8 Little-Known Google Pixel Phone Superpowers
Google Pixel smartphones come equipped with a variety of features that make them unique from other devices. More so, with the introduction of Android 9 Pie and its impressive new updates, Pixel has never been more powerful.
Curious to discover these and more unique Pixel phone superpowers? Perfect! We've put together this comprehensive list of the top eight little-known Pixel tips and tricks to help you understand how the phone work so that you can fully leverage all its features. Keep in mind, however, that some of these features are useful for other Android devices as well. Let's get started!
Use Your Phone Like A Computer For Best Performance
If you want to optimize your battery life, the power-saving mode is pretty neat. However, turning off wireless networking and Bluetooth doesn't help if there are services running in the background, such as Facebook or Twitter, which drain your device. As an alternative, you want to use the "Battery Saver Mode" provided by your phone. This feature limits the amount of data connectivity, storage I/O, etc.
Squeeze Your Device to Open Google Assistant
From the outlook, it seems like some type of science fiction. But guess what? You can actually trigger Google Assistant by squeezing your Pixel device! To enable this breathtaking feature, all you have to do is go to Settings > System > Gestures > Active Edge. From there, you can adjust your squeeze sensibility and even make it work when the screen is off. Scheduling meetings, setting reminders, checking the weather, sending messages, browsing the internet, etc., just got better with this wholesome superpower.
Translate Languages in a Flash
You can now translate languages faster than ever on your Pixel device, thanks to the live translate feature. Whether you're traveling abroad and you need help translating something, or you're just curious to learn what a text means in a foreign language, this feature has got you covered. Even better, it can also translate videos recorded in a foreign language at lightning speed.
To use it, simply tap the microphone icon located at the bottom right corner of your screen. Then, type in the words you want to be translated into the box that appears. When done, tap "Translate" to see the translation appear in the other language. Or you can simply say, "Hey Google, turn on the translator mode," and Google Assistant will interpret from a foreign language as it's spoken into the mic.
Take Control of the Power Button
Traditionally, the power button is known for turning off your device. But what if we told you you could achieve more with the power button on the right-hand side of your Pixel device? That's right! For starters, you can now make it a shortcut for triggering Google Assistant by going to System > Gestures > Long-pressing the power button. You may also customize it to do something like turn off Wi-Fi without having to go through the settings menu.
Capture Screenshots Faster Than Ever
Again, most of us are familiar with the traditional method of capturing screenshots by pressing the power and volume buttons simultaneously. But that's long outdated, let alone inconvenient. Google Pixel comes with a built-in screenshot tool, allowing you to take a screenshot by simply sliding your way over to your device's Overview area. That way, you can capture a neat image of whatever is on your screen by by-passing the usual screen interface elements.
Search Images Using The Intelligent Image Searcher
Google has made the process of searching for images incredibly effortless with its image intelligence technology that's built right into your Pixel device's Overview area. And using it is a no-brainer; you just need to pull up your device's Overview interface and long-press any image visible within an app's preview. Upon doing that, "Lens" will pop up as an option, and if you tap it, Google will complete any of the following actions based on the context:
- Identify a painting, landmark, plant, or animal if one is pictured, then provide additional information about that object.
- Show images related to the one on your screen, then back it up with more info and links on what's pictured.
- Read the text within the image loud to you.
- Send text within the image over to a computer you're also assigned to for effortless cross-platform sharing.
- Scan a QR code or barcode for you.
Switch Between Two Cameras Without Hassle
Switching between two cameras has never been easier with Pixel's flip camera feature. This new feature lets you flip from the rear to the selfie camera without stretching to any on-screen buttons. All you need to do is double-turn your wrist quickly when the camera app is open. But first, you have to enable the feature by going to Settings > System > Gestures > Flip Camera.
Pause Apps to Ward Off Distractions
Some apps' notifications just can't stop popping up on the screen, and it can get annoying when you want to focus on something. Thankfully, Pixel has a solution for you. You can freeze such apps by long-pressing their icons, tapping the hourglass icon on the popup, then hitting "Pause" on the prompt. That way, the app ceases to show notifications until the next day, as the icon remains grayed out. But you don't have to wait until tomorrow; you can unpause anytime.
Final Remarks: Coleman Technologies is Your No. Rated IT Services Company in Langley, BC!
Hopefully, this resource was insightful, and you learned a thing or two on how to handle and maximize your Pixel phone usage. With such new tricks as squeezing the phone to open Google Assistant, translating languages, switching between two cameras, and more, there's no denying that the Pixel phone is here to enhance your experience and unlock greater possibilities.
But one thing is for sure; when it comes to Google products and features, there's always a new thing waiting to be discovered. So you can rest assured more Pixel phone superpowers will follow as technology keeps advancing.
Please contact Coleman Technologies if you have any business technology-related questions or looking for a results-driven IT solutions company to help support your business!
Thanks to Holden Watne with GenerationIX, a LA IT services company for his help in researching information for this article.
