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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The November Pixel drop is bringing new features to Pixel phones.
- Users are getting scam protection, notification summaries, and more.
- The features will start rolling out today.
Heads up, Pixel users, your phone is getting some pretty cool new features for free thanks to the November Pixel Drop.
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Not only are you getting an additional layer of protection against scams, you’re getting a new way to make sure you don’t miss messages from important people, a way to get a summary of a long message thread, some fun photo tools, and more. These features will start rolling out today, Google says, but it might take a few days to reach all users.
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What’s new in the November Pixel Drop?
Let’s take a look at what’s new.
1. Scam Detection in messages
Similar to the feature that listens in on your calls and alerts you to scams, Google Pixel 6 and newer phones are getting a layer of protection for text scams. When you get a chat notification from popular apps (Google didn’t specifically name which ones) that looks suspicious, you’ll see a “Likely scam” alert that gives you time to detect fraud.
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2. Pixel VIPs upgrade
Staying in contact with your important contacts, or your Pixel VIPs (if you’re not using this feature yet, you really should), is getting a little easier. Your phone can now prioritize notifications of messages from your VIPs, making sure you don’t miss a message. VIPs also now have a crisis badge in the Contacts widget to keep you posted on critical alerts.
3. Notification Summaries
If you just want the TL;DR, your Pixel can now give you a summary of your longer conversations. Google explains that lengthy texts across chat apps are easily recapped in your notification shade, letting you quickly catch up on busy group texts and long chat threads. These are only for the Pixel 9 and above.
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In addition, Google says that in December, your Pixel will help further reduce notification overwhelm by organizing and silencing lower-priority notifications.
4. Magic Cue gets more timely
Magic Cue was arguably the flagship AI feature when Google announced the Pixel 10 series in August. Now, the context-offering AI feature will be able to give more timely prompts and suggestions, thanks to a new Private AI Compute.
It’s essentially a cloud engine that taps into more recent public information to give better responses when the setting is right, whether you’re in a text message conversation or phone call. Note that this still only works on Pixel 10 models.
5. Remix in Google Messages
The Remix feature that hit Google Photos over the summer is now available in Google Messages.
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You can edit or reimagine any photo in Messages, even in a group chat, into various styles, such as anime, comic, 3D animation, or sketch. Everyone can view your remixed photos, even if they’re not using a Google phone. Additionally, if you’re chatting with another Google Messages user, you can both remix the same photo back and forth. This feature is available on the Pixel 6 and above, as well as all other Android devices.
Bonus. Wicked: For Good Theme packs
If you can’t wait to get your Oz fix, check out the new “Wicked: For Good” theme packs to customize your Pixel with wallpapers, icons, system sounds, and GIFs inspired by the film. Three styles are available — For Good, Glinda, and Elphaba. These are available for the Pixel 6 and up.
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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
