Google rolls out new Pixel features, adds 'safety check' for when you're alone outside

Google just announced some new software features coming to Pixel devices. One of the more notable ones focuses on personal safety. The company introduces a new "safety check" tool to help keep you safe while you're out somewhere alone (maybe on a walk or run or something). 

If you have safety check enabled, you can set a time for your Pixel phone to check in on you. When that time comes, it'll take over your screen and ask you about your status. You can dismiss the prompt and confirm you're okay, start sharing your location with emergency contacts immediately, or dial 911.

If you don't respond within a minute, safety check will let your emergency contacts know and give your location on Google Maps. The option doesn't exist for emergency responders, most likely to avoid false positives. The introduction of safety check builds on Google's car-crash detection feature introduced last year. 

The Personal Safety app is now also coming to all Pixel devices, and car-crash detection will be coming to the Pixel 3.

Google is also introducing a new bedtime mode to the Clock app to hopefully help you maintain a consistent sleep schedule as well as monitor your screen time at night. And if you stay up past your bedtime, it'll show a snapshot of how much time you've spent awake and what apps you've used. In the morning, you can wake up to your favourite song, with the screen gradually brightening with Sunrise Alarm.

If you use the Google Recorder app, you can now use Google Assistant to start recording for you and help you look for existing recordings. But even better, you can automatically get a transcript of your recording in Google Docs.

The company has also improved its adaptive battery feature. According to the official blog post, "Now, Adaptive Battery on Pixel 2 and newer devices can predict when your battery will run out and further reduce background activity to keep your Pixel powered longer."