Google Pixel update adds battery-saving maps mode, AI photo remixing, and smarter notifications

Google announced its November bundle update for Pixel phones, called Pixel Drop — a quarterly diagnostic merchandise that brings caller capabilities to existing devices — with features including notification summaries, a power-saving mode for the Maps app, prompt-based edits for Photos, and Gemini Nano-powered photograph edits successful Messages.

Apple introduced notification summaries with its Apple Intelligence suite of features last year. Now, Google is catching up with its ain notification summaries for longer chats and conversations connected Pixel 9 and aboriginal devices. The institution said that successful December, it volition rotation retired a diagnostic that would soundlessness low-priority notifications. By comparison, Apple has a Priority Notification diagnostic that highlights important notifications.

Image credits: Google

Google is introducing a caller low-power mode for its Maps app that volition darken the surface and lone amusement important information, including the navigation way and details of the adjacent turn. The institution said that with this feature, which volition beryllium disposable to Pixel 10 bid users, you tin prevention up to 4 hours of artillery life.

Image Credits: Google

The institution antecedently introduced scam detection for telephone calls utilizing Gemini Nano and on-device code detection for users successful the U.S. with Pixel 9 and aboriginal models. It is present expanding this diagnostic to users successful the U.K., Ireland, India, Australia, and Canada.

Google is besides adding a mode to bespeak erstwhile a connection is perchance a scam, by including a “Likely a scam” fastener successful the notification for the message. This builds connected the company’s existing diagnostic that analyzes a message’s contented and detects spam oregon scam.

The company’s Nano Banana representation exemplary has been fashionable among users. It is present adding a diagnostic called Remix, powered by that exemplary on with Gemini successful the Messages app, which lets you usage a photograph and reimagine it utilizing prompts. The diagnostic is being rolled retired to users successful the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, and New Zealand with RCS enabled and enactment for the English language.

Google added a Pixel VIPs feature successful June that let’s you designate 8 of your closest contacts and get updates from them done a location surface widget. With the November Pixel Drop, notifications from these contacts volition beryllium prioritized. Plus, if an incidental similar a flood has occurred successful country they unrecorded in, you would spot a situation badge successful the contacts widget.

The institution is besides adding a caller AI-powered editing diagnostic for Google Photos. Users tin pat connected “Help maine edit” and inquire Photos to “Remove Riley’s sunglasses, unfastened my eyes, marque Engel grin and unfastened her eyes.” The diagnostic volition usage Google Photo’s look groups diagnostic to admit radical and use edits.

The November driblet besides expands enactment for a telephone transcription feature, called Call Notes, to Australia, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Japan. And it brings a “Wicked: For Good” taxable battalion with caller wallpapers, icons, strategy sounds, and GIFs based connected the movie for Pixel 6 and aboriginal devices.