Google

Google Pixel 9 introduces Adaptive Touch: enhanced sensitivity for any environment

Published

4 weeks ago

August 24, 2024

Tom Carter

Top 3 Key Points:

Adaptive Touch automatically adjusts screen sensitivity based on your environment.
Works seamlessly with wet fingers, outperforming previous models.
The feature is enabled by default and can be fine-tuned in settings.

Google recently launched the Pixel 9 series, and even though the phones have only been out for a couple of weeks, we’re still uncovering new features that weren’t highlighted during the initial announcement. One such feature is the Adaptive Touch, which significantly upgrades touch sensitivity.

You can find Adaptive Touch under Settings > Display > Touch sensitivity. This feature, when enabled, allows the phone’s touch sensitivity to automatically adapt to your surroundings, your activities, and even the presence of a screen protector.

Earlier this year, rumors suggested that the Pixel 9 would introduce Adaptive Touch, but the specifics were unclear at that time. Now, with the Pixel 9 in hand, it’s evident that one of the factors influencing this feature is the presence of moisture, such as when your fingers or the screen are wet.

In practical tests, the Pixel 9’s touch performance with Adaptive Touch enabled was compared to the Pixel 8 Pro, which lacks this feature. The difference was noticeable: the Pixel 9 handled wet fingers much better, maintaining smooth scrolling without the erratic behavior seen on the Pixel 8 Pro.

Although I haven’t yet tried using a screen protector with the Pixel 9, Adaptive Touch will likely enhance touch sensitivity when a protector is detected, just as it does on the Pixel 8. However, the Pixel 9 extends this functionality to adapt to more diverse situations, making it a more responsive device overall.

On both the Pixel 9 review unit and a Pixel 9 Pro XL retail unit, Adaptive Touch was enabled by default. While there’s little reason to disable it, you can easily manage this setting under Settings > Display > Touch sensitivity.

If you’ve already gotten your hands on a Pixel 9, share your experience with its touch sensitivity compared to your previous phone. If you encounter any issues, the new Touch Diagnostics menu under Settings > Display might help resolve them.

Source

Android

Android 15 delayed, Gemini Live now free for Android

Published

13 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Tom Carter

Key points:

Android 15 for Pixel devices was pushed back to October 15.
Gemini Live, Google’s AI assistant, is now available for free Android users.
Pixel 6 and later devices will get Android 15, but Pixel 6/6 Pro won’t get future updates.

Android 15 Delayed

Google’s latest Android update, Android 15, is taking a bit longer to reach Pixel phones. While it was released for developers in September, it won’t be available for Pixel users until October 15th. This delay is likely due to Google wanting to make sure the update is as bug-free as possible.

Gemini Live Goes Free

In other Google news, Gemini Live, the company’s AI assistant, is now free for Android users. This means you can use Gemini to help you with tasks like writing emails, summarizing articles, or even translating languages.

Pixel 6 and Later

The Pixel 6 and later devices will be the first to get Android 15. However, this will also be the last guaranteed update for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. While they will continue to receive security updates, they won’t get any new features after Android 15.

Google

Google Calendar and Circle to Search expand to more devices

Published

23 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Tom Carter

Key Points:

Google Calendar is coming to the New Tab Page in Chrome for Workspace users.
Circle to Search is expanding to more Android devices, including Xiaomi 14T.
Chrome is getting other new features for enterprise users.

Google Calendar on Chrome’s New Tab Page:

Google Workspace users will soon see their Google Calendar on the New Tab Page in Chrome. This will make it easier to see upcoming meetings and join them quickly. You’ll also see your daily schedule below the calendar.

Circle to Search Expanding to More Devices:

Circle to Search, a feature that lets you search by drawing circles around objects in your photos, is expanding to more Android devices. This feature was previously limited to Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices, but now it’s coming to Tecno and Xiaomi devices.

Other Chrome Updates:

Chrome is also getting other new features for enterprise users, such as a new sign-in flow that provides more transparency and a feature that lets admins set site shortcuts.

These updates are all designed to make it easier for businesses to use Chrome and Google Workspace.

Source/Via

Google

YouTube gets smarter: AI boosts Shorts and Studio

Published

1 day ago

September 18, 2024

Tom Carter

YouTube is making content creation easier and more fun with new AI features.

AI-powered video backgrounds: Create stunning visuals for your Shorts videos with Google’s Veo AI model.
AI-powered video ideas: Get inspiration for your next video with YouTube Studio’s AI-powered brainstorming tool.
AI-powered comments: Quickly respond to your viewers with AI-suggested replies.

YouTube is adding more AI features to help creators make better videos. One of the biggest announcements is the integration of Veo, a powerful AI model, into YouTube Shorts. This means you can create high-quality backgrounds and even short video clips using just a few words.

Imagine being able to describe a scene, like “a bustling city street at sunset,” and having Veo instantly generate a visually stunning background for your Short. Or, perhaps you need a quick clip to transition between two scenes; Veo can create a short video that perfectly fits your needs.

Another exciting feature is the new AI-powered brainstorming tool in YouTube Studio. This tool can suggest video ideas based on your channel’s history and what’s popular on YouTube. It’s like having a creative assistant that always has fresh ideas.

For example, if you’ve been creating cooking videos, the tool might suggest ideas like “Vegan cooking hacks” or “Quick and easy weeknight meals.” Or, if you’re a gaming channel, it could suggest ideas like “Top 5 new games to try” or “Let’s play a classic game.”

YouTube is also working on AI-powered comments. This feature will suggest replies to comments, making it easier for creators to engage with their audience.

For example, if a viewer leaves a comment saying “Great video!” the AI might suggest a reply like “Thanks for watching!” Or, if a viewer asks a question, the AI could suggest a helpful answer based on the video’s content.

These new AI features are making YouTube an even more powerful platform for creators. By automating tasks like background creation and idea generation, creators can spend more time focusing on what they do best: creating great content.