Google’s March Pixel Drop is here with a ton of Android upgrades – Ars Technica
Even non-Pixel phones will get some goodies.
It’s time for Google’s newest Pixel Drop update, which will deliver a batch of enhancements to the company’s smartphones. Pixel Drops, which arrive quarterly, refine and expand the features on Pixel phones. This probably won’t come as a surprise, but AI plays a big role in the changes rolling out to Pixels this time around. There are also some new connectivity and photography options.A long-overdue update is coming to Google’s Pixel Studio app, which is preinstalled on the Pixel 9 series. The app lets you generate AI images, but person generation was not available at launch because of well-documented problems with the Imagen 3 model’s penchant for diversity. Google re-enabled person generation on the web about six months ago, but Pixel Studio is just now gaining this ability.Google’s AI will also begin butting in if it suspects a caller or message is attempting to scam you. Google says this feature (previously available as a limited beta) is not foolproof, as scammers often change up their tactics. However, it may help catch some of the less sophisticated scams that regularly ensnare your less technologically literate family and friends. This feature will be available in Google Messages with the Pixel 6 and later, but the phone call scam detection will require a Pixel 9 because it uses on-device AI features that only exist on Google’s latest phones. That makes it a little less creepy.Google also says that some of its preexisting AI features will come to new markets with this update. Both Germany and Japan will receive the Pixel Screenshots app, AI weather insights, and the Pixel Studio app just in time for person generation. Japan also gets the AI summarization features in Google’s Recorder app.As for the non-AI features, satellite messaging will expand in the new Pixel Drop. The Pixel 9 series is among a handful of phones that have satellite connectivity. When you’re outside of cellular coverage, Pixel phones can connect to compatible satellite networks to get emergency help. This feature was previously only live in the continental US, but now it’s coming to Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and Europe. Support for carrier satellite features is also expanding. At launch, Pixels only used Google’s own satellite SOS system, which is being provided free for the first two years. The new Pixel Drop will add Verizon and T-Mobile as supported carriers for satellite messaging.The Pixel 9 family will also get a nifty new video recording trick. After installing the Pixel Drop update, you’ll be able to connect a Pixel to another Pixel or a GoPro camera to record video from two different angles simultaneously. Google says this will make mobile recordings look more professional and expand shooting options. Only one phone needs to be a Pixel 9; the other can be a Pixel 6 or later. However, if using a GoPro, it needs to be the 2021 GoPro HERO10 Black or newer, and app support is limited to Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.Even if you don’t have a Pixel phone, Google has a few goodies waiting for you. These features are coming to all currently supported Android phones, including Pixels.The AI scam-detection feature from Pixel phones will be available to all Android devices in a more limited form. If someone is trying to scam you over text in the Google Messages app, the AI will be able to (potentially) recognize that and warn you, just like on a Pixel 6 through 8. However, only Pixel 9 phones have the phone call scam alerts.Google has supported myriad ways to share your location with others on Android over the years, but there’s a new one coming. Google’s recently revamped Find My Device platform will gain an option to share device locations with your contacts. This provides the same real-time location information you’d see in your app, but you can set a timeout or revoke access at any time.
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If you have Android Auto in your car, killing time in parking lots is about to get easier. Google says a new raft of games will soon be available on your car’s display, building on the simple GameSnacks from a previous update. The selections include but are not limited to Farm Heroes Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Angry Birds 2, and Beach Buggy Racing. That’s a lot of mindless free-to-play schlock, but how much depth do you really want in your in-car time-killers? Just make sure the games are installed on your phone and they’ll be available on the car screen. The new Android Auto games will thankfully only be accessible when your vehicle is stationary.Lastly, all Android users will see a new Chrome shopping tool appear as early as today (it may even have shown up early for some). The price-tracking icon next to the address bar is getting an upgrade—look for the new “Price is low” version of that button to get started. Tapping that will let you opt in to price drop notifications, which are not new. This pop-over now includes a handy historical price graph similar to what you’d get with a service like CamelCamelCamel.
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Unlike the Pixel Drop features, you won’t be seeing an OS update to enable these additions. Some features, like the Chrome price tracker, are server-side changes. Others, like AI scam detection, will arrive silently via Play Services. Google tells us the updates will begin rolling out today, but they could take a bit to reach all phones.Updated on 3/4/25 with further clarification of phone support for multi-camera streaming.Ars Technica has been separating the signal from
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