Google Rolls Out Pixel Feature Drop Alongside March Security Update

Google has began rolling its newest March Security replace and it additionally brings alongside a bunch of latest function add-ons for varied supported Pixel gadgets due to the brand new Feature Drop. The safety patch is round 742MB in measurement (on our Pixel 8 overview unit) and is eligible for various Pixel gadgets, from the most recent Pixel 8 Pro to the Pixel Tablet and the Pixel 5a 5G, which is presently the oldest system to be supported after the Pixel 4a acquired its final official safety replace in November final 12 months.

Google Pixel March Security Update

Tagged as software program model AP1A.240305.019.A1, the March safety replace is offered for various Pixel smartphones, the Pixel Tablet and the one Google foldable in existence, the Pixel Fold. As common, the safety replace brings alongside a number of bug fixes and enhancements.

These embrace normal stability and efficiency enhancements “with certain apps” and a repair for Google Assistant when it refuses to reply on all latest Pixel smartphones in “certain conditions”. Fingerprint recognition on Pixel 6 via Pixel 8 Pro can also be mentioned to be improved in response.

The Google March safety replace is 742MB in measurement

There’s additionally a digicam repair for all latest Pixel smartphones the place the digicam would cease functioning totally. It is not clear if that is to do with the Night mode bug we seen in our Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro evaluations. The replace can also be mentioned to convey normal enhancements for system stability and efficiency, which ought to hopefully convey an finish to stuttery/janky scrolling points confronted by a number of customers.

Other fixes included are for the sensors (refuses to vibrate when new texts are available in), telephony (fails to route calls to linked Bluetooth gadgets) and even a problem the place customers might hear distortion in audio when putting calls. There are even various fixes to the consumer interface, from inflicting the sport dashboard to cease functioning to residence display screen icons disappearing, to caught reside wallpapers, to the taskbar icons and buttons not responding in sure circumstances.

Google Pixel March Feature Drop

As for the Google Feature Drop, it’ll robotically direct updates to varied gadgets you personal or your smartphones are linked to. The Pixel Feature Drop is restricted to gadgets that run Android 14, and the rollout, as common, can be phased. Those who’ve acquired the March Security Update can even should replace their particular person apps for a number of the new options to seem.

Supported Pixel smartphones will get enhancements to the Call Screen function, which is simply out there in sure areas. The new replace makes the decision screening function higher when the caller occurs to be silent on the opposite finish. The replace provides a “hello” chip to the interface, which, when activated, will now immediate the caller to talk.

While not too long ago launched Pixel fashions are already able to taking pictures excessive distinction 10-bit HDR movies, customers can now share these HDR movies and images straight on Instagram Reels. Strangely, Samsung smartphones acquired the function previous to Google’s Pixel’s gadgets.

Google Pixel Watch acquired a brand new exercises consumer interface with the most recent Pixel Feature Drop
Photo Credit: Google

Another function which was made out there on Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence concurrently was Circle to Search. And Google has introduced that it’s lastly making its method to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro as nicely. However, Google has explicitly talked about that the Pixel 7 fashions is not going to get them instantly. Marked as “coming soon”, it’s a little bit of a ready recreation for Pixel 7 house owners for now.

Moving to the Pixel Watch, Google has lastly added updates from its Pixel Watch 2 to the older, first-generation Pixel Watch. This contains options like Pace Training (set a aim tempo throughout train) and Heart Zone Training (monitor time spent in every zone). There’s additionally auto-pause, auto-start and auto-stop, decreasing the necessity to manually begin and cease a exercise. However, auto exercise detection solely works for operating, strolling, elliptical, spinning, outside biking, treadmill, and rowing workouts. Lastly, Google up to date the exercise interface to incorporate bigger textual content and brighter colors for higher visibility and readability. Those with entry to the Fitbit app can even now see new respiratory workouts out there on the first-gen Pixel Watch.

The Pixel Watch additionally will get public transit instructions on the show itself. Different transit choices can be out there, together with real-time departures and a compass-enabled map view.

For Pixel gadgets on the whole, Google has additionally launched the power to share exactly what’s in your display screen as an alternative of every thing that is seen in your display screen when display screen sharing. Users can share only one app as an alternative of exhibiting all the display screen, whether or not a telephone, pill or a foldable Pixel system.

Google Docs now permits for handwritten markups, which may be scribbled utilizing a devoted stylus or perhaps a finger. The markup function in Google Docs additionally features a set of instruments offering quite a lot of pen colors and highlighters to select from.

Lastly, Google’s Pixel Tablet lastly will get a extra smart Gboard voice toolbar. The toolbar takes over when voice enter is activated and removes the keyboard from view, letting you view content material and dictate textual content into the textual content discipline utilizing a skinny pill-shaped bar on the backside.