Google Pixel phones get small software update as everyone hungers for Pixel 4a

Software appetizers before the Android 11 main course

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While we all wait forAndroid 11’s official launch, and perhaps even word of theGoogle Pixel 4a,Googlehas announced a small software update with new features that have begun rolling out to Pixel phones.

Almost all of these updates are coming to the full line of handsets, from the newestGoogle Pixel 4to theGoogle Pixel 2– sorry, original Pixel owners. They aren’t exactly a preview of all the exciting features we expect to see in Android 11, but they’re at least quality-of-life upgrades on features like battery, bedtime activity monitoring, and the Recorder app.

Pixel 2 phones and newer get improvements to their Clock app for late-night activity monitoring: if you stay up past your set bedtime, the app will track what apps you’re using and how long as a gentle nudge to stick to your sleep schedule. You can also set ‘calming sounds’ to fall asleep to, limit interruptions while sleeping, and set either a wake-up tune or a gradually brighter screen with the new Sunrise Alarm.

Google phones will also get an upgrade to Recorder app that integrates it with Google Assistant, letting you “Hey Google’ to start recording or intelligently search for keywords or subjects along with saving directly to Google Docs.

Google Pixel 2 phones and newer will get improvements to Adaptive Battery that predicts when you’ll run out of juice and further reduces background activity to keep your phone on longer.

Personal Safety app expanding to other Pixel phones - and getting Safety Check

At long last, the Pixel 4’s neat Personal Safety app is now available on the Pixel 2 and newer phones. The app’s crash detection feature is also headed to theGoogle Pixel 3(but sadly, not theGoogle Pixel 3a), allowing the older phone to detect collisions  and automatically contact emergency aid.

The Personal Safety app is also getting a new feature called ‘safety check’ that will schedule check-ins with phone owners when they’ve engaged in potentially risky activity – for instance, if you go on a hike and don’t respond to the check-in, your phone will reach out to emergency contacts and share your real-time location viaGoogle Maps. Another new feature, ‘crisis alerts,’ will sign you up for notifications about nearby natural disasters or other public emergencies.

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David is now a mobile reporter at Cnet. Formerly Mobile Editor, US for TechRadar, he covered phones, tablets, and wearables. He still thinks the iPhone 4 is the best-looking smartphone ever made. He’s most interested in technology, gaming and culture – and where they overlap and change our lives. His current beat explores how our on-the-go existence is affected by new gadgets, carrier coverage expansions, and corporate strategy shifts.

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