Google Wallet gets Digital Passports and Pixel phones get battery-saving features
Google Wallet can now store digital versions of your US passport! This can be used for domestic travel security checks at TSA checkpoints if your state doesn’t offer a digital ID yet.
Here’s how to add your passport to Google Wallet:
- Open the Google Wallet app on your Android phone (version 9 or later).
- Tap “Add to Wallet” and then “ID” followed by “ID Pass.”
- Follow the steps to scan your passport information page and the security chip inside the back cover.
- Record a short video of yourself for verification.
Important things to remember:
- This digital passport isn’t a replacement for your physical passport, so always carry both when traveling.
- It currently only works for domestic travel within the US.
- If you lose your phone, you can remove the digital passport from your Google account.
Pixel phones get new features to improve battery health!
The latest update lets you set a charging limit of 80% to slow down battery degradation. There’s also a hidden feature called “bypass charging” that might be even more helpful.
What is bypass charging?
With bypass charging, when your battery reaches 80%, your phone will continue to use power directly from the charger instead of the battery. This reduces wear and tear on the battery, especially while gaming or using demanding apps.
Is bypass charging available on all Pixel phones?
It’s not entirely clear yet. The 80% charging limit works on many Pixel models, but bypass charging has only been confirmed on the Pixel 8 Pro so far. It likely works on Pixel 8, 8a, and the Pixel 9 series too, but Google hasn’t officially confirmed this.
Pixel Screenshots get smarter!
The latest update for Pixel Screenshots on Pixel 9 phones integrates with Gboard. Now, when you take a screenshot that includes a movie, song, or product, Pixel Screenshots remembers that information.
How does this help?
For example, if you screenshot a song title and then open a music app, Gboard might autofill the song name for you. This feature is called “proactive recall.”
Other Pixel Screenshots updates:
- The image viewer now suggests more search terms based on your screenshots.
- The app automatically categorizes your screenshots (this might take some time).
- You can easily save a specific part of a screenshot with “Circle to Search.”
This update also brings new features to Gboard, including a sticker pack and the ability to browse Emoji Kitchen combinations.
Several updates are coming to Android, impacting cameras, the Phone app, lock screen customization, and Gemini’s capabilities.
Enhanced Low-Light Photography with Android 16
Android 16 will introduce a “Night Mode Indicator API,” helping camera and social media apps better detect low-light conditions. This API will provide apps with three states: “Unknown” (if lighting conditions can’t be determined), “Off” (sufficient light), and “On” (low light, suggesting Night Mode). This will allow apps like Instagram to automatically recommend Night Mode when needed, improving photo quality in dark environments. This feature could be integrated into apps as early as June 2025, coinciding with Android 16’s expected release.
Pixel Phone App Gets Prominent Audio Emoji Button
Google is testing a more prominent placement for audio emojis in the Pixel Phone app. A large “Audio Emoji” button is being tested above the keypad, making it easier to access during calls. This change is currently in beta testing and may not be immediately available to all users.
More Lock Screen Customization Coming to Android
Android is preparing more granular lock screen clock customization. Beyond the current options for clock style, color, and size, future updates will allow users to adjust weight, width, roundness, and slant. This enhanced customization is being developed in the latest Android 15 beta, although a release date is not yet confirmed.
Gemini “2.0 Experimental Advanced” Offers Improved Performance
Gemini Advanced subscribers now have access to “2.0 Experimental Advanced,” a new model offering significantly improved performance on complex tasks like coding, math, reasoning, and instruction following. This model, designated “Gemini-Exp-1206,” is designed for tackling complex coding challenges, solving mathematical problems, and providing detailed instructions. It’s currently at the top of the Chatbot Arena LLM Leaderboard. It may not function perfectly as an experimental feature and lacks real-time information access and compatibility with some Gemini features. This is available through the $19.99/month Google One AI Premium subscription.
Google’s Pixel phones have sometimes struggled with overheating and poor signal due to their modems. To improve this, the upcoming Pixel 10 may use a modem from MediaTek instead of Samsung.
Why MediaTek?
- Better Battery Life: MediaTek modems are known for their energy efficiency, which is crucial for Google, who prioritize long battery life in their phones.
- Cost-Effective: MediaTek modems are generally more affordable than those from Qualcomm, which could help Google keep the Pixel 10’s price competitive.
What to Expect:
- Improved Performance: Google likely chose MediaTek’s modem because they believe it will offer better performance than the Samsung modems used in previous Pixel phones.
- New Technology: The Pixel 10 may use the unreleased MediaTek T900 modem, which supports the latest 5G technology.
While the performance of this new modem is unknown, the switch to MediaTek could be a significant step towards improving the overall user experience of future Pixel phones.
Google Drive’s mobile document scanner is getting a helpful upgrade! You can now automatically enhance scanned documents with just a tap.
What’s New?
- Automatic Enhancement: A new “Enhance” feature automatically improves the quality of scanned documents.
- Improved Clarity: This feature adjusts brightness, contrast, and removes shadows to make your scans look clearer and easier to read.
- Supports Various Document Types: Enhance works well on receipts, documents, ID cards, and more.
How to Use It:
- Scan a Document: Use the Google Drive app to scan your document.
- Tap “Enhance”: After scanning, tap the sparkle icon to automatically enhance the image.
Availability:
This new feature is currently rolling out to all Google Drive users, including personal and business accounts.
Enjoy Sharper Scans!
With this enhancement, scanning documents with Google Drive is now easier and more convenient than ever before.
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