Google launches new beta program for Pixel Feature Drops

Source: Google

Google Pixel owners—at least those who own a Pixel 4 or later—can access new Android features earlier, at least through a new beta program. Google has announced the release of the first beta for its Quarterly Platform Release (QPR), a.k.a. its Feature Drops. The features in this beta might make their way to Pixel's June update. If you want to try out new Pixel features before they get widely released, you can sign up for the beta here.

According to Google, anyone using the 12L beta will be automatically transitioned to the new QPR beta. These Feature Drops allow Pixel owners to get early access to features included in mid-year updates. But the company hasn't specified what new features are included. For now, the beta "includes improvements to functionality and user experience as well as the latest bug fixes, optimizations, and the March 2022 security patches."

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Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy Tab S8, Google Pixel to support Google Duo's live sharing

Source: Google

Samsung and Google are bringing an Apple SharePlay-like experience to Android. The new Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab S8 devices will support a live-sharing feature in Google Duo. It will let you chat with someone while simultaneously viewing the same notes, photos, and videos. It will only work with certain apps, like YouTube, Google Maps, Samsung Notes and Gallery, and Google's Jamboard interactive whiteboard app. 

Engadget reports that these Galaxy devices and the Pixel smartphones will be the only ones to get full support for this feature. Other Android devices will only be able to join these calls instead of host them.

Rumoured Google Pixel foldable tipped to get four cameras, expected to launch in 2022

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Google's first foldable device is expected to arrive in 2022, but it might not get the camera setup you'd want. 9to5Google reported in a recent APK teardown that the rumoured device will most likely get four cameras. A 12.2-megapixel IMX363 primary lens, 12-megapixel IMX386 ultrawide camera, and two 8-megapixel IMX355 front-facing cameras. The identical sensors are said to be for the outer and inner display, probably to offer the same camera quality whether the phone is folded or not.

That primary sensor isn't what you see on the new Pixel 6 series. Instead, this foldable Pixel phone (codenamed "Pipit") will reportedly use the Pixel 5's camera. The existing Pixel flagships have a larger sensor, which led to that distinctive camera bar on the Pixel 6. But with foldables that are typically built to be slim, that extra millimetre for the camera bump might not be the best idea.

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WhatsApp's iOS-to-Android history transfer tool comes to Pixel devices

WhatsApp's cross-platform chat history transfer tool from iOS to Android first debuted on Samsung Galaxy devices running Android 10 and above. But now, it's coming to other Android devices. Unlike Samsung's implementation, it's only limited to Android 12 phones, which means it's only accessible to the Pixel phones for now. But Google says it'll come to new smartphones launching with the latest version of the mobile operating system.

Similar to the setup with Samsung, you'll need a Lightning-to-USB-C cable to connect your two devices. It also involves a QR code you need to scan when you first set up your new Pixel/Android phone.

Source: Engadget