This June’s Pixel Feature Drop revealed that Gemini Nano, Google’s latest AI model optimized for on-device tasks, is now available as a developer option on Pixel 8 and 8a.
June Pixel Feature Drop brings a wealth of enhancements across Pixel phones, watches, and tablets, further solidifying their position as versatile and innovative tools.
What’s in Pixel Feature Drop?
While Gemini Nano takes the spotlight, the June Feature Drop extends beyond AI capabilities. Pixel phones now offer enhanced Recorder transcripts with speaker identification and downloadable summaries. This feature proves invaluable for students, professionals, and anyone who needs to capture and organize information from meetings or lectures.
Pixel 8a, 8, and 8 Pro users can enjoy their content on larger screens by connecting their phones to a computer monitor via USB-C. This simple yet impactful upgrade transforms your phone into a portable entertainment hub. Additionally, Find My Device receives a significant upgrade, allowing you to locate your phone even when it’s powered off or the battery is depleted.
Pixel Camera: Smart and user-friendly
The Pixel camera gets smarter with automatic selection of the best moment from HDR+ photos, ensuring your portraits are always in focus with a smile. A convenient reverse phone number lookup feature has been added to the call log, helping you identify unknown callers. Google Wallet expands to India, offering secure storage for boarding passes, loyalty cards, and other essentials. Additionally, manual camera lens selection gives you more control over your photography.
Pixel Watch 2: Safety and convenience
The Pixel Watch 2 introduces Car Crash Detection, a new safety feature that can automatically contact emergency services in case of a severe car accident. Fall Detection has also been improved to detect falls from bicycles, enhancing overall safety.
PayPal integration with Google Wallet on Pixel Watch allows for convenient payments without needing your physical wallet. The revamped Google Home app provides faster access to smart home devices directly from your wrist, making managing your home a breeze.
Pixel Tablet: Enhancing your smart home
Pixel Tablet users can now enjoy richer doorbell notifications when the tablet is docked in hub mode. This feature includes snapshots of visitors and the option for two-way talk or Quick Responses. The new Google Home Favorites widget offers quick access to compatible smart home devices from your home screen, simplifying your daily routines.
What is Gemini Nano?
So what is Gemini Nano and why all the hype?
Gemini Nano is Google’s most efficient AI model designed for on-device tasks. It allows your Pixel device to perform various AI functions without relying on an internet connection. In this June Feature Drop, Gemini Nano is introduced as a developer option for Pixel 8 and 8a, paving the way for a new wave of on-device AI capabilities.
And What is Gemini Nano for Pixel phones? Well, Pixel Feature Drop revealed that Gemini Nano enables the following features:
- On-device AI: Performs AI tasks without needing an internet connection.
- Enhanced Recorder app:
- Generates detailed summaries of recordings.
- Identifies speakers in recordings.
- Allows for exporting transcripts to text files or Google Docs.
- Future potential: Gemini Nano is a developer option, suggesting more features may be coming in the future.
How to enable developer options in Pixel 8
To enable developer options on your Pixel 8:
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on About phone.
- Scroll down again and tap on Build number seven times.
- You will see a message that says “You are now a developer!”.
- Go back to the main Settings menu.
- You should now see System listed. Tap on it.
- Tap on Developer options.
You can now access and modify the developer options on your Pixel 8.
Gemini Nano’s debut on Pixel 8 and 8a opens up exciting possibilities for AI-powered features, while enhancements across the Pixel portfolio cater to a wide range of user needs. Whether you’re a professional, a student, or simply someone who appreciates cutting-edge technology, Pixel devices have something to offer.
Featured image credit: Made by Google/YouTube
