Google Pixel update introduces digital car key enhancements for Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro

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Another notable addition to Google's latest round of Pixel feature drop will make some BMW drivers happy. The update allows Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro owners to use ultra-wideband technology for their digital car keys. This will let you unlock or lock a compatible car or even start your engine with it without taking your Pixel out of your pocket. The compatible vehicles, in this case, are "select 2022+ BMW models." Right now, the existing digital car key feature uses NFC. And that still requires you to hold up your phone near your car door handle. This new feature is expected to land in the coming weeks.

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Google's latest Pixel feature drop brings new Live Bloom wallpaper collection

Google's December Pixel feature drop brings a new Live Bloom wallpaper collection. It comes with four wallpapers: Boat Orchid, Flamingo Flower, Maki Dahlia, and Persian Buttercup. These wallpapers are designed to bring "your Pixel screen to life with images that shift and sway when your phone moves." Each background generates 12 Dynamic Colour palettes. Live Bloom is only available on the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 7, and 7 Pro.

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Google Pixel 7, 7 Pro only support 64-bit apps

Android devices that support 64-bit apps typically support legacy 32-bit ones, too. But this time, Google opted out of offering that option. The Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are the first ones to support 64-bit apps exclusively. According to the company, dropping support for 32-bit apps allow these phones to reduce RAM usage and boost performance and security. Google believes the Android ecosystem is ready for this transition and expects other devices to follow suit in the future.

Google says this configuration is faster because 64-bit apps can access instructions and resources that 32-bit apps can't. It claims modern CPUs can offer up to 25% faster performance when 32-bit support is dropped. And it frees up 150MB of RAM, which 32-bit apps use whether they're running or not. Google encourages developers to start testing apps and updates for 64-bit-only devices. It offers developer tools for testing compatibility issues with the new configuration. Meanwhile, 32-bit-only devices will continue to serve Android Go, Android TV, and Android Wear.

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You can now pre-order the Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro

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After teasing the device in May, Google has officially unveiled the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The pre-orders for both are already up, with shipping next week. Google focused on improving the camera and its updated Tensor G2 processor for the new series. The new chip handles everything from advanced image processing, expanded security (thanks to the Titan M2), system cache, and machine learning. Google says the G2 improves most of the phone's features. The new Pixels will also get built-in VPN via Google One later this year.

These Android 13-powered devices get a 2x crop-mode zoom to their 50-megapixel primary sensor, which produces 12.5-megapixel photos from the center of the sensor; faster Night Sight low-light shooting; better skin tones; and Guided Frame, an audible help for vision-impaired users who want to take selfies. Google also introduces a still-photo Unblur algorithm that can now sharpen old photos and a new Cinematic Blur that mimics Apple's Cinema Mode. 

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