#Pixel8 #Pixel8Pro
Tensor G3 is even smarter with more features

With the release of Pixel 8, the Tensor G3 runs 2x as many machine learning models on device compared to Pixel 6.

The brand new SoC brings the following features:
• Pixel 8 knows what languages you're speaking while voice typing and lets you switch in multiple languages
• Proofread in Gboard now uses Generative AI to fix typos, grammar and punctuation errors
• Smart Replies in Gboard will now generate a whole sentence for you (December Feature Drop)
• Long press the Power button to read a website aloud (even in multiple languages!)
• Generate a website summary with a tap
• Call Screen that lets 50% fewer spam calls on average with contextual replies
• Upgraded Magic Eraser will now remove larger objects and people without smudging the photo by generating parts of the image
• Recorder will now summarize your audio notes with recaps on your device (December Feature Drop)

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#Pixel8Pro
Pixel 8 Pro's gets a temperature sensor - here it is in use
9To5Google

The thermometer app in the Pixel 8 Pro has multiple materials that it can take a reading of: Food & organic, Beverages & water, Cast iron, Ceramic & glass, Matte metal, Shiny metal, Plastic & rubber, Fabric, Wood, and Walls & windows.

After picking one, you point the sensor within 5cm of the object to quickly get a temperature reading.

In the future, after FDA review and certification, you will be able to measure your body temperature which can be saved in the Fitbit app.

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The Google Clock app on the Pixel 8 can show weather info for different cities on the home screen! You have to go to settings to enable “local weather on clock” after which you’ll see weather info in the Clock tab as well as when using the “World” clock widget.

Note that the weather information is actually provided by a separate app called “Weather” (package name com.google.android.apps.weather) and not from the Google Clock app itself. This lets the Google Clock app show weather information without requesting the location permission.

This feature might come to the Pixel 5a and later in the December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop, but right now it’s only available on the Pixel 8 series.

Google started offering free VPN by Google One access starting with the Pixel 7, but they’re taking things a bit further with the Pixel 8 series!

VPN by Google One will now appear as a “built-in” VPN under Settings > Network & Internet > VPN. This will improve discoverability of the VPN that Google provides freely to Pixel 8 users and also make controlling its settings feel more native.

Under the hood, this integration is made possible by a new pre-installed app called AdaptiveVPN, system overlays that flip the config_advanced_vpn_enabled and config_pixel_vpn_enabled flags, and new code in settings added in Android 13 QPR1.

Google touts the ability to use your phone as a webcam as an Android 14 feature.

However, the DeviceAsWebcam app wasn't in any of the Android 14 DPs/Betas and was only added in the Android 14 QPR1 beta. This means that the feature will likely only be available in the upcoming December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop.

As I previously said, the DAW app isn't included by default when compiling the initial Android 14 release from source, but the source code for the app is there. It's built by default when compiling Android 14 QPR1, though.

The Android 14 landing page says that "you can soon use your Android phone as a beautiful webcam on a video call simply by connecting a USB cable between your Android phone and any Windows, MacOS or Chrome OS computers" (emphasis mine). The footnote says that this is "available on compatible devices in available countries coming soon."

Compatible devices right now include the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series on the Android 14 QPR1 beta. I don't know if the Pixel 8 on the UD1A build has it, nor do I know if the Pixel 6/Pixel 7 stable update rolling out today has it either. I also don't know why it's seemingly limited by country? That doesn't make much sense to me.

Here's the source code for Android 14's webcam app. The Manifest tag for android-14.0.0_rXX hasn't appeared yet, but I'm pretty sure it won't include this repo.

#PixelWatch2
Pixel Watch 2 gets new straps and a color refresh for existing ones
9To5Google

With the Pixel Watch 2 release, Google introduced three new bands and new colorways for current straps.

The brand new straps are:
• Active Sport Band in Obsidian, Porcelain, Moondust, Coral, and Hazel
• Metal Mesh Band in Polished Silver, Matte Black and Champagne Gold. Only compatible with the 2
• Metal Slim Band in Polished Silver, Matte Black and Champagne Gold. Only compatible with the 2

The straps that got a color refresh are:
• Stretch Band in Coral. Bay, Porcelain and Sage
• Woven Band in dark Sage (to replace Lemongrass) and Bay
• Two-Tone Leather in Bay and Porcelain
• Crafted Leather in Blue Moondust

Besides that, there's a Medical ID Tag which slides onto a band to inform others that you have a Medical ID on your watch.

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