Google Pixel's Magic Eraser feature comes to more devices

Photos: Google

As announced last month, Google is bringing some of its newer Pixel features to more devices. One of the notable rollouts is its Magic Eraser tool. The feature can digitally take out unwanted objects (or even people) in photos to get you the look you want. It launched on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro and came to last year's Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, which made us believe it was only available on phones running on Google's Tensor chipset.

But Google has started to roll it out to older Pixel devices, and those with Google One subscriptions on Android and iOS can access it, too. Your phone needs at least 3GB of RAM and runs on Android 8.0 or iOS 15.0 or later.

Source

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.

Source

Google Pixel 6's weak notifications vibration gets fixed in May Pixel update

Photo by Thai Nguyen on Unsplash

The latest update for Google Pixel devices includes an update that fixes the weaker vibration levels felt on the Pixel 6. The Verge's Richard Lawler reports that he has noticed the vibrations to be stronger after installing the update. If that isn't something you want, you can lower its intensity in the settings. 

Other fixes that come with this update include fixing the display's sudden wake-up without interaction and a problem that crashes the launcher. The update also brings security fixes from the Pixel 3a to the Pixel 6.

Google Pixel repair parts will be available on iFixit

If you can handle smartphone repairs yourself and have a Pixel phone, it'll be easier to look for genuine spare parts online. Google partnered with iFixit to offer a "full range of spare parts for common Pixel phone repairs," including batteries, cameras, and displays. These will be available individually or as part of iFixit Fix Kits with the necessary tools and repair guides. 

Parts for the 2017 Pixel 2 to last year's Pixel 6 Pro will be offered, and Google commits to supporting future phones. The "Geniune Google Parts" will be available starting "later this year" in Canada, the US, the UK, the EU, and Australia. Google has "independent repair professionals and skilled consumers with the relevant technical experience" in mind for this program. And it plans to expand its repair network to improve "repairability across [its] products." There are already walk-in support providers for Pixel devices in the country, with plans to expand on this in the future.

Source