixel 8, and Pixel 9 users to check their device temperatures whenever their devices seem warm to touch.
The temperature check feature involves relevant color schemes to accurately represent the device’s condition.
Some Pixel phones might have a nifty new feature that lets users identify how hot their devices are running directly from their handsets’ battery settings.
Google has apparently released a Pixel Troubleshooting app update for its devices, ranging from Pixel 6 to the latestPixel 9 series, notes9to5Google. The latest update brings a new “Device temperature” feature, which can be seen in the Battery section of the device Settings.
(Image credit: 9to5Google)
It sits under the battery diagnostics’ “Phone is very warm” section, which earlier showcased settings that keep the device battery optimized. Another way to access the new page is to directly search for “Device temperature” through the Settings app.
Under the Device temperature, users can now find four relevant colors, evidently dubbed Cold, Normal, Warm, and Elevated, indicating the current temperature state of the device.
The new page further indicates that the projected device temperature is according to various internal sensors that the aforementioned Pixel phones already ship with. 9to5 further notes that users can also witness other tips like “To cool down your phone, provide airflow to your phone if possible” and “Use only cases or covers made for your specific phone,” among others.
The live device temperature is being rolled out via the Pixel Troubleshooting app bearing the1.0.693922709version. Pixel phones include the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, Pixel 8, and the Pixel 9 series. It has not yet been rolled out to Pixel Tablet. As 9to5 notes, the update was seen running on the devices mentioned above, running on stableAndroid 15, which wasrecently rolled outto all compatible Pixel phones.
For the uninitiated, the Pixel Troubleshooting app was introduced last year, and the Pixel 8 was one of the first handsets to receive the feature. It helps users diagnose their battery and network issues, and the new temperature feature is indeed a valuable addition as it eliminates the need for installing third-party apps or devices to measure the device’s temperature.
Whether you want to take better photos or find a faster way to launch a Google search, these tips will help.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro.
Google’s Pixel phones usually known for their camera quality and design, especially the higher-end Pro models and the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold. But don’t sleep on the software; it’s often an important part of what distinguishes them from other Android phones.
That’s truer than ever now that Google is emphasizing new AI features in its latest Pixel devices, especially with the recently announcedPixel 9,Pixel 9 ProandPixel 9 Pro XL.
Google typically updates Pixel phones every few months, meaning new features arrive fairly regularly. Google sells eight different Pixel models: the $499Pixel 7A, $499Pixel 8A, $699Pixel 8, $999Pixel 8 Pro, $799Pixel 9, $999Pixel 9 Pro, $1,099Pixel 9 Pro XL and $1,799Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
You may not need Google’s newest Pixels to use these features; several of them work on older devices, although others only run on phones with the company’s latest Tensor chip. Keep in mind that some of these features might require a software update or an update to Google’s apps and services.
Google also updates its Pixel devices with new features over time, so there’s a chance we’ll see more additions arrive in the coming months. Whether you’re interested in touching up old photos or having Google screen your calls, these tips will help you get the most out of your device.
Look for anything in your screenshots
How many times have you taken a screenshot of something so that you can save it for easy reference later, only to go digging through your photos to find it? Google is trying to solve that problem with the new Screenshots app on thePixel 9 family,which not only houses your screenshots but lets you search for anything within them. If you took a screenshot of a Wi-Fi password or order confirmation number, you can look it up by opening the screenshots app and typing in the search bar.
Take a group photo with everyone in it
Google has novel, and perhaps somewhat awkward, solution to the problem of getting everyone (including the person taking the photo) in a group picture. A new feature called Add Me, which launched on thePixel 9 lineup,combines two photos to create an image with everyone in the frame. Just open the camera app, tap the option forAdd Me and follow the on-screen prompts. The process will involve taking a photo and handing the phone to another person in the group to take a second picture.
Search for anything by drawing a circle around it
As the name implies, your can launch a Google search just by drawing around almost any object on the screen through Google’s Circle to Search feature. See some appetizing sushi in your Instagram feed? Just circle it to find sushi restaurants nearby. It works on thePixel 6 and later.
To use Circle to Search, touch and hold the home button or navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. Then, draw a circle around the object you’d like to search for. Results should appear in a panel on screen almost instantly.
Look up an unknown caller
With its June 2024 Pixel update, Google introduced a new feature that makes it possible to look up a phone number right from the recent calls menu. Just tap the phone number in your call log, and there should be a new option calledLookup. This feature is available on thePixel 6 and later.
Take your temperature with the Pixel 8 or 9 Pro
The Pixel 8 Pro, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XLcome with a temperature sensor. Not only can you measure certain objects like a mug of coffee or tea, but you can use it as a contactless thermometer to take your body temperature. Just open theThermometer appand follow the on-screen instructions to get started. Unlike a traditional contactless thermometer, using the Pixel’s temperature sensor involves moving the phone across your forehead toward your temple so that it can measure your temporal artery.
（The Pixel 8 Pro has a temperature sensor that can measure how hot or cold beverages and other materials are. ）
（To use the Pixel 8 Pro’s Thermometer app, you have to tell the phone which material you’re measuring.）
Change someone’s expression in a photo
The Pixel 8 and later come with a feature called Best Take, which makes it possible to alter a person’s expression in a photo. This feature only works when snapping several versions of the same photo in a row. If you happen to close your eyes in the best photo, for example, you’ll be able to swap your face out with another version from a different photo in the bunch. To use it, open a compatible photo in theGoogle Photosapp, tap theEditbutton and selectTools. From there, you should see an option calledBest Take.
Take better close-up photos with the macro focus
If you have aPixel 7 Pro and Pixel 8 and later,you can capture close-up photos in macro mode. Unlike most camera features, you don’t have to enable a specific setting or switch to a certain mode to get it to work. If you have one of the phones mentioned above, just open theCameraapp and hold your phone close to the subject you’d like to photograph. You should see ayellow flower iconappear when macro mode is on. Tapping that flower icon will turn macro mode off.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro’s camera bar houses in its oval “pill”: a 48-megapixel ultrawide angle camera (left) with an f1.95 lens, the main 50-megapixel wide-angle camera with an f1.68 lens (center) and the 48-megapixel telephoto camera with an f2.8 lens (right).
Photos and videos are a top priority and a competitive strong suit for for Google’s phones. This closeup of the “obsidian” colored Google Pixel 8 Pro shows its larger new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera at left, its updated 50-megapixel main camera in the center and 48-megapixel 5x telephoto camera at right.
Move or resize objects in a photo
Another photo editing trick that launched last year with thePixel 8 and 8 Prois Magic Editor. As the name implies, this tool lets you resize or move individual objects, people and pets in a photo. Just open theGoogle Photosapp, choose the photo you’d like to edit and press theEditbutton to get started.
From there, tap thecolorful photo iconin the left corner to launch Magic Editor. Once you’re in this mode, tap and hold on to a person or object in a photo to select it. Then, you can pinch-to-zoom to resize it or drag it to another area of the photo. Hit the arrow on the bottom right corner of the screen when you’re finished and wait for your edits to be processed.
Google has since expanded the feature to those with a Premium Google One plan, meaning you no longerneeda Pixel device to access this tool. Those who don’t subscribe or have a Pixel device can get10 Magic Editor saves per monthin the Google Photos app on iOS and Android.
Turn a photo into a cinematic wallpaper
If you have aPixel 6 or newer, you can turn any photo from your library into a cinematic wallpaper. Google applies a 3D effect to the image that emphasizes the subject in the foreground. In my experience, this feature works best on photos clearly focused on one or two people.
To try it out, open your Pixel phone’ssettings menuand tap theWallpaper & styleoption. PressChange wallpaper,choose theMy photosoption and tap the image you’d like to set as your new wallpaper. Tap the icon that looks like three stars and then toggle the switch next toCreate cinematic wallpapersetting.
Add captions to videos with Live Caption
Did you know that your Pixel phone can automatically caption videos, podcasts, phone calls and more? Press thevolume buttonand tap theLive Captionicon, which looks like a tiny box of text, to enable this feature.
Live Captionworks in English on thePixel 2 and higher, so it should be available on any Pixel phone that’s launched in the last several years. The captions are stored and processed locally and never leave your device, according to Google.
You can also tweak certain settings, such as hiding profanity and adding labels to sounds like laughter and applause. Open the Settings and choose Live Caption to customize these options. It’s also important to note that Live Caption can drain additional battery, so you might want to only turn it on when you need it.
Snap a photo just by raising your hand
You don’t always need to press the shutter button to take a photo. You can simply raise your palm to the camera to start a photo countdown timer for 3 or 10 seconds if you have aPixel 6 or newer. This can be particularly useful for group photos.
Just open the Google camera app and tap the settings button near the top of the screen to get started. From there, choose to have the timer set to 3 or 10 seconds. Now the timer should automatically start whenever the camera recognizes your palm.
Sharpen old pictures in your photo library
If you’re anything like me, you have thousands of photos from the last decade stored on your phone or in a cloud service. Those photos likely don’t look nearly as sharp and crisp as the ones taken by today’s smartphones.
As the name implies, Photo Unlur sharpens photos that are out of focus to make the subject look clearer. To use it, just open theGoogle Photos appon your compatible Pixel phone, choose the photo you want to edit, tap theEditbutton and selectTools. Then, tapUnblur.
The feature launched on the Pixel 7 series but is now available inthe Google Photos app on other devices, too.
Take better photos of the stars
Google’s Pixel phones come with a feature that’s specifically designed to help yousnap photos of the night sky. It works on thePixel 3 and higher, but you’ll need to adjust your zoom settings to at least 1x if you’re using the Pixel 4A 5G and later.
Google says the feature works best when taking photos away from city lights at least 45 to 90 minutes after sunset. You’ll also need a tripod or some other steady surface rather than your hands to get the best results.
Just openthe camera app, prop up your phone, make sure it’s steady andtap Night Sightto get started. After a few seconds, you should see a message that says “Astrophotography on.” Press thecapture buttonandleave your phone aloneuntil it’s finished taking the photo.
Translate screenshots in a different language
You can translate screenshots with text written in languages such as Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian and more withGoogle’s Lensfeature. Open theGoogle Photosapp and select the screenshot you would like to translate. Then tap theLensicon, which looks like a camera, and choose theTranslateoption. Google’ssupport pagesays this feature should work on Android devices in general, not just Pixels.
Switch to the selfie camera without pressing any buttons
You don’t have to tap any buttons to switch between the Pixel’s selfiecameraand the main camera. Simply open the Pixel’s camera app and twist your phone twice to flip between the cameras. If you’re not sure what I mean by “twist,” Google hasa helpful animationto show you.
If you’re still having trouble, check your Pixel’s settings to make sure this feature is enabled. Open thesettingsapp, chooseSystemand selectFlip camera for selfie.
Have Google wait on hold for you
No one likes waiting on hold. If you have aPixel 3 or later, you can have Google wait on hold and notify you when a representative becomes available. To have Google wait on hold, you’ll have to do two things: Activate the feature, and then turn on Hold for Me during the phone call.
For the first step, open the Pixel Phone appandtap the three dotsin the top right corner. Then, tapSettings, andHold for Me.Tap the switch next to Hold for Me to make sure this feature is turned on.
Just be aware that Hold for Me may not work in every situation, and you can’t play music or other audio while it’s active. You’ll also want to make sure your phone isn’t in silent or vibrate mode. When you’re on a call and have been placed on hold, tap theHold for Mebutton and pressStart.
See how long you might have to wait on hold
Google can also estimate the amount of time you might have to wait on hold when dialing businesses in the US. It’s available on thePixel 3A and laterand works in English. Just open the Phone app, dial the number and you’ll be presented with an estimate of how long you may be placed on hold. The estimate may vary depending on the time of day.
Have Google show automated phone menus on screen
There are times when you might not want to listen to every single option in an automated menu when calling a business. If you have aPixel 3A or later, you’ll be able to see these menu options on screen so that you don’t have to remember them all. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro can also show certain menu options before they’re spoken on the phone call, Google says. I tested this by calling CVS and Allstate, and sure enough, Google was able to transcribe the spoken menu options in real time.
Open apps or take screenshots by tapping your phone
Add a handy shortcut to your Pixel phone withGoogle’s Quick Tapfeature. This allows you to open an app, take a screenshot, play or pause media, or show notifications just by tapping twice on the back of your phone. It only works on more recent Google phones like thePixel 4A 5G and later.
To turn on Quick Tap and customize its actions, open thesettings menuand chooseSystem. Then, selectGesturesandQuick Tap. From here, turnQuick Tapon and select which action you’d like to perform when tapping the back of your device.
Have Google screen your calls
Sick of robocalls? Google can hopefully help with itsCall Screen feature, which works onall Pixel phones. When this feature is turned on, Google Assistant can answer an unknown call and ask who’s calling and why. It will automatically hang up if it’s a spam call, but you can see how the caller responded and decide to answer if it’s a real caller.
Google doesn’t screen calls from phone numbers that are saved in your contacts, and your Pixel won’t automatically screen calls when you’re using headphones or are connected to Bluetooth. To set up automatic call screening, open thephone appand tap thethree dotsin the top right corner. SelectSettingsand chooseSpam and Call Screen.
Make sure the switch next toSee caller and spam IDis toggled on, and then pressCall Screen. From here, you can choose how Google screens incoming calls. For example, you can set it to screen spam calls, possibly faked numbers, first-time callers, and private or hidden callers. Just tap one of these categories and choose theAutomatically screen. Decline Robocalls option.
Google thinks huddles will “reduce meeting fatigue.”
What you need to know
Google first previewed “huddles,” a quick way to start instant audio conversations in Google Chat, in 2023.
Huddles are now coming to Google Chat users in select Google Workspace tiers.
They are instant-on audio calls that Google says will help “reduce meeting fatigue” for workers.
Google Chatis making quick conversations simpler with “huddles,” which are audio-first calls that resemble a Slack feature of the same name. Huddles are instant-on, and will significantly reduce the friction between Google Chat andGoogle Meet. Instead of needing to switch from Chat to Meet to start a quick video call, users will now be able to start a huddle from Google Chat in an instant.
The feature was initially previewed in 2023, but it’s only now rolling out to selectGoogle Workspacetiers. Business Starter, Standard, and Plus; Enterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus; Frontline Starter and Standard; Essentials, Enterprise Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials Plus; Nonprofits will all be able to use huddles in Google Chat.
Although huddles are clearly intended to be an audio-first method of communication, users can also share their screen or use video to get their message across. Additionally, the button for huddles in Google Chat is joined by options for phone calls and Meet video calls, so there are still plenty of options. Huddles are entirely powered by Google Meet, and are simply integrated with Chat. Google says that employees in workspaces that don’t enable Google Meet can join huddles, but can’t create them.
To start a huddle, click theVideoicon in the Google Chat toolbar, which will open a dropdown menu. Here, you’ll see options forCall,Meet, andhuddle. Select theStart a huddleoption to begin the call, which begins as audio-only. All members of the Google Chat space or chat will receive a message that reads:[user] has started a huddle, click “Join” to enter the huddle.
“Huddles help to reduce meeting fatigue for hybrid workers, and eliminates the need for lengthy discussions over email or in Chat,” Google explains in aposton the Google Workspace Blog. “Instead of jumping out of the conversation and into a meeting, huddles integrates directly and smoothly into the Chat experience.”
This feature is rolling out now for users on rapid releaseGoogle Workspacedomains. Users on Google Workspace domains with scheduled releases won’t start seeing this feature until Jan. 6, 2025.
Look out for an alert like this on your phone 
