Google’s January 2024 Pixel Feature Drop Adds Circle to Search, Thermometer, Magic Compose, and more

At the Galaxy AI S24 launch event, Samsung and Google collaborated to showcase tons of AI (Artificial Intelligence) features coming to several Android phones this year. One of the most intriguing AI features, and the highlight of the Galaxy AI event, was Circle to Search. Using this new AI feature, you can search anything on your Android phone using a simple gesture without switching apps. You can Circle, Highlight, Scribble, or Tap whatever you’re curious about on your screen to learn more.

Google’s January 2024 Pixel Feature Drop brings Circle to Search, a Thermometer app to record body temperature right on your phone, Photomoji for messages and replies, Magic Compose for AI replies to messages, and Quick Share in collaboration with Samsung. Uncover how these updates redefine the Pixel experience.

January 2024 Pixel Feature Drop: Thermometer, Circle to Search, and More

Google has rolled out a feature-packed January 2024 Feature Drop for the Pixel series, aligning with the Mint 8 and 8 Pro. This update brings a Thermometer app, Circle to Search, Photomoji, and Magic Compose. Uncover how these updates redefine the Pixel experience.

Join AndroidSage Telegram Channel

Pixel 8 Pro’s Thermometer App: Recording Body Temperature Made Easy

As promised at the Pixel 8 Pro launch, the Thermometer app is now a reality. Users can conveniently record body temperature using the Camera Bar, placing it close to the forehead’s center and tapping the screen. A seamless process involves moving the phone across the forehead to the temple within seconds, with a confirming vibration for a successful measurement. Readings are then stored in the Fitbit app, providing a valuable health monitoring feature.

Circle to Search: A Seamless Search Experience

A notable addition to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro is the Circle to Search feature. Users can activate it by long-pressing the home button or gesture navigation bar, revealing a wide touch target that shrinks down while held. This triggers a Google Search bar accompanied by a vibrant animation. The unique aspect is the ability to circle, squiggle, highlight, scribble or tapping over anything on the screen for detailed information. The results appear in a bottom sheet, offering options to refine through text search, tap, or highlight for OCR copying/translation.

Consider this scenario: intrigued by a creator’s fashion choices in a social post, Circle to Search allows you to delve into similar options and make purchases without leaving your current app. No longer will you need to interrupt your experience by switching between apps. This innovation extends beyond visual searches; you can also pose complex questions about items using generative AI, obtaining nuanced information from across the web.

In order to access it, go to any image or video, just long press the home button to invoke Circle to search And from there, you can select any item like these sunglasses, to quickly uncover similar options and where to buy them without leaving where you are. You could also scribble an object like shoes or a bag to see what that is.

Photomoji and Magic Compose: Messaging Reimagined

Google is pushing Photomoji and Magic Compose out of beta in Messages. Pixel 8 Pro users can leverage the on-device Gemini Nano model for creative message suggestions. Magic Compose offers replies and remixes in various styles, adding a layer of personalization to messaging. Custom Photomoji reactions and stickers can be effortlessly created by long-pressing on a message and swiping until the “Create” option appears. Google’s AI identifies the main subject in pictures, making messaging more expressive and engaging.

Quick Share and Seamless Audio Switching: Enhancing Connectivity

Google is rebranding Nearby Share to Quick Share, featuring a new icon and UI. This update aims to streamline the sharing process. Additionally, Seamless Audio Switching is now available for the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. Similar to the experience on phones and the Pixel Tablet, Pixel Buds Pro can quickly connect when starting music on the wearable, ensuring a seamless audio transition.

The January 2024 Pixel Feature Drop is set to roll out starting on today, marking another significant leap in enhancing the Pixel user experience.

List of AI features coming to your Android device

Here are Samsung’s Galaxy AI features that twill come to more Android devices:

• Chat Assist for changing the tone, translating or spell-checking your text message before sending it.
• Live Translate for translating calls in 13 languages during a conversation
• Circle to Search, which lets you launch a Google search for any object in a photo or video using gestures like circling, scribbling, and tapping it.
• Note Assist for summarizing, translating and formatting files in Samsung’s Notes app and generating digital covers for notes.
• Magic Compose and Photomoji, similar to Google’s Magic Editor lets you manipulate and move objects in photos
• Transcript Assist in Samsung’s recording app for providing transcriptions and summarizing conversations