Pixel phones in for a treat: January feature drop brings Circle to Search, Magic Compose, and more
Pixel phone users are in for a treat with the first Pixel feature drop of 2024 (via The Verge). While certain features are reserved exclusively for the Pixel 8 series, others will be accessible to older Pixel devices, too.
Image Credit–Google
Additionally, in this feature drop, the Pixel 8 Pro's built-in thermometer finally becomes more practical. Users can now use it to measure their own or someone else's body temperature. Described by Google as "medical-grade," it strongly suggests that the company has obtained some level of FDA clearance to enable the thermometer for this purpose.
Older Pixels are also receiving updates with new features. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 7, as well as the Pixel 8, will now have access to Magic Compose. This feature allows users to rewrite a drafted message in different styles with the assistance of AI. While this processing happens on-device for the Pixel 8 Pro, other Pixel models will use the cloud to enhance their messages, giving them a professional tone or making them more dramatic or even lyrical.
Finally, Google introduces "Photomoji" to its Messages app, expanding its availability from the beta tester program to the public. This feature allows users to transform a photo into a reaction by simply selecting an image from the media picker and hitting Create.
As usual, these feature drops for Pixel phones are set to kick off, with some lucky Pixel hardware owners getting an early taste as early as Thursday. The rest can expect to enjoy the latest features over the next few weeks.
Things that are NOT allowed: