Google is rolling out Android 15 today to Pixel devices. It's also adding new features through the October Pixel release, including improved low-light photography on Instagram and support for underwater photography and video.
Android 15 updates
Android 15 has a private space feature that allows you to hide and lock apps behind a separate PIN or biometric lock, very comparable to iOS 18's hide and lock apps feature.
The new software update also has new theft protection measures, such as requiring additional authentication if someone tries to remove your SIM card or disabling Find My Device. Additionally, after several failed attempts to change sensitive settings by guessing your password or PIN, the system will lock the device.
Android 15 also brings features like a taskbar with the ability to pin apps and split-screen app pairs for tablets and foldables. It also adds support for one-touch login for saved passkeys and satellite messaging when there is no network or Wi-Fi connection.
October Pixel Drop
The October Pixel release brings improvements to low-light photography directly on Instagram for all Pixel devices starting with the Pixel 6 (excluding the Pixel A series).
Google added an Audio Magic Eraser feature to the Pixel 8 series – giving users the ability to lower the volume of certain sounds. The new Pixel Drop allows you to raise and lower the volume of different sources. Additionally, users can also raise and lower the volume of multiple people in the video.
The company is also rolling out theft protection measures for the Pixel 6 and newer devices that include automatically locking your phone when someone tries to take it from you. Google said it uses artificial intelligence to detect this movement when someone picks up the phone and runs, cycles or walks away.
Additionally, the company offers features like theft detection locks to all devices running Android 10 and later.
All Pixel devices starting with Pixel 6 and later receive widget recommendations; the new updated Pixel weather app; monitoring pollen data in France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom; call selection in the United Kingdom and Japan; Gemini Reside support for AI audio conversations in France, Germany, Brazil, India, Spain and Latin America; and easier access to Astrophotography mode with a slider button in Evening Sight mode.
With October's Pixel Drop, Pixel 9 series owners can use a waterproof case to capture underwater movies and photos while snorkeling or swimming. The company said it is updating the camera app to render better colors when shooting underwater. The Pixel 9 also supports the Gemini Extension for Pixel screenshots, so you can call Gemini to search for something in your screenshot library.
Ecosystem updates
Google is rolling out the ability to talk to Gemini without taking out your phone if you have Pixel Buds Professional 2, Pixel Buds Professional, Pixel Buds A-Sequence, and the original Pixel Buds.
The company is adding screensavers with home controls, screensavers with clocks, and the ability to share, favorite, or archive photos from the photo frame screensaver on the Pixel tablet. In the coming weeks, it will also roll out the ability to seamlessly transfer media, such as a Spotify track or YouTube video, to a Pixel tablet from the Pixel 6 Professional, Pixel 7 Professional, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8 Professional. , Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL and Pixel 9 Professional Fold.
Additionally, Google offers emoji reactions via email and an updated Contacts app with easier access to your favorite contacts on all Pixel watches.
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