Google Cast is getting better support for short form content, fixing a common problem, and expanding to new devices.

A new “auto-play” button can appear when you’re casting a short form video, giving you the option to cast just that specific video or automatically continue playing the next video after the current one ends. Speaking of short form video, you can now cast TikTok content from your phone! In the near future, you’ll also be able to cast live videos from TikTok.

A new “Persistent Cast icon” ensures the Cast icon will appear whenever users need it, even when no nearby Cast devices are detected. This is because users have complained that the Cast icon is missing, so now the Cast icon will persist to help explain why a specific device might not be visible. Developers are generally recommended to place the Cast icon prominently on every screen with playable content in the top right corner.

New devices with Google Cast support include LG’s 2024 TV series, and later this year, LG Hospitality and Healthcare products such as those in hotel rooms. Google says there are now over 220 million monthly active Google TV and Android TV OS devices (which all ship with Chromecast built-in).

Lastly, for Web Receiver apps streaming HLS content, Google is asking developers to migrate to Shaka Player for playback, since the current player (MPL) won’t get any feature updates. The Cast Web Receiver SDK has gained increased support for HLS playback using Shaka Player on cast device targets and has added an opt-in flag to enable it.

The Galaxy S24 features Circle to Search, a new way to search your screen. You just long press the home button then draw a circle, tap, or scribble on a part of your screen to select text or images to search Google. This opens Google Lens to search that part of your screen.

This is also coming to the Pixel 8 series, likely with the March 2024 Pixel Feature Drop (I first spotted this feature in the Android 14 QPR2 beta).

First Look at Google Pixel 9 Pro Renders
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The Google Pixel 9 Pro will come with a circa 6.5-inch flat display which is of course less than the Pixel 8 Pro size which measures a 6.7-inch display

Since the display size is smaller, this confirms that Pixel 9 Ultra will debut this time as well with a larger display size as it was rumored

There's a new Camera design with a periscope telephoto sensor this time.

The large sensor on the camera island suggests that Google will likely equip the device with support for variable aperture 🎉

Pixel 9 will also feature "Pixie", a new AI assistant, exclusive to Google Pixels which will be powered by Gemini, Google's most powerful data model

Some of the features of Pixie would be that it can pull information from Gmail, Maps, and other “data from Google products” on your phone to “evolve into a far more personalized version of the Google Assistant

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Google Pixel 8a box images leaked
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Google Pixel 8a is confirmed to be launching likely in May 2024 and Google hasn't cancelled it as it was rumoured because of Pixel 7a bad sales

Pixel 8a will pack a 6.1" OLED Flat Display with 90Hz refresh rate and goofy bezels while being slimmer than Pixel 7a.
It will be powered by Google Tensor G3 SoC

Google will once again switch to Qualcomm wi-fi chipset as it did with Pixel 7a

8a will use WCN6856 Qualcomm Wi-fi chip (same used in Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) meanwhile the Pixel 8/Pro uses the Broadcom BCM4389 Wi-Fi chip

Pixel 8a will support 27W fast charging

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First Look at Google Pixel 9 Renders
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Pixel 9 will be the first vanilla pixel with triple rear cameras including a telephoto camera as well 🎉

It will sport a 6.2-inch OLED Display with 120Hz refresh rate

Vanilla Pixel 9 will also feature a temperature sensor similar to the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro

Pixel 9 series will be powered by Google Tensor G4 SoC.
It is been reported that the test order for Tensor G4 will be handed over to the Taiwanese factory for the first time, and KYEC will win the order.

However, Tensor G4 will still be manufactured by Samsung Foundry on its advanced 4nm process
(SAME node on which Exynos 2400 has been manufactured)

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Google has announced a "Mint" color for the Pixel 8 series (only available from the Google Store with 128GB storage), alongside a new Pixel Feature Drop for January 2024! This Feature Drop is a bit unusual since it isn't accompanied by a new QPR update, but it does bring some interesting features.

For example, the Pixel 8 Pro's Thermometer app is finally getting the ability to measure body temperature! This means the FDA has authorized the Pixel Thermometer to take body temperature readings. Any temperature results you take can be synced to your Fitbit account.

Both Pixel Watch models now support automatic audio switching, which means your Pixel Buds Pro can seamlessly switch from a Pixel Tablet to your paired Pixel phone.

Also, Quick Share (the revamped/rebranded version of Google's Nearby Share) should be rolling out soon, so you can look forward to that.

A more exciting development is the rollout of the Circle to Search feature Google announced at Galaxy Unpacked. Google reiterates that they'll roll this out to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro on January 31, but it's also already available on the Galaxy S24 series. (I shared a method with my Patreon/X subscribers to enable this feature on other Pixel devices right now, but it requires root to spoof the Pixel 8.)

Lastly, Google is starting to more widely roll out the Photomoji and Magic Compose features in the Google Messages app for Pixel users. Photomoji lets you turn any photo into a custom reaction or sticker, while Magic Compose helps you rewrite messages in different styles using generative AI.

Photomoji is available for the Pixel 3a and later, while Magic Compose is only available for the Pixel 6 and later (processing happens on-device in the case of the Pixel 8 Pro).

Google is rolling out the update to the Pixel Thermometer app that enables body temperature scanning on the Pixel 8 Pro, but only if you're in the U.S.

The app checks that the ISO country code using the TelephonyManager.getSimCountryIso() method returns "us", which means your SIM has to be connected to a network in the U.S.

This is because Google has only received approval to use this feature in the U.S. so far, but if you're outside of the U.S., modders have already figured out how to forcefully enable this feature. Using the same method used to enable VoLTE/VoWiFi in unsupported regions, @nullby whipped up a quick app that lets you change the ISO country code read by the app to whatever you want. So you just grant the app shell-level privileges using Shizuku so it can call the TelephonyManager APIs and then use the app to set the country code to "us", unlocking the body temperature scanning feature in the Thermometer app.

The best part is that this persists even if you reset the country code (as you should) so long as you don't wipe the data of the app or uninstall it.

Screenshots via @nailsad_eleos.