Big Pixel update lets you type to talk during phone calls

Big Pixel update lets you type to talk during phone calls

Google's latest feature Drop for Your Pixel phone supercharges the Live Caption feature for phone calls, so you can avoid speaking altogether. There are also new custom sticker options, YouTube Watch Party support in Duo, and Night Photography Mode for Snapchat. Google says the features from the Pixel 3A to 5A are available starting today and will be available on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro later this month.

Google's Live Caption feature could previously convert incoming phone call audio to text, but it's now being updated to work the other way around, allowing you to type text and have Google's software read in a phone call . A small GIF released by the company shows how to access the feature from the volume button menu and either type messages in full or choose from pre-written responses. The previously Pixel 6-exclusive Direct My Call and Wait Times features are also expanding to all Pixel phones going back to the Pixel 3A.

Pixel's At a Glance widget, which is designed to show important information directly on the home and lock screens, is also being upgraded to give more details about the battery life of connected Bluetooth devices (if you don't There's also a separate battery widget. (Want to trust at a glance). It now offers earthquake alerts as well as reminders to turn off the alarm a day before the holiday. At a Glance It's a spiritual successor Google's Snapshot feature has apparently been turned off.

Google Duo's co-watching and live sharing features are also coming to the Pixel after launching the Galaxy S22 earlier this year. They allow viewing of YouTube videos with friends on Google Duo, as well as sharing other apps. Snapchat is being updated with Night Sight support on Pixel devices, which should bring better photos in low light, while Gboard will offer stickers with custom text if your language is set to US English. Interpreter Mode, designed to translate face-to-face conversations, now supports Spanish, Italian and French on Pixel 6 devices.

Finally, already existing features are expanding into new languages. Google's Recorder app will now be able to transcribe Italian and Spanish on Pixel 6 series devices, while support for Assistant quick phrases is being expanded to Spanish, Italian, and French.