Google Pixel update adds battery-saving maps mode, AI photo remixing, and smarter notifications

Google Unveils Pixel Drop Update with Exciting New Features

Google has recently announced its latest software update for Pixel phones, known as Pixel Drop. This quarterly feature release brings a host of new capabilities to existing devices, enhancing the user experience. Some of the key features included in this update are notification summaries, a power-saving mode for the Maps app, prompt-based edits for Photos, and Gemini Nano-powered photo edits in Messages.

Notification Summaries and More

One of the standout features of the Pixel Drop update is the introduction of notification summaries. Similar to Apple’s notification summaries, Google is now offering this feature for longer chats and conversations on Pixel 9 and later devices. In addition, Google will be rolling out a feature in December that will silence low-priority notifications. This update brings Google closer to Apple’s Priority Notification feature, which highlights important notifications.

Enhancements for Maps App

Google is also introducing a new low-power mode for its Maps app, designed to conserve battery life. This feature will darken the screen and display only essential information, such as navigation routes and upcoming turns. Pixel 10 series users can benefit from this feature, saving up to four hours of battery life.

Expanded Features and Enhancements

Google is expanding its scam detection capabilities for phone calls using Gemini Nano and on-device speech detection. This feature, previously available to Pixel 9 and later models in the U.S., is now being extended to users in the U.K., Ireland, India, Australia, and Canada. Additionally, Google is introducing a “Likely a scam” button in notifications to help users identify potentially fraudulent messages.

The popular Nano Banana image model is now powering a new feature called Remix in the Messages app. This feature, enabled for users in select countries with RCS support, allows users to reimagine photos using prompts.

In addition, Google has added a Pixel VIPs feature that prioritizes notifications from designated contacts. This feature is further enhanced in the November Pixel Drop update, with crisis badges appearing for contacts in affected areas.

Furthermore, Google is introducing an AI-powered editing feature for Google Photos, expanding call transcription support to additional countries, and offering a themed pack based on the movie “Wicked: For Good” for Pixel 6 and later devices.